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Joe Grimm's Ask the Recruiter: Tips for Writing Powerful Application Essays

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 21:01:00 -0700

Q. I've started to write some application essays and haven't had much success so far. I started with the short answers first because the longer ones are way too daunting. But when I reread what I wrote it was all so boring.

Is every little thing you write supposed to be super creative and introspective, or can you just answer the question, "Why do you want to attend this university?," without a big production?

As for the longer essays, I just can't come up with anything that interesting about myself to write about. I haven't had any huge setbacks, I haven't read a book that changed my life and I wasn't involved in any significant local issue. I've read all the tips on writing these and know it doesn't have to be about something extremely major, but I can't think of anything at all.

Joe Grimm's Ask the Recruiter: Unpaid Work Prompts Journalist to Want to Pitch Column to Other Publications

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 21:01:00 -0700

Q. The most well-known publication I write for provides no editorial feedback and doesn't pay me. I write commentary and poetry and do some editing. My ideal scenario would, of course, be to find a publication willing to pick up my column and bring me on board as a paid staff editor.

I have sent queries to similar organizations but haven't heard back. I don't know that it would be to my advantage to use my current stuff for other kinds of job opportunities and assignments because the content I write is ''out there'' as far as journalism goes.

Can You Take it With You?

Joe Grimm's Ask the Recruiter: Former Seattle Times Reporter Takes Buyout, Becomes University Lecturer

Sun, 18 Oct 2009 21:01:00 -0700

During a time when the news industry is frantically searching for solutions and new directions, journalists' lives have been disrupted by cutbacks and job changes. Poynter Online wants to help by sharing stories of success seekers. We are offering how-they-did-it snapshots from people who faced employment challenges and found some measure of success.

FLORANGELA DAVILA

Age: 42

New job: Lecturer in the Department of Communication at the University of Washington. I teach multimedia journalism and communication classes to undergraduates. My course load varies. This quarter I'm teaching three classes.

Joe Grimm's Ask the Recruiter: Archived Chat: How Do I Write an Effective Cover Letter?

Sun, 18 Oct 2009 21:01:00 -0700

For this week's career chat, Poynter's Joe Grimm and Colleen Eddy shared tips on what to include (or not include) in a cover letter. The chat included tips on how to write good opening lines in cover letters, who to address cover letters to and how to best use them to attract potential employers.

You can revisit this link at any time to watch a replay of the chat.

Twitterers can tweet their questions or related thoughts in advance to #poynterchats. You can revisit this link at any time to replay the chat after it has ended.