"Getting out of the business" resource thread

[FileNotFound]

Why bother putting "objective" at all?

Objective: To get a job.

That's what everyone's resume should say, because that is the basic truth. Let your education and experience speak for itself. If you need to explain a desire to change careers or go a different direction, do so in your cover letter.

Agree wholeheartedly here. The "objective" field is a waste of space.

 

[Pulitzer Wannabe]

I don't know if anybody would be interested, but I'm about to start reading "What Color is Your Parachute," and I'd be more than happy to setup a group to discuss it somewhere -- on a thread here, on facebook, in an AIM chat room.

I recommend "The Artist's Way" by Julia Cameron. Earlier this year, I attended a weekly class on this book. When my paper recently offered a buyout, the book really helped prepare me to answer the question: What do I really want to do? What's standing in the way? How do I gather the resources to make it happen?

Feel free to PM me for more info.

Michelle - Did you get out of the business? I wasn't aware of that.

 

[Michelle Hiskey]

I recently accepted a buyout from the AJC. My last day is Aug. 30.

 

[Jersey_Guy]

I'm starting law school in about two weeks at a 2nd/3rd tier school (depending on the year and/or rating).

One of the thing I was pleasantly surprised by is that it's not that hard to earn a full scholarship to law school. If you look at the 25th/75th LSAT percentiles, anything over the 75th percentile at that particular school is usually going to get you a scholarship, often a full scholarship. My LSAT would have probably earned me a spot in a Top 15 to 30 school, but I would have had to relocate and pay full freight. Instead, I'm going to a lower tier school in my area for free, at least for the first year, after which I'll evaluate options.

 

[dixiehack]

One of the thing I was pleasantly surprised by is that it's not that hard to earn a full scholarship to law school. If you look at the 25th/75th LSAT percentiles, anything over the 75th percentile at that particular school is usually going to get you a scholarship, often a full scholarship. My LSAT would have probably earned me a spot in a Top 15 to 30 school, but I would have had to relocate and pay full freight. Instead, I'm going to a lower tier school in my area for free, at least for the first year, after which I'll evaluate options.

They do that for old guys too?

 

[jboy]

Why bother putting "objective" at all?

Objective: To get a job.

That's what everyone's resume should say, because that is the basic truth. Let your education and experience speak for itself. If you need to explain a desire to change careers or go a different direction, do so in your cover letter.

Agree wholeheartedly here. The "objective" field is a waste of space.

Agree x 3.

I read an article where they interviewed hiring managers, they said don't bother.

Here's a great tip from that article: Instead of listing "Objective", make a heading at the top of your resume titled "Summary of Skills" or something like that. In 1-2 sentences list your skills.

Why? Because hiring managers are so busy they only take a few minutes on each resume. They want to know what they need to know quickly.

For example:

Summary of Skills
Five years as a daily reporter for a daily newspaper, producing 1,000 original articles, interacting with local officials and members of the public, coordinating special events and working independently to plan and execute a weekly budget. Also proficient in desktop publishing programs and intermediate web skills.

 

[Jersey_Guy]

They do that for old guys too?

They do indeed.

 

[dixiehack]

They do that for old guys too?

They do indeed.

forkin Chrysler plant law school here I come.

 

[Pulitzer Wannabe]

I recently accepted a buyout from the AJC. My last day is Aug. 30.

Wow. Hope you find a place to tell stories somewhere, in some capacity.

 

[agateguy]

I don't know if anybody would be interested, but I'm about to start reading "What Color is Your Parachute," and I'd be more than happy to setup a group to discuss it somewhere -- on a thread here, on facebook, in an AIM chat room.

Is this still a possibility?

Every single day that passes, and the job losses that follow, render such a group all the more necessary.

One thing Bolles discusses is the concept of transferrable skills - everyone has job skills that they learn at one job and can take to the next.

It would be very helpful to at least have a list of jobs within journalism, such as reporter, copy editor, agate clerk, manager and page designer, and list the skills that could transfer to other careers. Sometimes people have no idea just what their transferrable skills are, which hurts them on when they're on the job hunt.

 

[pallister]

I have to be qualified to do something other than work in a newsroom, but in two months of searching, I've only found a handful of job openings that even come close.

 

[sportschick]

I don't know if anybody would be interested, but I'm about to start reading "What Color is Your Parachute," and I'd be more than happy to setup a group to discuss it somewhere -- on a thread here, on facebook, in an AIM chat room.

Is this still a possibility?

Every single day that passes, and the job losses that follow, render such a group all the more necessary.

One thing Bolles discusses is the concept of transferrable skills - everyone has job skills that they learn at one job and can take to the next.

It would be very helpful to at least have a list of jobs within journalism, such as reporter, copy editor, agate clerk, manager and page designer, and list the skills that could transfer to other careers. Sometimes people have no idea just what their transferrable skills are, which hurts them on when they're on the job hunt.

It's still a possiblity. I've just been crazy busy with stuff. After the Olympics, anybody who's expressed interest will get a PM about it.