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Thinking about applying for the @SBSNews cadetship?
Enough aspiring applicants have asked me the same questions, I figured I’d make a list.
Enough aspiring applicants have asked me the same questions, I figured I’d make a list.
FOR THE PIECE TO CAMERA. Ask a tutor if they have time to help you practise. Or record a PTC and beg an experienced journo to take a look and give you some tips. I asked @denbyweller. She was kind enough to give me a one-on-one masterclass.
CREATE A WORDPRESS PORTFOLIO so employees can see all your published work in one place. Keep it simple. Don’t spend any money or more than a day making it. Mine's in desperate need of an update. I cringe looking at it now but here’s what I did: https://nadinesilvamedia.wordpress.com/
WATCH SBS News, god damn it. Do you want a job or not! Drown yourself in SBS content. Download the app. Watch Insight. Dateline. The Feed. If you make it to the interviews, watch the news the night before. I was the only person that did and it was a bloody easy way to stand out.
REFINE YOUR ANSWERS to why you want to be a journalist, why SBS should hire you and what sets you apart from all the other applicants.
BOUNCE IDEAS OFF A HIGH-ACHIEVING MATE THAT WANTS YOU TO SUCCEED AS MUCH THEMSELVES. Mine was the iconic, @MylesWalk. Ask them what they think about your website, cover letter, resume, responses to hypothetical questions etc. And return the favour.
PICK THE BRAINS OF PEOPLE IN THE INDUSTRY. Reach out to a previous cadet. I got a lot of this advice from very generous people like @Ollie_Hen, @JarniBlakkarly, @maxchalm, @cog_ink, @maanitruu, @tbutson, and @JoshButler - THANK YOU, big time.
STALK THE LINKEDINS OF JOURNOS YOU ADMIRE for resume inspo. Update your Linkedin while you’re at it. I looked at @AvaniDias’ so many times before I realised you could stalk people on private mode. RIP.
TO WOMEN and POC. In my second year at uni, I was acing the course and watching people who were barely scraping through land jobs in the industry. I remember asking @Hellonvee how they were doing it and I wasn’t. She said, “did you even apply for anything?” I didn't...
I was waiting to feel good enough, ready and for my work to speak for itself but by my third year, I was sidelined enough times in favour of less skilled, less qualified and WAY MORE confident straight white dudes to realise I had to at least TRY to possess their confidence.
Imposter syndrome is especially common amongst women of colour. I still battle with it every day. Don’t let it win or stop you from applying. <3
