If you're interested in getting an editorial job -- particularly at a magazine or newspaper -- you'll need writing samples, or editorial clips. Editorial clips are, in many ways, a kind of calling card for professional journalists and magazine writers.

Hiring managers and editors will often require you to present your writing samples during the interview or send them, with your resume and cover letter, via email.

Because strong writing samples are essential for getting writing-based jobs, you may need to think about trying to freelance to beef up (or start on) your collection of writing samples.

What Kind of Writing Samples Should I Have?

Your clips should demonstrate your strongest work. Ideally they will be from an actual publication -- it’s NOT a good idea to rely on unpublished pieces from college or your personal life -- and speak to the kind of job you’re applying for. In other words, if you’re applying for sportswriter positions, it would be a little odd to have a clip file full of, say, articles on fashion. That said, your clips don’t have to be too focused on a topic. Since sportswriter positions call for reporting, a clip collection of straight up news stories will demonstrate you’re a strong reporter.

Can I Rely on Stories From My College Paper?

The short answer is yes. If you have strong clips you published in your college newspaper they might be impressive enough to help you land a job.

But, in this day and age, lots of college students interested in print media jobs do internships and, many of them, publish things here and there for other publications. Although editors always say the important thing is the strength of the piece of writing, not where it’s from, having clips from recognizable publications helps. Editors are often impressed with undergrads who have shown the initiative, or have the experience, to have been published outside their college paper.