Q. I worked as a reporter for four years with a national daily and then took up editing as my main field. Ever since I left that first job, I have been switching from media to publishing -- most of the time for good work experience. Somehow the variety of work and exposure I got in my first job was missing in subsequent jobs I took up (three jobs in book publishing and two
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in media in the last four years). I have been wondering what is going wrong.
I am not a job hopper by nature and hate to see that I have ended up doing what I dislike. It is getting even more depressing, as I am unable to take a stressful reporting job after marriage but want to do as exciting work as I used to do. I want to stick to editing and grow in the same field, and I want to get a stable job that can offer me the money people are getting with the same experience as mine.
I was working my best and receiving accolades in my first job, but after that, even though companies liked my work, I didn't like the companies. Is it that I am applying to the wrong places? Or is it an attitude problem with me (as my husband says!)? Currently I am working for a magazine group, trying to set up a books division. I have again started getting bored of the job, as it is not giving me enough money, and my boss kills any creative initiative that I wish to take. (He is also very abusive and humiliating in his conversations with his employees.) How can I still make my job more interesting? I don't think I can afford to change jobs again before one year. My resume is also depicting lots of job changes, which I'm afraid will prevent me from getting any good offers in the future.
Veedee, India A. You raise an interesting point, that stress and excitement can be two sides of the same coin.
Having five jobs in four years will be a warning sign to many editors. You are wise to try to make this current job last a year. You should not have to put up with an abusive boss, but if you continue this pattern of leaving jobs after short tenures, prospective employers will pick up on it and be reluctant to hire you, expecting you will soon be gone.
It sounds from your question as though you are often the one who breaks off the arrangement. I do not see signs that you are frequently being fired or laid off. That tells me you need to be much more careful and realistic about accepting jobs. Be careful to avoid situations you cannot tolerate by asking employees about conditions or a culture that matters to you. Be realistic by acknowledging that, if you haven't found a job that completely satisfies you, you might have to settle for a job that fulfills you part of the time, but that is, on some days, just a job you must do consistently well.
Coming Thursday: This candidate has recently had two application gaffes. In one case, she left a word out of a cover letter. In the other, she sent an e-mail that has formatting issues. Can she recover?
