Q. I've worked at a community daily for a few years and am beyond ready to move to a metro paper. I've just started applying. My first bite came from a large, free news tab. They've checked references at my current paper, so word has gotten around here.
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A few people have suggested I pass on the offer and said I should wait for a more traditional paper. On the other hand, I've been told it'd be foolish to pass up any upward move in a tough job market.
There's certainly merit to signing on with a more established company, but I also feel I could sit and wait decades before the perfect offer at the perfect paper was made. I'm willing to take the time for a proper job hunt, but it makes me cringe to think of staying here if another job offer is several months to a year away.
What kind of challenges will I face moving on after this tab? Should I have concerns about the quality of the experience?
Thanks as always.
TornA. I disagree with those who want you to wait for an offer from a more traditional company.
Not a day passes that we don't read about this company or that one grappling with some very difficult challenges.
A shot at something new and non-traditional could be a smart move. There is more than one way to advance your career.
Ultimately, employers will judge you on the basis of what you can do and how well you present yourself. I would not be concerned that this publication is trying a new business model, but I would do some deep research on three questions:
- How secure do I feel about its ability to meet payroll for the next two years?
- How good are the people running it and with whom I would work most closely?
- If it is not too early to tell, can I see what career path people seem to follow when they leave this publication?
After you get the answers for this startup, try to get the answers for similar, traditional media.
Coming Monday: He wants to apply to newspapers that haven't posted ads for open positions, but he wonders if he should call someone at the papers first or wait to check that his package arrived.
