| Hello, this week from URL Media Senior Recruiter Sonali Kohli. It is that time once more, of heat waves and conferences. Today I’m sharing advice — some old, some new — from friends and former colleagues, on how to make the most of conference season if you are able to attend any this summer. On making connections Conferences are an opportunity to build community within your field and reconnect with the mission of your work, said Marissa Evans, investigations editor at the Investigative Project on Race and Equity. To that end, her advice to people attending for the first time or the fifteenth, is the same: “Treat everyone like they are your peer, no matter where you work, no matter what your title is,” Marissa said. Marissa recently ran into conference attendees who she had first met when they were interns, early in their careers. “They remember I was kind, they remember I always tried to be helpful to them. I think conferences should really be reflecting the best of your career back to you. And that takes time.” She also encouraged attendees to approach their schedule with an open mind, and to use conferences as an opportunity to learn about work or journalists you don’t yet know well. And if a panel resonates with you, connect with the speaker either at the conference or online, Marissa said. On learning new skills From Los Angeles Times reporter Andrea Castillo, who shared her best practices after returning from an Investigative Reporters and Editors Conference a few years ago: “What was big for me was downloading the app, looking at the schedule ahead of time, deciding which sessions I would attend, and having backups every hour,” Andrea said. She also looked at attendees on the conference app to see if there were any journalists she definitely wanted to try to connect with. During the sessions, Andrea said, “I had my notes app open every session I was in, and I would put the title of the session and then just have bullet points of the things I was taking away. And for some of them, I made notes to go back and download the tip sheets.” On getting a job My advice is to remain flexible with your time. Of course, do your research and go to sessions. But many hiring managers and recruiters find candidates at conferences, myself included — we could recruit you for a current opening, or want to keep you in mind for future roles. Remember that these are places to connect as much as to learn, so don’t be afraid to adjust for a coffee meeting or an off-schedule happy hour. After these conversations, have a digital business card ready to exchange information, and follow up with people you meet. Of course, many of us can’t attend conferences, for a variety of reasons. My advice in that situation remains the same: If there’s a session you’re interested in, reach out to the panelist and see if they will share their materials or talk to you. Many of us want to connect, and will be happy to talk. |
URL MEDIA FEATURED JOBS URL Media is recruiting for or supporting recruitment of these open roles and opportunities. Contact sonali@url-media.com if you’re interested in learning more about any of them.  Position: PublisherCompany: Rest of World Compensation: $350,000 — $450,000 Location: Flexible URL NETWORK JOBS The following are opportunities with URL partners & their networks. We encourage you to apply directly! Position: Isaac Rauch FellowshipCompany: Documented Compensation: $10,000 grant Location: Remote Position: Northside ReporterCompany: The Oklahoma Eagle Compensation: $50,000 – $85,000 Location: Tulsa, OK |
