Q. I'm an editor at a small community daily. Because of our size, I've always split two jobs, with one of them changing three times in the past year to fit the paper's needs.
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I could pursue my primary editing role and get a job at a larger newspaper, but my goal is to become the top editor at my paper, which means at some point I need a stint as local editor. I'm beginning to feel like my reputation as a utility infielder, combined with a specialty that's hard to find at a paper our size, has me stuck in a situation where I'll never be allowed to get the position I want.
I'm proud of my work in my specialty -- we do much more than most of the similarly sized papers in our company -- and my boss has been able to send me to training several times. But how do I make it clear that I want a role that might not include my primary focus? And, how long should I wait after that before deciding it's time to look at other papers in the company?
Locked in a CornerA. Ah, you've been pigeon-holed. Not only do they need you in this specialized role, but they may not think of you in relation to the job you aspire to.
I would not wait. Nothing changes all on its own. It is time to apply pressure.
Make an appointment with your boss. Describe your ultimate goal, point out that the local editing job is an essential prerequisite and explain that you want to leave the specialty behind because your talents there are holding you back. This is the clincher: Ask your boss to help you get the local editing job you need at any newspaper in the company.
Your boss should then realize that you are willing to leave if you must do it to get what you want. He should also realize that you can make this move without his help. If he suggests that he can get you this opportunity, ask for a time table and the experiences or training you'll need to help you succeed.
Coming Tuesday: He is worried about the fortunes of his newspaper and thinks he should get ready to jump to a mid-sized paper. He wonders what steps to take.
