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It's not nearly as easy today to do what you did, than it was a decade ago

It's even easier. Enlightened hiring managers just want to see output: github, websites, blogs, downloadable software, etc. At the startups I've worked for recently we only looked thoroughly at a resume if the person had no online presence (which was already a red flag).

Maybe you won't get hired at Google or an investment bank, though.

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I know from personal experience that a journalism degree will get you nowhere fast in the writing world. Some of the top editors screen out candidates by if their degree is anything but a passing mention on their resume, if it's the top thing in your experiences you're rejected.

I got a job at 17 writing reviews, when I left the job (due to the politics of the job) I had more than enough experience to apply for a job for one of the big magazines. What editors are looking for in writers is a great personal voice, which is something journalism classes teach out of you. I have never seen 'journalism degree' listed on any job in journalism, it's simply not wanted.

->"Enlightened hiring managers just want to see output"

From my experience "enlightened hiring managers" are the exception rather than the rule.

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