How to Work for a Magazine

How to work for a magazine.. I used to dream of doing this and where I am different to many who write articles about this subject I have had the chance to do this many times so I do know this subject! What I have ended up doing is better, that is the reason I have turned it down. Let me explain. I began my career as a therapist, I then found that the thing I loved most and was most good at was analysing a person or a person's situation and working out what they should do about it to make it better and I became a private advice columnist. This eventually led me to setting up this site and getting lots of customers every day who write to me for private consultations. Because I became well known I was also offered a job on television and radio and was often featured in the Press, I also gathered up celebrity clients. To me that is better than working for one of those publications, it is more interesting, I work when it suits me from home and it pays far better. I am now looking for someone to work under me as a junior. You do not need any qualifications nor do you need experience at selling advice but you do need to be smart,  trustworthy and responsible and you can do this part time too.   I do not work for one because I choose not to, not because they do not want me. I am actually far better off doing my own thing.

So where do you fit in? You have far more chance of getting work for a site than a magazine. Magazines get loads of journalists and writers apply to them and most of them have a lot of experience. But sites are far more likely to hire someone who does not have work experience but shows a lot of potential. You also need to think about if you can actually do the position you are applying. I have spoken to people who are journalists etc. and they tell me the standard of applications they get are usually very low and they cannot understand why some of them bother.  Some of them cannot even spell short words yet they are applying for a position as a writer! How does this make sense? Would you call someone who cannot spell and uses poor grammar who applies for such a post a logical wise person who can sell advice or a dreamer? Publications are always getting people applying to work for them - usually people with no skill and ability, because they are not looking at it from the point of view of the potential boss or publication and just looking at what suits them.  If the boot was on the other foot and they were applying to themselves they would not be interested in hiring themselves. One way of knowing that they are not suitable is that they have no real passion for writing or helping people. They are just attracted to the high wages and somehow believe they are the only one who wants the job and they will get it.

If you think this is you then please do read more details about it and apply, which you can do here.

Bear in mind that many publications have been dropped due to lack of readers and purchasers. There are now less and less paper and ink publications and more and more that are web based. Unless you end up working for an illustrious and well bred publication such as Tatler or Vogue (where you would need to be 100% perfect with a great knowledge of fashion, make up, hair etc) you would more likely be offered work for a web based publication where there is a limited niche readership and where the pay is very low. There are a lot of people out there who are seeking to do this and so keen that they would do it for free. Either because of their ego and wanting to show off to their friends or because they see it as the step up the ladder they need to do before they can set up their own thing or get a better position elsewhere. Nobody unknown who lacks a lot of previous experience would ever be considered for a national publication anywhere. This is not the type of career to get into for financial reasons it is all about ego and there is a great deal of competition so only the very best get chosen. If you are good at web design, English, sales, seo etc you would probably have more chance of success if you set up your own online publication so long as you made sure you did it very well but even then it would be difficult to make any real money from it. You can also bear in mind that most new businesses close down within twelve months and it can take working all day every day for years to get one off the ground.

How to work for a magazine.

UK.