You can’t become a superstar overnight

Hannah Azieb Pool is a UK-based journalist and author

How pro-active would you say you were during your youthful years?

I always wanted to do journalism, but I did very badly in my A-levels, and as such, I had to settle for a degree in sociology. This did not stop me from living my passion as during my college years, I spent a lot of time contributing to local newspapers for free. This saw me earn a scholarship after my degree to study a journalism course. The scholarship was provided by Scott Trust, who owned The Guardian newspaper, and that’s how I started working for them. So, yes, I could say I was really pro-active during my youth.

You mention that at some point you worked without pay. Is it something you’d encourage?

It is a strategic career move that young people can adopt, especially at the beginning of their careers. However, one has to be careful to avoid being exploited by companies looking for cheap labour and offering little value in return.

If you were to go back in time, what would you tell your 23-year-old self?

At 23, I was already working at The Guardian, a pretty big achievement, so I’d give myself a pat on the back. Professionally though, I’d encourage myself to write for many different publications as opposed to being faithful to one newspaper. I have since discovered that with writing, it pays to be promiscuous.

As an editor, What do you look for before you hire someone?

When picking writers for my projects, I am less interested in where they went to school or how they performed. What I usually want to know is whether one can write, so, when sending me a job application, one is better off including samples of their writing and links to their blogs.

Would you say that writing is an inborn talent rather than a skill that can be learned?

I believe that anyone can be taught how to write, but writing mostly boils down to having a willingness to learn and a great desire for literature. This desire cannot be taught. The best writers in the world are those who harness their skills by practicing every day.

Currently in Kenya, there’s immense pressure for the youth to pursue entrepreneurship as opposed to growing their careers. Being a career woman, what’s your view on that?

This pressure is there because there aren’t many jobs in the market, and so we need entrepreneurs who will start small businesses that will employ more people. While starting a business is something to be admired, I would advise one to hold onto a job that will pay part of their bills while starting a venture on the side. It’s all about balance.

Did you have a mentor while starting out?

Katherine Viner, the current editor at The Guardian, saw potential in me and took me under her wing. This taught me the importance of having sponsors in one’s life - I often try to sponsor upcoming writers. In journalism, knocking on the front door is perceived as the least successful way to get in. To make it, one needs to network and maintain valuable connections.

What are the main ingredients of success according to you?

First, have patience. The problem with young people today is that they want to become superstars at the very beginning of their careers. Second, you need to practice your craft a lot, as this is the only way to become the best. Lastly, never be shy to ask for help and tips from experts who have already made it in your field.