Ask the Recruiter

Q: My husband recently became the news and opinion editor at a small daily. He also contributes critical pieces and features for the arts section. His salary is very low (27K), and there is not much potential for growth in that area, but he loves the freedom and outlet he has in writing and being published consistently.

We are considering a move next month so that he can get his BA, which he never completed. His knowledge gained through self-education surpasses that of the many college graduates I know by a long shot, and he is consistently told by readers that he is the best thing the paper has as far as writers go. He is eager to earn a degree, and we feel it could expedite his career to return to school full time, achieve the degree as soon as possible and make connections in an area that has more potential for a newspaper career.

However, we also feel he is very lucky to have broken into the field without a degree, and he might benefit even more from building up more experience here (He's only been there nine months so far.) -- keeping up his career momentum -- and then trying to get a better position somewhere else, while getting his degree from a local, less challenging college on a part-time basis. He is in his early 40s and just found his talent and desire for writing within the past five years or so. Can you give me your opinion on going back to school versus staying put, as far as moving his career forward?

Waiting

A: I hear a lot of compelling reasons for moving and not too many for staying. It sounds as though you like the area where the university is more than where you are, that your husband feels he should make more money and that there is a small window right now for him to return to school to get the degree before another year goes by.

Ideally, the degree will help him re-enter in a higher orbit.