by Effie Moore Salem

Created on: July 30, 2009

So you are a journalist out of work. For the first time since you found your first job with the local paper you are without a steady job. This came about because the newspaper folded. What are you to do? First of all relax, take a nice vacation, one that you can afford, and one that will allow you to slowly wean yourself from the old job. Then take inventory of the skills you have, as well as those that you lack and decide where you can best market yourself. If lacking in some necessary skills such as those needed for digital journalism, desktop publishing etc., use your off time to learn.

In the meantime, however you leave not a stone unturned in your search for another job. You prepare a basic resume and each time you send it out to a prospective employer, you change it ever so slightly making it fit their work requirements - where it does, you must not lie about your abilities - and stating reasons you above all other prospects will make the better employee. After mailing you do not waste precious time, you get busy job hunting and send out other resumes, at least one or two a week. Don't make this an assembly line approach. You use the telephone and get in touch with old associates and professors you knew while in school and ask for their input into your job hunt.

Don't be too modest but don't go overboard about how terrific you are. Instead show them samples of your best work and don't forget to include your awards - if any. These will, of course, be mentioned on your resumes, but you can also mention them when calling your old associates. Mention incidents that will refresh their memories of some examples of your work ethic. If you've been part of important documentation where your input counted, by all means mention this.

If you want to move on to bigger and better things in journalism and find that you now have the chance, begin anew. Don't out of fear, chase after any copy editor job that will land you back at the bottom of the heap of a traditional newspaper office. Learn digital journalism and seek employment in this field. Don't be afraid of being innovative and exercising any entrepreneurial possibilities that emerge. Yet be reasonable and truthful within yourself about your strong points in journalism and equally truthful about your weaker ones.

Exercise your job opportunities by walking into offices and places of business and asking about work opportunities. This one-on-one contact is impressionable and is by far your best bet. And taking this

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