Job Opening — Communications Office, D.C. area

Posted on June 17, 2013 by John N. Frank

This posting came to me through a college listserv, good luck, and always be job hunting:

The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) has an opening for a Communications/Public Affairs Officer for our 10,000-member professional society based in Rosslyn, VA. IDSA represents physicians and scientists who specialize in infectious diseases. The Society also houses the HIV Medicine Association (HIVMA), which represents medical professionals who practice HIV medicine.

January is job hunting season.

January is job hunting season.

The Communications/Public Affairs Officer’s main function is to raise awareness about the Society and its goals among various target audiences, including members, potential members, the media, policymakers, the general public, and other advocacy groups. Specific duties include:

· Serving as a point of contact for reporters covering domestic infectious disease and HIV issues

· Overseeing and collaborating with the Society’s PR firm on media outreach

· Writing and editing the Society’s monthly electronic newsletter and emails for members

·  Creating or acquiring content for the IDSA and HIVMA websites and social media outlets

Successful candidates will have a degree in English, journalism, PR or a related field; five or more years of communications experience; excellent interpersonal skills; the ability to juggle multiple projects on multiple deadlines; and general knowledge of health care, ideally public health, ID, and HIV.

We welcome mission-driven team players who want to make the world a better place.

Interested candidates should contact Diana Olson, Vice President of Communications, at dolson@idsociety.org.

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What happens when you don’t get that job you wanted?

Posted on June 7, 2013 by John N. Frank

You’ve gone through level after level of interview for a job that sounds almost perfect for you. Everyone who interviews you seems to enjoy talking to you and sounds impressed by your credentials and your insights on how you would handle the position available.

You’ve been told you’ve made it to being a finalist and it’s only a matter of time before an offer will be made.

But then weeks go by and the offer doesn’t come. You try some discreet emails or phone calls to find out about timing. At first you get some polite replies but then those stop as well. It becomes painfully obvious you didn’t get the job.

Shock and disbelief set in. You were sure you had it, you had started buying some new clothes to fit into the new workplace. You may even have stopped some other interview processes, that’s how sure you were of this job.

Never stop job hunting, there are no certain job offers out there. So don;t let your guard down if you think an offer may be imminent...it also may not be,.

Never stop job hunting, there are no certain job offers out there. So don;t let your guard down if you think an offer may be imminent…it also may not be,.

What do you do? First, spend some time grieving, it is a major emotional loss and pretending it doesn’t matter won’t help you get to where you need to be to again start your job search.

In my case, I know I’m at the end of my grief period when I can remind myself that it’s the potential employer’s loss, I know I would have been amazing at that position but the people hiring didn’t see it that way. Time for me to move on.

Continue reading →

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What’s the Best Job Hunting Tip? Believe in Yourself

Posted on June 5, 2013 by John N. Frank

An acquaintance of mine was having a  rough time with a superior recently and, likely out of frustration, asked about buying a copy of my book. After she read it, she was invigorated and knew what she had to do career-wise, she told me in no uncertain terms.

The reason for her changed mood and career outlook? My book had reminded her of what I think is the most important job-hunting lesson of all — always believe in yourself and your abilities. A terrible job can make you feel worthless. You have to fight that to find a better place emotionally. Only then can you find a job that will hopefully be more fulfilling.

A worthless job can weigh on you. Fight off those negative vibes and think positively of yourself. Good things will follow.

A worthless job can weigh on you. Fight off those negative vibes and think positively of yourself. Good things will follow.

It’s tough to lift your head high when everyone around you is dumping on top of you, I know, but work at it, try a little more each day. You can’t go into interviews seeming hopeless or worthless, no one wants to hire someone who doesn’t believe in themselves.

John N. Frank

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Job tours of duty are getting shorter, another reason to always be job hunting

Posted on June 3, 2013 by John N. Frank

I came across a great piece by workplace columnist Rex Hupke in the Chicago Tribune recently. He wrote of a Harvard Business Review article detailing how the amount of time people can expect to spend at a given job is becoming shorter and shorter.

That point is a basic premise of my book, Always Be Job Hunting, so it’s nice to see confirmation of it.

But that as it may, I went to the HBR site to find the article so I could pass on tidbits from it to you.

“For most of the 20th century, the compact between employers and employees in the developed world was all about stability. Jobs at big corporations were secure: As long as the company did OK financially and the employee did his or her job, that job wouldn’t go away. And in the white-collar world, careers progressed along an escalator of sorts, offering predictable advancement to employees who followed the rules. Corporations, for their part, enjoyed employee loyalty and low turnover. Continue reading →

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How to Determine if an Internship is Worth Your Time

Posted on May 9, 2013 by John N. Frank

Some good thoughts here…

Tropicana Employment Centre's avatarAsk the Job Coach

When you are looking for a job, time is money.  You can’t afford to invest much time into something unless it is going to bring you results.  Internships have the potential to significantly help you secure a job.  However, there is always a risk that you can put in all that time, and still end up with nothing.  So how can you tell if an internship is going to be worth the investment?

Here are some guidelines to help you make that assessment:

1.  Have a goal, and a clear idea of how this internship will help you reach that goal.  If you know exactly what you are trying to achieve with your internship, you will be more likely to make use of the opportunities that come your way.

2.  Evaluate the learning opportunities.  This includes training sessions, and also the experience that you will get at the…

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Job Openings: University of Chicago

Posted on May 8, 2013 by John N. Frank

These came to me from a college alumni listserv I belong to. Good hunting:

The University of Chicago News Office recently posted two exceptional job opportunities that include big responsibilities and coverage of fascinating subject areas. One, Associate News Director, is a leadership position to help fill the wide void that Bill Harms will leave when he retires at the end of June. The other, Law and Policy News Officer.

HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

Associate News Director: A leader in the University of Chicago News Office, helping to manage communications about research and institutional news and announcements at one of the world’s foremost research universities. Requires a candidate who can help manage the News Office, in addition to writing about and promoting specific academic and institutional subject areas.Will work closely with the News Director in supervising staff in their duties, including; responding to daily media inquiries and interview requests. Creating social media content. Coaching faculty and staff on working with the media. Arranging for expert commentary that makes use of the University’s radio and TV studios. Guiding the writing of op-eds. Planning and executing comprehensive communications campaigns to convey significant news to diverse internal and public audiences.

Will write about research news in an engaging and accessible style, work directly with other units to build creative multimedia and explanatory packages, develop story pitches, and develop comprehensive communications plans. The News Office is seeking applications from experienced writers and communications professionals. Although the specific subject coverage area for this role may be adjusted to best employ the experience and talents of the candidate and other staff members, experience and interest in the social sciences such as economics, psychology, political science and urban policy is preferred.

As a leader in the Office of Communications, the Associate News Director will work with deans, officers and other University leaders, in addition to regular contact with faculty.

Law and Policy News Officer:  The News Office is seeking an exceptional and energetic writer and media relations officer to facilitate media coverage and disseminate stories about scholarship and other news at the University’s renowned schools of law and public policy.The Law and Public Policy News Officer works at one of the nation’s leading universities and has regular contact with internationally respected scholars on campus and with journalists from around the world. They will work with partners, in their department and across campus, to help develop comprehensive communications plans. They will enhance media coverage and public understanding of faculty and student activities and achievements by developing story leads and pitches, writing news releases, arranging interviews, scheduling TV and radio studio appearances, providing media coaching, and otherwise facilitating contact between faculty and the news media. The Law and Public Policy News Officer will write news and feature articles for University websites and other online channels, and will coordinate multimedia packages for news and features.

The position has extensive contact with the Law School and the Harris School of Public Policy, as well as other units with work concerning policy, such as the Institute of Politics. This role requires skill at coordinating institutional news that often crosses multiple disciplines and units of the University.

A cover letter, resume, writing samples that demonstrate strong reporting and writing skills for a general audience, and reference contact information are required to be considered for this position.

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Which Jobs Should You Avoid?

Posted on May 7, 2013 by John N. Frank

While everyone wants to do something they love, there are some career paths that are dead ends no matter how much you love doing whatever it is. Yahoo recently ran a list of what it called dying careers you should avoid, click on the link here and take a look.

My old career, reporter, is number two on this list, one of the reasons I’m not a reporter any longer.

“Reporter and correspondent positions are expected to decline by 8 percent from 51,900 jobs in 2010 to 48,000 in 2020, for a total of nearly 4,000 jobs lost, says the U.S. Department of Labor,” Yahoo reports.

Here's a prescription on jobs to avoid.

Here’s a prescription on jobs to avoid.

“Why It’s Dying: The Department of Labor says that because of the trend of consolidation of media companies and the decline in readership of newspapers, reporters will find there are fewer available jobs.

“So, if you have a hankering for writing, you might look into,” Yahoo concludes.

I was surprised reporter wasn’t listed as the number one career to avoid. The winner, or loser, for that spot was desktop publisher, a term I haven’t heard much of since the late 1980s and early 1990s.

“The Department says that advances in user-friendly desktop publishing software will allow other workers, such as graphic designers and copyeditors, to perform the tasks desktop publishers do now. Automation will also lead to job loss,” Yahoo Education reports.

My need to stay one step ahead of the next company consolidation  closure or sale in journalism is why I’ve had so many jobs in my career and why I continue to Always Be Job Hunting, as you all should be.

John N. Frank

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Spring Means Gearing Up for a New Job Hunting Season

Posted on May 6, 2013 by John N. Frank

The traditional spring rush of new college grads is entering the workforce, all looking for work in a still sluggish U.S. economy. But you don’t have to be a new grad to start searching this time of year, everyone who is job hunting (and that means you), should spruce up their job-hunting tools and techniques and enter the fray this time of year.

Why? Many companies start new fiscal years in June or July, and that means new budgets, which can mean new money to fill positions left vacant to save a few dollars as the old year drew to a close.

Time for some spring job hunting

Time for some spring job hunting

So here’s how to get ready to get some spring job offers:

  • Revamp your resume. If it’s been a few months or even a year since you looked at your resume, that means there are recent achievements not on there. Review and update your resume,,,and create different resumes for different types of jobs you may be seeking.
  • Revamp your job hunting wardrobe. Men have it easier on this front as several men’s clothing stores offer buy one get one or even get two free deals. You need more than one job hunting suit for when you’re called back for a second interview. And don’t forget some new ties. They may not be worn in many workplaces any longer but they’re still a job hunting wardrobe basics in many industries. Also, have at least one pair of decent dress shoes.
  • Re-examine your prospect list. Are there companies you want to target that you haven’t before? Have some of your old targets fallen on hard times? Prune the list and add to it as needed.

Gear up for a new season, because you should Always Be Job Hunting.

John N. Frank

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Beyond the Money

Posted on March 22, 2013 by John N. Frank

Some good advice here, going for the money isn’t always the bst strategy long-term…

Bruce Allen's avatarThe Search Continues...

As noted in this blog’s past articles, the market has been swinging back in the favor of candidates.  I’ve seen this manifest itself recently by significantly increased incidences of multiple suitors for a given candidate, resulting in multiple offers.  With all things being equal (which is never the case), candidates typically accept the offer with the highest base salary and total compensation at plan.

This week, however, I witnessed a candidate accept an offer that did not boast of the highest salary and total comp.  Why did he do this?  Because he’s smart.  He did his due diligence on the companies, got introspective to assess his career aspirations and looked well beyond the shiny penny of cash compensation.

When putting aside the money, there is a bevy of variables to consider in assessing opportunities.  It is for this reason that no two opportunities could ever be equal.  Let’s take a…

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Job Opening — Champaign, Il. — Director, News & Public Affairs

Posted on March 19, 2013 by John N. Frank

I’m seeing more journalism job openings like this one lately, perhaps it’s a sign the economy is finally picking up, given that the journalism job market always lags far behind the overall economy.

Director of News & Public Affairs
Illinois Public Media (WILL radio.tv.online)

Illinois Public Media seeks a Director of News & Public Affairs to lead our award-winning team of journalists at WILL AM-FM-TV, the public broadcasting service of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

The News and Public Affairs Director is responsible for the structure and strategy that will increase WILL’s significance as a vital and critical community resource providing context, understanding and a sense of place for the people of central Illinois.

The News and Public Affairs Director will lead a staff of reporters, hosts, and producers providing management and editorial oversight for the department, coaching, editing, story conceptualizing and assignments as well as working with other departments at the station, the College of Media, and community groups and organizations to deepen our reach and impact. The News & Public Affairs Director reports to the Director of Community Content & Engagement who reports to the General Manager.

January is job hunting season.

January is job hunting season.

Illinois Public Media is a not-for-profit public media service of the College of Media at the University of Illinois. Our mission is to enrich people’s lives through programs and services that educate, entertain, inspire and empower by airing the best of public television and radio programs, producing local content for TV, radio and the Web while working with community partners to address needs and concerns.

The University of Illinois is home to Nobel Laureates, MacArthur Fellows and Pulitzer Prize winners. The university’s library is one of the largest in the world and its Krannert Center is one of the nation’s top performance venues. Residents of Champaign-Urbana enjoy a thriving arts scene, an active night life, Big Ten sports, museums, parks and a growing system of bicycle paths.

Primary duties include:
Map out the long-term direction for the department that builds upon our demonstrated strengths in radio and creates a strategic presence on television and helps chart our web course
Work with the Director of Community Content & Engagement to develop long-range station goals, establish departmental benchmarks, evaluate daily operations’ relevance to the overall station strategy, address daily issues
Work with the Director of Community Content & Engagement to develop and identify a diverse pool of journalists and producers and diversity of ideas
Collaborate with NPR & PBS, other media (public and commercial) and community partners on special projects that deepen our reach and impact
Create departmental budget and pursue funding for long-term initiatives and special projects
Work with other departments at WILL to ensure continuity and good relationships that support a coordinated station strategy
Encourage professional development among staff and networking with professionals at other stations and national organizations
Encourage and enable staff to develop a deep network of sources and long-form stories that enlighten, connect and inform our radio, TV and web audiences and ensure those audiences see us as a vital part of their lives
Recruit and train students to give them newsroom experience and ensure that WILL benefits from their perspectives
Gain recognition for the station and for regional issues by creating award-winning programs, stories and initiatives
Oversee the daily operation of our radio news and radio talk programming which includes, but is not limited to the following duties: lead daily news meetings; assign, guide and edit stories for radio and web; set deadlines; work with reporters, producers, freelancers and students on developing sources and program ideas, story narrative and sound excellence; set daily and weekly schedules of reporters and producers; manage the job performance of reporters, producers, and program hosts; conduct air-checks; train and supervise staff; ensure effective communication between morning, afternoon and weekend shifts and between news and public affairs programming; manage vacation and holiday schedules to ensure on-air coverage
On-air substitute for Morning Edition, All Things Considered and local radio programming as necessary
Participate in on-air fund drives, station events and community engagement projects
Perform related duties as assigned

Minimum qualifications: A bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism or relevant field; four years of relevant journalism experience including newsroom management experience; sound news judgment; commitment to journalism ethics and fairness; excellent writing and editing skills; competency in the use of digital audio editing and broadcast content software; competency in the use of web content management software; knowledge of broadcast production and FCC regulations. Must possess a broadcast-quality voice.

Ability to: Keep abreast of the trends and issues affecting the region, respond to changes in our industry, provide responsible coverage in times of emergencies, learn the latest production, web, social media and broadcast tools.

SALARY and BENEFITS: Salary commensurate with experience but not less than $45,000. No relocation expenses provided. This is a full-time academic professional position at the Urbana campus. The University of Illinois offers a generous benefits package, which includes one month of paid vacation annually, health, dental and life insurance, sick leave, a pension system, and tuition benefits.

TO APPLY: Complete a candidate profile at https://jobs.illinois.edu and upload a cover letter, resume, list of three professional references, and both written and audio samples of your work. Please let us know how you learned about this job opening. Full consideration will be given to applications received by April 3, 2013. Starting date: June 10, 2013 or a mutually acceptable date. For more information, call Dee Breeding, HR Specialist, at 217-333-7300, or email breeding@illinois.edu.

Illinois Public Media at the University of Illinois is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer and welcomes individuals with diverse backgrounds, experiences and ideas who embrace and value diversity and inclusivity. http://www.inclusiveillinois.illinois.edu
College Name or Administrative Unit:
IPM, College of Media
Title:
Director of News & Public Affairs – IPM (A1300104)
Open Date:
03/06/2013

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