So What Do You Do, Mike Catherwood, Host of Loveline?

'The genuine nature of radio is what I love about it.'

8 min read • Originally published December 2, 2015 / Updated March 19, 2026

Mike Catherwood’s years of hard work and refining his craft paid off on January 28, 2011.

That’s when the 32-year-old filled in for Regis Philbin on Live! with Regis and Kelly after he was selected as part of the show’s “Men of Radio Co-Host for a Day” contest. The former Kevin & Bean (KROQ-FM 106.7) producer and Loveline host had a local presence in Southern California, but Catherwood’s stock shot through the roof after spending an hour next to Kelly Ripa. He was immediately booked as the unknown heartthrob on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars, quite the accomplishment if you knew Catherwood’s past.

Five nights a week on Loveline, you can hear Catherwood speak openly about his battles with alcohol and substance abuse and the steps he took to overcome them. If you can snort it, Catherwood likely tried it during his rebellious years as a teen. It wasn’t until 2002 when he was treated at Las Encinas Hospital that he managed to turn his life around and met Dr. Drew Pinsky in the process. Fast-forward to today and Catherwood works alongside the man who helped him with his recovery.

What a difference 10 years makes.

Name: Mike Catherwood
Position: Host of Loveline
Resume: Started as a van driver and promotions assistant at KROQ-FM in 2002. Named production assistant for the station’s Kevin & Bean show a year later. In 2005, was promoted to the Kevin & Bean on-air crew, handling mostly comedy bits and parody songs. Hired as host of Loveline in March 2010.
Birthday: March 15, 1979
Hometown: Pasadena, Calif.
Education: San Marino High School
Marital status: Divorced
Media Idol: Past: Rod Serling or The Smothers Brothers. Present: Albert Brooks or Howard Stern
Favorite TV show: Mad Men
Guilty pleasure: Us Weekly
Last book read: On the Road by Jack Kerouac
Twitter handle: @mikecatherwood

Nine years ago, you were working as a promotions assistant at KROQ. Now, you’re the co-host of a nationally syndicated radio show and a budding TV personality. Did you ever in your wildest dreams imagine this would happen?

Not like this, no. I honestly thought if I were lucky, I would get a really good construction gig or become a fireman, in my wildest dreams. I’m not a studied guy… I’m not an educated guy. I never really imagined I would do anything outside blue-collar stuff.

I always thought I was going to be a rock star, but when I turned 20, that dream started to break up and wither away.

Once I got a job at KROQ though, I almost with a weird sense of certainty knew I was going to eventually get on the air. I knew once I could write a couple of parody songs or prank call Kevin & Bean enough, they would just put me on the air.

As a 32-year-old guy now, I look back at it now and it was such an immature notion to be that certain, but that’s the way I felt.

**You’re very open about your history of substance abuse and eventual road to sobriety. How have your personal struggles helped you with hosting Loveline?**

It’s crucial for me because I don’t have any other credentials. Who am I to give advice to anybody on anything? I’ve never been good at relationships — I’m divorced. As for other facets of life, I haven’t been that successful.

When it comes to a 17-year-old kid that struggles with booze and drugs, I can definitely talk to him with a level of credibility. Without that, I would have no reason even giving advice.

I feel like that’s a key part of what I do on the air, because outside of that I’m nothing but fart jokes.

When was the last time you were placed in a situation where your sobriety was in jeopardy?

It’s been recent. It’s funny because it has nothing to do with people using or drinking around me. Lord knows working at KROQ you’re exposed to it a lot. It’s the times when I’ll be alone and you kind of let your thoughts get the best of you. For me and a lot of addicts, idle hands are deadly.

That’s been the toughest times to deal with when something will happen that’s unfortunately depressing. Whether it be divorce, family trouble, professional problems… instead of dealing with it in a healthy way, I’ll sit and I’ll reflect on it, and that’s what drives me to have these strange urges.

By the grace of God, I’ve become smart enough to handle those urges in a proper way, talk to my sponsors, go to meetings, things like that.

**How has your professional career changed since last January when you filled in for Regis Philbin on Live! with Regis and Kelly?**

It’s been insane. I’ve been lucky enough to have way more success in the radio industry than I could ever dream of. But the radio industry is an incredibly anonymous industry. When you all of a sudden put your face out there on such a visible stage as the Regis and Kelly show, it was crazy to see people’s reactions.

Instantaneously, I signed with a big agency, I got Dancing with the Stars, and that’s when everything started snowballing. That’s when things, at least professionally, started to drastically change. It was all due to that weird contest that I didn’t even enter. I had no idea I was even entered in it.

So, who entered you and why?

It was done by the listeners. I have no clue who actually nominated me first.

**You were the first contestant eliminated from Dancing with the Stars last year. How did you let Wendy Williams out-dance you?**

I don’t think I did. I don’t think I let Wendy Williams out-dance me. I will say, she’s incredibly popular and successful, and that show is not a straightforward dancing competition. It’s a popularity contest and she has a much bigger fan base than I do.

Rightfully so, she’s worked for it. So that was kind of the deal. As far as my actual moves out there, I don’t think I let Wendy Williams out-dance me in any fashion.

Do you have a preference between radio and television?

There are ups and downs to both. The intimacy you develop with your fan base in radio … there’s nothing you can compare to that.

You could be on the most popular television show in the world, but if you’re on a show like Kevin & Bean, which I was lucky enough to grow up on really, the listeners are like your buddies. They drive to work with you every day. They know every intimate detail in your life, the ins and outs of it. There’s no TV show like that.

It’s totally unfiltered. You don’t have four or five producers trying to manipulate what you say and how you say it, which you do in TV. The immediacy and the genuine nature of radio is what I love about it.

You could be on the world’s smallest TV show on the back of the dial, and people are ‘Mr. Catherwood this’ and ‘Mr. Catherwood that.’ You get Craft Services and they treat you like a king. I think the kind of immediate gratification that comes along with success in TV is what I like about it.

If you’re a TV guy, people kiss your ass. You could be the stallions of all stallions in radio, and you’re still just another dude.

Radio is like a blue-collar gig. There are plenty of guys that are good at it that 10 years ago were swinging hammers or teaching schools.

Most people — not all — in TV, since 8 years old, have wanted to become a TV personality.

**During your time on the Kevin & Bean show, you were known for your celebrity impersonations. Was there a specific celebrity that didn’t see the humor in your impersonation?**

Tom DeLonge from Blink 182. He was not a fan. Like Gene Simmons, he likes when I do Gene Simmons for him, but he said I owed him money, which is very Gene. He said I owed him some kind of stipend for pretending to be him.

But Tom DeLonge was not happy. I don’t think he was mad at me; he truly doesn’t think his voice is that whiny and nasally.

You made a pledge to only buy domestic goods in 2012. What’s your motivation behind this project?

It’s dumb to say I felt guilty, but the economy has never been worse, probably not in recent history. Unemployment rates, especially in [California], are out of control. Right at that same time, I’ve never been more financially sound than I have been in my entire life.

I don’t want to say guilt, but I’m so overwhelmingly grateful that I’m comfortable at a time when more people than ever aren’t comfortable.

I started really looking at all the products you see at these big chain stores and everything we buy on a day-to-day basis, and it’s all manufactured outside the U.S. If I can hopefully inspire other people to follow in my footsteps, I think we could make some kind of progress in getting more jobs, getting more money into our gross domestic product.

And if I can celebrate and promote these companies that, in this time of massive outsourcing, still remain faithful to the idea of giving American jobs, that’s really the main goal.

What do you think has been the one key to your success?

I guess work ethic and professional humility have been my real strengths. By professional humility, I mean I was never too proud or above any work. When I was trying to really build my career I would carry sound equipment, edit commercials, load DATs [digital audio tapes] and CD’s or anything else anybody needed me to do.

Just because you want to be Johnny Carson, doesn’t mean you ARE Johnny Carson. I’m not the most talented or creative guy out there but I’ve earned my stripes. I think that might be something newer generations don’t understand because of social networks and YouTube.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Topics:

Advice From the Pros, Be Inspired

Job Search

7 Things to Know About Working With Creative Staffing Agencies

Find out if these contract and temp positions are right for you

By Kristen Fischer

Kristen Fischer is a freelance writer, journalist, and copywriter with over 20 years of experience, currently serving as a health writer for AARP with previous staff roles at WebMD and WW. Her work has appeared in Prevention, Healthline, Woman's Day, Parade, and Writer's Digest, and she is the author of four books.

7 min read • Originally published December 2, 2015 / Updated March 19, 2026

By Kristen Fischer

7 min read • Originally published December 2, 2015 / Updated March 19, 2026

Freelancing doesn’t always have to involve scouting for gigs—if you play your cards right, the jobs can come right to you. Working with creative staffing agencies can keep money coming in, help you build a portfolio and connect you with top brands.

Agencies such as Onward Search, The Creative Group, 24 Seven, Creative Circle and Vitamin T help corporations fill temporary and permanent positions for writers, designers, art directors, social media managers, video editors, web developers and the like. Companies often turn to these agencies because the agency prescreens candidates for full-time, part-time and freelance gigs. A sweet bonus is that many agencies offer benefits such as retirement accounts and health insurance if you keep consistent hours.

I’ve personally worked with agencies on and off during my career, so I can attest to some of the pros and cons. Here are seven things to keep in mind when deciding if working through an agency is right for you.

1. Approach a staffing agency like any other job you’d apply to.

Graphic designer Stacey Maloney, based in the Washington, D.C. area, says she researched agencies in her area and has worked with a few of them. In one case, she snagged a full-time job because the job was posted exclusively with the agency.

Fellow Washingtonian Terry Biddle, a writer and illustrator, concurs. He says agencies “have many of the jobs you will never see posted anywhere else.”

Biddle added that creative professionals will have to work as hard to secure an agency as they would getting a job on their own.

To apply, assemble your best clips, get a resume together and prepare to offer references. Typically, you can apply via the agency’s website. From there, if the hiring managers like what they see, they’ll reach out to you. Next, they want to see if you’re a good fit.

In most cases, recruiters at the agency will want to meet you. Most of them are located in big cities. If you are, too, they’ll want to interview you. If you are not local, count your lucky stars for Skype because many of them will use it.

2. Know what to expect money-wise.

Once you’re offered a project or assignment, be prepared to fill out some paperwork—and potentially, a contract.

When you complete the financial documents, consider withholding on your taxes—that’s something employers are not required to do when paying independent contractors. It will keep you from having a hefty tax bill at the end of the year.

On the topic of money, understand that many of these jobs pay hourly and don’t offer the premier industry rate. Most of the projects I take on my own are for a fee, and they can work out to some pretty sweet hourly rates so long as I am efficient—not as much when I work an agency gig, though I can get a lot of hours with some projects.

3. Don’t be afraid to negotiate the job details.

Be as specific as possible when you talk about the types of jobs you want—it doesn’t make you picky; it helps the recruiter best match you. Want to only work off-site? Prefer to stick to one-time projects? Say it!

Agencies often have new jobs pop up every day that often need a quick turnaround, so the more specific you can be about your work status and desires, the better. If anything changes—perhaps you’ve decided you want a full-time, permanent gig—let the recruiters know so they can best match you.

“Be absolutely clear on what you won’t do,” advises Prescott Perez-Fox, an art director from New York City who has worked with agencies. “If you don’t want to work for a tobacco client or for a nonprofit, say that, and be firm. Same with location… if you won’t or can’t commute to a certain place, make it known.”

4. Be diligent to keep the jobs coming.

Agencies receive so many jobs and projects to staff for that you may see job listings for gigs that last a day or a week or a year, or you may also find temp-to-perm listings.

The recruiter may not always be actively hunting for your dream job, so search the agency’s website and sign up for emails when relevant gigs come up. Some recruiters may ask you to call and check in every week or so. Others may email you or call you when a potential match comes up. It’s often best to contact them when you see something that’s a good fit, and move quick—spots are filled fast and you’re not the only person with knockout skills.

“It’s in [the recruiter’s] best interest to make a good fit because the end client will be happy,” Perez-Fox says.

5. Establish good relationships with recruiters.

Certain recruiters are great about keeping you busy, especially if they know you’re willing and able to take on multiple assignments. If you just want to take on temporary jobs, for example, the recruiter can be on the lookout for your next gig so you can start working on a new one as soon as another one ends.

Maloney agrees that recruiter relations are important: “Dependability and professionalism go a long way with recruiters. If your interaction is prompt, polite and professional, they will be that much more likely to continue contacting you.”

As a way to keep top of mind of the recruiters, Maloney says she adds those contacts to her LinkedIn network. So in the event the recruiter switches jobs to another agency, her connection remains intact.

6. Make the most of face time with temporary colleagues.

If you are placed in an on-site gig, there’s the potential for it to feel a little weird, cautioned Perez-Fox. “It feels like being the new guy multiple times a month, except unlike being a new hire, no one will invest in a relationship with you or try to assimilate you into a team,” he says.

That said, Perez-Fox acknowledged that some other office experiences led to great connections in the industry. And this should be one of your goals when taking on agency assignments.

As with any new job, working hard to prove your worth and, of course, making an effort to get to know your cubemates (a simple gesture like initiating a little small talk by the water cooler works wonders) will surely help ease any awkwardness.

7. Remember that company etiquette is in play.

There are “rules” when it comes to working with agencies. For example, when I have received a new opportunity, I am not allowed to contact the client directly until the recruiter connects us. In addition, I may or may not be able to showcase the work or client name on my website. And on the first day of a gig, I have to check in with my recruiter and share an update.

Also be careful if a permanent opportunity crops up at your temporary job. “It’s pretty standard to sign an agreement stating that you will not work directly with an employer after being placed there by an agency for a grace period, something like six months to one year is standard in my experience,” Maloney says.

Additionally, if a project wraps up and the client wants to retain you for more work, let the recruiter know to avoid any conflicts.

Another situation when it pays to speak up: If the gig sucks.

“I’ve had some cases where the assignment wasn’t a good fit, and I finished out the week before saying, ‘Thanks, but no thanks,'” Perez-Fox says. “Luckily, I’ve avoided conflict and never had any big embarrassments or confrontations.”

The bottom line…

Overall, Perez-Fox says agencies were more useful when he started out as a freelancer. “There was a period where I was earning my living from short-term roles introduced to me from these recruiting firms,” he says.

As a young designer in the big city, I didn’t have a ton of connections, so they proved to be a very vital part in that system.”

Sometimes an agency job leads to a full-time position unintentionally, either through establishing great relationships with the agency’s client or through good old-fashioned networking; however, if your ultimate goal is a permanent position, you may be better served applying directly to companies.

Regardless, agencies will likely give you the experience and, hopefully, the contacts you need to get your foot in the door of your desired career path.

Topics:

Get Hired, Job Search

Hot Jobs

The Keys to Starting Your Fashion Blog

How to turn your fashion sense into a successful platform

By Vicky Sullivan

5 min read • Originally published December 28, 2015 / Updated March 19, 2026

By Vicky Sullivan

5 min read • Originally published December 28, 2015 / Updated March 19, 2026

Fashion bloggers are becoming increasingly high profile, especially considering that those at the top of their game have their own agents, publicists and image consultants. Since anyone with the time, talent and vision can start a blog, fashion blogging has leveled the playing field for so many looking to make an impact on the industry.

Five years ago, after graduating from Syracuse University, sleeping on friend’s couches in New York and interviewing everywhere I could, events in my life inspired me to develop the fashion and luxury lifestyle blog Aspiring Socialite.

Right away, I knew it was my calling to start a fashion blog dedicated to everyone who dreams of luxury. Since its founding, I’ve been a regular at New York Fashion Week, worked with top brands and met amazing contacts in the fashion and beauty industries that I now call friends.

If you spend your waking hours daydreaming of couture and styling outfits, it may be time to develop your online voice. Here’s the keys to starting your fashion blog.

1. Choose the Name of Your Blog Wisely

The first step toward starting your own fashion blog is choosing the perfect name and securing the URL. After you’ve secured the URL, you should also reserve the name on every social network, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, YouTube and Vine. Even if you aren’t going to use a certain social network right away, you should still reserve the name. It’s best for all the names of your social networks to match, but if that isn’t possible, it’s fine to use different variations.

The name you choose for your blog must be a natural fit that truly expresses who you are, as it is the essence of your personal brand. Often, the name can come to you rather unexpectedly.

Melissa Tierney, founder of Missy On Madison, was also inspired by the streets of New York when she came up with the name for her blog. “I initially started a blog called ‘Look 4 Less’ on Tumblr when I was in college, and I maintained it for a few years. Then I decided I wanted to take my blogging more seriously and really build a brand, so I moved to WordPress and changed the name to Missy On Madison,” says Tierney. “The name for my blog was a joint effort. I took a notebook and wrote down tons of different possible names. Finally, as I was walking to my office on Madison Ave., I came up with Missy On Madison.”

2. Develop the Voice of Your Brand

A blog is first and foremost a brand and every great brand has a voice. Don’t be afraid to develop a unique voice by having an opinion, taking risks with fashion or just being your own quirky self.

When Amy Vosejpka started her fashion blog, Not Official, she had been in the fashion industry for quite some time and didn’t feel like she fit in. “In response to that I decided to create Not Official to show that you could be beautiful and have enormous style without [weighing] 100 pounds and having a million dollars. I also felt—and still do feel—that emerging designers and brands do not have a place to be represented or heard. I made it one of my main goals to have Not Official be a platform to showcase this amazing talent,” notes Vosejpka.

3. Learn from Other Bloggers

Although the world can be a competitive place, you should never approach blogging from a competitive standpoint. It’s been my experience that collaborating with other bloggers increases your traffic and social media following much more than if you were going at it alone. Be an active part of the fashion blogger community. Go to as many events as possible and never stop making new connections.

Los Angeles-based fashion blogger, Kristi Elong, founder of Currently Crushing, was inspired to start a fashion blog based on her desire to be a part of a community that shared her love of clothes, accessories, shoes and events. “I had been following a few other bloggers for years and they inspired me to take the leap and start my own site,” says Elong.

By connecting with other bloggers, you can share your own tips and tricks while learning new ones to help build your blog’s following.

I personally never use a programmer, designer or photographer who hasn’t been recommended to me by another blogger. I often find myself getting the best SEO tips while helping another fashion blogger on a style shoot.

4. Think of your Blog as a Business

Your posts may be fun and lighthearted, but fashion blogging is serious business. If you’re thinking about starting one, make sure you’re 110 percent passionate about the overall topic or theme you choose and be prepared to post often. Start a blog not because you think it’s going to make you money, but as a creative outlet that genuinely makes you happy. If you love the content you’re producing, the money will come.

When asked what advice she would give a fashionista looking to start a blog, Elong suggested treating it as a business right from the start by choosing a domain name that you won’t outgrow, investing in self-hosting and getting high-quality business cards printed. Then just get out there and meet people. Elong also strongly encourages bloggers not to be afraid to reach out to brands directly for event invites or sponsored opportunities.

So if you’ve been thinking about starting your own fashion blog, take every step possible toward doing it. Most bloggers’ biggest regret is not having started earlier. Even if you don’t have a name yet, take the time to reach out to bloggers you admire. Once you begin the conversation, inspiration is inevitable.

Topics:

Get Hired, Hot Jobs

Job Search

5 Things You Can Do Right Now to Improve Your Job Prospects

Follow these simple tips to get the most out of your job search

By Sean Revell

Sean Revell is a freelance writer based in the UK.

4 min read • Originally published December 28, 2015 / Updated March 19, 2026

By Sean Revell

Sean Revell is a freelance writer based in the UK.

4 min read • Originally published December 28, 2015 / Updated March 19, 2026

As most of us know, job hunting can be a very stressful—not to mention time-consuming—process. While searching for a new job can seem like a never-ending footpath through a forest of CVs and interviews, there are some simple ways you can improve your prospects and help speed along the job search.

We’ve outlined tips and tricks you can take on board right now. These suggestions won’t take days or weeks; hopefully you can get through a few on this list—and improve your job prospects—within a few hours.

1. Clean Up Your Resume

The first thing you need to concentrate on is your CV, as this is what employers see first. Most employers go through ten or more resumes a day, and research shows it takes someone only seconds to decide if a CV passes muster. Make sure yours stands out for the right reasons.

Take a look at your resume, and see whether or not it’s easy to digest. Have you used bullet points? Have you used headers? Is the information easy to navigate on the page? All of this matters, so be sure it looks tidy and professional.

If you’d like your resume to stand out even more, consider getting the help of a pro. Mediabistro’s Career Services offer everything from a quick resume edit to several sessions of career counseling to tackle your CV, networking skills, career transition, and more.

2. Check Your Digital Footprint

Clean up your digital footprint before you start applying for jobs because a lot of employers will research you online if you’ve passed the first CV hurdle. Set your social media profiles to private, and select reasonably sensible profile photographs (no drunken selfies, please). Facebook and Twitter actually have an option that lets you download every update you’ve ever posted into a single document, which is something you can then scan through and check for anything you might want to delete.

It also goes without saying that you should Google your name and see what pops up. You’ll want to deal with anything questionable right away.

If you haven’t done so already, hone your LinkedIn profile to make it a tool for landing you a job. Mediabistro’s quick course, Skills in 60: Create a Killer LinkedIn Profile, will help put you charge of your personal brand and turn your profile into a powerful job-searching network.

3. Clear Your Calendar

Be willing to clear your calendar for potential job interviews. If you’re working full-time while looking for another job, then make sure your current employer either knows you’re looking (and can be flexible on taking interview time off work) or have a few vacation days saved up, so you can use them if any out-of-town interviews crop up.

If you currently work in shifts, try to request a variety of hours to work throughout the week to free up some mornings and afternoons. You could easily miss your chance of nabbing a new job if you can’t make it to the actual interview.

4. Get Reading

Brush up on your industry and all the currents news and announcements that might be making the rounds (be it content marketing’s latest challenges or how a particular agency is handling an audience that is increasingly ad-blocking happy). You’ll come across as informed and diligent, not to mention this knowledge makes for relevant small talk during an interview. It’ll also give you an edge over your competition.

Great sources include blogs, news websites or trade magazines. Feedly is one powerful tool you can use that allows you to organize, read and share content from your favorite sites all in one place.

5. Be Thorough

A lot of people think job hunting simply consists of emailing out a few resumes and hoping for the best. To optimize your job hunt, register your CV and details on relevant job sites—and set up daily email reminders for new job listings that are posted. This will ensure you don’t miss any golden opportunities.

Let friends know you’re on the lookout, too. Sometimes it really is about who you know.

Finally, create a list of the top 20 companies you’d prefer to work for, and email them—even if they don’t appear to be hiring. Sometimes a speculative application can be just as successful as one that comes from a job ad.

Topics:

Climb the Ladder, Get Hired, Job Search, Skills & Expertise

Networking

How to Use Social Media to Land a Job

Get an edge over the competition with these social media tips

By Elizabeth Grey

@ej_grey

Elizabeth Grey is a freelance writer based in the UK.

7 min read • Originally published January 4, 2016 / Updated March 19, 2026

By Elizabeth Grey

@ej_grey

Elizabeth Grey is a freelance writer based in the UK.

7 min read • Originally published January 4, 2016 / Updated March 19, 2026

Whether you’re a recent college grad looking for your first job or a seasoned professional looking for a new opportunity, social media is incredibly useful for job hunters.

Using social media to land a new job goes far beyond updating your LinkedIn job history and making sure those party photos aren’t visible on Facebook. In addition to showing off your skills and experience in a personal way, social media can humanize the recruitment process for you and your potential employer.

“Social media allows me to share who I am—what kind of person I am, what my work ethics are, what my experience is—without sounding like a used-car salesman,” says Erin Brenner, a veteran copy editor and founder of Right Touch Editing.

Lauren Gambler, an HR generalist at integrated digital agency Jellyfish, agrees: “Social media lets candidates stand out from early on in the process and gives recruiters a more holistic view of their capabilities and interests.”

Follow these expert tips to get the most out of your job hunting with the help of social media:

Do your research.

Research is the essential foundation for your job search as it allows you to target the right companies in the right way, which can be the difference between success and failure.

“Do research on the company and see what you can do that plays into what they’re already doing,” says Michelle Nickolaisen, who has leveraged her social presence to get interviews and jobs with prestigious employers in Austin, Texas. When interviewing for a position with a social media monitoring company, she created a targeted video on YouTube and promoted it via Twitter.

Your job-hunting social campaign is going to be much more successful if you know which platforms are the most popular in your industry and how they are used. Even within industries, companies use social media in different ways.

For example, the PR team for Oscar de la Renta features photo previews of its upcoming collections and images of celebrities spotted wearing the line on Tumblr, while marketers at ModCloth repost its customers’ Instagram photos. So if you were looking for a social media job at either Oscar de la Renta or ModCloth, you should be able to speak intelligently on each fashion company’s strategy in your cover letter or during an interview.

“It’s easy to tell the candidates who have done their research on us socially and adapt their approach accordingly,” says Gambler. “It is definitely more likely to impress us.”

Create your own strategy.

Once you have some solid research on your industry and even specific companies, it’s time to create a strategy for connecting with companies and showing off your skills.

Creating a social strategy helps you target the most suitable people in the most appropriate way. This doesn’t just save you time, which is vitally important if you’re job hunting while already employed, but also makes it much more likely that you’ll see the results you want.

Brenner advocated using a hub-and-spoke marketing model, in which all social activity leads back to a central hub.

For job hunters, this central hub might be your website, an About.me page or a LinkedIn profile. If you’re a designer, you might even use Pinterest to share your work with potential employers. Your strategy can be as sophisticated as something based on a classic marketing model or as simple as a plan to send a certain number of industry-relevant tweets a week.

What you’ll need is a clear idea of which platforms you are going to use, how you’ll use them and what you want to achieve.

Nickolaisen created a social sharing video campaign to get an interview at a company on her watch list. The company’s focus was on social media, so she asked friends to share and used ClickToTweet, a tool that lets users create their own share text for tweets and embed a custom sharing link. This made sure that tweets sharing her video tagged the company and used its branded hashtags.

Set goals, too, from taking part in discussions and starting conversations with relevant people or organizations, to getting interviews. If part of your strategy is to engage with influencers on Twitter, a goal might be three quality discussions a week.

Embrace tools.

Social-management tools aren’t just for social media and marketing professionals. There are plenty of free tools available that make it easy to find job opportunities and manage your job hunting.

Nickolaisen recommended using IFTTT, a service that allows you to create customized, automatic processes across digital channels, to set up notifications of job updates from companies’ RSS feeds. She also suggests following hashtags like #tweetmyjobs and #happo (Help a PR Pro Out), and using a tool like Hootsuite to set up a filtered feed just for those hashtags. These tools will not only help you get first dibs on jobs, but also build your network within your industry, Nickolaisen explained.

Twitter lists are another helpful tool. Creating lists of companies you’re following (and hope to work for) makes it easier to track and respond to their tweets, whether you are applying for a mentioned vacancy, commenting on a piece of industry news or congratulating the team on winning an award.

Test what you’re doing.

If you need to quickly identify key influencers in your niche, then Brandwatch does this for you. As well as building relationships with people at top companies, it shows recruiters you’re well connected within your industry, which is always impressive.

Just like social media itself, your job-hunting strategy and how you implement it shouldn’t be static. Make sure that you don’t get stuck in a rut with what you’re doing, as you could be missing opportunities or pouring time and energy into an ineffective approach.

“Test different approaches: which sites you use, what you say, when you say it, how you say it. Measure the results,” says Brenner. “Whatever your goal, you won’t reach it without a map and without checking to see that you’re using the right map.”

This doesn’t have to be complicated. If one of your goals was to have five Twitter interactions a week with relevant people, look back at your notifications stream to see if this happened. If you wanted to get one of your Instagram photos regrammed by a company account, check back to see how your image performed.

If you’re not getting the desired result, check out how your peers are getting traction and why, then tweak what you’re doing appropriately.

Show off your portfolio.

No matter how good you are at social networking, to get the interview and job you need to demonstrate to employers via a carefully curated portfolio that you have the skills and experience for the position. So use social media to show off your achievements—whether you are a writer, marketer, designer or photographer.

“Being able to see a portfolio backing up a candidate’s CV and LinkedIn profile is helpful in deciding who to invite for an interview,” says Gambler. “It’s not just the quality of the work either; the way it’s presented tells us a lot too. I notice if it is adapted to the relevant role, displayed in an interesting and appealing manner and if there are any interactive elements.”

Build relationships.

This is echoed by Brenner, who advises job hunters to use social media to create teasers leading back to their central portfolio. For instance, a book designer might create a Pinterest board of book covers she’s worked on, linking back to her website, where a prospective employer can find out more about her style and process.

Creating and nurturing genuine relationships is at the heart of using social media when you’re job hunting. Social channels like Twitter, LinkedIn or even YouTube can bring you to the attention of senior staff who otherwise might not be involved in recruitment.

This is because they offer an immediate way to connect, whether it’s through a direct Twitter conversation or seeing your name pop up repeatedly on their Twitter feed. Nickolaisen found this happened with her social video campaign: “For a while the social stream on the [company] website was pretty much all tweets about me.” This attracted the attention of the company founder; he sent a link to her video to the hiring manager, along with a note saying how much he liked it.

Be proactive and engage in discussions on your chosen platforms; however, it’s important to avoid sending boilerplate responses or spamming people. It’s better to post to one relevant LinkedIn group with a well-thought-out discussion point than to make 30 identical posts to 30 different groups.

For Brenner, the key to success is being genuine: “Have conversations. Help someone out. Ask for help. Give away something for nothing. Be yourself, your best self, but still yourself.”

After all, people hire people. Connecting with an organization through social media lets you show all those personal qualities employers want: self-motivation, confidence and willingness to embrace new technology.

Topics:

Climb the Ladder, Networking

Networking

How To Network in Any Situation

Hate networking? Here are 6 tips to make it painless

By Janelle Harris

@thegirlcanwrite

Janelle Harris is a multimedia producer, director, and founder of Harris Two Productions with decades of experience in non-fiction storytelling for networks including Bravo, Discovery, and A&E. A Howard University graduate, she specializes in amplifying diverse voices across television, film, and digital media.

6 min read • Originally published January 5, 2016 / Updated March 19, 2026

By Janelle Harris

@thegirlcanwrite

6 min read • Originally published January 5, 2016 / Updated March 19, 2026

Tikeisha Harris isn’t exactly what you would call an extrovert.

She’s friendly (once you get to know her) and personable (once you get to know her). The challenge is—you guessed it—getting to know her. In her personal time, the Washington, D.C.-area blogger and writer is a social butterfly, but when it comes to networking events, she typically ends up noshing on free appetizers and people watching, rather than actually making professional contacts.

Sound like you? Here are a few ways to get over that new-people phobia and schmooze with the best of them no matter the scenario. “I get really shy, so events like happy hours and mixers when you’re supposed to be out meeting new people scare me,” she admits.

1. Manage your expectations.

Many writers (including the one penning this very article) find the prospect of standing in the open sprawl of a lounge or conference floor with a name tag on their lapels and the liquid security blanket of a cocktail in their hands intimidating.

That’s because we go in with the wrong expectations, says Juli Monroe, author of The Enthusiastic Networker: Growing a Successful Business with Online and In-Person Connections.

“For one, lots of people think networking is too much like sales, and people hate to be seen as pushy, and secondly, networking takes time and if it’s not done well, it can be a waste. Lots of freelancers prefer to spend their time working, otherwise known as ‘hiding behind the computer,'” she explains, “because they’re afraid that if they spend their time networking, they won’t see enough of a return on investment to make it worth their while.”

So, instead of looking at networking as a way to find new business or land a job—right now—think of professional events as simply a night out with, hopefully, good conversation. And we all know what the key to good conversation is, right?

2. Listen first.

Whether you bump into a former colleague or strike up friendly small talk with a potential client, the one hard and fast rule to remember is to listen more than you talk, says Monroe, who is also a coach at 1 to 1 Discovery, a Washington, D.C.-based networking and social media agency.

Listening also saves you the awkwardness of wondering ‘what should I say next?’ which in many cases, particularly those involving alcohol, can lead to embarrassing nonsense.

Better to listen than be talked about.”If you listen first, then you know how to talk about yourself,” she explains. “If you can address their needs, then you can pitch your services, but in a targeted and strategic way.”

3. Find a need and offer help.

Now that you’re actually paying attention to what the other person is saying, see if there’s a way you can help him or her. Did that editor just mention that she’s swamped handling social media duties for her mag? Now’s the time to mention that your former colleague is a Twitter maven and looking for freelance work.

“Referrals build good will and give you a reason to follow up later. You want to know how the referral went, right? If you refer other people, they are more apt to refer you back,” says Monroe.

Finding a way to help other people is a good icebreaker and a shoe-in for further contact, says Jim Sutton, distance learning mentor at Thomas Edison State College and master networker. It’s much easier to help somebody else than to ask for work or a hook-up to it.

Break the ice instead with a simple, “‘Hi Susie! What brings you to this event? Are you from the area? Do you like the cheese?'” he says. Making people laugh by saying something lighthearted and unexpected will put you at ease and (hopefully) make them laugh, but it will also help you stand out in their minds for the almighty follow-up.

“I think a lot of times, freelancers think about it like, ‘I need clients. When I network, I have to get Susie as a client.’ No, that’s not necessarily true. What you need to do is see if there’s even a connection there first. See what they need and offer to help. I think that’s why people hate networking. They’re thinking in order to connect with Susie, ‘I need to tell Susie that I’m the best writer and she needs to buy my services right now.’ That’s not necessarily true.”

4. Come prepared.

You’re halfway across the country at the must-attend event for professionals in your industry (or at least that’s how the marketing copy touted it).

Even though smartphones and scannable codes are making them seem passé, Monroe says good old fashioned business cards are a still a networking must-have. And lots of them.

“It’s unprofessional to not have enough,” she says. The conference break-out sessions are also a chance to not only learn something, but to find a great conversation starter for the rest of the conference. And, she adds, “set specific goals for the conference and schedule lots of time immediately afterwards for follow-up. A lot of times, people fill up their post-conference schedule too tightly and follow-up slips.”

Sutton is a self-professed LinkedIn mastermind. With more than 3,600 direct connections, he advises networkers to find some common ground with a potential contact.

“Something like ‘I notice we’re both part of the same association or organization opens the door to more conversation,” he says, adding that you should always erase the standard LinkedIn message and replace it with something more personable.

“By doing that, you’ll connect on more than just a click-the-request level. You’ll actually really connect.”

5. Add to the social media conversation.

You’ve heard all of the warnings and admonitions about how to behave online, particularly as a professional. The key is content balance.

You’re on Twitter or Pinterest to engage, not just promote yourself. So, if there’s someone you admire in the biz, follow them. And instead of the #epicfail of a “Hey, are you hiring?” DM, just pay attention to his or her feed. Comment on those links that resonate with you and retweet or pin when necessary.

The more that influential person sees your handle and actually starts speaking to you, the easier it will be for you to form an offline relationship.

6. Break away from your friends.

Clubs, organizations, even religious institutions host small-scale soirees that can turn out to be networking bonanzas, but that’s only if you actually speak to people who haven’t known you since grade school.

So, pick a point in the night when you and your co-worker or friend split to meet new folks. If you’re especially shy, try just five minutes apart and then reconvene at the bar to swap stories. Did your conversation end before your BFF’s? Well, head on over and have her introduce you to her new contact. Chatting with a stranger can be much easier in groups of threes.

Ultimately, you get the most out of networking when you’re strategic about which events you attend.

Just because that trade organization emailed you an invite to their latest panel discussion doesn’t mean you have to attend. Going just to go will only make you wonder what your sofa and laptop are doing while you’re stuck in the middle of yet another schmaltzfest.

“The only realistic goal from a networking event is to have a list of people to follow up and build relationships with: potential clients, potential referrals for your contacts and potential referral sources,” stresses Monroe.

“The magic happens later, after the follow up.”

Topics:

Climb the Ladder, Get a Media Job, Networking

Career Transition

8 Terms Every Digital Media Journalist Should Know

To rise in the digital media ranks, you must speak the language

By Andrea Williams

@AndreaWillWrite

Andrea Williams is an author, journalist, and columnist for The Tennessean with over 16 years of experience in journalism and 20 years in copywriting and communications strategy. Her work spans national outlets and high-traffic digital brands.

7 min read • Originally published January 5, 2016 / Updated March 19, 2026

By Andrea Williams

@AndreaWillWrite

7 min read • Originally published January 5, 2016 / Updated March 19, 2026

As print newspapers and magazines continue to shutter or lay off staff, one thing remains evident as we move further into the 21st century: Digital has officially taken over.

And while scoring a gig with a traditional ink-and-paper outlet may be more difficult than ever, websites and blogs provide countless (and growing) job listings and opportunities for enterprising journalists, whether freelance or full-time. The caveat, though, is that you have to know the lingo. So in an effort to ensure a well-reported future, we’ve culled a list of the most important terms every digital journalist—or wannabe—should know.

1. SEO

As one of the most basic digital terms, SEO (search engine optimization) has been around since the advent of online research. But because of increased competition due to the relative ease in launching a digital outlet, it’s more important than ever.

“SEO is probably the top term digital media journalists need to know because it determines rankings in Google, Bing and Yahoo searches,” says Brande Victorian, managing editor of MadameNoire.com. “It’s sort of this game of picking out keywords that are going to make the content you write show up in these searches so that you’re getting more pageviews than anyone else.”

Once you’ve determined your keyword, the goal is to authentically weave it into the headline and body of the article as early and often as possible, to ensure that search engines pick it up.

2. Keyword

So what exactly is a keyword? In short, it’s the main topic or idea of a story, and it’s the foundation on which the entire piece should be built. Typically, you want to shoot for keywords that are highly searched because if a journalist writes a killer article and no one is there to read it, does it ever make a sound? Of course not.

“There are plenty of keyword tools, and you can find a variety of sites that can of help you narrow it down,” says Ashley Haugen, managing editor at StyleBlueprint. Google had a popular keyword tool that is now only available to users with an AdWords account. But there are a number of free keyword tools you can find online.

“What a writer should be looking for is a keyword that has a fairly high search volume—meaning a lot of people are looking for that word or phrase—but with little competition,” says Haugen. “The lower the competition, the fewer sites your site has to compete with to rise to the top. And with Google Trends, you can actually compare keywords against each other, like mittens versus gloves, to see which one people are looking for more.”

3. Target Audience

Print outlets already know that target audience refers to the core consumers you expect to reach with your content. And understanding the needs of your target audience is just as critical to digital operations that expect to remain viable in an industry of increasingly niche sites.

“Sometimes people just want to write without thinking about who they are trying to reach, but I think it’s a lot easier to really build an audience if you know exactly who you’re trying to reach,” says Victorian. Freelance writers should be sure to ask their editors for a clear definition of this group so their work can be tailored accordingly.

4. Copyright Infringement

You know that awesome blog post you read on WhyAllJournalistsShouldBeMillionaires.com last week? It would be OK to just “borrow” a little (or a lot) or the copy and integrate it into your own article, right? Wrong.

“When blogging first started, it got to be so big that people were doing what they wanted to do, taking other people’s content and photos and that sort of thing,” says Victorian. “Now that blogging has become an established industry, there are clear rules that you cannot just take other people’s content and repurpose it, even if you provide links back to the original post or give credits.”

Copyright infringement is real, folks, and if found guilty, you could be facing termination and/or fines. The solution? “If you want to take written content from someone, I’d write them a note and say, ‘Hey, I loved this article you did, I’d like to put it up on my site. Do I have permission to do so?’ And ask for what parameters they want,” Victorian says.

“As far as photos, you really need to have contracts with some of these agencies like Getty or, if you use stock images, Shutterstock,” Victorian says. “Social media has definitely opened up the floodgates of being able to get some great photos, but you still have to be careful when you’re taking images from celebrities’ Instagram accounts that have been taken by a photographer. It’s best to play it safe and embed the whole social media post.”

5. Links

Linking to sources you’ve referenced or quoted within your article can certainly cut down on infringement claims and also bolster your credibility as a journalist. But like all things, there’s a right—and wrong—way to do it.

“I’m not a huge fan of linking out to other sites, like a news story that supports a statement that you’ve made,” Haugen says. “The goal for me, as the site manager, is to keep readers on the site and clicking through as much as possible, so I’ll put in related story links that are on our site that are along the same topic.”

Linking to the personal sites or blogs of sources is OK, says Haugen. And, regarding source links, she has an insider tip that will help journos log some extra brownie points with their editors:

“An .edu site has a lot more credibility in terms of giving clout to our site, so instead of using a doctor who has his own pediatric practice in the middle of nowhere, finding a doctor who’s a pediatrician but is also a professor at the University of Tennessee, for example, is much more beneficial. Then, as far as content promotion, I can reach out to the university and say, ‘We used your doctor, and we’d love it if you could include us on your media page or retweet us.’”

6. Promotion

It would be nice if digital journalism operated by the “set it and forget it” approach but, unfortunately, writing quality copy is only half the battle. Sure, proper SEO management will draw some eyeballs to your work, but for maximum exposure (read: more assignments and cash!) you’re going to have to actually promote your work.

“If you have a steady flow of content that you’re producing, you should definitely be promoting it as often as you can because you want people to see it,” says Gordon Hurd, editor in chief of MansLife.com. “In the past, folks were kind of reticent to [promote]; they don’t want to bother people or be obnoxious or intrusive. But I think it’s important to think about the fact that people are signing up for this stuff and they’re subscribing to newsletters and following you on Twitter. They want this information. Consider the content you’re producing as serving an audience and that it may be of use to them.”

7. Engagement

But, wait! Because even though you’ve generated sufficient buzz around your new article, your work is still not done. Now you have to interact with those click-happy people who took 3 and a half minutes to read your piece on monarch butterfly migration habits.

“If you promote your story on Facebook, and some people have asked questions or pointed out something from the story, part of the job these days is to actually go back in there and engage with the audience,” says Hurd.

“With engagement in mind, you can think about the best way to present a story. It can be a long form; it can be multi-page; it can be broken into a multimedia gallery experience. And then, getting down to a basic engagement tactic, you can ask a question at the end of your story. Stuff like that that can help spark conversation is definitely useful for people to keep in mind. You don’t want your story to just disappear.”

8. GIFs

GIFs, officially pronounced with a soft G, are increasingly becoming a part of journalism and promotion tactics. GIFs allow you to express concepts in a new way, and readers are engaging with them. Try writing an article in a list format with GIFs to highlight your main sentiments (BuzzFeed has become expert at this) or even try to promote your article with a relevant GIF in a tweet.

Digital journalism can feel like a different ball game than the print work you’re used to writing, but the truth is you already have the skills you need to be a great writer. Take some time to review content that has gone viral, research what your readers are sharing on social media and don’t be afraid to take risks. As long as you’re willing to put in the time to learn digital tactics, your career will continue to grow (and change) with the industry.

Topics:

Climb the Ladder, Go Freelance, Journalism Advice, Skills & Expertise

Networking

4 Ways to Improve Your LinkedIn Profile

Small tweaks that make recruiters stop scrolling and start reading.

By Jenell Talley

Jenell Talley is a journalist and program analyst with a background spanning media, government, and editorial work. She holds a journalism degree from Howard University and a master's in human resources management from the University of Maryland.

3 min read • Originally published January 20, 2016 / Updated March 19, 2026

By Jenell Talley

3 min read • Originally published January 20, 2016 / Updated March 19, 2026

First impressions are everything, especially when you’re in the market for a job. But making a good one isn’t about planning the perfect power suit for the interview you’re hoping to get. Creating a LinkedIn profile that piques recruiters’ interest will help you land that coveted interview and make you far more memorable than even the best-tailored pair of pants ever could.

“Every recruiter I know is leveraging LinkedIn to source prospects and identify candidates beyond their existing relationships,” says Jason Hanold of executive search firm Hanold Associates, who has placed senior leaders at companies such as Google and Amazon.

A LinkedIn profile is particularly important for those working in or looking for jobs in publishing, marketing, advertising, and technology, industries built on conveying and shaping images, brands and content. “Their perceived effectiveness begins with how they convey their own image, personal brand and how the content and profile descriptors support that,” says Hanold.

But with so many qualified applicants, employers won’t waste time on a candidate whose profile isn’t up to par. Read on for how to create a profile that catches an employer’s eye, and holds it long enough to show you’re a contender.

1. Upload a Profile Photo

Start by putting your best face forward. Career experts estimate profiles with photos are seven times more likely to be viewed. The photo should be professional (headshots work well). A pic of you and your girl squad at karaoke night won’t cut it. And don’t even think about using a selfie. You want to look poised and polished à la Olivia Pope.

2. Beef Up Your Work Experience

Don’t simply tell employers you work as a social media specialist. Tell them the platforms you use, what type of content you produce, how much traffic increased on your watch. It’s all about the details. “The more of them you offer, the more accessible you become for other opportunities,” says Hanold. But be clear and concise. And proofread. No one’s going to hire you for that copy editor job if your profile is riddled with typos.

3. Mention Extracurricular Activities

Include volunteer experience and the clubs you belong to. This isn’t fluff: It helps you stand out. Employers want well-balanced, multidimensional employees, so if you spend your free time teaching inner-city kids HTML, mention it. Show employers you give back to the community. If you’re a member of the Digital Marketing Association, say so. Your membership illustrates your interest and investment in the profession.

4. Monitor Links to Other Social Media

Including links to your blog, Twitter or other social media profiles on your LinkedIn page can give recruiters a good glimpse into your digital footprint, but you need to ensure that all these platforms depict you in a favorable light. Employers use social media to vet potential hires, so steer clear of foul language, risqué photos, and religious or politically charged posts.

Remember, you only get one shot at a first impression, so make sure it’s a slam dunk.

If you’d like to hone your social media skills even more, consider taking a class. Mediabistro’s Online Social Media Courses teach you how to do everything from creating a killer LinkedIn profile to using social media for business.

Topics:

Climb the Ladder, Networking

Job Search

How to Find a Job Before It’s Posted

Use these strategies to get a head start on other job seekers

By Kristen Fischer

5 min read • Originally published January 25, 2016 / Updated March 19, 2026

By Kristen Fischer

5 min read • Originally published January 25, 2016 / Updated March 19, 2026

You know the drill: A job posts on the Internet; you respond and keep your fingers crossed for an interview. Whether you are looking for a permanent or temporary gig, is there any other way to find out about choice positions before the masses do? Yes, in fact.

Mediabistro’s Revolving Door newsletter is a good way to stay on top of the industry, and job boards like ours are always brimming with opportunities. Following companies and individuals who hire on Twitter and LinkedIn is a good start, too.

We asked creative professionals and career counselors for other strategies to find out about jobs and projects before they are announced.

In trying some of these techniques, you’ll stretch your networking muscles and get a jump on that prized position.

Contact companies directly

Amy Phillip, an executive career coach based in Brooklyn who runs Career Certain, recommends connecting directly with the person that hires. “Find that person on LinkedIn and send an introduction,” she says.

She advises job hunters to create a list of companies that you want to work for, and then use social media or other research methods to find out names and contact information of the individuals you want to target.

“I oftentimes think three points of entry into an organization is the best way to approach it,” she explains. That can entail going through the managing editor, a colleague in the design department and a human resources person.

She notes that you may not want to reach out to the HR director, as he or she is probably very busy. Instead, connect with a junior HR assistant who has less on his plate and is directly responsible for scouting talent instead of leading the company’s human resources strategy.

Human resources departments also have people in charge of recruitment and talent acquisition that you can approach—those are the ones that you should be hitting up, Phillip says.

“That’s what they do for a living; that’s their job. The chance of them responding is far greater than anyone else,” Phillip adds.

Lyuba Ellingson, managing director and co-founder of Red Elixir Business Solutions LLC, recommends using the advanced Twitter search tool.

She says to enter keywords such as “hiring” within a specified number of miles from your current location, and to experiment with various keywords related to your desired position. You can also save the search for later, she adds.

Pop into a chat

Social media is definitely a useful research tool, but did you know you could use it to do more than find contact information?

Ellingson says Twitter chats are a great resource for real-time information. The chats occur with back-and-forth tweets that contain a common hashtag during a specific time. Some chats to check out include #LinkedInChat, #careerchat, #HFchat and #jobhuntchat.

Before participating, make sure your own social media profiles are in tip-top shape, though.

“Once you start communicating with these people, they will look you up. If you don’t look excellent and present your personal brand in a quality manner, you are wasting your time,” she says, adding that recruiters will look for your written communication skills, culture fit, personal brand inconsistencies and yes, even incriminating photos.

“If a job seeker is going to put themselves out there, they need to show the very best,” she says.

See who is viewing your profile

This tip applies specifically to LinkedIn. (And, if you haven’t visited the site lately or updated your profile, you should.)

“One of the most effective things I do on LinkedIn is reaching out to people who have viewed my profile,” Ellingson notes. She sends a note to the viewer to acknowledge the visit and see if the person needs additional information.

The follow-up enables you to make contact with someone who is already potentially interested, so you’re not reaching out to a stranger. If you contact the visitor soon after they saw your profile, the person will probably recall your name more quickly, too.

“The responses to this have been mind blowing,” she says, adding that she has secured jobs this way.

Target your approach

Thursday Bram, a content consultant based in Maryland, says she tries to network with people who hire for the different services she provides, like blogging.

To find leads, she pinpoints companies that design blogs, because their customers most likely will need content for them. “I can make the connection with them, and they then recommend me to their clients,” she explains.

When she was looking to target the real estate industry, for example, she teamed up with a web designer who had clients in that field, and they produced white papers on how real estate pros could better market themselves.

Then, when people searched for real estate marketing help online and came across those papers, they turned to Bram for other projects.

Carol Tice, a freelance writer and writing business mentor based in the Seattle area, says finding gigs isn’t about job hunting as much as it is marketing yourself and your brand. “You have to start marketing your business proactively,” she says.

Tice recommends going beyond just applying for positions and instead thinking about the people who need your services, just as Bram suggests. Once you target them, ask about possible positions or projects.

Tice says freelancers do well with this approach, because some companies have extra tasks to hand off but cannot hire a full-timer. Most of the time, she adds, they are too busy to go find that person.

“That’s why you have to send those letters of introduction and send those queries and present yourself as a solution to their problem,” she adds.

Ask for referrals

Tice says it is imperative to realize that not all jobs will magically appear on the Internet. “In fact, the vast, vast majority of good-paying jobs will never be advertised,” she says. “Stop waiting to spot them in ads.”

Instead, she advises joining networks and stay up to date on competitors in their geographical area. “We do all tend to refer each other,” she says of her fellow acquaintances.

Tice, who mentors other professionals, says she finds that many of them do not ask others if they know someone interested in what they do.

“That is the easiest marketing you’ll ever do,” urges Tice. “And it’s the most effective.”

Improve your LinkedIn presence with the help of a pro. Mediabistro’s LinkedIn Profile Edit will help you refine your profile with easy and effective edits from a career counselor, align your profile with your resume and more.

Topics:

Get Hired, Job Search

Career Transition

5 Signs It’s Time to Start Looking for a Different Job

Can't wait to clock out? Maybe it's time to shake things up

By Corinne Grinapol

@Corinneavital

Corinne Grinapol is an assistant editor covering energy and environment at Engineering News-Record, with previous editorial roles at Adweek's FishbowlDC and Mediabistro. She studied international relations at SUNY Geneseo.

3 min read • Originally published January 26, 2016 / Updated March 19, 2026

By Corinne Grinapol

@Corinneavital

3 min read • Originally published January 26, 2016 / Updated March 19, 2026

The fact that you’re reading this probably means you’re at least considering whether it’s time to leave your job. While the decision to stay or go is a very personal one—one that shouldn’t be made lightly—there are a few red flags that may help you determine if it’s time to freshen up the resume and head to the job boards. Read on.

1. You’re no longer learning.

You’ve mastered everything there is to know about your position—be it as a junior account executive or social media coordinator. You’re fast, efficient and mainly cruise-control your way through the day. You’ve gotten so good at what you do because it’s all you do. Have you not been given new tasks or challenges to tackle? More importantly, have you asked to take on more? Showing initiative and a desire to do more is how you can grow in any role.

If there’s a legit lack of learning opportunities—and you’re bored doing the same thing day after day—it may be time to move on.

2. You can’t move up, or you don’t want to.

Maybe you’ve been a photo assistant for a while. Your duties have changed, but your title has not. Nor, for that matter, has your salary. It may be the case that no matter how good your work is, the positions above yours won’t be vacated any time soon. Or perhaps you’ve been passed over for a promotion. If you want to make it to the next level, you might just have to do it with a new organization.

Or maybe it’s you. If moving into a new role doesn’t appeal to you, the company you’re working for might not be the right one for you.

3. Company cha-cha-cha-changes.

Mergers, acquisitions, restructurings: These are often make-or-break moments not only for the company, but also for its employees. A change of ownership or department overhaul may result in an unwanted change of culture, a new boss, the loss of a mentor or being handed projects that no longer interest you.

Bottom line is changes can bring exciting new possibilities—or they can leave you in the cold.

4. The business is hanging by a thread.

Your role might be a dream, but the rumors you’ve been hearing are becoming more substantial by the day: The company is in trouble.

If you suspect your employer is not going to make it to the next year, better to start looking for a new job while you still have your old one.

5. You’ve reached the burnout stage.

Is your job the primary relationship in your life? Are your mornings colored by the dread of heading off to another day at the office? Do you get headaches or colds more often now than you used to?

If you can’t work with your boss to adjust your schedule or workload, moving on may be the best choice—for your health and, in the long run, your career. It may seem like getting off the hamster wheel will interrupt your career trajectory, but, unburdened by your responsibilities, you may gain a clarity of perspective that could move your career goals forward, or in another direction entirely.

Topics:

Be Inspired, Career Transition

Nine years ago, you were working as a promotions assistant at KROQ. Now, you’re the co-host of a nationally syndicated radio show and a budding TV personality. Did you ever in your wildest dreams imagine this would happen?

You’re very open about your history of substance abuse and eventual road to sobriety. How have your personal struggles helped you with hosting Loveline?

When was the last time you were placed in a situation where your sobriety was in jeopardy?

How has your professional career changed since last January when you filled in for Regis Philbin on Live! with Regis and Kelly?

So, who entered you and why?

You were the first contestant eliminated from Dancing with the Stars last year. How did you let Wendy Williams out-dance you?

Do you have a preference between radio and television?

During your time on the Kevin & Bean show, you were known for your celebrity impersonations. Was there a specific celebrity that didn’t see the humor in your impersonation?

You made a pledge to only buy domestic goods in 2012. What’s your motivation behind this project?

What do you think has been the one key to your success?

1. Approach a staffing agency like any other job you’d apply to.

2. Know what to expect money-wise.

3. Don’t be afraid to negotiate the job details.

4. Be diligent to keep the jobs coming.

5. Establish good relationships with recruiters.

6. Make the most of face time with temporary colleagues.

7. Remember that company etiquette is in play.

The bottom line…

1. Choose the Name of Your Blog Wisely

2. Develop the Voice of Your Brand

3. Learn from Other Bloggers

4. Think of your Blog as a Business

1. Clean Up Your Resume

2. Check Your Digital Footprint

3. Clear Your Calendar

4. Get Reading

5. Be Thorough

Do your research.

Create your own strategy.

Embrace tools.

Test what you’re doing.

Show off your portfolio.

Build relationships.

1. Manage your expectations.

2. Listen first.

3. Find a need and offer help.

4. Come prepared.

5. Add to the social media conversation.

6. Break away from your friends.

1. SEO

2. Keyword

3. Target Audience

4. Copyright Infringement

5. Links

6. Promotion

7. Engagement

8. GIFs

1. Upload a Profile Photo

2. Beef Up Your Work Experience

3. Mention Extracurricular Activities

4. Monitor Links to Other Social Media

Contact companies directly

Pop into a chat

See who is viewing your profile

Target your approach

Ask for referrals

1. You’re no longer learning.

2. You can’t move up, or you don’t want to.

3. Company cha-cha-cha-changes.

4. The business is hanging by a thread.

5. You’ve reached the burnout stage.

Wes Eichenwald

**You’re very open about your history of substance abuse and eventual road to sobriety. How have your personal struggles helped you with hosting Loveline?**

**How has your professional career changed since last January when you filled in for Regis Philbin on Live! with Regis and Kelly?**

**You were the first contestant eliminated from Dancing with the Stars last year. How did you let Wendy Williams out-dance you?**

**During your time on the Kevin & Bean show, you were known for your celebrity impersonations. Was there a specific celebrity that didn’t see the humor in your impersonation?**