Rejection

My first proper blog (the one before was more of an intro). I aim to focus on the difficulties of getting work in the journalism industry. I am a journalist, at least for the last 8 months I have been, but it’s not been an easy career kick off and I still don’t have a permanent job. A first class Broadcast Journalism degree yes, but not a permanent industry related job. That’s one thing I have learned, qualifications count for little in this industry, it’s who you….

Ah so you thought I was going to rattle that old chestnut out did you? Well I’m not, although contacts are important there’s one thing, which outweighs that and qualifications combined…and that ladies and gentlemen is … experience.

Because of my ‘vast amount of experience for one so young’ (that’s what I write on my CV) I have managed to walk out of Uni into a freelance journalist role at a BBC regional radio station. It’s great, I enjoy it. It’s hard work, the moneys okay but more importantly I’m gaining more and more of that big E word which is so valuable.

But the special ‘E’ hasn’t got me anywhere in terms of a permanent job. It hasn’t got me an interview for anything worthwhile, by that I mean paid, its got me nowhere near London and it certainly hasn’t got me a look in for TV positions. The only thing I have learned from this everlasting application process is how to take rejection: ‘Due to such a high interest in this post we are unable to respond as to why you where not suitable for this role. We will keep your records….’ BLAH BLAH. That’s the point in which I stop reading - so I’m not going to make you endure the pain in which I have become so familiar.

I’m fast losing confidence in Journalism. I’m actually thinking about continuing my mums business, recruitment. I’m half way to be successful there already, not only do I have experience in that field (so valuable apparently) I can now fully recite the generic response that I have become so accustomed. I therefore have no doubt I will be proficient in telling people they’re not good enough to work for my company. In a sick way I think I will gain a lot of satisfaction in doing that. Unlike most employers I will be different in my response, I will tell them straight. I will give them everything I want in a rejection email:

‘Sorry talented graduate, in answering all 29 application questions, you have displayed you are more than capable for this role. Your experience is vast (for one so young) and your qualifications are beyond all expectations. However I regret to inform you that the job you were desperate for has actually gone to Sarah from the office next door. She was made redundant from the company a couple of weeks ago. Despite dropping out of school at 16 she has 20 years of experience with us, and the Directors who are solely responsible for hiring feel she is the most suitable candidate for the job. Your record will not be held on file, this is a pointless procedure as opportunities at this company are limited and you my friend have missed out on this once in a life time chance to Sexy Sarah! If you’re suspicious why she was awarded the job over you, then I suggest you contact the three male directors who had a great time ‘interviewing’ the former underwear model.

Finally, in the space of 5 minutes (it was 15 actually but I want you to think I’m a talented writer) I have decided that I will apply to a few more journalist jobs. I forgot that I still have a secret weapon in my armoury, she got me good GCSE’s, great A-Levels, helped me with my degree and she’s offered me a job in her business, yes Mummy to the rescue. With her (a recruitment specialist) “assisting” me with my cover letters I can’t go wrong. We’ll soon see….

Why Me?

It looks like its time to join the blogging world – but why now? Because I’m bored on a train, my phone battery has died and I’m too tight to pay for the wireless Internet so Microsoft Word seems to be the most exciting option on my laptop. Sorry did I mention it’s a Mac laptop? That makes it a Macbook, which makes me ‘creative’ and ‘cool’ apparently.

So, the first question I ask myself is, what makes my ‘written diary’ different from others? And then, why should you read my blog?  If you don’t want these answers and don’t care for my opinionated waffle then please skip to the last paragraph. Otherwise please read on devout friends.

As I attempt to answer the two above questions I would like to state that this blog is more like a diary than anything else. Question one answered – this is easier than I thought! And it’s about my career experiences, not about my views on business, sport or showbiz like all the others but about ME. Question two in the bag!

So follow this blog if you like wasting time on computers, want advice on how to look for a job in the media (not to be mistaken as how to GET a job), if you like dry humour, if you know or like me, if your hobbies include stalking people… or if you’re all of the above. If that’s the case then maybe its time to see a doctor. But not any doctor, it would need to be advertised to the nation, so go to the Doctor from the TV who wares those bright stripey shirts. You know the one who’s probably just an actor with scruffy handwriting.

I’ve been put off joining this latest craze because it seems to me that blogs are usually written by unknowns about a topic that they’ve an interest and usually little experience in. This allows them to air their thoughts and have their name on the world wide web. There’s nothing wrong with that (I have to write this or I will be offending 99% of the blogging word) but who cares about ‘The challenges to international businesses in 2011’ if its written by a student? Millionaire with many global companies Sir Alan Sugar – Yes. Student who struggles to attend half of his 10 hours of lectures a week – No.

The message I’m trying to put across is that I’m writing a blog now, not because I have made it in my chosen career (I haven’t), or because I’m an industry professional (I’m not - yet I do come up on a google search) but because writing on a blank computer screen is surely more interesting than the views of Wakefield or Doncaster. Yes that’s right, its taken me the duration of two towns and a delay on the track to write this account but that’s included an argument with the conductor about an in-valid ticket, a spilt cup of tea and plenty of attempted footsy by the weird man opposite me.

The long and short of what I have written is that I want a series of write ups about my career post university and my struggle (or hopefully my ease) to breaking into the industry of sports journalism. Then when I’m famous I can sell these entries to help pay off my glamorous lifestyle, drug addiction and gambling debt. Okay ignore that – I just wanted to sound more ‘accessible’ to all those potential fans. If I take the approach that honesty is the best policy then I guess the real reason I want this blog is so I have a keep sake. I want to look back in years to come when I have nothing but a Semi Detached suburban house, 2.4 children, a loving wife and a Vauxhall Zafira in the most common colour at the time. Then I can at least tell myself I was ambitious once. Lets hope this isn’t the case but it does scare me that the only debt I could have, won’t be from drug dealer Jermaine on the street corner but that from Thomas Cook of whom I owe £33 for the in flight meals we splashed out on our annual family holiday to Spain.