Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
Cosmo editor shares top career tips
By Lucy Craigs, final year journalism student
Louise described what she believes is behind the success of Cosmopolitan - which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year - and offered her top ten career tips. Louise started out as a junior reporter at a local newspaper and became UK editor of the world's most read women's magazine five years ago.
Before welcoming questions from students, Louise gave ten basic pieces of advice to follow, to be successful in journalism:
1) Do not be disheartened if you don't land your dream job straight away, it takes time and experience to get to where you want to be.
2) Love your work - keep a positive attitude about whatever you're doing.
3) Take responsibility for you actions, if you make a bad decision, accept the consequences and learn from them.
4) Never let yourself 'get stuck in a rut' - try to get the best out of everything you do.
5) Write for your readers, not yourself - imagine and reflect on their lives and not your own.
6) Know your readers - find out exactly who you are writing for and what they want to read.
7) Don't be a diva in your career, respect people and treat them as you'd like to be treated.
8) Move with the times - keep up to date with the latest technology.
9) Try to enjoy everything you do - even the jobs that aren't so glamorous.
10) Never let anyone put you down, or tell you that you aren't good enough.
Louise said to stand out in interviews was essential. She said: "Smile, be yourself, share your ideas and show that you have researched the organisation; knowing exactly what they do. Anyone who is hardworking, enjoyable to be around, and has a positive attitude, will be successful."
Louise also highlighted the importance of work experience in landing a 'dream job'.
Second year journalism students, Charlotte Corner and Jack Carter, were lucky enough to interview Louise after the lecture, for more tips on breaking the industry.
Charlotte said: "It was an amazing opportunity to meet Louise; not only did she look great but she was kind and interested about us as individuals. I see her as a role model; she was down to earth, humorous and gave a lot of aspiring journalists some very good advice."