Job Ad for Slate Magazine

We are looking for an energetic newshound with a passion for all things social to support us in growing our social media traffic. Do you have clear and snappy writing skills along with an innate understanding of how to get people to share things? Are you comfortable quickly whipping up sharable graphics in Photoshop? Have you ever made something go viral? Then you might be the right person for us. An active personal social media presence and one to two years’ experience running institutional social media feeds are strong pluses.

Katherine Goldstein, Editor, Vanity Fair’s Web Site (Her Responsibilities Include Reading Magazine Job Applications)

Keep it short. I started putting word limits on cover letters because I couldn’t stand, nor did I have the time to read, the epically long letters I’d receive. I’m going to give your letter maybe thirty seconds of my time. If you are interested in a job in journalism, you should be able to tell me about yourself and why I should hire you in less than two hundred words. I’ve never hired someone with a long-winded cover letter. Same goes for résumés. No one with fewer than four years of full-time work experience needs more than a page. Your summer lifeguarding job does not need five bullet points.

Gemma Askham, Deputy Feature Editor, Glamour Magazine U.K.

After a degree, a journalism postgrad, and three months’ work experience, I ran out of money to work for free (and out of London-based relatives willing to let me squat in their spare room!). When my parents said, “When are you going to give up on being a writer and get a proper job?” I realised I had to get any magazine job. Anywhere. So I moved 150 miles to a tiny Midlands town to work—not on the dream women’s glossy, but on two car magazines, Planet 4x4 and Total Off-Road. And I’d urge anyone to start small.

Tehrene Firman, Web Editor, J-14 Magazine

I make sure the Web site is updated with breaking celebrity news, conduct interviews with today’s top stars, write up fun features, and update the magazine’s social media accounts. . . . Get as much experience as you possibly can. Obviously your grades are important, but the people who will be hiring you are looking for writers who really know what they’re doing. Write as much as you can, get editing experience, and if there aren’t many options where you’re from, don’t let that stop you. I’m from an incredibly small town in Iowa and started my own online magazine to get experience. Your hard work won’t go unnoticed. Trust me.