Be a journalist because you WANT TO BE! Get EXCITED about journalism! Remember what an impact you can have in readers' lives each and every day!!! Share that excitement with the recruiter, whether interviewing in person or auditioning by mail. Let him or her know you're pumped about journalism, not just window shopping for something better than accounting or biology.

Experience

Writing, reporting, doing the things journalists do. If you have a prior internship, you're ahead of the game. If you don't, write as much as you can for the campus newspaper or the local newspaper. You need more than classroom work to compete for top internships.

Clips

Show recruiters what you've done. Provide work samples that show your range of skills. For reporters that means longer features or investigative pieces to short, tight hard news stories. For copy editors, photographers, and artists, it means a variety of work that can showcase your range of skills.

Recruiters want to see you at your best, but keep in mind: you'll probably do more quick-hit stories than epics during an internship. Strong, basic hard news stories are an asset.

Consumer tip: If you're interviewing, provide clips the recruiter can take to review when he or she has more time. The packet needn't be in an elaborate binder. Neatly stapled 8 1/2 by 11 photocopies fit much better in recruiters' briefcases and filing cabinets.

Resume

Make it basic, but functional. Think of it as a breakout box about you: a quick summary that hits the high points. Experience. Education. Goals. Interests. Organize it so recruiters can find their way around it easily.

Remember: Don't be afraid to include non-journalistic experiences and interests. Readers don't live in newsrooms and classrooms; editors like interns who have lived and worked outside of them, too. That can help set you apart from other candidates. And include references. They make it that much easier for an editor to find out how great you are!

Cover letter

If the resume is your breakout box, the cover letter is your lead. It gives the recruiter his or her first impression of you. Make it a writing exercise: Show the recruiter in a page or less why your passion, experience and skills make you the best candidate for his or her job. Be organized. Be concise. It's okay to take risks, but take controlled risks. Ask a colleague or professor for advice if you're stretching the envelope a bit.