Get a Job at BuzzFeed

BuzzFeed is a popular digital media and tech company that provides news and entertainment content that appeals to young and tech-savvy readers. While getting a job at BuzzFeed is similar in some ways to getting a job anywhere else, there are some differences, as well. You can increase your chances of getting a job at BuzzFeed by being prepared to answer certain questions and presenting yourself in specific ways that reflect the company’s culture.

Steps

Choosing a Position

1. Apply for a writing or editorial position if you want to create original content. BuzzFeed offers a variety of different writing positions and their staff is made up of published authors, poets, journalists, bloggers, and more. Content is wide-ranging and the site publishes everything from news, personal essays, lists, quizzes, and entertainment pieces.
   • Consider your skill level and experience when selecting a writing position to apply for. For example, if you're fresh out of college, a junior staff writer position would be great.
   • If you want to apply for a news or editor-related role, you should have 5 years of experience in journalism and at least 2 years of experience as an editor.
2. Check out video positions if you want to shoot, edit, or produce video. Video is a big part of BuzzFeed's content, so there are lots of opportunities for all sorts of video work. Typically, the video positions are segmented by content topic, so you might apply for positions that focus specifically on areas like Lifestyle, Parenting, Culinary, Celebrity, and a lot more.
   • Editing, production, and design are just a few of the options in the video department. You can find entry-level positions, producer positions, and everything in between, so consider your background and experience when choosing a specific role.
   • For example, if you want to apply for a video editor role, you need to have a bachelor’s degree in Film, Communication, or a related field and expert knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite.
   • A junior video producer should have a deep understanding of Adobe Creative Cloud (including Premiere Pro, Photoshop,etc.) and experience running a full video shoot.
3. Apply for design or engineering roles if you know how to program or code. Since BuzzFeed is a digital media company, the variety of tech roles available is vast. Check out developer and programmer positions if you know how to code. IT specialists are in demand, as are software engineers. You can find entry-level positions and higher in a variety of specialties.
   • For example, you might apply for an Android engineering position if you have experience working on mobile platforms.
   • To apply for a product design position, you should have experience designing products and features for web and apps, UX skills, and an understanding of layout, typography, and visual hierarchy.
   • If you're interested in an IT position, you should have experience troubleshooting Mac OS X and software issues, Windows issues, and Google Apps Enterprise issues.
4. Look for a freelance opportunity to work remotely or by contract. Some of BuzzFeed's writing, artistic, and administrative positions are freelance, so you could work from home without relocating if you're a blogger or you might work on a specific art or administrative project on-site for a limited amount of time.
   • The company offers temporary positions when they have a need to fill, so check their website frequently for new opportunities.
   • For example, you could check into freelance video editor opportunities or unique roles with a specific focus, such as a "Food Specialist" for culinary pieces if you have several years of experience in food service and professional culinary training.
5. Apply for a paid internship if you’re still in college. BuzzFeed offers an intern program for juniors and seniors in college. The internships are paid, last 10 weeks, and occur during the summertime. As an intern, you will put in the equivalent of a full-time work week and get comprehensive training in the department of your choice.
   • The internship program is meant to be a recruitment pipeline. If you land an intern position and perform well, you are likely to get hired.
   • Recent summer internships were in Engineering, Product Management, Data Science, and Product Design.
6. Look into other non-traditional options in your chosen field. Depending on the position you’re interested in, there may be other opportunities available, such as apprenticeship, fellowship, and residency programs. These are great options for recent graduates who want to gain experience.
   • The video department tends to offer the bulk of these positions, but other departments may also offer roles. Be sure to review the position and your options thoroughly.

Applying for a Position

1. Click the desired job position on BuzzFeed’s website. BuzzFeed offers employment in a variety of fields. Because of their constant growth, it’s not unusual for them to be hiring for positions in almost every department! Choose the position that you’re interested in and most qualified for and read the job description carefully. Pay attention to the fine details so you can tailor your application very specifically to that position.
   • You can review BuzzFeed’s current open positions at https://www.buzzfeed.com/about/jobs.
   • Focus on one position that you’re a good fit for. If you apply for a bunch of positions in hopes of getting your foot in the door, BuzzFeed will probably notice this and it generally reflects poorly.
   • If you are qualified for multiple roles and decide to apply for more than one position, be sure each application is tailored specifically to the position.
2. Check the location of the open position before applying. BuzzFeed has offices in 18 cities around the world including New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, London, Sydney, Sao Paulo, and Tok. Make sure the position you’re applying for is located somewhere that makes sense for you. However, if you’re willing to relocate, don’t let location stop you from applying.
   • Initial interviews for out-of-town applicants are often held remotely via Skype. If you’re hired on, BuzzFeed does offer relocation assistance.
   • BuzzFeed is headquartered in New York and has an entertainment studio based in Los Angeles.
3. Fill out the application completely. After absorbing the job description, follow the link to the application site. Fill out the application like you would for any other job. Remember to highlight skills and interests that speak directly to that specific job position so that your application stands out.
   • Make sure you input a valid email address and phone number so you can be contacted by BuzzFeed.
   • Include relevant links to your blog or website so BuzzFeed can view them easily.
4. Submit your resume and cover letter. Remember to tailor your resume to the specific position you're applying for. Look over the resume and cover letter carefully and revise them, as needed. Since BuzzFeed has a youthful, creative culture, you don't necessarily have to stick to a plain text resume--consider incorporating graphics and other unique touches that line up with your personality.
5. Get a referral if you know someone who works at BuzzFeed. Employee referrals generate a lot of the new hires at BuzzFeed, so if you already know someone that works there, use that to your advantage! Talk to them about the position you’re interested in and ask them if they genuinely think you’d be a good fit. If they do, ask them what you need to do to get the referral process started.
   • You should only do this if the person is familiar with your skills and quality of work.
6. Review your social media accounts and make sure your personality shines. Because BuzzFeed is an entertainment website, they place a lot of importance on your online presence, and that definitely includes social media. Go through your Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, and other social media accounts and remove anything that could be deemed offensive. Make sure your unique personality shines through, especially if you’re applying for a creative position that involves writing or video work.
   • For example, if you are interested in a video position, make sure your Instagram accurately reflects your skills and unique perspective.
   • If you’re applying for a writing position, make sure your blog posts are visible and easy to find through a simple Google search.
   • Make sure that your LinkedIn profile is up-to-date and includes detailed information about your job experience and skills.

Nailing the Interview

1. Wear business casual attire to your interview. BuzzFeed maintains a casual workplace environment, but you should present yourself neatly and professionally at your interview. It’s definitely better to be slightly overdressed rather than underdressed when you show up.
   • A blazer and dress pants would be good, neutral garment options for any applicant.
   • Don’t be afraid to throw in a fun accessory or otherwise showcase your unique style.
   • Avoid 3-piece suits or other super formal clothing that clashes with the laidback vibe of the company.
2. Familiarize yourself with BuzzFeed’s content and backstory. If you land an interview, it’s important that you go in with a good grasp on what BuzzFeed is all about. Go through their website and review recent content. Take a few of the available quizzes and comment on stories that interest you to understand the user experience. Read up on BuzzFeed’s history and their mission statement. You can use all of this knowledge in the interview to stand out from the crowd.
   • For example, you can mention a quiz that stood out to you or a specific story that inspired you.
   • You may be asked about your favorite video on BuzzFeed, so be prepared for that, especially if you're applying for a video position.
   • Be able to answer, "What's your favorite BuzzFeed post and why?"
3. Be ready to articulate why you want to work for BuzzFeed. You will definitely be asked "Why BuzzFeed?" in an interview and it’s important that you can answer it honestly and without hesitation. Work on a sincere answer and practice it before the interview. That way, your answer will feel natural rather than rehearsed and stiff.
   • Be able to answer questions like "What about BuzzFeed is interesting to you?" and "What is your current job and why do you want to switch to a new job at BuzzFeed?"
   • Be able to talk about where you see yourself within the company and what made you want to apply.
   • Expect questions about the specific content you want to make and what you enjoy making.
4. Present yourself as a team player. Working at BuzzFeed is an extremely collaborative experience. You’ll be bouncing ideas off your colleagues and working side-by-side with your coworkers to complete projects. Show the interviewer that you’re excited about this prospect and mention how much you like to collaborate with others.
   • If you’re the type of person who doesn’t like to share the spotlight or collaborate with others, BuzzFeed may not be the right environment for you.
   • You can also bring up feedback you’ve received from supervisors in the past and what you learned from it.
   • Be able to answer questions like, "What collaborations have you done at past jobs and what impact did they make on you?"
5. Prepare to explain in detail why you’d be great for the position. Your interviewer will probably ask you plenty of questions that allow you to explain why you’re a good fit for the job, so be ready! If they don’t touch on something that you feel is important, take the initiative and bring it up yourself. Essentially, be able to toot your own horn in a charismatic way.
   • You might be asked, "What qualities make you unique?" and "Why do you think you are suited to this position?"
   • Typically, you will be interviewed by multiple people in different positions at the company, so keep their role in mind when explaining your skills.
6. Expect a range of technical and personal questions. Initially, BuzzFeed definitely wants to get a feel for your individual personality and worldview. Beyond that, you will be asked specific technical questions, depending on the position you're applying for. Other questions will be a blend of the two.
   • For example, if you're interviewing for a tech position, you might be asked about your views and past experiences regarding team-building and how that affects the products that team makes.
   • If you're interviewing for an engineering position, you might be asked to weigh in on a current engineering problem the company is experiencing.
7. Avoid asking questions about salary, benefits, and perks. You want to show BuzzFeed that you’re interested in them as a company, not the perks that they can give you. Let their team bring up these topics, which they will inevitably do if they’re seriously interested in you as a candidate.
   • You may go through a few rounds of interviews, so don’t expect these topics to come up in any of the early interviews.
8. Send a follow-up thank you note after your interview. You can send an email or go the extra mile and send along a handwritten note. Be sure to thank BuzzFeed and the interviewer for their time and state that you’re excited to hear back from them. This is a small thing, but it can really make you stand out from the crowd and show off how personable you are.

Tips

• Do a mock interview with a family member or friend to practice giving answers that feel natural, charismatic, and truthful.

Quick Summary

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