Many people who are looking forward to a journalism career are getting disheartened easily because the editors from various publications, themselves, say that this is one industry that is hard to break into. Although there is truth to this because of the fact that one needs specific skills—such as superior writing skills and people skills—this doesn’t mean that the doors are firmly shut to those who want to be a part of the industry.

If you want to try getting into the industry of journalism, the following are some of the tips that can help you start right

1. Get the credentials that you need. Many people say that if you want a journalism career, it is not really necessary to take a degree and study is a journalism school. Although this might be true to older writers and to some privileged or lucky young ones, this won’t happen to ordinary ones. So, if you really want to ensure that you will land on a career in this field, it is best to be educated about it. Getting a degree and studying is a reputable journalism school would definitely give you all the academic credentials that you need.

Aside from that, being in school will also give you the opportunity to learn from the best minds in the industry. You will also get the chance to practice your skills when you get involved with the campus paper that might publish your work. When you major in journalism, you will be doing internships in various publications, which can open, up your world to various options and possibilities. Who knows? If your internship went well, the publication might give you an offer to start right away after finishing college.

2. Get experience. More often that not, the college paper is the best training ground for future journalists. But since there are many students and only a few slots available for the staffers, it might not be possible for you to get a slot. If you weren’t able to make it in the student paper, it is best to get experience from other publications such as the community paper or even on online sites.

3. Learn the ropes. The sooner that you learn the ropes in the field, it will be easier for you to start a journalism career. Learning the ropes mean that you should know all the technicalities of the field and what are the things that you and should not do. If you really are determined in pursue a career in this field, you should know what publication to apply to, the ideal starting position, what to do bring such as your credentials and sample works and what to do during the initial interview. It is also good to ask about the salary for starters so you would have an idea how much you should ask for.

4. Consider other options. One of the reasons why many give their dreams up in having a journalism career is because they did not get the position they wanted to right away. Fresh graduates should not expect to have the “reporter” or “journalist” position once they are hired in a newspaper or in any other publication since there are still many who are experienced enough for the position.

If there are no vacancies for the position that you are eyeing for, consider other options that are close to it such as becoming a copy aide, a proofreader or a copywriter.