Employee asks:
I need help/advice as to how to obtain a decent paying full-time job.
I graduated from college last year with a history degree and work as a freelance sports writer, but I am learning there is not much money in this and the long term doesn’t look promising with the state of newspapers.
What kinds of jobs could I get with my background? Any advice is helpful even if it involves something unrelated to my degree or work history such as any program that would lead directly to a job.
Thanks.
Simons Reply- Career Help – Freelance Sports Writing
The first thing I would be asking myself is this: How much do I enjoy freelance sports writing?
Forget for a moment that it isn’t making you much money and focus entirely on the question ‘how much you really love the work?’
If you really enjoy this type of work and you think you are good at it, then eventually you will begin to see a good income materialize but you should understand that this will take time and you will come up against some difficulties-this is how we hone our craft and how average people become great.
The problem in the meantime then becomes how do I produce income from other work until such a time as my freelance sports writing earns me a good living.
If you have a love for sports writing then you should be able to put up with some shorter-term “any jobs” just to get you by while your sports journalism income gains momentum.
In regards to the long term viability of newspapers, I wouldn’t put too much emphasis on that. There will still be good demand for sportswriters, it’s just that the method of delivery is changing from hard copy newspapers to digital delivery. And there are many more avenues for sports journalists than just newspapers.
If however, you are not sure if being a freelance sports writer is really you, then you need to be starting from scratch in regards to long term career considerations.
You didn’t say why you chose history to study and if this is a real love of yours. The types of jobs you should be thinking about long-term should be linked to what you’re passionate about rather than “what job could I get”.
If you are unsure about what you are passionate about trying these inborn job skills exercises or this quick career assessment.
Feel free to come back to me with any further questions.
Regards Simon
P.S. Here is a great book on journalism in general that you may find interesting – Telling True Stories: A Nonfiction Writers’ Guide from the Nieman Foundation at Harvard University
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