I might be experiencing my quarter-life crisis. I'm a fairly recent graduate from a four-year university who landed a job at one of the state's largest metropolitan papers straight out of school. I've had a good variety of newspaper reporting experience around the country and quickly earned accolades from my current employer.
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Problem is, I'm not happy, and I find myself discouraged by corporate ownership, which translates to staffing shortages and often overwhelming workloads. I don't shy away from the long hours and almost always volunteer for weekend shifts when needed. But there seems to be no end in sight. Hiring freezes and fears about the company's future have pretty much stalled any plans for a promotion or beat reassignment. (And there don't seem to be too many reporting jobs at other papers right now.)
Recently, I've toyed with the idea of going back to school and acquiring some of those multimedia skills our editors keep pushing (along with earning a more specialized degree in some international-relations field). That would also mean leaving the newsroom for another communications job. But I'd get to pursue some of the academic research I missed when I left.
With the future of newspapers so uncertain, do you think it'd be likely that I could find a job in a newsroom a couple years down the road with my background, despite a short break from the field?
Just Out, Not Burned Out
The tumult in our business is disconcerting for all of us.
We deal with it in different ways. Some obsess about every little bit of news. Others throw themselves so far into their work they seem to be hiding from it.
I can't say whether you should keep plugging or go back to school. But here are two pieces of perspective that might help you right now.
One is to focus on the things you can control -- today's story or issue -- and give it your best. You can't control corporate ownership or even the understaffing in your own bureau. But you can wring more out of a source or a story or write better than you ever have before. Ultimately, your performance on such things will be the only thing you have to cash in on, should the time come.
The second piece of perspective is that in a closed market, say, one where a hiring freeze keeps external candidates away, there may be more opportunities for the people already on the inside. Keep an eye open for those chances. Sometimes, an internal candidate who would not fare well against more qualified outsiders wins because no one else can get in.
Finally, meet away from the office with individuals like you who can brainstorm strategies and who will support each other. Your conversations with them will help you decide whether or when to move.
Coming Thursday: She asks whether it is OK to tell a prospective employer that she would like to take a few days to consider a job offer.
