FIU SPJ: How to get the Job

When applying for a job, knowing background information about the company is important, said Maria Murriel, news digital editor for WLRN.

Murriel, an FIU alum, spoke last Thursday to a group of students and faculty at the “How to Get the Job” workshop, an event sponsored by FIU-SPJ.

She provided advice for the upcoming job-seeking students about cover letters, resumes and job interviews.

Murriel knows what a prospective hirer wants, as she actively reviews intern applications for WLRN.

Resumes should be easy-to-read with relevant experience and concise information.

“I look at a resume first and see if there are typos,” Murriel said. ”If my name is misspelled, I don’t want to talk to you.”

Cover letters are also important when applying for a job or internship.

“Be creative and give it personality. Use keywords that will speak to the people hiring you,” she said.

She gave the example of how she put phonetic pronunciations under her name on the resume she once submitted.

For Clara-Meretan Kiah, journalism major and the SPJ-FIU secretary, being able to be creative with a resume is what she learned from the workshop.

“A lot of people will tell you to be as traditional and formal as possible, but formal doesn`t always mean traditional,” Kiah said, referring to adding infographics to your resume. “Taking some liberties with your resume not only helps you stand out from the crowd, but it can make it easier for the interviewer to read.”

Murriel’s final thoughts: when it comes to an interview, always have a print resume on hand, come prepared with story ideas and follow-up with a thank you note via email.

“Don’t freak out until you get the offer. Then you can freak out,” Murriel said.