Whilst many wannabes across the country are working hard doing work experience placements and shifts at various national papers I have been fortunate enough to have a bit of a break from work. The summer months normally bring out a rather contemplative mood in me and having just finished all my studies (at least I hope I have, my results might suggest the odd resit is needed) I have found myself looking back on all the things I’ve done so far on the road to becoming a journalist.

Being a member of the ‘I’ve always wanted to be a journalist’ club I guess I’ve been on this road since I was about 16. Recently I have been thinking about the journalist I have become and with the benefit of hindsight what I would change if I could go back.

And so, with the hope that some of you aspiring journalists may learn from any wrong turnings I might have taken (the driving metaphors will stop soon I promise) and avoid any potholes along your journey (OK, I’m done now) here are the changes I would make if I could put everything in reverse. (Sorry).

Post GSCE’s and college years – My school teacher in charge of career prospects gave a grim frown when I said I wanted him to help me find some work experience in journalism. A few days later he told me it couldn’t be done. Naively I took his word for it and wasted my following summers doing work experience at a primary school. Having done many work experience placements I now believe that 16 is the perfect time (in some cases, the best time) to do a placement so get looking and obviously don’t listen to any teachers who are pretty dismissive.

University and student media – I worked as both news and sports editor for all three years of my undergraduate degree and whilst it was great fun and I achieved a lot, that amount of time wasn’t necessary in terms of my improvement as a journalist. I had the advantage of getting onto the editorial team in my first year and therefore should’ve made the most of this and got out before I was forced out. My CV does not do justice to the amount of time and effort I put into those three years nor employers that impressed by student media. Definitely get involved, but don’t overdo it.

University – Shifts and placements Which brings me on to probably my biggest mistake. Had I have quit the student media scene earlier I had would’ve had even more time on my hands (I did do an English degree after all) and could have done far more work on local papers. This experience is what matters when it comes to jobs and it is where you really learn how to be a journalist. If I could go back I would have been doing placements throughout all the holidays and even trying to pick up shifts with all the free time I had. If you’re an undergraduate and you have any free time make the most of it, you won’t get a better chance than those years.

Masters – Having left work experience to the last-minute I didn’t properly prepare for my Masters. Reading books over the summer and starting to learn shorthand were just some of the things which were shelved due to me ‘not having the time’. As a result I was playing catch-up from day one of my course at City, something which left me at a disadvantage compared to those who had prepared.

If any of you have any regrets which fellow wannabes could learn from or would have done things differently if you had your time again then tweet us @wannabehacks or comment below. Dodgy metaphors optional.