Q: Thanks so much for your site, it's been a great resource over the years.
My question is: Can a person move too quickly up the ladder? I got an early start in a management position and have held jobs with pretty nice titles and a lot of responsibility for most of the eight years I've been in journalism.
At this point, I wonder if I will have to take a big step down in responsibility (and possibly pay) if I were ever to try to make the jump to a big-time paper. Because I've most recently worked for a company without a lot of tradition or prestige (but one that is innovative in its approach, which might actually be marketable?) and because there's not much room for growth, is it my best bet to try getting into a nice position at a company with many papers and try to move up the ranks that way?
On track
A: Yes, it is possible to move up the ladder too quickly.
This can show up in weak performance (rising to one's level of incompetence) or career stagnation (the velvet coffin).
You're alluding to the second problem, which is the easier one to solve.
Good leaders are in short supply. That can rescue you, provided you can show prospective employers your value. To make the move, you might have to accept a lesser title or a smaller role. Ideally, you can hold onto your rate of pay.
Hang onto the possibility of moving to an interim paper that would be a steppingstone from where you are now to a metro.
A lesser role at a larger organization might be just as challenging. I'd go for it.
