Victoria Bartram

As soon as she graduated, Victoria Bartram was appointed trainee reporter on the Trident Media titles in Leicestershire. She now reports for a leading news agency, Ross Parry, in Yorkshire.

"From getting your first job to actually working as a reporter - shorthand is invaluable. I've sat in court cases with 10 other reporters, all scribbling shorthand, and if you can't keep up with what the judge/prosecution/defence are saying, you'll miss the killer line. The next day, you read your competitors story, they've got the killer line that you missed and you're left explaining to your angry news editor why you missed it!

Unless you get your NCTJs, you're not going to get a job! The first question I was asked at interview was "Have you got your NCTJs?". They're worth working hard for, when you're studying and revising for your exams it'll seem tedious, but I can't tell you how many times I've referred to my PA and Law notes. I keep both folders along with the Morrison book and a copy of McNaes on my desk at all times!

Jobs are few and far between - but they are out there and if you get all your NCTJs and loads of work experience, there's no reason why you can't get one of them."