Easy Ways to Update Your Resume

The #WeekendJobSearch Assignment 5: Give your resume a polish, and make yourself instantly more hireable

John Lombard is a content strategist and writer with over a decade of experience creating interactive and video content for brands like Apple, IBM, and Samsung. He previously worked at Mediabistro and now serves as a Client Strategist at Ceros.

2 min read • Originally published April 22, 2016 / Updated March 19, 2026

By John Lombard

John Lombard is a content strategist and writer with over a decade of experience creating interactive and video content for brands like Apple, IBM, and Samsung. He previously worked at Mediabistro and now serves as a Client Strategist at Ceros.

2 min read • Originally published April 22, 2016 / Updated March 19, 2026

Hey! Welcome to week 5 of the #WeekendJobSearch, our ongoing series that breaks the whole job-search process into 13 totally doable to-do items.

Last week, we showed you how to research your top companies to target employers you’d like to reach out to for informational interviews, and start your intel-gathering for when you get a real job interview.

This week, we’re asking you to update your resume. Scared? Don’t be—it doesn’t have to be a painful process. With a few step-by-step instructions, we’re going to help you brush up your resume, making it irresistible to hiring managers.

The #WeekendJobSearch Assignment #5

Update Your Resume

To give your resume a nice clean update, use this list as a starting point.

1. Remove positions that are no longer relevant to your goals.
That job you had at a local sandwich shop in college? Nix it. “The person reading your resume needs to know what you do, where have you been and how you got there,” says human resources executive David Gaspin.

2. Consider cutting the career statement.
Resume real estate is tight. To make space on yours, consider cutting the career objective. If your resume is laid out well—thorough job titles and descriptions, education and skills—it will tell your story for you.

3. Add recent positions and brush up the details.
If you’ve been meaning to add new positions to your resume, do so now. And if you’ve been freelancing or working contract gigs, make this known on your resume.

A few more things you can do right now:

Edit your resume down to make it a one-page document.
Keep your current position in present tense and your previous positions in past tense.
Check your chronology of jobs is correct (with most recent at the top).
Double-check for grammar and spelling mistakes. (Are you ending your bulleted sentences with periods? Are you using serial commas? Neither of these style points is wrong, but use them consistently.)
Focus on results in your descriptions, changing sentences from “Managed PPC accounts” to “Increased PPC ROI by 125 percent.”
Have a friend take a good look over your updated resume.
If you’re applying for a particular job, use keywords and phrases to show a hiring manager that your skills can seamlessly transfer to the new role.

While this list is a great place to start, it’s never a bad idea to have a career professional audit your resume as well.

And that’s week 5! We’ll see you next week when we’ll work on networking, giving you some small but powerful actionable steps that’ll grow your network and get you closer to your top job.

Start from the beginning: #WeekendJobSearch Assignment #1

Share your progress on Twitter: #WeekendJobSearch

Topics:

Get Hired, Job Search

Skills & Expertise

Essential Web Analytics Skills Every Marketer Needs to Know

Learn how to tell who’s visiting your site, and what they’re doing there, to become a digital MVP

By Christopher White

5 min read • Originally published April 28, 2016 / Updated March 19, 2026

By Christopher White

5 min read • Originally published April 28, 2016 / Updated March 19, 2026

If you work in marketing or in digital media—or are looking to work in marketing or digital media—you need a good understanding of web analytics. Having a solid a grasp on the fundamentals—who comes to your site, what pages they visit most, how many visitors become customers, where visitors tend to “drop off” and leave the site—can, quite simply, make you one of the most valuable people on the job.

But because you can measure everything on a website—who clicks where, when and how often, for example—it can become hard to know which reports to run and how to use them. Wonder no more. Here are some basic web analytics skills that will have you combing through data like an expert:

1. Know Your Terms

Do you know what a session is compared to a user? Or what “unique user” means? You’ll need to understand the terminology of these measurements, or metrics, to be able to understand the data. Here’s a quick cheat sheet:

Unique user = an individual person visiting your site
Session = a single instance when a user was on your site
Bounce rate = percentage of users that visited only one page
Session duration = how long a user stayed on your website
Pages per session = number of pages a user hit during one session
Conversion = what you want a user to do on the site (e.g., complete a form)

2. Identify Key Performance Indicators

Unique users, session duration, returning traffic percentage and so on are all metrics you can run reports on, but do you know what actually affects the bottom line?

There is a lot of value in being able to sift through all the data to find the metrics and reports that really tell a story about your website.

How to use this skill: If you’re able to analyze your company’s website data and map metrics into buyer personas—representations of your ideal customers—you’ll help the marketing department develop target audiences more effectively.

3. Set and Adjust Benchmarks

You have to know where you’ve come from to measure improvement.

Benchmarks are the foundational-performance level of any given metric. It’s the number you use to determine if a test performed well or not. Once you’ve done enough tests, your baseline performance will hopefully increase and you’ll need to know how to calculate the new benchmark for future tests.

How to use this skill: There are usually multiple people contributing to making the company’s website better—so be the person that validates all of their work and you’ll have a seat at the strategy table.

4. Map User Paths

Every prospect or lead has to take a journey to complete what you want them to do. Each stage of this journey can be mapped to create a conversion funnel, or the path a user takes through the site on the way to doing what you want them to. As an example, on an ecommerce site, user paths may show that users may:

visit your website without hitting a product page
hit a product page without adding an item to the shopping cart
have an item in their shopping cart but not check out
go to checkout but leave without buying the item

How to use this skill: Make a list of all the steps a user would take and use your analytics tool to segment or filter out each stage of the funnel. You can then run reports and set benchmarks for each stage of funnel to see where your website needs work.

5. Optimizing Conversions

More traffic is not always the end goal. In fact, increasing traffic is one of the harder things to improve upon consistently. Eventually your company will either want conversions to increase at a higher rate than traffic, or level out on net-new traffic entirely. When that happens, you’ll need a plan B to keep improving.

How to use this skill: Use conversion funnels to identify weak points and run tests that will eventually yield more conversions for the same traffic.

6. Create Test-and-Learn Plans

Smart marketers know that in order to continually improve you have to constantly test new ideas. Page layouts, calls-to-action, headlines and images are all things that could improve your conversion rate and need to be tested.

How to use this skill: Take the initiative to manage the timing and prioritization of all the optimization tests and you’ll soon become the person creating the strategy, rather than managing it.

7. Build Predictable Models

Being able to forecast how many conversions your website will get next month, or next quarter is very valuable. This type of analytics is called predictable modeling.

There are many factors that contribute to website performance, so it’s quite a feat to be able to predict future sales based on historical data.

How to use this skill: If you can tie historical trends to current performance changes, you’ll have the information needed to prove ROI on every effort related to the website. For example, if you can predict a 20 percent increase in conversions during a conference by analyzing previous trends during past conferences with somewhat accuracy, your marketing team will be able to do more of what’s working, and less of what’s not—and you’ll look like a rock star.

Once you start making decisions using data, you’ll become much more valuable than the person who just compiles reports each month.

If you’re interested to learning how to build these skills or the theory behind them, check out my web-analytics course on Mediabistro. And if you’ve already got a handle on these web-analytics basics, browse the job listings that require web-analytics skills.

Christopher White is a Mediabistro industry expert instructor, and director of marketing at MBO Partners.

Topics:

Climb the Ladder, Skills & Expertise

Hot Jobs

Health and Wellness Jobs in Media and Marketing

Love health and wellness? Your heart may well skip a beat about these current job openings

By Katie Hottinger

@katiehottinger

Katie Hottinger is a content strategist and UX designer with over 15 years of editorial experience across brands including JPMorgan Chase, Google, Condé Nast Traveler, and Mediabistro. She specializes in digital content strategy and multi-platform editorial execution.

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

By Katie Hottinger

@katiehottinger

Katie Hottinger is a content strategist and UX designer with over 15 years of editorial experience across brands including JPMorgan Chase, Google, Condé Nast Traveler, and Mediabistro. She specializes in digital content strategy and multi-platform editorial execution.

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

If you’ve got a passion for health and wellness, and you’re looking for a media or marketing job, you’re going to love the, uh, healthy selection of wellness-related openings on our job board.

With opportunities available at such employers as a nationwide pharmacy chain looking to staff its marketing team, an esteemed publisher seeking editorial and business staffers and a major health publisher hiring a video team, one of these wellness-focused job openings may be right for you.

CVS Health
CVS Pharmacy has upped it clean-living game of late, as the Woonsocket, Rhode Island–based company with more than 9,500 locations across the U.S. has been tightening its focus on products and services that ensure customers’ health. Current openings include the following:

1. Director, In Store and Shopper Experience
CVS is reinventing its stores to help support customers’ health, and their loyalty to local stores. As a part of this effort, the company is looking for a Rhode Island–based director of shopper experience to spearhead efforts to deliver best-in-class shopping and patient experiences.
Apply to the Director of In Store and Shopper Experience Job

2. Marketing Director, Healthcare
CVS is looking for a marketing director with a background in retail, OTC brands or consumer healthcare to lead a team developing consumer healthcare solutions across traditional, digital and emerging channels. The position is based in Rhode Island, but requires travel a third of the time.
Apply to the Marketing Director, Healthcare Job

3. Marketing Director, Food and Total Store
The company seeks a marketing director with a track record in health food, validated emerging market ideas and leading a team to drive business results in food sales. This is a Rhode Island–based position, but you’d be on the road a third of the time.
Apply to the Marketing Director, Food and Total Store Job

4. Marketing Director, Beauty
The company is looking for a marketing director of beauty who will work out of its Rhode Island headquarters to build brand preferences and drive sales results; experience with beauty brands and digital are musts.
Apply to the Marketing Director, Beauty Job

Rodale
With headquarters in Emmaus, Pennsylvania, and New York City, Rodale is a leading wellness publisher. It has several job openings, including the following:

5. Health Editor, Men’s Health
Men’s Health, the company’s men’s service title, has an opening for an experienced health editor at its Pennsylvania offices who can transform cutting-edge health research and trends into informed, usable content.
Apply to the Health Editor, Men’s Health Job

6. Online Sales Planner
The company is looking for an online sales planner with one to two years’ experience to work in its New York corporate sales department managing inventory across its online products. An understanding of online ad campaign metrics and the ability to work in a fast-paced environment are required.
Apply to the Online Sales Planner Job

WebMD
An esteemed provider of health information to consumers, doctors and employers, New York City–based WebMD produces several websites and WebMD the Magazine. There are several current openings, including positions on the award-winning, Atlanta-based video team; see more below:

7. Digital Video Producer
The company is looking for an Atlanta-based digital video producer to manage the timely, compelling and accurate creation of video content across more than 100 topic areas. Strong script-writing abilities and five years of experience in video production are required.
Apply to the Digital Video Producer Job

8. Video Editor
The WebMD video team has an opening for an Atlanta-based creative video editor to work closely with in-house production team and work on three to five programs a day. The ability to communicate with stakeholders and expertise in Adobe After Effects and video graphic templates are required.
Apply to the Video Editor Job

9. Digital Video Writer
There’s an opening on the video team for an Atlanta-based digital video writer to create topical, interesting and factual scripts and online video copy for several topic areas, including wellness and medical conditions. A background in reference content and engaging storytelling is a plus.
Apply to the Digital Video Writer Job

10. Video Production Specialist
The video team is looking for an Atlanta-based video production specialist, a proficient camera operator to work in studio and in the field, as well as to set up professional lighting and capture quality sound. Two years’ experience on set or in a studio required.
Apply to the Video Production Specialist Job

11. Social Media Editor
The audience engagement team is looking for an Atlanta-based social media editor to provide editorial direction and execute WebMD’s social media presence and messaging across all targeted platforms. Experience in health or lifestyle journalism, as well as a track record developing social media engagement strategies and results, are pluses.
Apply to the Social Media Editor Job

12. Media Quality Engineer
WebMD is searching for a media quality analyst in its New York City offices to help lead automated media testing, including automated tests to measure ad function and performance. Two years’ experience in ad ops or engineering are required.
Apply to the Media Quality Engineer Job

13. Business Analyst, Sales Ops
The company is looking for a business analyst in New York City to work with internal stakeholders to create and design sales and business applications for WebMD. Helping to define, collect and manage project requirements, as well as monitoring projects’ status, are part of the drill.
Apply to the Business Analyst, Sales Ops Job

Remedy Health Media
Remedy Health Media is a fast-growing, Arlington, Virginia– and New York City–based health information and technology company; products include Diabetes Focus magazine and websites such as Healthcommunities.com. Current openings include the following:

14. Associate Producer
The company is looking to fill an opening in Arlington, Virginia, for an associate to manage all aspects of health information Web content, including planning and creating original digital content, tracking and reporting on trends and developments in health and medicine, as well as managing outside bloggers and experts.
Apply to the Associate Producer Job

15. Senior Editor
The Arlington, Virginia, office is looking for a senior editor to develop, implement, monitor and execute editorial goals for the Health Central brand. Attention to detail and the ability to juggle multiple projects are musts.
Apply to the Senior Editor Job

16. Graphics and Photo Editor
There is an opening in Remedy Health’s New York City office for a graphics and photo editor to work with the editorial teams at creating engaging, visually appealing content on for its website and social media platforms. Two years’ of experience and a solid knowledge of UI and Web design are required.
Apply to the Graphics and Photo Editor Job

Men’s Fitness
17. Associate Editor
Men’s Fitness magazine in New York City is looking for an associate editor responsible for editing compelling, topical content about sports, health, gear, exercise, food, travel and more. Two years’ experience editing print or digital content and great editorial instincts are required.
Apply to the Associate Editor, Men’s Fitness Job

CNN
18. Writer, CNN Health
CNN Health, a leader in health and wellness coverage both on TV and digital, is looking for a writer to cover the day’s most vital, compelling health, wellness and medical stories. Previous experience in health journalism, and the ability to explain and give context to medical news, are musts.
Apply to the Writer, CNN Health Job

U.S. News & World Report
19. Health & Wellness Reporter
A highly respected source of news and rankings information, U.S. News & World Report is looking for a health and wellness reporter in Washington, DC, to do original reporting as well as edit blog posts from contributors on such topics as nutrition, fitness, mental health, parenting and health tech.
Apply to the Health & Wellness Reporter Job

Thrillist Media Group
20. Health & Fitness Staff Writer
A leading men’s digital lifestyle brand, Thrillist is seeking a health and fitness staff writer to join its NYC–based team. Generating pitches, sourcing and writing stories, and working with the health and fitness editor and strategy team on the direction and style of the health vertical are all part of the gig.
Apply to the Health & Fitness Staff Writer Job

New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
21. Social Media Coordinator
The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene is looking for a social media coordinator to reach constituents on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other platforms, as well the department’s website. An undergraduate or graduate degree and experience in public relations, journalism or advertising are required.
Apply to the Social Media Coordinator Job

Mount Sinai Health System
22. Development Proposal Writer
A leading hospital system in New York City, Mount Sinai Health System is looking for a development proposal writer to craft communications materials—proposals, reports, presentations, and more—for donors and trustees. A minimum of five years’ experience in proposal writing in a healthcare or not-for-profit setting is required.
Apply to the Development Proposal Writer Job

Topics:

Get Hired, Hot Jobs

Skills & Expertise

First Job Advice: How to Impress and Succeed From Day One

Here’s some hard-won wisdom to take you from media newbie to rising star

By Molly Folse

@MollyFolse

Molly Folse is a marketing leader with 20 years of experience in content strategy and social media, currently serving as Director of Content and Creative at Protective Life. She has led award-winning content and digital campaigns across financial services, higher education, travel, and consumer brands.

3 min read • Originally published May 10, 2016 / Updated March 19, 2026

By Molly Folse

@MollyFolse

Molly Folse is a marketing leader with 20 years of experience in content strategy and social media, currently serving as Director of Content and Creative at Protective Life. She has led award-winning content and digital campaigns across financial services, higher education, travel, and consumer brands.

3 min read • Originally published May 10, 2016 / Updated March 19, 2026

You did it. You survived the interview process, and now you’re ready to impress at your new job. Maybe you’ve already arranged a few personal items on your desk to keep you motivated—a graduation photo, some Emerson quotes, the lucky fortune you got with your Chinese food last night.

That’s a good start, but it’s going to take a lot more than a little desktop motivation to keep you going once the responsibilities of your new role kick in.

The marketing and advertising industry is “full of talented, creative people, and many do the jobs and assignments they’re given,” says 360i CEO Sarah Hofstetter. “But the people who really move up the ladder first and fastest are those who raise their hands and ask for opportunities.”

So how can you set yourself apart and do more than cross assignments off lists? Try some of these 11 tips to really rock your new job in marketing.

Keep it simple.

Consumers’ attention spans are getting shorter by the minute, and your marketing cohorts are no exception. Know what point you want to make before writing an email or starting a conversation.

Be visible (but for the right reasons).

There’s a fine line between being famous for your friendly office banter and infamous for idle gossip. Be known as the person who always asks for opportunities and stays until a deadline is met.

Master the art of managing up.

Even the best managers are made better by great employees. Managing up is about setting clear expectations and regular communication. Examples include asking for specifics around vague requests, identifying needs and sharing your ideas.

Know crisis can be opportunity.

Even optimists acknowledge an emergency is going to happen sooner or later, and how you react under fire can make or break your reputation. Fight the urge to express frustration and instead get to work helping solve the problem at hand.

Don’t call the baby ugly.

Remember that your company was around long before they hired you. You may be tempted to pick apart past efforts, but proceed with caution. Use your new ideas to add to previous work, not tear it down.

Remember early is on time, on time is late.

This one’s pretty self-explanatory. Seasoned marketers have little patience for newbies who show up late and unprepared. Avoid both by being early whenever possible.

Make friends with the right people—they’re not always who you think they are.

It may pay to have friends in high places, but it pays more to make friends in the right places. The HR manager, office manager or receptionist can all be valuable resources for you as you learn about the company—and often have the ear of upper management.

Check yourself often.

There’s a saying: If you’re always putting out fires, you’re probably an arsonist. If you find yourself tackling the same issues over and over, make sure you aren’t part of the problem.

Be loyal to a good supervisor.

If you’re lucky enough to have a stellar boss, you want to help them get promoted so you can rise with them. Remember, you aren’t competing for their position.

Track your successes.

You may be the best at what you do, but can you prove it? Keep track of any challenging tasks you complete, monitor performance of campaigns you work on and document any praise you receive. This will come in handy as you look to move up or seek other positions.

Be humble and hungry.

Realize that you don’t know everything, but at the same time, you should strive to know everything. Take any opportunity you can to learn, and consider taking an online course to supplement what you’re exposed to on the job; the people who do this are the ones senior leaders look to first when there’s a promotion on the line.

Topics:

Climb the Ladder, Skills & Expertise

Hot Jobs

Academic Publishing Jobs: Openings for Educators and Publishers

Have a passion for publishing, and academics? These book-ish jobs might be right up your alley

By John Lombard

John Lombard is a content strategist and writer with over a decade of experience creating interactive and video content for brands like Apple, IBM, and Samsung. He previously worked at Mediabistro and now serves as a Client Strategist at Ceros.

4 min read • Originally published May 12, 2016 / Updated March 19, 2026

By John Lombard

John Lombard is a content strategist and writer with over a decade of experience creating interactive and video content for brands like Apple, IBM, and Samsung. He previously worked at Mediabistro and now serves as a Client Strategist at Ceros.

4 min read • Originally published May 12, 2016 / Updated March 19, 2026

If you aspire to work—or move up—in the world of academic publishing or content, our job board has the jobs to make it happen. With current openings from leading scholarly publishing houses and other organizations that deal in academic information, these jobs are perfect for intellectuals, educators and publishers alike.

Springer Nature
A major force in scholarly, scientific, professional and educational publishing, Springer Nature recently merged with other education publishing goliaths—including Macmillan Education. Right now, they’re hiring tons of educational editors, publishers and more. Here are a couple to investigate:

1. Astronomy Editor
You’ll need your PhD in astronomy to land this role, but it’s an incredible opportunity to publish high-quality research across the natural sciences. If you have a passion for science, can demonstrate the breadth of your interest in scientific research and welcome the chance to travel, this New York–, London- or Shanghai-based role may be in the stars for you.
Apply to the Astronomy Editor Job

2. Scientific American Mind, Associate Editor
This Springer Nature–owned bimonthly magazine that focuses on psychology, mental health, neurology and brain science is calling for an energetic editor to join its New York–based team. If you have a strong understanding of storytelling, best practices in science journalism, at least three years’ experience editing for a general audience and don’t mind working under a deadline, this may be the role for you.
Apply to the Associate Editor Job

Taylor & Francis Group
3. Editor, Religion
A leading publisher of scholarly journals and books, Taylor & Francis Group is looking for an editor to manage and grow a dynamic list of religious books. If you have at least two years’ experience as a senior editorial assistant or similar role, a keen financial sense and knowledge of religion, you might want to check out this New York–based opportunity.
Apply to the Editor, Religion, Job

W. Norton & Company
4. Publishing Sales Representative
Independent publisher W.W. Norton & Company prides itself in being “the kind of place where book nerds thrive.” It’s currently on the lookout for an Ohio-based publishing sales rep to meet with professors and instructors to promote textbooks, media and other course materials.
Apply to the Publishing Sales Representative Job

Digital Promise
5. Multimedia Content Producer
The bipartisan nonprofit Digital Promise was organized by Congress to equip Americans of all ages with the knowledge and skills needed to compete in the global economy. The organization is seeking a multimedia content producer to help translate its research findings into short, engaging videos out of its office in Redwood City, California.
Apply to the Multimedia Content Producer Job

Triad Media Solutions
6. Education Research Analyst
An interactive direct marketing company in Hoboken, New Jersey, Triad Media Solutions is searching for a bright, detail-oriented individual to join its content team, gathering and analyzing data associated with colleges and universities. This role calls for an inquisitive mind, experience working with large amounts of data and a strong curiosity in the higher education industry, career paths and consumer behavior.
Apply to the Education Research Analyst Job

Knopf Doubleday
7. Marketing Associate
The publishing group Knopf Doubleday is looking for a New York–based marketer. This member of its academic marketing team will coordinate the creation and execution of campaigns, prepare for and attend book exhibits, and manage advertising schedules, among other responsibilities.
Apply to the Marketing Associate Job

Yale University Press
8. Publicist
Yale University Press, the winner of eight Pulitzer Prizes and other prestigious awards, is on the hunt for a publicist to plan and execute publicity strategy for select Yale University Press titles. This New Haven, Connecticut–based role calls for a candidate with three years’ of book publicity or public relations experience.
Apply to the Publicist Job

Wiley
9. Editor, Life & Physical Science Journals
A publisher of scientific, technical and medical scholarly journals and reference works, Wiley is looking for an editor to oversee a portfolio of journals in the life and physical sciences. This Hoboken, New Jersey–based role calls for three to five years’ experience in journal publishing and the ability to develop an academic network, among other duties.
Apply to the Editor Job

Cambridge University Press
10. Library Sales Representative
The oldest publishing house in the world, Cambridge University Press is looking for a library sales rep to sell online products within the United States library and institutional market. This role is based in New York City and calls for at least three years’ sales experience, preferably in academic digital products.
Apply for the Library Sales Representative Job

Topics:

Get Hired, Hot Jobs

Job Search

7 Reasons to Follow Mediabistro on Instagram

Find contests and exclusive content—and get even more motivation for your media career—by adding us to your IG feed

By Neffy Anderson

3 min read • Originally published May 18, 2016 / Updated March 19, 2026

By Neffy Anderson

3 min read • Originally published May 18, 2016 / Updated March 19, 2026

We finally made it to Instagram!

We love the Mediabistro community, and we’re psyched to expand it to one of our favorite visual social platforms. We think it’s pretty obvious why you should click “follow” on our IG profile, but just in case you need some convincing, here are seven reasons to add Mediabistro to your Instagram feed.

1. You’ll get career motivation, inspiration, humor and advice.
Being a job seeker is hard. Being employed: still hard. We know we need some humor and #MondayMotivation to get us through; follow us for a feed full of inspirational quotes, funny memes and the career advice you need to get through the 9-5—or whatever insane hours you actually work.

The #coverletter we’ve all wanted to write at one point or another … ?? Head to mediabistro.com (? in bio) and let our career experts help you craft a cover letter that will help end the #jobsearch struggle | #AnitaJob #YoureWelcome ?: @lindseyvarghese

A photo posted by Mediabistro (@mediabistro) on Apr 21, 2016 at 10:38am PDT

2. You can enter competitions and giveaways.
Because everyone loves free stuff: Double-tap our pictures for a chance to win swag, career services and more.

3. You’ll learn about exclusive sales and offers.
Don’t miss out on special discounts that we’re only sharing with our Instapeeps. Click the “follow” button on our profile to save BIG on Mediabistro courses and career services.

4. You can find digital mentorship.
We’re teaming up with media professionals to share their biggest takeaways, moments and lessons learned along their career journey so you be can faster and smarter about reaching your professional goals.

5. You can get to know your #MBInstructor.
You know your instructors from our Mediabistro courses; follow us on Instagram to stay up to date with their career advancements as they happen and what they’re doing to stay sharp.

#TBT to #MBinstructor @jeffreyyamaguchi at the listening party for @narativmedia’s new podcast, Memory Motel. At Narrativ, Jeff develops #podcast programming and works to build audience for new shows, through creative digital marketing and social media campaigns. Soak up his genius in a few of the courses he teaches for us.

A photo posted by Mediabistro (@mediabistro) on Apr 28, 2016 at 12:24pm PDT

6. You’ll get a BTS peek at Mediabistro.
Our office is filled with the amazingly talented people of Mediabistro, Adweek, Clio and FilmExpo, who work tirelessly to bring you and the rest of the media professional community the tools and resources that help you find success in the industry. Follow us on Instagram to get a behind-the-scenes look at happy hours, birthdays, fashion and more!

#NinaSky aka @yourfavoritetwins on the ones and twos @ #AdweekWIM ??

A photo posted by Mediabistro (@mediabistro) on May 4, 2016 at 4:47pm PDT

7. We’re sharing your stories.
Accepted an offer for a position you found on our job board? Upload a pic of how you felt when you got the news using the hashtag #MBIGotTheJob. We’ll repost with a congratulatory message and send you a little something to help you make a good first impression.

Topics:

Get Hired, Job Search

Job Search

How to Spot a Job Ad Scam: Warning Signs Every Job Seeker Should Know

If that job sounds too good to be true, it very well may be.

By Katie Hottinger

@katiehottinger

Katie Hottinger is a content strategist and UX designer with over 15 years of editorial experience across brands including JPMorgan Chase, Google, Condé Nast Traveler, and Mediabistro. She specializes in digital content strategy and multi-platform editorial execution.

4 min read • Originally published May 23, 2016 / Updated March 19, 2026

By Katie Hottinger

@katiehottinger

Katie Hottinger is a content strategist and UX designer with over 15 years of editorial experience across brands including JPMorgan Chase, Google, Condé Nast Traveler, and Mediabistro. She specializes in digital content strategy and multi-platform editorial execution.

4 min read • Originally published May 23, 2016 / Updated March 19, 2026

Caveat job seeker: That job listing you’ve gotten a reply from may not be for the position you’ve been dreaming about. Job boards can be host to scammers who are looking to defraud victims who are at their most suggestible and vulnerable—that is, job seekers who are so eager to land a position that they ignore the warning signs that all is not as it seems.

Some of the features below could pop up in a totally legitimate ad. But they’re also common signs that could indicate that a job is a scam meant to separate you from your money. If you see them, proceed with caution.

The Job Description Is Vague

You read the listing to get a feel for what the job involves, but the job description is so general that you can’t tell what you’d be doing. Or maybe it uses a common job title—possibly the popular “production assistant”—but there’s no real sense of what’s involved in the day to day. Or there are no requirements or qualifications listed.

The ad scammer’s job is not to formulate a believable job description, but to persuade as many suckers as possible to take the bait. If you can’t tell what you’d be doing, or what you need to be considered qualified, that’s a telltale sign that the ad is a fake.

The Pay Is Too High

Chalk this one up to “if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is”: Scammers often entice more people to apply to a job by listing with a salary that is a great deal more than similar positions offer. Do your research to learn what other jobs in the field, and at that level, pay. If the job pays several thousand more than the usual going rate, your B.S. detector should be sounding.

There’s a Non-Business Email Address

Most job boards (including ours) want candidates to apply through the site’s submission form. A scam poster may ask you to go around that, directing you not to a company email address (think “@mediabistro.com”) but to an easy-to-set-up, personal email address—@gmail.com, @yahoo.com, etc.

The same warning applies to all correspondence from a potential hiring manager. If they’re reaching out to you not from a business email address but a personal one, it could be legit. But it could be an indicator that a scam is afoot, especially if any of these other warning signs pop up too.

Things Don’t Add Up As You Do Your Research

You know you need to do your research on an employer to wow them in the interview. But if you can’t find any online information about the company or your point of contact—if the company doesn’t have a website or mentions on Glassdoor, or your contact isn’t on LinkedIn—that’s an indicator things might not be on the up and up.

They Ask You to Cash a Check

Job posting scammers often ask a victim to cash a check for something, sometimes an amount in excess of a payment, then send a check to cover the difference. The victim attempts to deposit the scammer’s phony check, and it bounces, usually after the scammer has already cashed the victim’s valid check.

They Ask You to Wire Money

Your new employers say the job is yours—they swear—but first they need you to help out with a wire transfer of funds. You’ll be asked to receive some wired funds to your account, then wire a lesser sum to another account, keeping the difference as your fee. These schemes usually involve stolen funds and use the unwitting job seeker as a money launderer.

They Ask for Personal Information

If you’re in the final stages of the interview process for a legit job and about to get an offer but need a background check—or if you’ve just been hired and you need to fill out tax paperwork—you may be asked to furnish your Social Security number, or a scan of your driver’s license or passport.

With job ad scams, requests for this information may come earlier—even before an interview—and involve you filling out an online form or an email, not on a piece of paper. And be accompanied by any of the above warning signs.

Topics:

Get Hired, Job Search

Journalism Advice

How to Break Into Foreign Affairs Writing

Turn a passion for world news, foreign policy into a fulfilling career

By Hampton Stephens

@HKingsmoreS

3 min read • Originally published May 25, 2016 / Updated March 19, 2026

By Hampton Stephens

@HKingsmoreS

3 min read • Originally published May 25, 2016 / Updated March 19, 2026

An insatiable appetite for world news. A feeling that the world outside your country’s borders is beckoning you. A frustration with the quality of political discourse on foreign policy. If any of this strikes a chord, a career in international affairs writing may be for you.

It won’t be an easy path; the most coveted employees have dedicated years—if not decades—to their foreign affairs passion. Yet there are things you can do now to excel down the road, perhaps the most important of which is to get started. Right now.

This means building a portfolio of published clips as a freelancer. Most writers covering international politics are established experts in their field. But if the work is solid, publications may give a relatively inexperienced writer a chance.

With that in mind, here are some tips for making a career out writing about foreign affairs and international relations:

Be a jack of all trades.

Writers in the digital age must have a range of different skills, including reporting, writing and editing, as well as production, coding and social media marketing. Today’s most successful foreign affairs reporters not only write well, they also understand how their writing gets produced and distributed online—and how to build an audience for their work.

And master of one.

When everyone knows just a little bit about everything, deep knowledge in at least one area becomes all the more valuable. Find an international issue or region that excites you and deeply educate yourself about it.

Follow the journalists who are experts already and contact them to follow up on their work with questions and remarks. Learn to recognize important developments before others do.als.

Cultivate the outlook of an analyst.

In a world where information is more plentiful and available than ever, the value of journalism increasingly depends on its explanatory power. This means being able to see the relationship between issues and recognize how disparate stories fit into larger trends.

Understanding the big picture will in turn enhance your ability to identify important single events when they come along, and to explain to editors why they are important to cover.

But don’t be a pundit.

Until you have a recognized body of work and have established your bona fides, avoid writing pure opinion or commentary. You’re not Henry Kissinger, so your opinion will matter very little at first to editors and readers, even if it is objectively just as valid as that of the so-called experts.

Start by reporting what is happening and what experts think about it. By doing that enough, your own opinion will begin to be more informed and will be taken that much more seriously by editors.

Look to the next big thing.

One way to ensure there is demand for your expertise is to master a topic that might not be in the spotlight, but that you believe could have greater importance down the road. That way you will be well-positioned if something does occur to make it central.

Chance plays a role of course: Think of the Syria expert prior to March 2011. Or the French foreign policy specialist prior to the November 2015 Paris shootings.

In international affairs, change is the only constant, and yesterday’s irrelevant issue or region can very quickly become today’s front-page news. Look for a subject that is both growing in importance and compelling to you personally.

Know the value of your work.

Because of the Internet’s disruption of media economics over the last 20 years, it’s more important than ever for journalists to understand the business they are in. If you understand the financial interests and pressures of your employers, you are more likely to rise to positions of leadership.

Perhaps more importantly, you will understand the value of the work you do. When you are starting out, some publishers will ask you to work for free. My advice to you: There are very few situations in which the benefits of “exposure” outweigh the hardships of not being paid.

Hampton Stephens is the founder and publisher of World Politics Review.

Topics:

Go Freelance, Journalism Advice

Hot Jobs

Hot Jobs: 14 Media Internships to Launch Your Career

Calling all students and recent grads: Here are your foot-in-the-door internship opportunities

By John Lombard

John Lombard is a content strategist and writer with over a decade of experience creating interactive and video content for brands like Apple, IBM, and Samsung. He previously worked at Mediabistro and now serves as a Client Strategist at Ceros.

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

By John Lombard

John Lombard is a content strategist and writer with over a decade of experience creating interactive and video content for brands like Apple, IBM, and Samsung. He previously worked at Mediabistro and now serves as a Client Strategist at Ceros.

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

Looking to break into the media industry? Here are 14 awesome internships to make it happen. From media opportunities at the New York Public Library to a photojournalism fellowship in Arizona, we’ve got the gigs to get your foot in the door, fill your brain with real-world industry knowledge and set you up for a sweet career in media.

The Chronicle of Higher Education
Since 1966, the Chronicle has remained the premiere source of news on the topic of higher education, pulling in more than one million readers every month. For its headquarters in Washington, DC, it’s currently on the hunt for fall interns.

1. Fall Editorial Intern
The Chronicle’s looking for an editorial intern to work as a full-time reporter in its newsroom. Gain real-world experience in this paid internship that runs from early September to mid-December; there’s a bit to prepare for with this application, so make sure you get started soon.
Apply to the Fall Editorial Internship

2. Marketing and Product Development Intern
In this six-month role, you’d be assisting with marketing initiatives and helping to grow its online community, among other responsibilities. If you’re looking to learn publication advertising and marketing as well as product development, this internship may be perfect for you.
Apply to the Marketing and Product Development Internship

The New York Public Library
With more 53 million books and other items throughout its NYC locations, the New York Public Library is the second largest public library system in the United States (just behind the slightly larger one in LA). It’s looking for several interns in varying media roles right now.

3. Summer Intern, Media Relations
The NYPL is seeking an enthusiastic summer intern to work with its media relations team, assisting with day-to-day activities such as covering documentary film shoots, planning and supporting media events, writing press releases, pitching stories and other related tasks.
Apply to the Media Relations Internship

4. Social Media Internship
The library’s Department of Communications and Marketing is looking for a social media intern to write and curate content for NYPL’s socials and blog, brainstorm content ideas and assist in communication emails. If you have a love for all things literary and an interest in being part of NYPL’s digital engagement program, check this out.
Apply to the Social Media Internship

5. Creative Services Summer Intern
In this internship you’d work alongside a team of designers, writers and video specialists on such tasks as planning photo shoots and events, as well as participating in publication and graphic design. You’re an ideal candidate if you have design or video production experience as well as knowledge of Photoshop and InDesign.
Apply to the Creative Services Internship

The Daily Dot
6. Ecommerce Content Intern
This large and growing digital publication covers the story of the 21st century: the Internet. Its revenue department is looking to hire an intern to contribute to its growing ecommerce initiative. In this paid, NYC–based role, you’d be identifying unique online deals and developing content in the Daily Dot brand voice to promote them, as well as other duties.
Apply to the Ecommerce Content Intern

Realtor.com
7. Editorial Intern
Part of the News Corp. media empire, Realtor.com breaks news and offers sage advice for home buyers, sellers and owners. In this paid internship based in Santa Clara, California, you’d be writing video scripts, reaching out to Realtors for user-generated content, assisting on shoots, syndicating stories and managing content in WordPress.
Apply to the Editorial Internship

Maxim
8. Editorial Internship
Maxim, the international men’s magazine, is looking for an editorial intern with a passion for writing to join its print team. In this NYC–based internship, you’d be working alongside editors and writers on all aspects of a story, from the initial research to the finished product.
Apply to the Editorial Internship

Meredith
9. Photojournalist Intern PT
Known for its national brands such as Better Homes and Gardens and Shape, the Meredith Corporation also owns local 3TV and CBS 5 news stations in Phoenix, Arizona. In this paid internship at the stations, through the James Alan Cox Foundation for Student Photojournalists, you’d be assigned a mentor who provides real-world knowledge of television news photojournalism, editing, sports and more.
Apply to the Photojournalist Internship

MoveOn.org
10. Press Intern
This non-profit political action committee takes on campaigns to push back against right-wing policies while pursuing economic, racial and social justice. As the November election nears, MoveOn is looking for a press intern to compile and track press coverage. This three-month paid internship and allows you to work from anywhere in the United States.
Apply to the Press Internship

Heleo
11. Editorial Fellow Intern
Located in downtown New York, Heleo is a brand-new digital media startup focused on promoting thought leaders and their work and brands. In its paid fellowship, you’d be working alongside the editorial director to help grow its platform. If your training has been in more traditional journalism, this is the perfect opportunity to explore emerging facets of the media business.
Apply to the Editorial Fellowship

Melcher Media
12. Digital Intern
Calling all NYC–based coders! Melcher Media and the Future of StoryTelling—two companies who are reinventing the way stories are told—are on the hunt for a digital intern to aid in the effort of the official FoST Summit web app, among other tech-related tasks. This paid, three- to 12-month internship is a great opportunity to experience app production from concept to completion.
Apply to the Digital Internship

Accord Media
13. Beauty Ecommerce Intern
Truth in Aging—an online community where women objectively review, endorse and sell beauty products in its curated online store—is looking for an ecommerce associate intern to support its editorial teams. If you’re familiar with CMS, HTML, Photoshop and online writing, then this paid, NYC–based internship may be for you.
Apply to the Beauty Ecommerce Internship

Online Editorial Intern
14. The Hollywood Reporter
This weekly magazine and online publication—an entertainment industry bible—is now accepting applications for its paid summer 2016 editorial internship program. In this role, you’d be researching articles, writing and reporting assignments, assisting with awards show coverage as well as attending various red carpets, movie premieres and other industry events, among other tasks. And yes—it’s based in LA.
Apply to the Online Editorial Internship

Topics:

Get Hired, Hot Jobs

Skills & Expertise

6 of the Best Brands on Social Media

Learn from these employers who've got their social game down

By Molly Folse

@MollyFolse

Molly Folse is a marketing leader with 20 years of experience in content strategy and social media, currently serving as Director of Content and Creative at Protective Life. She has led award-winning content and digital campaigns across financial services, higher education, travel, and consumer brands.

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

By Molly Folse

@MollyFolse

Molly Folse is a marketing leader with 20 years of experience in content strategy and social media, currently serving as Director of Content and Creative at Protective Life. She has led award-winning content and digital campaigns across financial services, higher education, travel, and consumer brands.

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

In a world where even your grandmother has a favorite meme, there’s no excuse for marketers to not know what brands are doing social media best. Being able to spot greatness—and storing those great ideas to use later—can help up your own marketing game and showcase enthusiasm employers will appreciate.

Watch and learn from these brands that are killing it on social—and talk about them in your next job interview.

Coca-Cola

It’s almost unfair to compare the most-recognized product in the world to any other brand. But despite its size and being nearly 125 years old, Coca-Cola sets an example for companies of any size by experimenting with new channels early, treating social as a conversation and using insights from social to determine what its audience likes.

What They Do Best: Put the product at the center of content that delights
Example: The Share a Coke integrated campaign

Facebook Likes: 96.8 million
Twitter Followers: 3.2 million
Instagram Followers: 1.1 million

Red Bull

Red Bull was one of the first brands to fully embrace its role as a publisher. The brand that’s all about music, racing, extreme sports and, oh, yeah, energy drinks, actually started its publishing house before it even embraced social media.

What They Do Best: Use social media to promote its original content
Example: Red Bull TV shows, films and live events

Facebook Likes: 45.1 million
Twitter Followers: 2.12 million
Instagram Followers: 4.4 million

GoPro

Staying true to what its product is all about, GoPro’s social media strategy hinges on user-generated content. The brand makes it easy for anyone—amateurs, professionals, athletes, families, friends—to submit photos and videos captured using their GoPro cameras, and even pays its best contributors.
What They Do Best: Put their customers at the center of social content
Example: GoPro Awards user-generated content

Facebook Likes: 9.5 million
Twitter Followers: 1.5 million
Instagram Followers: 8.3 million

JetBlue

Airlines get their fair share of grief from customers on social media. JetBlue, however, has long been the gold standard in customer service. The company’s social media team often responds to mentions in a matter of minutes, and is known for going the extra mile to put smiles on customers’ faces.

What They Do Best: Listen to and engage with their customers
Example: From meeting a customer at the gate with cupcakes for his 100th flight to waiving fees for transporting folding bikes in suitcases, there are literally too many examples of JetBlue’s social media customer service to count.

Facebook Likes: 1.1 million
Twitter Followers: 2 million
Instagram Followers: 133,000

Dollar Shave Club

You probably know this brand from its crazy viral 2012 YouTube video that cost only $4,500 to produce and was done in just one day. But they didn’t stop there. Dollar Shave Club has evolved into a social customer service hero and content creator, owning all things related to skincare and other bathroom, um, rituals.

What They Do Best: Stay true to the company’s roots; Its gruff, no-nonsense voice never waivers, and the brand puts customers first
Example: #UnboxDSC, featuring customers’ own photos for which they receive a T-shirt

Facebook Likes: 2.6 million
Twitter Followers: 76,000
Instagram Followers: 50,400

Tough Mudder

Developed by a Harvard Business School grad and a former attorney, Tough Mudder challenges teams to complete military-style obstacle courses using both physical and mental abilities. The brand stresses teamwork over performance, and the events are not for the faint at heart. Through social media, Tough Mudder has been able to bring together those passionate about these live events and what they stand for.

What They Do Best: Build a community that’s not afraid to get down and dirty for what they love to do
Example: #ItsAllBeenTraining video tips, livestream coaching events and participant spotlights

Facebook Likes: 4.1 million
Twitter Followers: 161,000
Instagram Followers: 167,000

Topics:

Climb the Ladder, Skills & Expertise

The #WeekendJobSearch Assignment #5

Update Your Resume

1. Know Your Terms

2. Identify Key Performance Indicators

3. Set and Adjust Benchmarks

4. Map User Paths

5. Optimizing Conversions

6. Create Test-and-Learn Plans

7. Build Predictable Models

Keep it simple.

Be visible (but for the right reasons).

Master the art of managing up.

Know crisis can be opportunity.

Don’t call the baby ugly.

Remember early is on time, on time is late.

Make friends with the right people—they’re not always who you think they are.

Check yourself often.

Be loyal to a good supervisor.

Track your successes.

Be humble and hungry.

The Job Description Is Vague

The Pay Is Too High

There’s a Non-Business Email Address

Things Don’t Add Up As You Do Your Research

They Ask You to Cash a Check

They Ask You to Wire Money

They Ask for Personal Information

Be a jack of all trades.

And master of one.

Cultivate the outlook of an analyst.

But don’t be a pundit.

Look to the next big thing.

Know the value of your work.

Coca-Cola

Red Bull

GoPro

JetBlue

Dollar Shave Club

Tough Mudder

Sara Lieberman