In Boston online is the place to get a job. And Boston is but an instance of what is happening around the country.

Speaking of baby-boomers, freelancing is becoming a more attractive option for them.

Thinking of going abroad to be a writer? Read this article from the U.K.

It's common knowledge that the newsrooms are in turmoil. Every time we look up there are layoffs or buyouts, strikes, or walkouts. In the macro-view it's a kind of purposeful chaos that, in the long-run, will end up serving the interests of journalism, journalists, editors, and the community. Oh, the pains though. The macro-view will not pay the mortgage or put money in the college fund for the kids.

This article from Poynter outlines some of the ways that staff can protect themselves in the present environment.

For some reason I started thinking about those folks over 50 who are looking for jobs in the marketplace. It's been noted by economists that baby-boomers will be more likely to find jobs than before simply because the economy does not want to retire-off large numbers of experienced, skillful workers.

Nonetheless there are plenty of problems for 50 year-olds to get back in the race. There is a general myth that those over 50 have lost their productivity and creativity. It's not true, generally speaking.

Here's some advice for those 50-somethings trying to find a way into the current marketplace:

1. Dress fashionably and be enthusiastic about your work. Be excited and full of energy when you have an opportunity to talk to a boss or interviewer.
2. Be technologically savvy. Know the latest innovations and how to use them.
3. Convince the potential employer that you are experienced enough that you don't need to go on any profound learning curves.
4. Don't patronize a younger manager who invariably will be your boss.
5. Don't mention anything you've done work wise past ten years ago.
6. For goodness sake, don't tell them you're thinking of retiring soon!

We get a lot of questions from students who are contemplating a journalism career and are not sure how to approach it when they are ready to leap from high school to college. Here are some pointers to consider:

• Make sure the college you go to has an excellent communications program or one that teaches the convergence of traditional and digital media.
• Remember that journalism combines a curious mind with writing talent. Any program you get involved with should cultivate that writing talent and present you with as wide an exposure to as many subjects as possible. Taste everything on the vast table of human activities, even boring ones like business and finance.
• It's amazing how many journalism students fail to connect with the school media. This is always a great way to get your feet wet.
• Remember that your professors are one of the first nodes in your network. Cultivate them wisely and ask questions.
• Internship is one of the best ways to get involved in a new profession. Use due diligance to find publications or TV stations that allow the intern to do actual journalistic work rather than simply fetch coffee and pens.

Read The Journalist's Road to Success put out by the Dow Jones Newspaper Fund. It has excellent resources for students in high school and college.

The Mediangler gives his Ten Things That Will Happen to TV and Newspapers. Re-think some of those journalism career moves.

Then again, are the perks for working in the Hearst Towers, NY City.

Be the boss! More than a few people, like writers, heed to the call. Fool.com has an essay on why it's more than just napping when you want to. Being the boss means taking on the responsibility that the womb-like company has done for you, the employee. In fact, "being the boss," is only for those who are willing to take the responsibility. First step: Learn what you give up as an employee. Check the article out.

"And what do you mean exactly by networking?" Many people hear the word and it conjures up visions of joining the Kiwanis Club and smoozing with old guys in lodges, next to the bowling alley. Well, that could be a place to network but there are many more ways and means to do the deed.

We devoted an issue of Sunoasis X on networking for the freelance writer.

Every writer, editor, copywriter, and copy editor has to know some tactics of networking. Briefly, it is a matter of collecting every possible contact you can think of and writing them down. Be creative. Include the ex-roomate who threw up on your couch. Every contact will be approached differently, depending on how close they are to the source of jobs you are after.

Use the phone or e-mail to contact people. Prepare beforehand by writing down notes on why you are contacting them, the skills you have to offer, and what you are looking for. Have the smile in your voice. After all, you are not asking or begging for a job you are simply looking for information.

Sometimes you'll get some positive feedback, sometimes you'll get little feedback, and sometimes you'll get referred to someone else. You may even find a job opening. If you are referred to someone call them as fast as you can and go through the whole routine again. In doing this you will have multiplied your network and, eventually, you'll run into a job. If, that is, you are persistent. And remember this: everytime you make a contact you become part of that person's network and they may be calling on you someday.

Are you an introvert? Read this article from the CareerJournal.

This could be, and we stress could be the newsroom of the future. In it, print, video, and audio are connected as the news is prepared for multiple platforms. It's happening in London but here's a story of consolidation of McClatchy Interactive at one office in Raleigh, NC

So you want to be a freelance writer in NY City? Or, any city for that matter? According to this guy, "If you can report, and you can make a good sentence, that's all that matters." Interesting guy, interesting interview.

Here, the professor makes a very strong statement about how journalism morphs into different forms. It's not print or digital; it's reporting. Who will do it, what resources will they do it with, who will edit and fact-check them?

There's no better time to think about jobs than Labor Day week-end.

Getting the job is not easy. And yet if you follow some easy steps it's easier than if you simply throw yourself at the market hoping against hope. I know from the questions I get there are some basic things that people need to try and grasp. For one, you need an honest assessment of your skills. And skills are not only the things you can do, like negotiating through QuarkXPress but the ability to work with others, to communicate well, to be loyal and steadfast. These are skills that add value to you in the marketplace.

You need to know what kind of job you want. When you are interested in a job like editor or staff reporter make sure you study the job title and understand what an editor or a staff reporter does before you list it down as your job of choice. And remember that there is a difference between an editor and a copy editor. An editor may copy edit but she does a lot of other things. A copy editor may proofread but he does other things as well.

Make sure you know where job leads can be found. We provide one source but there are others. Because of the expansive nature of the net it's much more likely that the number of relevant jobs posted online exceed the average of 15% - 25%. So be alert to all the options of finding the types of jobs you are looking for.

There is usually a 40-hour week in the work world. Spend at least half that time on searching for a job. Make a list of what you need to do and execute the list efficiently. Bundle the phone calls you have to make in one time-frame, work on your resume(s) in another time-frame. Put pressure on yourself to make the job search a challenge rather than something that will simply "happen" or drop into your hands without a fight.

The key is when you are getting interviews. Then you know your skills are in play and your resume/ cover letter has passed muster. Get as many as possible. Some experts say to get two interviews a day. At least make that a goal.

When you talk to someone about a job and they are interested, don't hesitate to contact them after a week and keep your name and face in front of them.

These are basic things to take into the hunt for that elusive job. Remember, the employer is as needy as the employee. So put the most positive spin on everything as you go through the job search process.

As the writer in this column says, it's all in the confidence you bring to the table.

Contribute to the Sunoasis Joblog! If you find a resourceful story on writing, employment, careers, etc. just fill out the box below and send away. The most resourceful will get posted. If you want to see an aspect of job news covered, let us know!

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David

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