Q: A friend from my newspaper got hired at another paper this week. Now, her new paper has posted an ad for another position. I'm thinking about applying for the position. But would her newspaper be less likely to hire me because they wouldn't want to take another reporter away when my paper is down one? Do editors care about considering a job candidate when they just hired away her co-worker who worked from the same paper?
If I do apply, should I use the same references she used, or none from my current paper? I would have chosen one of the same editors she used.
I realize I could get eliminated for not fitting the requirements of the job opening.
Anonymous
A: If your friend is very new there -- and if you don't quite meet the requirements of the job -- it would be best to wait. If, in a month, they still haven't filled the spot and your friend has had enough time to make a good impression, it may be time to apply. Using the same reference could be a good thing if the first hire went well.
Editors typically do not care very much if they take a couple good people in a row from the same paper. The exceptions would be if it is another newspaper in the same chain or if the editors know each other informally.
