One Day, One Job » magazines

Highlights

Willy Franzen — Fri, 04 May 2012 12:05:50 +0000

Yesterday I almost got highlighted. I was in a boat, on a river, fishing with my Dad and a guide. A thunderstorm came up behind us, and we decided to tuck the boat in a cove under a bunch of trees and take cover. It wasn’t the best spot, but there wasn’t anywhere else for us to go. When it started hailing, I got a little nervous. And then BANG! A bolt of lightning hit the water about three feet to my right. You and I are both lucky that you’re reading this today. This story has nothing to do with today’s company except for the fact that yesterday’s near death experience made me want to regress back to being a little kid–the kind that reads Highlights. If you’re not familiar, Highlights is a Columbus, OH company that develops products for children with a common theme: “Fun with a Purpose.” It’s all about “wholesome fun” that “is dedicated to helping children grow in basic skills and knowledge, in creativeness, in ability to think and reason, in sensitivity to others, in high ideals and worthy ways of living.”

Share Your Highlights

I definitely had a subscription to Highlights at some point in my life, but even after it lapsed I still picked up the magazines in places like doctor’s offices. You can get a feel for what Highlights looks like today by taking a look a their Favorite Characters and Features page. My favorites were always the What’s Wrong and Hidden Pictures. I truly hope that these somehow find their way into Highlights’ hiring process. It wouldn’t be right any other way. You may also want to check out Highlights’ State of the Kid 2011 Report. It will help you get in touch with today’s Highlights reader. If “Fun with a Purpose” describes your approach to life, then you have to take a look at Highlights’ Jobs page. There are a few positions worth taking a closer look at including:

Administrative Assistant – Accounting & Finance
Analyst – Campaign Management
Web Production Associate

Before you apply, you probably want to pick up a recent issue of Highlights and get reacquainted.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Did you read Highlights as a kid?

Dwell

Willy Franzen — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 15:02:15 +0000

I hate stock photography–especially the kind that you find on many career related sites. It’s usually a group of moderately attractive, racially diverse people who are smiling while dressed in business suits and holding folios. It’s not real. These photos create an unrealistic view of what a work environment looks like. In the world of home design, the analog is the fruit bowl. Whether you’re looking through real estate listings or a home decor magazine, chances are that you’ll see lots of fruit bowls–and they’ll be in odd places like bathrooms and bedrooms. Dwell is a magazine that defines itself by focusing on real life, something that “has been conspicuous by its absence in most design and architecture magazines.” Fruit bowls are ok, but only if the owners eat fruit. And so are other things you may not see in similar magazines–things that “demonstrate that a home is truly livable” by showing “it as it is lived in.” Dwell is based in New York, NY and San Francisco, CA, and although they consider themselves Modernists, they’re “nice Modernists.”

Dwell on This

You can get a feel for Dwell’s take on Modernism through their Fruit Bowl Manifesto on their About page, but to really understand it you should pick up a copy of their magazine or at least check out their website. While the focus is on homes, they cover everything that can be part of the context of a home–products, places, people, events, ideas, and more. It’s usually pretty hard to get a grasp of the business behind a magazine, so I highly recommend that you take a look at Dwell’s Media Kit–it will give you some serious insight into how the business operates. Once you’ve done that, head over to Dwell’s Jobs page. Right now they have mostly internships posted, but there’s a Brand Specialist (they don’t say where it’s located) position that looks like it could be a good fit for new or recent grads. It’s more about ad sales/account management than branding from what I can tell, but there’s nothing wrong with that.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Do you read Dwell?

Macmillan

Willy Franzen — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:51:45 +0000

Want your job to fit like a pair of the world’s best fitting pants? Bonobos will give you both. They’re one of my favorite companies that I’ve profiled, and they’re hiring an entry level Associate E-Commerce Coordinator. If you apply for the job, be sure to tell them that I sent you (they know me!).

There are some industries where company histories gets really confusing. Mergers, acquisitions, bankruptcies, name changes, and all kinds of other events make it hard to truly understand what parts of the story are meaningful. I’ve found this especially prevalent with financial institutions, advertising agencies, and publishers. We’re going to talk about the latter today. Macmillan is the New York, NY based face of a “group of publishing companies in the United States held by Verlagsgruppe Georg von Holtzbrinck” (a German company). As I read through their history, I got a bit overwhelmed. It starts in 1843 with two Scottish brothers, and includes the story about a completely different publisher named Macmillan. While understanding Macmillan’s history is important, it’s far more important to understand their future, which might include you.

I’m a Mac

Macmillan’s business is separated into three broad categories: Trade, College & Academic, and Magazines & Journals. That covers a ton of ground, so it’s helpful to dive into the publishers that make up Macmillan and their imprints, which include Farrar Straus and Giroux, Henry Holt & Company, W.H. Freeman and Worth Publishers, Palgrave Macmillan, Bedford/St. Martin’s, Picador, Roaring Brook Press, St. Martin’s Press, Tor Books, and Macmillan Higher Education. You get more info on each of these individual publishers here. A lot of them have their own prints, which just tells you how broad Macmillan’s reach is. You’ll have to dive in and figure out which areas of their business are most interesting to you, then you can check out their job postings. Right now they have a ton of entry level jobs posted including:

Inside Sales Assistant – HPHLP (Hamilton, NJ)
Graphic Designer – Palgrave Macmillan
Marketing Assistant – Palgrave Macmillan
Marketing Assistant – W. H. Freeman & Worth
Administrative Assistant
Associate Media Editor – Bedford, Freeman & Worth
Media Producer – Bedford, Freeman & Worth (Boston, MA)
Marketing Assistant – Bedford St. Martins (Boston, MA)
Associate Media Editor – Statistics and Mathematics – W. H. Freeman & Worth
Digital Production Associate
Human Resources Coordinator
Enforcement Assistant
Email Marketing Specialist
Publicist
Editorial Assistant – W. H. Freeman & Worth
Editorial Assistant – W. H. Freeman & Worth (slightly different from above)
Publisher Specialist
Online Content Specialist – Bedford St. Martins (Boston, MA)
High School Sales Representative -HPHLP (Hamilton, NJ)
Digital Marketing Associate

As you can see there’s quite a range of job opportunities at Macmillan. Be sure to read the job descriptions, as many of the jobs focus on specific publishing niches. Having subject matter expertise in those areas will be a big help in landing the jobs.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Which of Macmillan’s imprints is your favorite?

Grist

Willy Franzen — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 17:50:30 +0000

So far our survey says that you find the job search frustrating. Tell us more so that we can help.

When I was in Ann Arbor, MI last weekend, I noticed that there’s a tremendous amount of interest in the environment there. Maybe it’s because two of the friends I was visiting got Master’s degrees from University of Michigan’s School of Natural Resources and Environment, but it was also the LED street lights and the students who I met who were asking about green careers. That’s why I wouldn’t be surprised if there are a lot of subscribers to Grist in the Ann Arbor area. Grist is a Seattle, WA based magazine that “has been dishing out environmental news and commentary with a wry twist since 1999.” They’re a non-profit organization, so they’re “funded by foundation grants, user contributions, and advertising.”

Get the Grist of Things

A fair criticism of most of the environmentalist movement is that it lacks a sense of humor. It’s hard to have a laugh when you’re constantly screaming “the sky is falling.” Grist is certainly an exception, as their about page starts with:

Laugh now — or the planet gets it.

You know how some people make lemonade out of lemons? At Grist, we’re making lemonade out of looming climate apocalypse.

It’s more fun than it sounds, trust us!

The sense of humor comes through in articles like Live Your Tiny House Fantasies by Renting One on AirBnB, but there are also plenty of more serious ones like Making Federal Buildings Green Cuts Costs by a Fifth. If you’re digging Grists’s approach, then you may want to consider working for them. Their Jobs page shows that they’re looking for a Web Developer and Idealist shows that they’re looking for an Office Assistant. If neither of those positions sound right for you, you may want to take a look at Grist’s Writer’s Guidelines. There are both paid and unpaid opportunities for writers.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Do you read Grist?

Time Out

Willy Franzen — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 18:15:42 +0000

We want to do even more to help you land a job. Take our survey and let us know how we can better serve you as we start our fifth year.

One of my favorite things about living in Chicago is the restaurants. There are so many great places to eat, and there are new ones opening constantly. It’s a lot of fun, but it can be overwhelming if you try to keep up with it. That’s why I rely on Time Out Chicago to keep me up to date with what’s going on in Chi-town, whether it’s restaurant openings, cultural events, or things to do. I guess I’m lucky that Time Out chose to cover Chicago, considering that the London, UK based publishing company typically focuses on major international destinations like Bangkok, Barcelona, Kuala Lumpur, Tokyo, and Venice for their guides and magazines. As far as I can tell, Boston, MA; Chicago, IL, and New York, NY are the only U.S. cities to get weekly magazines, though a few other like Las Vegas and San Francisco do get their own travel guides. I must say that Time Out’s online presence is quite disjointed, so there’s a chance that there are locations in the U.S. where they might be hiring and I just missed them.

Take a Time Out from Your Job Search

It seems as though the U.S. based Time Outs operate somewhat independently from the parent company. You’ll probably want to bounce around TimeOut.com, NewYork.TimeOut.com, TimeOutChicago.com, and TimeOutBoston.com to get a sense of all of the different sub-brands. You may also want to take a look at Time Out’s Wikipedia entry to get a fuller sense of the business. But really you should focus on digging into Time Out’s content (a lot of which they publish online) and getting a feel for how they cover different locales. Then you’ll want to read up on the specific Time Out that catches your interest and take a look at their jobs (all of the Time Outs seem to hire independently from each other). In the Worldwide office based in London they have a few job openings and also offer what they call work experience. You can use the links below to find the Jobs pages for Boston, Chicago, and New York, and you’ll see that they have a number of interesting opportunities including:

SEO Master (New York, NY)
Copy Editor (New York, NY)
Ad Operations Specialist (New York, NY)
PHP Symfony Web Application Developer (New York, NY)
Account Manager (Chicago, IL)

They’re also big on internships, so if you want to get a position on the editorial side it would probably benefit you to start as an intern. (I have a friend who did exactly that at Time Out Chicago). Here’s a list of all of the internships that they offer:

Photo Intern (Boston, MA)
Editorial Intern Intern (Boston, MA)
Art & Design Intern (Chicago, IL)
Editorial Intern (Chicago, IL)
Online Photography Intern (Chicago, IL)
Online Production Intern (Chicago, IL)
Photography Intern (Chicago, IL)
Web Intern (Chicago, IL)
Admin/Human Resources Intern (New York, NY)
Advertising Intern (New York, NY)
Art – Magazine Design Intern (New York, NY)
Audience Development Intern (New York, NY)
Editorial Intern (New York, NY)
Editorial – Visual Arts Intern (New York, NY)
Editorial – Food & Drink Intern (New York, NY)
Public Relations Intern (New York, NY)
Editorial – Music Intern (New York, NY)
Editorial – Online Intern (New York, NY)
Editorial – Shopping & Style Intern (New York, NY)
Marketing & Events Intern (New York, NY)
Online Production Intern (New York, NY)
Photo Intern (New York, NY)
Editorial – Film Intern (New York, NY)
Special Projects Intern (New York, NY)
TONY Kids Intern (New York, NY)
TONY Kids Photo Intern (New York, NY)

They’re all unpaid, but they could be a good way to get a foot in the door.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Do you own any Time Out guides or subscribe to any of their magazines?

Crain Communications

Willy Franzen — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 17:35:49 +0000

Now that I’ve lived in Chicago for three years, I’m starting to feel more like a part of the Chicago business community. And a big piece of being a part of a community is keeping up on your local news. I rely a lot of sources, but I’ve found that Crain’s Chicago Business consistently does great reporting on the Chicago business scene. Crain’s Chicago Business is published by Crain Communications, which is “one of the largest privately owned business publishers in the U.S., with more than 27 leading business, trade and consumer publications and related websites in North America, Europe and Asia.” Crain is headquartered in Detroit, MI, but their publications are headquartered in a variety of places. Crain was founded in 1916 by GD Crain Jr., and it remains a family owned business to this day despite a few bumps in the road that would be expected for any company in the publishing industry (like layoffs a couple of years ago).

Crain Your Neck

What I really like about Crain Communications is that their lineup of brands serves a lot of different interests. They cover broader business news in Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, and New York, and they cover the Advertising and Media Industry with titles like Advertising Age and TelevisionWeek. They publish Waste & Recycling News, and they have 7 publications focused on the Plastics and Rubber industries. High quality publications that target specific niches are great for advertisers, which is why Crain has an advantage over more general business publications. If you’re digging Crain’s approach to niches and you like their “Readers First” mentality, then you should definitely give their Jobs page a look. Right now they have a variety of great opportunities for new or recent grads including:

Assistant Web Producer – Ad Age (New York, NY)
Digital Assistant Managing Editor – Investment News (New York, NY)
Digital Media Analyst – Pensions & Investments (New York, NY)
Digital Reporter – Ad Age (San Francisco, CA)
Editorial Assistant – Pensions & Investments (Chicago, IL)
Editorial Assistant – Business Insurance (Chicago, IL)
Freelance Reporter – Ad Age (Washington, DC)
Marketing Database Administrator (Detroit, MI)
Part-time Editorial Researcher – Tire Business (Akron, OH)
Research Analyst – Staffing Industry Analysts (Mountain View, CA)
Staff Reporter – Plastics News (Akron, OH)
Video Editor – Crain’s Chicago Business (Chicago, IL)
Web Developer – Ad Age (New York, NY)

There are all kinds of cool opportunities at Crain, so hopefully one of them will appeal to you. Ad Age may be a sexy name because you heard about it in Mad Men, but don’t overlook writing for Plastics News or Tire Business–sometimes things that seem mundane are actually pretty interesting.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Do you read any of Crain’s publications?

Complex Media Network

Willy Franzen — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 16:22:09 +0000

I like to consider myself an “influential 20-something male consumer,” but maybe I’m wrong. I don’t read Complex.com or visit any of the sites in the Complex Media Network, and they say that they are “the premier online destination for the most influential 20-something male consumers.” They’re getting nearly a million unique visitors a day across their network, so they’re certainly influential, and I have to think their audience is too. Complex, which is based in New York, NY caters to an audience that is “driven by style, sports, music, games, gear and girls,” and they’re experts at creating content for and delivering advertising to this audience. Complex.com is their main property, but the network extends to dozens of sites that zero in on niches within the niches.

It’s Complex

I had heard about Complex before from some internship postings that I came across, but I only really took another look at them after a reader e-mailed me to tell me that he had landed an internship with Complex Media Network. After taking a closer look, I realized that Complex has done something really impressive. They took a magazine (which always has two covers–one male celebrity and one female celebrity) that was started in Mark Ecko in 2002 and used it to launch a much larger network. By getting publishers who cover similar topics to join they’re network, they’re able to sell advertising on a much larger scale while still staying true to their target demographic. Here are some case studies to give you a better idea of how Complex Media actually leverages their network. If you’re a true “influential 20-something male consumer” or you want work in a business that focuses them, check out jobs at Complex Media Network. While they don’t have any positions posted for new grads, I’ve heard that both applying through their General Inquiries form and tweeting at Complex employees can deliver good results.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Do you read Complex?

Network Communications, Inc.

Willy Franzen — Thu, 26 May 2011 16:45:22 +0000

If you had to think of two industries that were hit hardest by the recession, what would they be? Mine would probably be publishing and real estate. (Finance may have been hit harder, but they bounced back almost immediately.) Since I firmly believe that great opportunity lies in taking on difficult challenges, I’m going to tell you about a company in the real estate publishing industry. Their name is Network Communications, Inc. (which tells you nothing about what they do), and they’re located in Lawrenceville, GA (a suburb of Atlanta). They produce a wide range of publications that focus on three specific areas: Home Sales, Rental & Leasing, and Home Improvement & Design. Some of their titles include The Real Estate Book, Apartment Finder, and Mountain Living. They break things down both by vertical and regional, and they’re just as active on the web as they are with print publications.

Making Publishing Real

The real estate publishing business model is pretty simple. The goal is to create content and distribute to anyone who might have a remote interest in buying, renting, or improving property. Then you sell ads alongside that content to help businesses like real estate agents, architects, contractors, and many others reach potential customers. This is a model that lends itself particularly well to the Internet where it’s easy to track lead generation. Based on the numbers, it looks like Network Communications, Inc. excels in every area of this business. Here are some stats on them:

They “distribute more than 13 million magazines each month.”
They serve “500 markets in the U.S. and Canada.”
They work with more than 45,000 advertisers.
Their websites get 10 million unique visitors who view 500 million listings annually.
They have “a proprietary network of over 320,000 distribution points around the country.”

It seems to me that they’ve overcome many of the problems that plague publishing companies by moving quickly to adopt new technology, and now they just need the real estate market to thaw a little bit more. It’s tough when your core advertisers are scared to spend money (believe me, I know). If you’re interested in working at the intersection of media and real estate, then check out jobs at Network Communications, Inc. Right now they have a few entry level positions including Junior Account Executive (Sacramento, CA), Online Product Manager (Lawrenceville, GA), and Sales Coordinator (St. Louis, MO). I imagine there will be a lot more opening up as soon as the real estate market picks up (whenever that may be), and some of them could be pretty cool–think editorial, social media, etc.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What have you heard about NCI?

Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia

Willy Franzen — Wed, 04 May 2011 16:41:43 +0000

Ever consider a career in teaching? Here’s some info on how to get started.

There’s a long history of poking fun at Martha Stewart, and it started well before she went to prison. There’s just something funny about someone who takes perfection in domesticity as seriously as she does. My family even played an integral role in the satire of Martha with my little sister’s appearance in the parody magazine Martha Stuart’s Better Than You at Entertaining, which was a follow up to Is Martha Stuart Living? (here’s a picture my sister as young Martha Stewart in the parody). We can keep laughing at Martha Stewart, but she’ll always get the last laugh. She has an amazing track record of reaching the top in nearly everything that she has done–from babysitting for Mickey Mantle’s kids to starting a successful catering company in her basement to building a New York, NY based media empire in Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia. Martha Stewart is apparently now worth well over half a billion dollars, and has used her personal brand to build amazing print, television, online, and merchandise properties.

Are You Living?

Whether or not you’re a Martha Stewart fan, you have to be impressed by what she’s done throughout her career. She’s had an amazing ability to stay relevant, and a lot of that has to do with her media strategy. She easily could have settled with a successful catering business, or a popular magazine, or having her own television show, but she didn’t. It seems that she is obsessed with using every channel possible to reach people with her “unique lifestyle content.” That’s what Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia is all about. If you enjoy the Martha Stewart brand and want to work on the media or merchandise side, then you definitely need to take a look at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia’s Careers page. There are some great opportunities posted in their job listings, and a few seem suitable for new or recent grads including: Assistant Food Editor, PHP Application Developer – Internet Content Management Systems, Front-End Web Developer, Decorative Pillow and Bedding Accessory Designer, Executive Assistant, Freelance Recipe Taster, Retail Merchandising Assistant, Apparel Designer – Martha Stewart Pets and Quilt Designer. You can also apply for an unlisted position if you don’t see something that suits you.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Are you a Martha Stewart fan?

StarChefs

Willy Franzen — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 14:28:48 +0000

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One of my favorite things about living in Chicago is that I am surrounded by some of the best restaurants in the world. Not only does that mean that I can treat myself to the occasional delicious meal, but I also have more celebrity chef sightings than the average person. Since most of you aren’t as cool as I am, you’ll need another way to get “a backstage pass to the celebrity chef world.” Luckily, there’s StarChefs, a magazine “for food and wine-savvy consumers and an essential information resource for aspiring professional chefs.” The New York, NY based publication has been around since 1995 and claims “monthly traffic of over 14.6 million hits” (or 30 million on another page). My analytics tell me that’s an overstatement (hits is an outdated measure that doesn’t really tell you anything), but they do have a sizable community that is extremely well targeted for advertising.

Are You a Star?

What impressed me most about StarChefs was the list of names on their Chef Advisory Board. There are a few that I can’t pronounce, but also a bunch that I recognized like Daniel Boulud, Marcus Samuelsson, Bobby Flay, and Todd English. Much of the content that StarChefs generates “is driven by in-person tastings and interviews across the world,” so they’re really focused on building a community resource where chefs and others in the food industry can learn from each other. Additionally, StarChefs runs StarChefs JobFinder, which is a job board in the food and hospitality space. This makes a ton of sense considering their position in the culinary community. There’s a ton of content on StarChefs.com, so you should really dig into it to get a better feel for the company. Once you do that, you can check out the StarChefs Jobs page. Right now they’re looking for a Print Designer and a Marketing Associate. Both jobs look like they could be good fits for new or recent grads, so give them a good look.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Do you read StarChefs?

Reader’s Digest Association

Willy Franzen — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 16:48:21 +0000

I must admit that I’ve never known anyone under the age of 60 to subscribe to Reader’s Digest, but I’m sure that there’s at least one college student out there with a subscription. I mean it was the top circulating consumer magazine for a long time up until 2009. They also can claim “more readers with household incomes of $100,000+ than Fortune, The Wall Street Journal, Business Week and Inc. combined. That means that they have some serious advertising power. Now Reader’s Digest is just one of the publications owned and operated by New York, NY based Reader’s Digest Association, which is “a global multi-brand media and marketing company that educates, entertains and connects audiences around the world.” They also have AllRecipes, Every Day with Rachel Ray, The Family Handyman, and quite a few other brands.

Make Your Grandma Proud

We typically like to look at growing companies because they tend to offer the most exciting job opportunities. But sometimes larger companies that are struggling with environmental changes that affect how they do business can offer similarly interesting opportunities. Reader’s Digest Association is in a tough spot. Their big brand, Reader’s Digest, has a dying (sorry to be morbid) subscriber base and increasing competition from web based publishers. That’s why it’s no big surprise that Reader’s Digest Association went through Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2009 after five straight years of reporting losses. Still, Reader’s Digest Association has vast resources and significant brand equity. There are certainly some bright spots in Reader’s Digest Association’s numbers. They have 90 magazine titles, worldwide readership over 100 million, 83 branded websites, and annual book, music, and video sales of more than 30 million units. Another bright spot is Reader’s Digest Association’s Jobs page–they have a lot of opportunities posted including quite a few that seem suitable for new or recent grads:

Advertising Sales Assistant – Home & Garden Group (New York, NY)
Marketing Coordinator, Reader’s Digest Ad Sales & Sponsorship Marketing (New York, NY)
Digital Coordinator / Project Management Team (Greendale, WI)
Online Food Editor – Australia Site (Seattle, WA)
Finance Leadership Development Associate (White Plains, NY)
Marketing Coordinator (Greendale, WI)
Account Manager – Home & Garden (New York, NY)

It’s hard to say what the future holds for Reader’s Digest Association, but I think that there’s a big opportunity for entry level talent to help them ensure that their brands are just as popular (or even more popular) when we become grandparents.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Do you know anyone under the age of 60 who subscribes to Reader’s Digest.

The New Yorker

Willy Franzen — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 17:32:23 +0000

When I was a kid, I’d read almost anything. When we had free reading time in elementary school, I’d often grab the dictionary out of my desk and start reading (I always forgot to bring another book to read). Not surprisingly, kids made fun of me for this. I’d also often pick up whatever was lying around my house. That often meant that I’d end up with a copy of The New Yorker in my little hands. The illustrations on the cover would draw me in, and then I’d get frustrated as I rustled through page after page of black text. Occasionally, I’d come across one of the cartoons, read it, not get it, and continue on. But for some reason, I’d keep picking up copies of The New Yorker in hope of finding a cartoon that I could understand (or an Absolut ad, which was the hot thing to collect in middle school). Since The New Yorker doesn’t really say anything about themselves on their About page (besides the fact that they’ve been published since February 21, 19250, I went to Wikipedia which says, “The New Yorker is an American magazine of reportage, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons and poetry published by Condé Nast Publications.”

A True New Yorker

Now, our approach with The New Yorker is going to be a bit different from how we usually look at companies and their entry level jobs. The New Yorker is a well known brand that tons of people want to work for, but they’re super mysterious about what kind of opportunities they offer for recent college graduates. The Careers page that they link to is just CondeNastCareers.com, and that doesn’t actually have any information on positions with The New Yorker. It may have job postings when they’re current, but right now they’ve got nothing. Googling “The New Yorker jobs” or “The New Yorker entry level jobs” doesn’t turn up much at all. In fact, the most interesting thing that I could find was the Wikipedia article on Fact checker, which says, “fact-checking is an entry-level publishing job at major magazines; fact-checker jobs at The New Yorker are considered prestigious and can lead to higher-level positions, usually at other magazines.” So there are in fact entry level opportunities at The New Yorker. So, how do you find them? Go to The New Yorker’s LinkedIn Company Profile, take a look at the types of positions that appear to be entry level and backgrounds of the people who hold them, then network, network, network. It’s low probability, but if you want to work at prestigious name like The New Yorker, it’s probably your only shot.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Do you read The New Yorker?

The Taunton Press

Willy Franzen — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 16:58:06 +0000

The world of publishing is a pretty crazy place right now. We hear about prestigious brand names struggling to stay afloat, while relative newcomers like Demand Media are IPO-ing. One of the key takeaways from all of the turmoil is that advertisers want results. That means that publishers need to be able to deliver targeted audiences that will respond to ads, whether it be through traditional outlets like magazines and newspapers or online. The Taunton Press is a publisher that has understood this for a long time. They’re based in Newtown, CT (a lovely town where I’ve done a lot of fishing), and they publish magazines, websites, and books for people who have a passion for creative activities. Their titles include Fine Woodworking, Fine Homebuilding, Fine Cooking, Fine Gardening, Threads, and more. Most of the publications come in both magazine form and an online version, so readers can consume the content however they feel comfortable.

The Finer Things

The Taunton Press reminds me a lot of Prime Publishing, another company that has found success by publishing content for niche markets. The Taunton Press seems a bit more brand focused, which is explained best by a quote on their About page:

We don’t run advertising that isn’t directly related to the subject matter of our magazines. We believe our ad pages serve as another vehicle for passing on educational information. It means our magazines might cost a little more at the newsstand. But it also means every page will be worth the price.

I love that! Advertising doesn’t have to be a bad thing. I often say that you can tell how intelligent your media consumption habits are by looking at the advertising that is targeted to you. If you’re seeing a lot of Shake Weight commercials, you might want to start worrying. Whether you have a specific interest in the topical areas that The Taunton Press covers or you are generally interested in media and publishing, The Taunton Press looks like a great place to start a career. Check out their Careers page and their job listings. Right now they have a couple of positions that might be suitable for a new grad: Assistant Editor – Threads Magazine and Chef’s Assistant. They also offer internships in Editorial, Media Sales, Publishing, and Web Publishing, so there’s the potential for more entry level opportunities in the future.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Do you read any of The Taunton Press’ publications?

Adventure Publishing Group

Willy Franzen — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 15:40:53 +0000

Yesterday I was walking around in a variety/novelty/toy shop. It’s the typical vacation town toy store with all kinds of goofy stuff. As soon as I went through the door I regressed back to about 8 years old. I was picking up everything and playing with it—cap guns, balsa wood airplanes, and the avenging narwhal play set (check it out, it’s awesome). Obviously I’m extremely immature. If you’re like me, but you’d like to do something more mature with your childlike tendencies, then you might want to check out Adventure Publishing. They’re a New York based company that specializes in trade publications—specifically magazines related to the toy and licensing industries. Yes, they make magazines about toys.

They’re Not Playing

Adventure Publishing Group’s titles include Toy Book, Licensing Book, Specialty Toys & Gifts, Toy Report, Total Licensing Report, and The Toy Insider. Obviously toys and licensing are two very different industries; however, they’re both extremely interesting and must have some similarities that have led Adventure Publishing Group to cover both of them. Unfortunately, Adventure Publishing Group doesn’t offer much information about their business online, but if you browse through the links below, you’ll be able to get a feel for each of their publications. This also means that they don’t have a jobs page, but I was able to find a posting on Media Bistro (registration required) for an Assistant/Associate Editor. The position looks well suited for a new grad, and if you’re interested in it, you should probably use Adventure Publishing Group’s Contact page to reach out to the appropriate person.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What have you heard about Adventure Publishing Group?

F+W Media

Willy Franzen — Mon, 24 May 2010 14:56:48 +0000

I don’t need to tell you all that the publishing industry has hit a rough spot. All you need to do is look around and see the iPads, Kindles, and Nooks. For hundreds of years the industry has used the same method delivery, but suddenly they’re losing control of how their content is distributed. This is really scary for a lot of people, but they’re forgetting something important: it’s all about the content. And the more targeted your content is to a specific audience, the better. The General Interest publication is a dying breed, and niche media is what it’s all about. F+W Media is a Cincinnati, OH based publisher that gets this. As they put it, F+W Media “offers the highest quality content in a wide variety of formats—from print to digital to video—to highly passionate enthusiast communities.” That’s a model for success that many in the publishing industry are scared of.

Join the Community

At F+W Media it’s all about communities and connecting “passionate, likeminded groups of people to share an ongoing exchange of information, ideas, and inspiration.” That’s why F+W has selected niches like Antiques & Collectibles, Automotive, Construction/Trade, Crafts, Design, Fine Art, Firearm + Knives, Genealogy, Horticulture, Numismatics, Outdoors, Sports, Woodworking, and Writing. You’ve probably never heard of many of the titles that F+W Media publishes, but that’s ok with them. As long as the woodworkers and weapons collectors know about them, they’re happy. In addition to books and magazines, F+W Media also produces digital products and courses and even operates trade shows. The focus on developing and distributing content for enthusiast audiences makes for the potential for some pretty cool jobs. There aren’t a ton of job opportunities posted on F+W Media’s Jobs page, but you should check out positions like Associate Project Manager – Adams Media (Avon, MA), Associate Designer – Design/Crafts (Cincinnati, OH), Web Developer – eMedia (Fort Collins, CO), and Web Developer – eCommerce (Ft. Collins or Cincinnati). If none of those seem to suit you, keep an eye on F+W Media or reach out to them and tell them where you think that you can fit in.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Which of F+W Media’s communities appeals most to you?

YES! Magazine

Willy Franzen — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 13:09:50 +0000

The magazine industry is kind of an ugly place to be right now. Don’t get me wrong, there are still some great jobs with periodicals for new grads, but the iPad hasn’t saved the industry yet. The problem is that most magazines rely on selling ads to drive revenue since subscriptions almost never cover costs. Unfortunately, ad dollars are moving online where performance can be easily measured. Additionally, many companies have cut back on advertising during the recession. But what if you worked at a magazine that didn’t have to worry about selling ads. At YES! Magazine, that’s exactly how it is. They are a Bainbridge Island, WA based non-profit magazine “that supports people’s active engagement in building a just and sustainable world.” Subscriptions cover about half their costs, and the other half is covered by donations. Since YES! Magazine doesn’t need a profit margin, they can operate way more efficiently than for-profit magazines.

Just Say YES!

YES! Magazine publishes on a quarterly basis; however, they update their website much more frequently. I’ve never seen a copy of YES! Magazine, so I can’t tell you too much about it, but I do know that they focus on issues like Peace, Social Justice, the Environment, the New Economy, and Happiness. Their tagline is “Powerful Ideas, Practical Applications,” which seems simple but effective. It sounds as though the goal of YES! Magazine is to influence your thinking in a way that gets you to go out and change the world. Also, it appears that Danny Glover reads YES! Magazine along with some other famous people that I’ve never heard of. If you like what you’re hearing, then you may want to check out jobs at YES! Magazine. Right now there’s only one position posted—Part-time Associate Editor. It’s hard to say how entry level the job is considering that they don’t mention any experience requirements. It looks doable from the description, but that’s a job title that could have a lot of range. A look at YES! Magazine’s Staff page didn’t help much, as they had one Associate Editor with 16 years of experience and another who came from an internship. I guess yo’ll just have to decide for yourself whether you want to apply.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Do you read YES! Magazine?

Inc.

Willy Franzen — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 15:11:28 +0000

I don’t read a lot of magazines. Why be forced to read a certain set of articles when you can have the Internet bring you only the best? I make an exception for a few magazines, and Inc. is one of them. It’s a fantastic resource for small business owners, and it also has to be the best magazine for job seekers out there. That may seem surprising considering that Inc. doesn’t typically focus on career issues, but when you look at their content, you’ll see why. The Inc. 5000, the magazine’s list of the 5,000 fastest growing privately held companies in the country, is my undisputed favorite resource for finding exciting, under the radar companies that might be hiring. I’m also a big fan of their annual feature on America’s Coolest Internships. Since I find Inc. so helpful for job seekers, I logically wondered whether Inc., which is based in New York City, has any jobs. The answer isn’t clear, but we’ll use this post to help you walk through what to do when a company that you want to work for doesn’t appear to be hiring.

Get Inc.

Usually I’d tell you more about Inc., but I think you can figure it out for yourself. Go grab their latest issue or browse around Inc.com. You’ll get a feel for who they are and what they’re about pretty quickly. So what about jobs with Inc? They don’t have a Careers page. There’s nothing on their About page. Nothing on their Contact page either. Even being a Google Ninja (here’s my article on using Google for the job search) doesn’t turn up anything helpful. Maybe it’s on purpose. Maybe Inc. isn’t hiring, and they don’t want to be bothered by lots of applicants. But if you really want to work for a company, you shouldn’t give up that easily. Try looking for the company’s LinkedIn profile—here’s Inc.’s LinkedIn Company Profile. It may not have job postings, but it will tell you exactly what you want to know—what kind of positions the company has and how much experience it takes to get a given position. It will also enable you to reach out to people who may be able to help you find information on job opportunities. You can take this kind of networking to other sites, but it’s hard to beat LinkedIn for this kind of stuff.

You should also note that Inc. has a parent company named Mansueto Ventures (which also owns Fast Company). Mansueto Ventures does have a Careers page, and it includes this e-mail address for inquiries: hr@mansueto.com. You can try reaching out there too. I can’t promise any jobs, but if you want to work at a magazine that seems to keep its job opportunities secret and you can’t network your way in, this is the way to go.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Do you read Inc.?

American Association for the Advancement of Science

Willy Franzen — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 16:17:55 +0000

One of the cool things about doing what I do is that I get a lot of interview requests from media outlets. At least once a week I’m talking to someone who is writing about entry level employment or internships. What’s even cooler is when someone writes about me, and doesn’t even interview me. I’ll suddenly see a Google Alert pop up for my name or brand name, and I’ll click the link to see who’s talking about me. One of the most exciting mentions came from the journal Science and their Science Careers Blog. In case you didn’t know, Science, the Science Careers Blog, and many other publications and newsletters are published by The American Association for the Advancement of Science. The AAAS is a Washington, DC based “non-profit organization dedicated to advancing science around the world by serving as an educator, leader, spokesperson and professional association.” They work in areas likescience policy, international programs, and science education, and

Are You Advancing Science?

Now, the AAAS mission statement includes a lot of bullet points, but I thought that it was worth including them all here since it will give you a much better feel for what the AAAS is trying to accomplish. Their goals are to:

Enhance communication among scientists, engineers, and the public;

Promote and defend the integrity of science and its use;

Strengthen support for the science and technology enterprise;

Provide a voice for science on societal issues;

Promote the responsible use of science in public policy;

Strengthen and diversify the science and technology workforce;

Foster education in science and technology for everyone;

Increase public engagement with science and technology; and

Advance international cooperation in science.

If you want a broader look at the kind of work that the AAAS does, you can check out their Programs page. It has links to pretty much everything that they do. Now, if you’re a scientist (amateur or professional), the AAAS could be a pretty cool place to start your career. They don’t have a ton of jobs posted, but there area few that might be of interest to new college grads. The AAAS provides a ton of links to Career resources including their Science Careers website on their initial Career Center page, but you can find their actual job postings here. The only position that really looks suitable for a new grad is Production Specialist, but you might as well look at the others too.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Do you read Science?

The LTV Group

Willy Franzen — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 15:56:23 +0000

It shouldn’t be a surprise that we haven’t covered many entry level jobs in real estate over the past couple years. Demand for real estate is way down, and the demand for new college grads in real estate businesses is miniscule. Luckily, there have been a few bright spots during the recession. Some real estate based startups have been able to gain market share from struggling competitors, and the demand for real estate based content has remained strong. I think it’s safe to say that media coverage of the real estate and mortgage markets has only increased over the past few years. The LTV Group, a Dallas, TX based “end-to-end communications firm spanning publishing and creative services,” has taken advantage of the growth in market for real estate related for information. The company consists of three subsidiaries, HousingWire, REOInsider, and LTV Creative. The latter is a full-service marketing communications firm, while the other two are magazines and websites that put LTV Creative to work.

Join the Group

From what I can tell, The LTV Group decided to create some clients for itself. I’m not exactly sure how a marketing agency came to launch two real estate related publications, but it seems to make sense. My guess is that they did a lot of work for clients in real estate, and when that work started drying up, they put their resources to use to build HousingWire and REOInsider. Both are publications that provide news and commentary on housing, mortgages, and other real estate related topics. HousingWire actually hosts it’s own job board, and on there you’ll find a recently posted position for a HousingWire Reporter. It does require some prior journalism experience, but it looks like it could be a pretty good fit for some new grads. You’ll find the application instructions on the job posting.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Did you want to go into real estate and change your mind?

Net-A-Porter

Willy Franzen — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 15:49:45 +0000

I don’t typically read fashion magazines, but I’ve looked through a few in my day. One thing that I’ve noticed is that there are more ads than content. That would usually be a problem, except for the fact that people who read fashion magazines are often as interested in the ads for products as they are in the editorial. Why not just combine the two? That’s what Net-A-Porter did. They’re a London based “premier online luxury fashion retailer” with a large operation in New York City. They’ve been around for 10 years, and they’ve thrived through a bust by combining online retail with fashion editorial. It’s kind of like J. Peterman from Seinfeld, but not nearly as goofy.

Job-A-Porter

Imagine that you could click a “Shop Now” button on any page in your favorite fashion magazine? That’s exactly what Net-A-Porter does. Buy an iPad if you want a more authentic experience, otherwise you can browse from your computer. Of course you can browse Net-A-Porter like you do any other online store too, but it can’t possibly be as much fun. If you’re looking to work where fashion, e-commerce, and digital media intersect, then you’ll have to check out Net-A-Porter’s Careers page. They offer some great perks for fashion loving employees, and they have some really great jobs listed. Current openings include Assistant Buyer, Customer Care Assistant, Distribution Assistant, Junior Buyer, Junior Retoucher, Online Visual Merchandiser, and Seamstress/Tailor. For all of the details on how to apply, look here.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Have you bought anything from Net-A-Porter?

VICE

Willy Franzen — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 15:59:25 +0000

Yesterday I spent a few hours poring over an issue of Fast Company that includes their list of “The World’s 50 Most Innovative Companies.” It is loaded with companies that I’d never heard of, so I picked out the most interesting ones and checked to see what their job opportunities looked like. Luckily, I found quite a few prospects, so you’re in for some really cool stuff over the next few weeks. One of the companies that I found was VICE, a New York City magazine and media conglomerate that publishes a “superedgy hipster bible.” Their content is about as safe for work as American Apparel advertisements, which is partially because AA is one of their main advertisers. The interesting thing about VICE is that they are a huge company—they have a print circulation of nearly a million magazines and their sites get 3.5 million monthly unique visitors. This has sparked growth from $45 million in revenue in 2008 to $64 million in 2009.

What’s Your VICE?

Now, I don’t want to be too hard on hipsters, but I find it funny that a company that caters to their audience by being controversial and subversive is actually a major media company raking in the dough. Next we’ll find out that plaid and fixed gear bicycles are also being manufactured by corporate behemoths. Ok, VICE might be making lots of money, but they’re certainly keeping it real. They’ve become more journalistic over time, while maintaining their “blithe and caustic irreverence.” In addition to the magazine, VICE also has VICE Retail (clothing), VICE Recordings (Music/Record Label), VBS.tv (Film and Television), Virtue (Creative Agency), and an Events business. VICE is definitely not for everyone, but if you were offended by my poke at hipster culture (and are not offended by much else), then it’s probably for you. You can learn about jobs with VICE here. Current openings include VICE Events Assistant, Junior Digital Marketing Coordinator, Account Executive / Manager, and Online And Motion Graphics Designer. The application instructions vary, so check out VICE’s Jobs page for all of the details.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Do you read VICE?

The Economist

Willy Franzen — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 15:00:13 +0000

I’ll admit it, I don’t read The Economist regularly, but plenty of my friends do—mostly the smart ones. It’s a magazine (they call themselves a newspaper, but you’d likely identify it as a magazine) that stands apart from other periodicals in a variety of ways. It’s not the topics that they cover—they offer both news coverage and analysis and opinion on business and politics—it’s more the way that they cover those topics. The most interesting thing about The Economist is the fact that all of their articles are written anonymously. It’s about “a belief that what is written is more important than who writes it,” but you have to like the fact that anonymity allows the writers the freedom that they need to address topics in the ways that they should be addressed. The Economist is all about free trade and free markets, yet it “considers itself the enemy of privilege, pomposity and predictability.” The Economist is based in London, but they are very much an international business and magazine.

Put the Free Market to Work

I can’t imagine that you could take a job with The Economist without being an avid reader. If you’re already one, then I’m sure that you’re chopping at the bit to see what kind of jobs they have available, and if you aren’t, then you better go pick up a copy or start browsing their website. You’re certain to find yourself challenged in a way that you never have been before. Not only does The Economist’s approach make them stand out editorially, but it also makes them stand out as a business. While many huge names in the print media are struggling—the New York Times is a perfect example, The Economist continues to thrive and grow. This article from PaidContent.org goes into more detail about The Economist’s economic successes, which are even more impressive considering that their parent company (half owner) Financial Times is struggling. So what about those jobs? The Economist has job offerings all across the world, but we’re going to focus on their US based opportunities, which are mostly located in New York City. Potential entry level opportunities include UI Developer, Account Executive – EIU Enterprise Subscription Sales (Chicago, IL), Distribution Customer Service Analyst, Integrated Marketing Coordinator, and Drupal Developer. All of the jobs look really interesting, and you can apply by using the HR contact info on The Economist’s site. If you’re looking for a job on the editorial side, I’m sure that you have your work cut out for you.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Do you read The Economist?

EatingWell Media Group

Willy Franzen — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:55:39 +0000

Although we don’t have a Veterans Day themed post for today, we hope that you’ll celebrate by thanking a Vet and possibly checking out our post from last year on jobs at the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Earlier this week we took a look at Seed Media Group, a relatively new company that is finding success in an otherwise declining industry by focusing on a specific niche. Another company that is taking a similar approach is EatingWell Media Group, which is based in Charlotte, VT (near Burlington). They are “a fast-growing, independent communications company producing an award-winning national consumer magazine, high-quality food and nutrition-related books, a content-rich website, e-mail newsletters, and serving content to strategic partners with other electronic media.” It’s all about healthy eating without sacrificing the enjoyment of food. Some people think that those two things are mutually exclusive, but EatingWell Media Group has built its business on delivering content that proves otherwise.

EatingWell, WorkingWell

EatingWell has grown to reach millions of people through a variety of channels because they are very much a trusted source for health conscious people. The reason for this is that they have been able to combine science based nutrition with the artistry that is essential to creating delicious recipes. They’re a relatively small company, but they do appear to be a growing. A quick look at their Jobs page shows that they are hiring for a number of positions. These openings include Drupal Developer and Linux Administrator positions along with Advertising Services Manager and Freelance PHP Developer. There doesn’t appear to be anything on the Editorial side at the moment, but they do offer internships that are more closely tied to the content side. You can apply for any of these jobs by sending a cover letter and résumé to jobs@eatingwell.com.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Do you eat well?

Seed Media Group

Willy Franzen — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:50:00 +0000

The magazine business is dying, right? A lot of people seem to think so, and for the most part I agree with them; however, we seem to be seeing a new breed of magazines cropping up. They’re web integrated, extremely well designed, and laser focused on a specific audience. They still sell advertising, but they offer advertisers access to a well-defined audience that general interest magazines can’t compete with. The company behind one of these magazines (Seed Magazine) is Seed Media Group. They’re based out of New York City, and they are a media and technology company built on the premise that science is culture. They’ve been offering a new take on science since 2005, and it seems to be working with them.

Seeding Your Career

Beyond Seed Magazine, Seed Media Group also runs ScienceBlogs.com. It’s a substantial web property, and it falls right in line with Seed Media Group’s belief that:

Science is transforming our global culture and conversation unlike ever before, shaping markets, informing policy, inspiring the arts and deepening our understanding of who we are, where we come from and where we’re heading.

It’s hard to say whether Seed Media Group and similar companies will be able to save the magazine industry, or if their success is just a temporary thing, but you have to like the fact that they’re more focused on a topic than the specific type of media that they deliver to their readers. If you’re intrigued by Seed Media Group, I recommend that you check out their websites listed below and pick up a copy of the magazine. That way you can get to know them and better understand if they might be somewhere you want to work. According to their company LinkedIn profile, they’re growing into a pretty sizable company. Although their Jobs page currently has just intern positions, they do encourage you to send a cover letter and résumé to careers@seedmediagroup.com for unlisted positions.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Do you read Seed Magazine or ScienceBlogs.com?

GOOD

Willy Franzen — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 14:00:26 +0000

What’s good? Depending on your mindset right now, that question could have a lot of different answers; however, today we’re talking about GOOD, a company and integrated media platform that makes “a magazine, videos, and events for people who give a damn.” They’re relatively new on the scene, and they’re breaking a lot of rules when it comes to how to run a media company. For instance, instead of keeping your subscription fees, they’ll donate them to the non-profit of your choice. Since magazines don’t actually make money on subscription fees, they think this is better for business. They’re well known for their “unique editorial perspective,” but they’re even better known for their “fresh visual aesthetic.” I first came across their website GOOD.is to see some of their amazingly gorgeous (and informative) infographics.

GOOD Jobs

While I always think that it’s important to know what a company does before you decide that you want to work for them, I think it’s especially important to have a strong understanding of what GOOD is about before you start looking for jobs. Because their approach is so unique, you really need to pick up a magazine, browse their website, and even attend one of their events before you apply for a job. Since this should be fun, it won’t even feel like you’re job searching. Once you have a good grasp on GOOD, then you can check out their job listings on GOOD’s Corporate site. Right now, they have two job openings, and only one—PHP Developer in Los Angeles— seems suitable for a new grad. You can apply by sending a cover letter and résumé to jobs@goodinc.com, and even if you don’t have PHP skills, you may want to reach out to them there. It’s hard for me to imagine that GOOD wouldn’t be excited to hear from a talented up and comer who wants to be a part of “giving a damn.”

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Do you read GOOD?

America’s Test Kitchen

Willy Franzen — Wed, 06 May 2009 14:34:44 +0000

I love cooking, but I didn’t always. I went into college barely knowing how to make myself a bowl of pasta, but when I lived off campus Sophomore year, I was left with little choice but to learn how to cook. I’ve never been one to follow recipes strictly, though. I always like trying something new and getting creative with my cooking. That’s exactly the philosophy behind America’s Test Kitchen. It’s a real kitchen (all 2,500 square feet of it) in Brookline, MA that is used to “to develop the absolute best recipes for all of your favorite foods.” They do this by testing recipes anywhere from 30-70 times until they not only get it right, but get it right to the point that it’s dead simple for the people who are consuming the products that America’s Test Kitchen puts out – magazines, cookbooks, DVDs, tv shows, and websites. To me it sounds like one of the coolest places in the world, so if there’s no post tomorrow, it’s because I quit in hopes of a career at America’s Test Kitchen (just kidding!).

Cooking Up Some Great Jobs

Although I’ve been familiar with the America’s Test Kitchen tv show and their Cook’s Illustrated magazine for a while, I never thought to look at their jobs. Luckily, a loyal reader pointed out that they have a ton of openings in a variety of areas. Of those jobs, we’ve picked a few that seem best suited for new or recent college grads. They include Assistant Test Cook, Junior Software Developer, eCommerce Marketing Coordinator, Production and Traffic Coordinator, Web Production Assistant, and Graphic Designer. Some of the jobs require a couple years of experience, but if you’ve been interning and participating in activities that give you real world experience, landing these jobs shouldn’t be a problem. The applications instructions vary a little bit depending on the position that you’re applying for, so head over to the America’s Test Kitchen Jobs page to get all of the details on these delicious jobs.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Hungry yet?

Interweave Press

Willy Franzen — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 14:42:09 +0000

I’m about as far away from the world of crocheting, beading, knitting, jewelry making, quilting, spinning, and needle working as you can possibly be. The closest that I’ve come to the world of crafts is having my Mom knit me a scarf and meeting someone who may or may not (she was very secretive) be a part of a group of Chicago Crochet Graffiti Artists. Still, I know that this world of crafts exists – and it’s huge. That’s why it’s no surprise that Interweave Press, a craft media company with “businesses in magazine and book publishing, interactive media, broadcast programming, and events for craft enthusiasts,” still seems to be thriving after almost 35 years in the business. Although I don’t know for sure, I’d imagine that Interweave Press, which is headquartered in Loveland, Colorado and has other offices in Malvern, Pennsylvania and Stow, Massachusetts, is somewhat insulated from all of the trouble that most other media companies are seeing because of the niche that they work in.

Weave Yourself into a Job

Since I’m obviously not the one to tell you about the craft media industry, you should probably check out Interweave Press’ website to get all of the details on them. If you’re big on crafting, you’ve probably already heard of them, and if you’re not, a job with Interweave Press probably isn’t the right direction for you anyway. According to Interweave Press’ LinkedIn profile, they’re a moderately small company with an average age of 39 and a 4:1 female to male ratio. Their Jobs page shows three open positions, which unfortunately require a bit more experience that most new college grads have; however, we still think there might be some opportunities for you with Interweave. They do offer internships, so we know they’re interested in young talent, and the jobs that they do have – Online Production Administrator, Book Designer, and Sales and Promotion Manager – are only a few years away from entry level. You could try applying for one of the jobs, or you may just want to reach out to Interweave Press’ HR team at jobs@interweave.com to see if there might be mutual interest.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Are you a crafter?

The Knot

Willy Franzen — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 14:49:01 +0000

As a new or upcoming college grad who is looking for a job, you’re entering a new lifestage. Unfortunately, it’s not a lifestage that The Knot can help you with. They’re a “lifestage media company,” but they focus on major life events related to growing your family – engagements, weddings, and births of first children. These things may seem far off to you, but within a couple years of graduating (if not sooner) you’ll have friends who are getting married and having kids. Eventually you’ll probably do the same, and when you do, there’s a good chance that you’ll come across one or many of The Knot’s media properties. They have a flagship website at TheKnot.com in addition to books, magazines, and tv programs (see all of their brands). People can get pretty crazed when they’re about to enter a new lifestage, which is why The Knot has been so successful in providing media that makes it all a little easier. Too bad they don’t have anything for the job search, but at least we do.

Enter a New Lifestage with The Knot

Whatever lifestage you’re entering, The Knot has something for you. We’re going to focus on the getting a job lifestage. The Knot is based out of New York City with a number of other work locations. They’ve done a really nice job with their Jobs page, and they’ve managed to keep it simple and straightforward. You can browse jobs, read employee testimonials, and check out the benefits without getting confused (or at least you should be able to). They have quite a few jobs listed that appear to be suitable for new grads (the company must be growing pretty well), and they include Accounting Specialist (Omaha, NE), Front End Web Developer (New York, NY), MS SQL Developer (New York, NY), and Software Engineer – Sitecore CMS (New York, NY). There are a number of less techie jobs available, but they require a bit more experience than most new grads have. You can apply for any job at The Knot or even an unlisted position by sending a cover letter, resume, and salary requirements to jobs@theknot.com. Be sure to indicate the title of the job in the subject line or put “general candidacy” to be considered for future positions.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Are you familiar with any of The Knot’s brands?

Condé Nast

Willy Franzen — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 14:47:33 +0000

I know that despite the fact that I keep ripping on the traditional media – the old guard – I keep featuring their jobs here. I’m not being a hypocrite. I promise. I know that taking entry level jobs with companies that might not be around in 5 years isn’t the best decision, but if anyone can save the old media, it’s you. The new media has been created by the masses and has originated from young people with new ideas, which is just what these media behemoths need to survive. Of course these companies probably don’t realize how much they need you yet, but they do. Well, if you’re going to get a job in old media – like the magazine industry – you might as well go with the best. Condé Nast has a list of brands that is rivaled by few and includes Vogue, W, style.com, Glamour, Allure, Self, Teen Vogue, GQ, Details, men.style.com, Architectural Digest, Brides, Modern, Bride, Elegant Bride, Brides.com, Lucky, Domino, Cookie, Golf Digest, Golf World, Vanity Fair, Gourmet, Bon Appétit, epicurious.com, Condé Nast Traveler, concierge.com, Wired, Wired.com, Condé Nast Portfolio, Portfolio.com, WWD, FN, and The New Yorker. There’s still a lot of uncertainty in the industry, but those are still great names to be associated with.

Keep Reading for Condé Nast Jobs

There’s not a lot more that I can say about Condé Nast. They’re one of the most respected names in the media, but they’re facing struggles just like everybody else in the industry. With that said, they’re still doing some hiring. Their Careers site provides a lot of information on what it’s like to work for them, and their Job Listings show 18 openings. Of those opening a few appear to be suitable for new college grads, although it’s hard to know for sure because Condé Nast’s job postings are so paltry. We can’t link to their job postings because of the Applicant Tracking System that they use, but you should look out for job titles that include Sales Assistant (New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Detroit), Promotion Copywriter (New York), Promotion Coordinator (New York), Online Marketing Data Entry Temp (New York), and Executive Assistant (New York). You can apply for all of these jobs online from the job postings that you find using their search function.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What is your favorite Condé Nast publication?

Niche Media

Willy Franzen — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 15:49:06 +0000

Some might say that high-end and luxury are always in, but if there was ever a time that they weren’t, it’s probably now. That’s not going to stop Niche Media from doing what they do. They “produce must-read, luxurious magazines that mirror the sensibilities and spirits of the unique, vibrant communities to which they cater.” Their titles include Art | Basel | Miami Beach, Aspen Peak, Bal Harbour, Boston Common, Bridgehampton Polo, Capitol File, Gotham, Hamptons, Los Angeles Confidential, Michigan Avenue, Ocean Drive, Ocean Drive Español, Philadelphia style, Style: Palazzo/The Venetian, Vegas, and Wynn. Sounds like a list of places that you’d like to go on vacation, huh? That’s the point.

Find Your Niche

Niche Media has found their niche. They “capture a dream, coast-to-coast demographic that looks to the company’s publications for the finest in fashion, travel, food, spirits, society, party coverage and much, more.” We know that you probably secretly watch The Real Housewives of Orange County/NYC/Atlanta, so these magazines are right up your alley. Despite the fact that the luxury market isn’t thriving like it was a few years ago, Niche Media still seems to be hiring. Their Jobs page has a number of listings, including a couple that might interest new grads. We’re particularly interested in the two Account Executive jobs in Washington, DC, Los Angeles, and Boston. The job descriptions say that they’re looking for “2 years experience in local luxury publications, B to B publications and newspapers,” which is certainly something that you could have gained in college at a campus daily or other publications. There are a couple of other jobs located in New York City, but they aren’t entry level.

UPDATE:This Gawker article was brought to my attention after today’s e-mail sent out. Nice Media doesn’t appear to be the most stable environment, but it still might offer some interesting opportunities for new grads.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Do you read any of Niche Media’s publications?