Candidate Information and FAQs
What can I expect when I apply for a job through the Media Network?
If you apply for a job through our online application system, you should receive an immediate confirmation email in reply. All applications will be closely assessed by the recruitment consultant handling the job vacancy and applicants who appear to offer the best fit will be contacted to arrange an initial chat over the phone. This first contact will allow us to tell you more about the job and confirm certain details about you and your career interests. If appropriate, you will be invited to an interview at our offices in Central London. (In exceptional circumstances we may interview you by phone or at another location). We may ask you to provide examples of your work and for certain jobs, ask you to prepare some thoughts relating to the job, publication or project for which you are being interviewed. Production journalists may be asked to complete a subbing or proofing test as part of the interview process.
What can I expect from my interview at The Media Network?
This is your chance to learn more about the job . It is also an opportunity for us to explore in depth, the extent to which you offer a match to our clients' needs. To do this successfully, we will want to ask you detailed questions about your past experience and your approach to tackling various aspects of your previous roles. We will also discuss how you might approach the job for which you are being interviewed and what you can bring to it. These interviews are not only beneficial for us, but can be equally revealing for you and can identify areas of your experience which fall short and which could be addressed by self help or further training. They can also expose strengths you didn't realise you had which come from abilities, knowledge and experience you have may have taken for granted, but which have real value in the market. The interview can also be a wonderful rehearsal for any future interview you may have with the employer.
In most cases we will be able to tell you immediately whether we are able to shortlist you and recommend you to our client. In others, we may be in the early stages of the recruitment process and will need to consider your application alongside others before making a judgement. We will, however, always try and let you know the outcome as soon as we are able. Sometimes however, we are hampered in this by the speed with which our clients are able to proceed as a result of changing priorities and internal protocols.
How can I make my application stand out?
Like all recruitment consultants, we are paid by employers to identify the best available candidates in the market. They expect us to apply the same benchmarks and judgement as they do when appraising a potential new appointee. Unfortunately, a cv alone is not enough to tell us why you might be a better candidate than the next person. That's why you should always provide an accompanying statement outlining the relevant areas of your experience, skills, knowledge, interests and personal attributes that are relevant to the job.
I have applied for a job but not had a reply.
The speed of our response to your application may depend on the popularity of the job vacancy and the volume of applications we receive. It may also depend on how we assess its relevance and as such, it could take up to two weeks before you get a more personalised response. However, in some cases, when we are advertising popular vacancies or when multiple applications for different jobs are sent in by a single applicant regardless of their suitability for them, we may sadly be unable to respond to each and every application.
FAQs
Q. I want to become a journalist but have no experience. Can you help me?
A. Unfortunately, most of our vacancies require proven ability in a range of journalism skills and more often than not, a vocational training in journalism. If you are determined to pursue a career in journalism, we would encourage you to investigate the courses available. We list those that we are familiar with here.
Q. I've looked at the courses that are available and I can't afford to pay the fees. Is there any other way I can get into journalism?
A. You could approach the editors of local newspapers to see if they offer work placements. If successful, you may be able to build up a portfolio of work to show prospective employers. From time to time, some of the larger magazine and newspaper publishers operate graduate training schemes for journalists.
Q. I want to work as a freelance journalist. Can I register with you?
A. Unfortunately, The Media Network solely recruits journalists for full-time, permanent posts in magazine and online journalism. We do not handle freelance contracts nor broker freelance writing.
Q. I am a qualified journalist and speak and write good English but it is not my mother tongue. Can I register with you?
A. The Media Network specialises in the recruitment of journalists for English language publications and is only able to register applications from individuals with highly developed written English skills as they will be competing for jobs alongside native-level English writers.
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