First impressions count. Often, your resume will be the first thing a news director will see. It needs to send the right message. Proof, spell check, then proof it again. Ask someone else to proof it. Always give it a second set of eyes. Remember, a computer spell check will not find a "the" that is supposed to be a "then."

FOLLOW THESE GUIDELINES
Make sure all names and titles are correct; call the station to verify the information.

List phone numbers in 10 point type or larger. Anything smaller is too hard to read after faxing.

List areas of related experience (for example, internships, programs or shows you've produced).

Include a skills section. Tell me what you are trained to do. What equipment can you operate? Can you program computers? Design a web site? Shoot? Can you operate non-linear editing equipment?

List any jobs you've held that are related to the industry.

List professional organizations, especially those that are industry related.

If bilingual, make sure to note it.

Show you were involved and a leader in your school or community.

Try to keep it to one page - two at the most.

Include references on a separate sheet, include work and home numbers if possible. (Ask if someone will act as a reference for you. Be sure that he or she will say nice things about you. Otherwise, don't list them as a reference.)

Your cover letter should say things that your resume doesn't. Keep it brief and to the point.

A picture is not necessary, but a small professional photo can be attached to your resume.

Don't list your work phone number unless they can call you at work.

ADDITIONAL STUDENT GUIDELINES
If your GPA is strong, list it.

If you are graduating, don't list classes that you've taken. Do list professional training/seminars.

Include your current information, permanent address and telephone information. College students move often.

Label the tape and tape box with your name and phone number. Label the box on all sides.

Put another resume in the tape box in case it gets separated from the cover letter and resume.

Put a short rundown of what's on the tape on a note card in the box. If the rundown is on the tape, you can't read it while the tape is playing.

Put a slate with your name and phone numbers at the head of the tape.

Check every dub (audio and video) of your resume tape before you send it out.

Don't call newsrooms to check on the tape or the search. They'll call you.

Send the tape registered mail if you want to know if the tape arrived.

News managers don't have the time or desire to critique your work; don't put them on the spot by asking.

TALENT RESUME TAPES
You've heard it before, but it's true. The average news director watches a tape for about seven seconds before hitting the eject button. So don't bury the lead!

Try to keep your look consistent. News directors don't want to guess what you look like now. (Short hair or long hair? Glasses or contacts?)

Include a montage of your best stuff at the beginning of the tape. It should include snippets of different stand-ups, live shots, and on-set appearances. Let the news director see how you look and sound. Make it your best work and look your best.

If you are applying for a reporting job, don't put anchoring at the front of your tape. If you want to include it, put a snippet in your montage and then add anchoring after your stories.

Include at least three stories. Try to show your range by using different types of stories, such as a spot news, a feature and an enterprise story. If you have a live shot, include it. Each package should include a stand-up.

If you are applying for an anchor position, put some anchoring after your montage. Make sure you include anchor interaction, so you can show your personality. Follow with a few stories.

The stories on your tape should be current. Don't send the one story that aired on the network two years ago or the big flood from a year ago.

PRODUCER RESUME TAPES
If you've produced a show, don't send the big story day. Send a solid representation of your daily work. If you send the big story day, add the first segment from a typical newscast. Edit out all commercials.

Send a newscast that has well-written teases.

Write to video.

Don't send a show that is a string of packages with intros. That doesn't take much producing skill.

Break-out elements for your anchors in the lead-ins and vo's. Use maps and graphics.

Produce a show that demonstrates anchors as primary storytellers not just "hosts" of the newscast.

You've made it past the resume stage and you've landed an interview with a prospective employer. How do you impress them? It's easy. Act like a journalist and show them you've done your homework.

Spend time investigating the station. Make calls. Use the internet. Try to get airchecks of their news. Read newspaper articles about the stations. If the station streams their newscasts, watch them. Read the bios of the talent.

Be polite to everyone you talk to at the station. Don't underestimate the damage that can be done in an abrupt or rude conversation with a receptionist.

Be prepared to talk about this morning's and last night's newscasts. Watch them!

Be prepared to talk about everything that is on your resume.

Arrive early.

Dress for the interview, not the job. Make sure your clothes fit and your shoes are polished.

lf you are invited to the editorial meeting, sit at the table and participate when appropriate. No one wants to hire someone who is a wallflower.

Come in with a list of stories that the station could do that day. Provide local angles to national stories.

Talk to people in the newsroom. Ask them what they like about working there. What is the city like? Don't be shy.

Be prepared for tests ... all kinds: grammar, spelling, producing, writing and current events.

Answer all questions honestly. Enjoy yourself! Let your personality flow.

If they ask if you have any questions ... the answer is yes! Come prepared.

Don't bring up salary or benefits unless the interviewer does. There will be time for that later.

Some questions that are appropriate:

- If the person was promoted, ask if you can talk to that person.
- If the person left ... ask why.
- Is this a new position or am I replacing someone?
- Describe the job duties for this position.
- What would your expectation be for me in six months?
- Who would be my immediate supervisor? Will I meet him/her? May I?
- Are performance reviews given regularly, and if so, by whom?
- Do you tend to fill positions from the outside or promote from within?
- Are there any special technical skills I will need in this job?
- What will the training process be?

Never speak poorly about your current or former employers.

Shake hands coming and going. Give a firm handshake and use eye contact.

Practice your handshake. Ask a friend to give you honest feedback.

Mail a thank-you letter to those involved in the interview.

Don't call and bug them about the job. Being aggressive doesn't mean calling every day. It means proving to your new employer why they should hire you. When you get to the point where you can't stand it anymore and you have to call, have a game plan. Make sure that you are giving them something for their time. For example, listen closely during your visit, then call and further the discussion you had about a specific point.

News directors hate being badgered by job seekers, so don't abuse the privilege. They will make their decisions on their own timetable.

It's a small business. Everyone knows someone you've worked with. Anyone could be called for a reference.

Be a good newsroom citizen. Don't be a part of the problem; be a part of the solution. If the situation is that bad, then leave. Don't allow yourself to become the victim.

You are only as good as your last show/story. A prospective news director will often ask to see last night's story or show. You have to be a "10" every day.

Remember why you are in the business in the first place.

Internships are critical to your ultimate dream of landing that first job. Internships serve several important purposes:

Learn about various positions within the newsroom.
Decide which job is right for you.
Understand how one job can lead to another.
Gain access to working professionals who can help you learn.
Position yourself for work opportunities at that station.
Make important business contacts.

Unless you are extremely fortunate, almost all internships are unpaid. It will be up to you to figure out where and how to live to take advantage of the opportunity. You need to be enrolled in a class that will allow you to get college credit for the internship.

In large markets or union stations, you can expect to do less hands-on work because of restrictions. In smaller markets, you may find yourself doing stories that get on the air. It's important that you research potential station internships to find out if it's worth your time. Try calling the station and asking what interns typically do. Try talking to former station interns or alumni who have had internships. It's up to you to find a good internship, one where you will be learning not just pouring coffee.

Internships don't have to just be during summer breaks. Try over spring break and holiday breaks as well.

During your internship, you have several specific things you are trying to accomplish:

Learn as much as possible from the people there.
Get the news director or top managers to know your name (for the right reason).
Take advantage of any and every opportunity.
Offer to work "off shifts" such as nights, weekends or overnights - you get to do more because there's generally less staffing.
Begin to build your own network of contacts.
Find a mentor who will critique your work and help you.
If you are a reporter, you are trying to produce one package for your tape.

Dress professionally - not college clothes. You're not there to get a date; you're there to get a job! And you should treat it just like a job. Find out your schedule in advance. Show up on-time and ready to go. Don't ask to leave early. You must show a professional image at all times.

Know the names of staff members and on-air talent. Many times interns will be asked to answer the phone. Be prepared for a call from the General Manager asking for the late news anchor. Your answer shouldn't be "I don't know that person, let me see if someone can find them."

Hopefully, you will be able to assist a reporter or photographer in covering a story. Once the story has aired, ask if you can use the raw tapes. You can then write your own package. Offer to buy a photographer lunch and see if he'll shoot a stand up for you. Now you have one package for your student resume tape.

Often, internships lead either to your first job or to good references. Even if there isn't anything open at the station where you intern, a good word from someone there can help you on your way. Make sure before you leave, you find the person who will give you the best recommendation and ask them for reference.

Keep in mind, however, that a lot of potential employers will call someone other than your references. They may call someone they used to work with in that newsroom. So, your overall attitude makes a difference. If they call anyone in that newsroom, you want them to know who you are and say good things about you.

Make sure you apply for the right job. Here are some of the most common definitions of positions in TV. Not every station will have all of these positions and they may be defined differently at each station.

One note: In a television station, "production" jobs are usually those positions outside the newsroom. These would be studio camera operators, audio personnel, etc. If you want to be a news photographer, that's a news position. If you want to run a studio camera, that's a production position. Know the difference. If you say you want to go into production, news directors will look right by you.

ANCHOR
In the studio, anchors the newscasts, communicates stories, interacts with reporters and other anchors. Prior to the newscast, helps the producer create the newscast, writes and rewrites stories. Usually asked to make personal appearances at community functions and be an ambassador for the television station. Often writes and produces promotional announcements.

ASSIGNMENT EDITOR
Responsible for the daily news gathering efforts of the newsroom. Tracks stories, crews, locations, scanners. Makes a lot of phone calls to gather information.

ASSIGNMENT MANAGER
Oversees the daily news gathering operation and supervises the assignment editors and desk assistants.

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR
The #2 manager in most news departments. Usually oversees the day-to-day operations of the news department.

ASSOCIATE PRODUCER / WRITER
Helps the producer to get the newscast on the air. May be asked to write stories, field produce, edit tape, make phone calls to gather information, and rip scripts. In some stations, this person enters the chyron information. Does anything the Producer needs done (chyron operators or associate producers can also be in promotion, production or engineering).

AUDIO OPERATOR
In charge of all audio sources used during the newscast. Sits in front of an audio console and balances each of the individual sources at the right time. This position is in the production or engineering department.

CAMERA OPERATOR
Handles one (or more) of the studio cameras during the newscast. This position is in production or engineering.

CHYRON OPERATOR
Responsible for entering and recalling character-generator graphics, text and titles. May create individual story graphics. Some stations call chyron operators associate producers (chyron operators or associate producers can also be in promotion, production or engineering).

DESK ASSISTANT
Helps the assignment editor. Makes beat calls. Does anything the assignment editor needs them to do.

DIRECTOR
In the control room during the newscast, coordinates the efforts of the technical crew. The director tells each individual member of the crew what to do and when. This position can be in news or production.

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
Oversees the daily newscasts and manages the staff of newscast producers.

EDITOR, TAPE EDITOR, VIDEOTAPE EDITOR
Edits videotape, matching pictures to words. Often coordinates news feeds, such as the affiliate feeds or CNN.

FIELD PRODUCER
Goes out into the field and produces stories for the newscast. Does everything a reporter does except appear or be heard on television.

FLOOR DIRECTOR
Lets studio anchors know which cameras to look at and when. This position is in production or engineering.

GRAPHIC ARTIST
Produces the "artwork" for the newscast. This includes over-the-shoulder graphics, maps, animations. This position can be in news, marketing or production.

MANAGING EDITOR
Is responsible for the overall editorial content of the newscasts. Usually oversees staff of assignment editors and reporters in the news gathering effort.

NEWS DIRECTOR, VP of NEWS
The overall person in charge of the news department. The ND is the person ultimately responsible for every facet of the operation, including hiring and training of new employees. Some ND's handle ALL the hiring themselves. Others delegate to other managers and even committees within the department.

PHOTOGRAPHER
PHOTOJOURNALIST
Takes the pictures. Edits the tape. Gathers news. Often is the first person on the scene. Good photographers are some of the best reporters. May ask questions and conduct interviews while manning the camera. Generally wears a pager and is on call.

PRODUCER
Produces a daily newscast. Manages staff of reporters, photographers, editors and anchors to meet the station's vision. The producer is responsible for the editorial content, production and look and feel of the newscast.

PROMOTION PRODUCER
Creates promotional spots to promote the station's image, talent, or news and topical promotion spots that let viewers know what will be on the newscast today/ tonight/ tomorrow. This position is usually in the promotion and or marketing department.

REPORTER
Gathers news and produces stories for air. Conducts interviews, gathers facts, and puts it all together. Depending on station and market, may be asked to do anywhere from one to five stories per day. Generally wears a pager and is on call.

REPORTER/PHOTOGRAPHER
"ONE-MAN BAND"
This person does the work of the reporter AND the photographer. Works by themselves and gathers and shoots stories as well as writes and edits them.

TAPE OPERATOR
Loads the individual news story tapes into tape machines and cues them up to play during the newscast. This position is sometimes in news and handled by a video tape editor. It's often a member of the engineering department.

TECHNICAL DIRECTOR
In the control room during the newscast, the TD switches the newscast at the direction of the director. The TD is the person who "pushes the buttons" to get various tapes, cameras, live shots, graphics and effects on the air. At some stations, the TD and the director are the same person. This position is usually in engineering or production.

TOPICAL PROMOTION PRODUCER
Creates the daily, topical, promotion spots that let viewers know what will be on the newscast today/tonight/tomorrow. May work in the promotion department or news department.

If you are one of those people who have found themselves without a job, don't panic. A lot of good people have been fired or laid off. It's OK to feel angry, depressed and scared. Just don't let those emotions take over. You now have a full-time job, it's called "Finding A New Job."

Apply for unemployment. Any money you receive is less money you have to take out of savings. Besides, it's only short term. Then find out what the IRS considers deductible while searching for a job (www.irs.gov). If you itemize, almost everything can be written off. But you have to document everything.

Figure out what you are going to do about health insurance. By law, your employer must make available the same insurance plan you currently have -- COBRA -- for an extended period of time. You will have to pay for it and it won't be cheap. Consider a "transitional" policy. The premiums are usually reasonable because it has a high deductible. Remember, you are trying to protect yourself if you get seriously ill. Before your current policy runs out (usually the last day of the month) schedule doctor and dentist appointments. Explain the circumstances and they may be able to get you in before your station policy runs out.

Finally, get up at the same time each day, shower, get dressed and get to work at your new job. Good Luck!