“I always wanted to work in the creative industries but wasn’t sure exactly what I wanted to do. I graduated in 2000 with a media degree and worked in new media, administration and construction to earn a living.

In February 2006, the same month as I was married and became a dad, I enrolled on a course run by the National Council for the Training of Journalists.”

Part 2: Work Experience

I am very grateful to those at Kent Regional Newspapers who, at very short notice, enabled me to spend a week with them. This week would prove another crucial element in successfully gaining a foot in the door.

I was able to combine this with the end of my studying, which was invaluable as I could apply what I had been learning. Studying can become redundant if not applied.

I found myself flung in at the deep end which I later found out was not by chance. On my first day I was sent out to interview an author and then given the job of turning it into a 1,000-word feature. I also wrote many other pieces.

After four days in the local editorial office I spent the Friday in their Canterbury head office. It was here that I spent the day subbing and really managing to apply my studies.

Though it’s worth pointing out that the sub-editing course is also helpful with writing and journalism in general. Amazingly I was given the opportunity to sub my own copy!

Just like when I studied, my subbing was critiqued by the senior subs – yet more invaluable experience.

After the week was over I carried on writing reports for them on an unpaid freelance basis. I also sent an e-mail saying thanks for the week and the opportunity. A little note like this can go a long way.

I got lucky with my work experience. When I asked if I could spend a week with them I did not know they were hiring but found out through asking. Hence I would recommend you find out if any of your local papers are hiring or about to hire and then choose them for your work experience. This may not be the paper you wanted to work for, but if experience can help lead to a job then that is the most important factor. There will be plenty of time in your career to work for the papers you want to.

I passed their entrance exam and was invited for an interview. I had prepared and researched well for it but any interview is naturally a pressure situation.

When it’s for a career and not just a job then it becomes tougher still. I had just lost my job too, so I was now in a position where I not only wanted this job, but needed it. This made the situation tougher again because I had so much to lose.

It’s hard when you are trying to crack your career and also looking for a job to tide you over. Job-hunting is difficult at the best of times without having to look for two at once.

Work experience is invaluable. I was fortunate that I actually worked rather than just shadowed. But the company were smart and used this as another way of gauging my suitability. By saying: “here you go, be a journalist” they enabled me to apply the skills learnt through the NCTJ course and enabled themselves to be able to see if I could deal with the job and deadlines.

By asking for work experience you are highlighting your desire to succeed. If you have taken a course like I did, then it adds weight to your CV.

You also become visible and more than just a piece of paper in front of an editor. They can get to see who you really are as there is so much that a CV alone cannot convey. Never underestimate this, because half the battle when getting a job is can your employer work with you? Effectively, do they like you? It also does exactly the same for you – do I like them, is this really what I want to do?

From an employer’s perspective, hiring is a risk. Once they have met you, spoken with you and seen your work, you have done all you can to help reduce the risk involved in hiring you. Providing that you didn’t annoy the hell out of them and produce appalling work! It goes both ways!

Tomorrow: How I organised my CV and covering letter.