Q. I currently work for a mid-sized daily in a mid-sized Midwest town. It's not bad work, to be truthful. The people are great, morale is generally high and I'm getting to do some good stuff. I have no hopes of finding a comparable newsroom environment as I progress.
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But, I have misgivings about being in a smallish town when I'm just entering my mid-twenties. You get that a lot, I know.
So I've been here just about four months, and have been planning on continuing here for a year or so to come, at least. But I got a call recently from an editor I had while interning at a major metro daily's DC bureau. He's since moved from that paper's bureau chief to the editor of a free daily that circulates in a large city and its surrounding areas. He offered me a reporting job.
Now, I would hate to be the jerk that jumps ship after four months -- especially because I like my co-workers a great deal. But I also think this is a very rare opportunity that I'd be a fool to pass up. It would put me in the heart of the city and entail a sizable raise, though I have no idea how the newsroom morale is there.
Thoughts on leaving a traditional daily for a free-but-much-larger daily? Any other insights?
LeaningA. As an employee, I share your concerns about what a four-month departure would say about me. As an employer, I would be ticked and would have very little to say about you as a reference.
I'd feel differently if your environment or supervision were bad. The fact is, you knew that was a small town when you went there.
I have some issues with an editor who asks you to leave a job after four months, knowing that this is not the best way for you to build a career and knowing that he wouldn't want it to happen to him. But ask him what he sees in his employment crystal ball eight months and beyond. Also ask him about the security of jobs there, as you will be in no position to accept a job that vaporizes in six months.
If you decide to leave -- which you are certainly free to do -- do not use anyone at your current newspaper as a reference. Expect them to be less than complimentary, and commit to staying in the new job for three years or so to show you are not a job hopper.
Coming Tuesday: She worries about making the transition to mainstream media as she contemplates a start in smaller publications with a long-term goal of working as an editor.
