New job!

I now have a new job. I have moved from the murky world of local newspapers to a magazine job.

I will admit I really enjoyed working for a newspaper, although I never thought I would ever say that.  But you get such a great grounding in everything, from death knocks to court, council meetings to charity stories. It is also a great way to build up your confidence.

So on to my new job I am now a features writer for etc Magazine - http://www.etcmag.net/ and even more exciting it is launching a Hampshire edition in August so I get to write about the county I am proud to call my home.

In my first edition I interviewed Aldo Zilli and Peter Andre. It is great be able to spend time interviewing people and it is so varied. I also met Antonio Carluccio - a cooking legend.

On another note just to plug something, anyone wanting to be a journalist should check out Highbury College who are launching a year course with The News. I did the fast-track 20 week course there and as you know it was hard but so worth it I wouldn't have my dream job if I hadn't attended the course.

Also out of 13 people on the course only a couple didn't get jobs as a journalist, but one does now work for the MET office. People from my course now work at The News, Daily Echo, M&Y News Agency, Rex Features and the BBC, how cool is that.

Check out their website - http://www.highbury.ac.uk/journalism 

Saying that tomorrow I have my NCE exam to be a senior reporter, very nerve wrecking but fingers crossed in a month I will be posting good news! Good luck to anyone else doing it.

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And now, the end is near.....

I have never known twenty weeks to go so quickly, but now I face the final curtain (and exam).

All but one of my exams is done (dreaded 100 words a minute shorthand). Last week was hectic, the law exam on Monday was horrendous, I know law pretty well and felt confident going in, but then I saw the paper. It was awful it felt like everything I knew didn't come up. Tuesday, was the reporting exam, which was surprisingly ok. Then on Wednesday it was all about public affairs and it was really good. If someone had said the week before law would be awful and public affairs would be good I would never have believed them.

Revising for public affairs has ignited my interest in politics. During my revision I became engrossed in BBC Parliament, watching all the Lords and MPs arguing in the House of Commons was just fascinating.

Friday I had another interview at the West Sussex County Times in Horsham. A lovely paper that I would be more than happy to work for, they have two positions so fingers crossed! Tomorrow I am off to Worthing to do a day placement at the Worthing Herald, who also has a job vacancy. I just have to wait and see what happens. I must admit not getting the other job, really knocked my confidence, I thought if someone who knew what I could do didn't want to employ me why would anyone else? But I tried my best and if they don't want to employ me then there is just something out there waiting for me.

I have been applying for internships at magazines as well, to see what happens. Everything happens for a reason and I am happy to embrace that.