Originally published in April 2017
“If you’re happy in your passion, you will never work a day in your life. I may have butchered that quote, but the meaning is there.”
Gina Kramer — TCNJ alumni and current editor at Cruise Critic, a branch of the well-known travel app TripAdvisor focusing on all things cruising — candidly discussed all things journalism: her field of work, her plans for the future, and her advice for those looking to break into the world of travel writing.
Kramer knew from early on that travel was her passion, though it took her a while to zone in on her field of work. With a background in art and design, Gina didn’t find her home as a journalist until later in her time — her first year at The College of New Jersey.
“I never really considered myself as a journalist,” Kramer said. “But I thought, ‘How am I going to survive off of a blog?”
Switching over to journalism, Kramer found herself at her first internship at Unique Homes in Princeton, New Jersey. She stayed on with them for a few years after being offered a full time position, but she knew she eventually would move up and on, even if getting a new job wouldn’t be easy.
“If you’re that passionate about your work, you should wait it out,” Kramer said.
In 2013, Kramer landed at Cruise Critic in Ewing, New Jersey, and has worked her way up the past four years to an editor of the publication. For the past three months she had been temporarily stationed in Miami, the cruise hub of the States, and loving every moment. Kramer would love to see the company expand to Miami and gain more access to industry events. “It’s been really fun to work for the industry traveling and also do my personal traveling on the side,” Kramer said. “It’s a great method of seeing the world.” Cruisecritic.com publishes the latest news in the cruising industry, ship reviews, destination profiles and more. The success of the online publication reflects the ever present shift from print to digital in the world of journalism.
The Cruise Critic website itself is undergoing a large redesign, along with the brand. The travel industry is evolving and exploring new platforms every day, according to Kramer. “Every week is different, and the site is always changing,” Kramer said.
One of the things that Kramer has embraced is new technologies on the site. She stressed the importance of video as a form of media, as she holds the responsibility of often hosting Cruise Critic’s Facebook live shows. Social media is imperative to build up a publication today, as well as to keep up with competition.
Kramer was not short of career advice, either. She empathized that nothing about obtaining or working at your “dream job” is easy or simple, and that “dream job” may not be your first one. “You may have a passion to start, but don’t get stuck on it,” Kramer said.
Not everything comes up roses when you’re at your “dream job,” either. “You will not enjoy everything about working at your dream job,” Kramer said. “There will be annoying parts. But give everything your all, and it will be worth it.”
In terms of getting that “dream job,” Kramer knows that work ethic is valued over everything. “Set yourself apart from the cluster of everyone else,” Kramer said. “Take courses to build yourself, really put in the work. Writing skills, Photoshop, that stuff can be taught…but you can’t teach someone to have good work ethic.”
Gina proves that patience and dedication lead to success, wherever that success leads us. It could be all around the world.
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