Ask the Recruiter

Q: Hey, Joe, love to read your advice. Now that I need some myself, I knew who to come to. A lot has happened in the past year. I will summarize:

I'm involved in a one-year-long internship at a large daily (300,000 +) and will graduate in tandem with the end of the stint this December. I'd freelanced for the same paper for two years prior to the start of the internship, accumulating about 10 great clips -- all enterprise pieces. Under the same editor, I began the current internship in January and have amassed over 80 clips covering two municipalities while finishing up at the university. These beats have afforded me a wide range of clips: from features to hard news to profiles -- but not much breaking news (save for a handful of breaking online stories that I suggested be posted on our newspaper site, which were).

About a month ago, I began training for the city desk as a clerk. As a result of that, I now have a couple of breaking-news clips and a few colorful obits under my belt. It's been a good experience. They even gave me one permanent weekday shift, knowing that I'm still taking classes full time.

The other day, I was offered a part-time job as the breaking-news reporter for our Web site in the morning hours, five days a week. I accepted with no doubts, salivating at the prospects of the experience I know I'll gain. ... There was no talk of the fact that I'm still an intern. There was a comment about how I'm still in school and the editor wants that to be a priority, wants me to finish school ASAP.

So the bottom line is: other than my school newspaper, this is the one paper I have worked at my entire young career in journalism. And it is a great, famous paper. And I love where I live -- I grew up here, my family is here. I know I need to keep doors open, but at this point, I see myself continuing to move up at this paper.

The question: This internship-application season, do I send out resumés for next summer, or do I wage the bet on this gig and see where it will take me?

Things are looking good -- I'm being noticed, my dreams are materializing. But I don't want to be a victim of tunnelvision ...

T.K.

A: You sound like you're thinking smart about all the variables -- and appreciating the good fortune you've had so far.

Making your next move does not need to be such a mystery.

Go to your editors, tell them you're thinking about plans after graduation and that you're planning to send out some internbship applications. Also tell them that you like the paper and would like to stay with it.

If they decide they want to keep you around, they'll grow your internship and part-time job into something more full time and permanent. If not, you'll have those applications out with other newspapers. If you get a good offer, talk it over with your current editors. Don't just accept it without seeing where things stand. Handle things well, and they will be happy to have you back someday.

I do like the way they're treating you, and it is clear you appreciate what they've done for you so far. Make sure they hear that. But don't get stuck without a job.