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Original poster

DH has totally unrealistic expectations of me going back to work!

66 replies

WallOfSilence · 04/03/2008 20:11

Basically I am about to finish a degree in journalism.

I have a meeting with the editor of our local paper this week to discuss work experience & to talk over my post graduate course.

I want to do the post grad course & it has a 100% employment rate at the end of it. The only thing is that it is very competitive with only 16 places & usually over 60 applicants.

Dh, however, has been pointing out stupid jobs for me in the 'jobs' pages of another paper. One was for a magazine journalist & it didn't ask for NCTJ exams or PG/MA degrees, just a knowledge of computers etc.. basically my degree course would be ideal as I have covered everything they asked for experience wise.

BUT the job is 50 miles away.

Starting time... 8am

Ending time... 5pm

Travel time of 90 mins each way. Means leaving the house at 6.30am (after getting the kids up & getting them ready) plus no childminder around here is willing to start at this time, I know this from experience.

His job is long hours too & he wouldn't be here to put them out to school.

I just can't get him to understand that it just isn't feasible for me to work out that many hours a day..all the money I earn would go to the childminder (if I could get one, which I wouldn't!) & I would never see my children

He's not against me doing the PG course, but thinks I am employable without it (more fool him!)

When I tried to explain how it would benefit us all if I went to see the local guy, got my name known & did some work experience, we ended up having an argument, as even though he is 100% supportive of my studying, I think he's fed up with the outlay & no income!

It wouldn't hurt to get my name down & could benefit us in the long run as when I say 'local' I mean 5 miles from our house, a 10 minute drive on a main road....

How can I really make him see sense without having another row?

OP posts:
Clary · 05/03/2008 09:45

Hello WofS.

MI alerted me to yr thread.
I think if you want to be a local newspaper journalist then there?s no point in trying for a job on a magazine. Also 8-5 is rather long hours (40 hr week even with an hour for lunch). That sounds like a bit of a no-no to me.

My advice as a former newspaper editor would be to go and see yr local editor and put it to him that if he could offer you a paid job (maybe with NCE exams thrown in) then you would be able to give him the benefit of your experience (of life) and local knowledge (very valuable) and also would stay as you have roots. We have a lot of kids working here - gotta love em as they are stylish and beautiful but they know eff all about life so it?s a nightmare giving them a story to do with for example the armed forces or having a baby as they have no idea what questions to ask. Then after they have been here for a couple of years they swan off down to London anyway if they are any good.

Whereas you would know all about lots of things and really be the kind of person who reads the paper so would know what you and others want to read (health issues, education, planning etc).

I would go along and sell yourself on that basis in the hope that he will give you a job now (or rather in June) rather than doing another year of training. I appreciate what you say about the PG course bringing 100% employment but if you have already done 3 yrs of journalism then what more can you learn that you won?t learn better by actually doing the job? (which IMHO is the best way of becoming a journalist anyway).
BTW I have neither journalism degree (I do have a degree but just a regular crappy BA) nor NCTJ training nor PG from Cardiff and I seem to have got on OK. Maybe it?s a bit different now but I still think local people who are committed to an area are highly valuable.

At least go and see if he has/is likely to have any vacancies. You can always apply for other things and the PG course as well, so as to show DH you are doing all you can.

Newgirl - most journalists here use shorthand actually - tape recorders not practicala when you are chatting on the phone to people.

Am that a 3-yr journalism degree leaves you not knowing shorthand which is the main thing you need to learn wtf does it teach you then????

Still, all not lost, get a book and some tapes and you'll pick up teeline by July no probs.

Original poster
WallOfSilence · 05/03/2008 10:21

Clary, I am so glad I read your post this morning.

I have the meeting at 11am today & I am a bit nervous. I keep telling myself it's just a chat re: work experience but I know in my heart I want more.

To top things off my car broke down this morning in the middle of a busy road whilst taking dd to school.

I am waiting on my dad to come & drive me to the meeting... well, it was either that or change the day & I didn't want to make a bad impression.

I don't really get on with my dad but no-one else was available to take me..

I have jotted down a few ideas for future stories/features that I am going to chat to the editor about. Summer, C'mas & Easter features using local attractions.

I have also put together some of the work I did in the creative writing module so he can have a look at my other style of writing.

What do we learn on the 3yr journalism course?? Well, year 1 was the history of media. Year 2 was journalism practice, courts, council meetings etc & practice at feature writing.
Year 3 has been NCTJ law & advanced journalism practice. We put together a uni newspaper & used out own stories in it. Mine was about a local woman helping orphans abroad & I had a picture in there too, so I am taking that along to show the editor..

Anyway, i'm worried now that my dad is going to be late & i'll make a bad impression!!

OP posts:
PatsyCline · 05/03/2008 10:38

Ooh, I hope it went really well, WOS! I am doing an NCTJ course at the moment and would love to work for my local paper when I can finally launch myself into the job market.

BTW, there is an online Shorthand course available if you find the books too hard to get on with.

Clary · 05/03/2008 12:31

Hope meeting went well WofS and glad if I was helpful.

Still baffled about shorthand tho ? how on earth can you take down note in court and council meetings and produce any kind of newspaper without it? Not your fault of course but I think the people putting together the degree are seriously at fault (because as you observe, it?s meant to be totally job-orientated ie leading you to a career in erm journalism.) Tell me you didn?t use a tape recorder in court?

Original poster
WallOfSilence · 05/03/2008 14:16

Thanks girls

Noo! We didn't take recording devices into court.

We just had to write as quick as we could.. and same in council meetings. The council meeting weren't so bad as it is a small town/village & I know (or am aware of) most of the councillors names etc..

I had the meeting!
The editor was nice.

He kept my portfolio to look through & we had a chat about me & what I hoped to do etc.

Then he asked me what exactly it was I had hoped for when I made the appointment. I said I had noticed a vacancy in the XXXXX office & that it hadn't been filled since Christmas.

I said I am local to there & although I know I don't have shorthand, what experience I was lacking I could more than make up for in enthusiasm. He asked why I wanted to be a journalist. I said it was what I'd always wanted to do.. even when we at primary school & we said what we wanted to be when we grew up, mine was always journalist.

He explained that shorthand was preffered but not essential and that if I was willing to learn the shorthand I should apply for the job in the XXXXX office. He also said that there was just one reporter in that office at the minute & if I go there for work experience then it would also help them out!

I am gushing now as I don't know what to say/do.

I have rang for the application form.

Surely if he thought I wasn't employabe or enthusiastic enough, or keen enough, he wouldn't have suggested I apply for the job.
When I go in do I say the editor of the main office told me to apply?

He said he was going to have a word with his superiors & call me. In the mean time he has pencilled me in for work experience 2 days a week for the next fortnight!!!!

OP posts:
newgirl · 05/03/2008 14:19

oh yes phone interviews - shorthand would then be most useful!! oops - i am thinking more mags and tv reviews etc - as you say the op does want to work in local papers so it does sound useful. WHen ive been interviewed they come round to the house with a recorder

Original poster
WallOfSilence · 05/03/2008 14:25

Patsycline Could you point me in the direction of the online shorthand course?

The nearest class to me is 60 miles away or if I do the MA.

OP posts:
Original poster
WallOfSilence · 05/03/2008 14:26

When you've been interviewed newgirl?? OOoh are you a sleb then?

OP posts:
newgirl · 05/03/2008 14:28

no not a sleb but have been interviewed by a couple of the papers - im an editor myself - anyway, i had better get on with some work!!!

ChampagneSupernova · 05/03/2008 15:39

Onlineshorthand
Pitman
Teeline
HTH and well done WOS sounds like you've done brilliantly.
Best of luck

Original poster
WallOfSilence · 05/03/2008 16:54

Thanks Champagne

OP posts:
PatsyCline · 05/03/2008 19:38

WoS, it sounds like the meeting went brilliantly. I am so but in a good way, I swear!

If you do any of the shorthand courses CS linked to could you keep me posted on how they are, please? I must do one soon.

Original poster
WallOfSilence · 05/03/2008 19:53

Of course I will Pat

What are you learning on the NCTJ course?

If it's law then I have some sample papers here I don't mind photocopying & sending you. They include the answers too so you can see what you need to learn

OP posts:
PatsyCline · 05/03/2008 20:06

I am doing the periodical course (largely because I didn't think that I had the grit to do the shorthand on my tod!), but I dream about persuading my local newspaper editor that he really does want a woman of advanced years (ok, 40) to be his trainee.

Thank you very much for the kind offer re the papers, WoS. We do cover law but we don't take exams on this course. If I go on to the newspaper course, then I may well come back to you!

I would also be very interested to hear how you find the working hours.

Good luck!

Patsy

Original poster
WallOfSilence · 06/03/2008 17:55

Hi girls!

You are not going to belive this!

The editor called me today & asked me to come in for a job interview tomorrow!! For the job based at the XXXXX office!!

I am slightly pooing myself...

So now, does anyone know if they would want me to wear a suit? I was just going to go for 'smart' not power suit or anything (besides which I don't own one)!

OP posts:
PatsyCline · 06/03/2008 18:51

Yeah, WoS. That's brilliant.

Original poster
WallOfSilence · 06/03/2008 18:53

I'm imagining all sorts though.

What if they don't think i'm suitable & just want me in to make a fool of myself?

I'm sure they won't...but still.. the doubt is there

OP posts:
PatsyCline · 06/03/2008 19:04

What I think they want is to fill the position as soon as possible with someone suitably qualified who knows the local area and wants to stick around in the job that's you by the way, WoS!).

IME of meeting journalists on our local paper 'smart' should do fine.

Everything crossed for you tomorrow.

newgirl · 06/03/2008 20:03

woooo

yes dress as smart as you can as they have to imagine you representing them/talking to local politicians etc

be confident and interested in the paper

dont talk about the children

dont say anything that you cant do

read the paper so you know the sort of thing they cover

yaay

FourPlusOne · 06/03/2008 20:09

Have been following since I posted to see how it went for you. That is great news. Good luck tomorrow.

Original poster
WallOfSilence · 06/03/2008 22:44

Aww thanks!

i got this

Well, the shirt under the waistcoat is stripey.

So I will go in with an air of confidence...
and try not to heave.

I'll let you know how it goes... I might need you to throw a pity party!

OP posts:
Original poster
WallOfSilence · 07/03/2008 13:35

Am about to leave now... think of me pls! xo

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Original poster
WallOfSilence · 07/03/2008 16:32

OMG... what an experience.

The heel of my boot broke going across the road to the office.

Then I realised the button on the blouse gaped.

It rained.

I had no coat with me.

Someone had obviously farted when I entered the office.

Then I got in & the area manager was the guy who interviewed me. He asked me all about my lack of shorthand.

Anyway, we had a chat & they were very nice. He said that he likes the fact I am local & friendly..but it kept going back to my lack of shorthand.

So, time will tell I guess.

OP posts:
Clary · 08/03/2008 00:04

WoS sorry that sounds a bit of a catalogue of disaster!

FWIW I started my first job in newspapers with no shorthand (and no driving licence either which was a right pain) but I did an evening class and was sorted within a matter of months. Driving licence took longer...

You need to use it (s/hand) a lot to learn it - but then you will if you are working as a reporter!

(Still puzzled as to why it's not taught on yr 3-year course, which otherwise sounds very practical and job-orintated...)

Hope you get a good result.

Original poster
WallOfSilence · 08/03/2008 06:43

Thanks Clary.

Actually I think it went better than I think. The manager called my uni tutor last night & asked if he would rate me. Apparently my uni lecturer give me a glowing reference

I am so nervous/excited I can't sleep.

I am going to start an essay now so at least I can spend time with the kids when they wake up.

Thanks all for being there & being supportive of me

OP posts: