Profile: Edward O'Keefe

“If you lose track of time, maybe you are where you are supposed to be.”

- Edward O’Keefe, College '00
Producer, ABC World News

How did you get your current job?

“I had no clue what I wanted to do when I was a senior, I didn't even have a resume! I put one together and sent it to all of the major news stations during my senior year. I was hired as a desk assistant during my final semester for ABC Radio. I worked the 5 am-1 pm shift, and when I graduated, ABC News offered me a permanent position. There, I worked for Peter Jennings and later covered the 2000 presidential election recount, September 11 from Capitol Hill, and most recently, the John Kerry presidential campaign from the road. As a producer now, I work in many capacities like research, story-selection, and even on-air when needed.”

How useful are connections within an industry?

“Find someone you are associated with and contact them. I have helped several Georgetown graduates find jobs at ABC. The entire corporate world is connected in some way, so that person will likely have contacts in all sorts of enterprises. Also, follow up with anyone to whom you send a resume. Call and continue calling, because it will make the employer look at it and give you proper attention as an applicant.”

Once in the job, how does one move up within the company?

“Don’t be afraid to start at the ground level and work up. Do anything and everything you can in your current internship or position, because most jobs will recruit internally when a position becomes available before opening it to the general public. If you are right there and have demonstrated your competence, you should be first in line."