Q. Lately a few things have been happening in our newspaper company that I see as troubling, and I'm wondering if I should prepare to look elsewhere for a job.
Recently a couple publishers were fired. An official reason was never released, and I am not sure if they are looking for new publishers.
ASK JOE A QUESTION
|
To get your question answered on this page, send it to Joe. Please include your full name in your message. If you prefer that your surname not be published, please indicate that. Sign up to receive Ask The Recruiter by e-mail:
* Click here (sent Monday-Friday at 8 a.m.) |
|
Our previous publisher also decided he couldn't pay $500 to send 10 of us to a local conference that would have had a big impact on our reporting.
I've heard my editor on the phone casually mention that the only paper in our group that's doing well had been marked for shutdown by an editor who left here months ago. The rest of our newspapers have been bleeding circulation like stuck pigs, despite our attempts to gain new subscribers. Our Web site, however, has been doing quite well with hits.
We've also been under a hiring freeze since last fall, which hasn't impacted our newsroom, but rather the secretarial staff.
On the bright side, the company hasn't frozen much else. I received a raise during my review earlier this year, and we recently bought a new computer to replace one that had finally called it quits.
Every "10 signs your company is headed toward layoffs" site has indicated that something is up at my company. Then again, a lot of those signs are things newspapers are going through all over. I don't know what to believe.
Ultimately I need to know if I should start applying for new jobs. I've gotten more than two years of experience here, so I think I could find a new job, but I had been hoping to stay for another year so I could get an even better job and wait for my boyfriend to finish school.
Still WorkingA. Stay cool.
There is a lot going on -- at your place and at others.
In addition to the warnings, you've received some encouragement. You don't want to leave yet, so I wouldn't. But I would be prepared.
Pay attention to bigger signs: A change in ownership. Multiple rounds of buyouts or layoffs. The sudden loss of a major advertiser. The signs you've mentioned are stressful, but don't indicate an imminent death.
Have a fresh resume on your own computer, ready to go out in the mail or digitally. Keep topping your own best work. Pay off those credit cards and bank some money. And keep your network fresh. You'll probably be able to make another year there as you would like, and can launch a search if you must.
Followup comment from writer: About three weeks after I wrote you, I launched a job search. I think
the tip of the iceberg (besides realizing that my writing was
stagnating) was discovering that our newspaper group was offering the
same salary I was making to a new hire who had only previously had
college newspaper experience. I was done.
I've now been working happily for a month at a new paper that
lets me take more time on my stories. The company e-mails its quarterly
reports to all of its employees, so I have a better idea of where we
stand. And my salary? Much, much better.
Thank you for your guidance.
Coming Friday: He has seen enough online application forms to wonder whether anyone on the inside is paying attention to them.
