The Revolutionary Anti-Resume for Journalists
Posted on | August 10, 2010 | 4 Comments
By Angela Lussier
Special for Displaced Journalists
For those journalists who have read the writing on the wall and are looking for ways to get out of traditional newspapers and into Web-based writing, 
now’s the best time in the history of the Web to do so. Journalists who follow market and business trends know that, but the way they are currently doing it is often missing the mark.
The traditional resume template is no longer a sure-fire way to get your foot in the door, particularly with technology and Web-based companies who have the cream of the crop from which to select. Now, more than ever, journalists need to differentiate themselves and show their worth, rather than just talk about it.
The top six tips for getting noticed:
1. First, throw out everything you ever knew about traditional resumes. Start thinking in terms of telling your professional autobiography. What does that look like? Think headlines, compelling leads, a bio, not bulleted skills lists. As a matter of fact, don’t use any sort of template, just create something that reflects your accomplishments, your personality, and your vision. This is your anti-resume, and it will give any employer in any industry a true snapshot of who you are and what you want, not just another rambling ho-hum list of the usual job descriptions, dates, and names of companies.
2. Yes, listing all the jobs you’ve held is important, but what’s most important is showing employers why they should hire you instead of the 75 other applicants with the same skill set, the same job titles and the same job duties. The fact that you’ve been a staff writer at the same paper for four years is impressive, but what did you write? Who did it touch? What happened as a result of your stories? What sets you apart from other staff writers? Are you good at getting state troopers to talk? Do you have a knack for portraying victims in a way that preserves their dignity, yet touches readers’ hearts? Your anti-resume should answer these questions.
3. As a professional storyteller, you should be using your resume as an opportunity to tell your story. Turn your resume into a scrapbook/portfolio of stories, photos and slideshows you’ve shot, edited or produced. Pick a theme for the book that truly represents what you stand for, or that represents your beat, and start compiling your best stuff. Have you won any awards? Include those too.
4. Include testimonials from co-workers as well as bosses. You can’t really ask a source or anyone you’ve covered for a reference, but you can go back to some particularly moving or significant stories and follow up on what has happened since you wrote the story. Include that along with your original clip. Has your reporting resulted in any new legislation, or action by city officials? Then tell the story of how! We can all toot our own horns all day, but when you can back up your words with facts, they mean more.
5. Don’t be afraid to get creative. A lot of writers are so used to being objective with their news stories that they’re afraid to show their true selves when it’s appropriate to do so. Well, the story you’re telling this time is yours. How do you want to be viewed? Give your reader or employer the opportunity to get to know you through reading your anti-resume. The #1 purpose of this is to get you the interview. Make it compelling enough that the person reading it wants to pick up the phone and schedule a time to meet you right away.
6. Editors have their pick of the best of the best. So, even if you choose to stay in traditional media, you’ll still need to stand out. That means being a double or triple threat — able to write, shoot video and photos, and produce Web pages or podcasts. So get your real name as a domain name and create a website. Your site should look, read and sound like what you are capable of producing. If you can pull an editor into the site, they’ll know you can pull readers in, too. Take time to learn some basic programs and the basics of design, layout, and both still and video photography. If you haven’t had a chance to produce a Soundslides project, then do it. The demo program is free and the result will show an editor that you can edit and produce. Can’t think of a slideshow to do? Then do one about yourself. Be creative. You get one shot, so don’t waste it.
Finally, target your prospective employer. Don’t just create the same package and shoot off links to 100 papers. Pick two or three papers, sites or employers you’d really like to work for and study them. Do they use a lot of photos? Features? Hard news? Alternative formats? Video? Soundslides projects? Then customize your offering to reflect that. Spend quality time on two or three potential prospects, not hurried time on 100. It WILL make a difference!
Angela Lussier is a Creative Career Consultant and owns 365 Degrees Consulting in Springfield, Massachusetts. She is the author of the Seth Godin recommended book, “The Anti-Resume Revolution” and a speaker at TEDx. Ms. Lussier offers anti-resume writing tips, helps clients discover their target job, and inspires them throughout the job search with creative solutions and personal marketing ideas.
Tags: Commentary > Displaced Journalists > Jobs > resume
Comments
4 Responses to “The Revolutionary Anti-Resume for Journalists”
Leave a Reply
Welcome to Our Community
Is there life – or work – after newspapers? A lot of us are in the process of finding out. Because it’s generally a somewhat lonely endeavor, it struck me, in January 2010, that it might be comforting – and possibly very productive – to go through it together.
Displaced Journalists is a community – our community – where we find common ground, where we can begin to pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off and get on with our lives and livelihoods. [more]
August 11th, 2010 @ 2:20 PM
Having read Angela’s book and knowing Angela from Seth Godin’s social network, Triiibes.com, I can vouch for the book and for Angela. She’s one of the brightest and most creative people I’ve met; and very successful at creating anti-resumes that work. The book is worth the purchase price and then some – especially if you haven’t done much job-hunting in the past. She recently spoke at TEDx about reinventing herself with this company and has an inspiring story to tell. She’s the real deal and I’m happy to see her post this. Great article Angela!!
August 12th, 2010 @ 5:19 PM
Excellent suggestion. I really like the part about using your writing skills to tell your own story. Really gives you a chance to show while telling.
August 13th, 2010 @ 2:53 AM
Some people on the web, or should I say, a lot of people … are telling you what to do.
Angela is also doing it and building a great path.
It gives you good reasons to take this writing seriously and make it yours. You will also learn a lot more in her book.
So the question is :
Who are you ?
Why should I choose you ?
Yes YOU !
Not of the 75 other applicants.
Start to answer NOW.
August 17th, 2010 @ 6:39 AM
Thanks for sharing your knowledge.