Joe Grimm's News Jobs Café: Ask the recruiter

Tell My Boss I Plan to Leave?

Q: I really enjoy your column and think it addresses many issues that I have.

When you are in your next job search, how do you let your current employer know about it? Or do you at all?

I'm thinking about switching newspapers after two years and wonder how to go about doing so, especially when it comes to listing references. How do I do so without harming my relationship with my current employer?

Hope you can answer this one. Thanks again,

Amy

A: This varies from case to case.

In most cases, people prefer not to be so frank with their editors. There can be some serious disadvantages to telling the boss you plan to leave. The greatest danger is the loss of opportunities for things like good assignments, training and sometimes even raises.

An editor might figure, "Why should I give her training? She plans to leave, anyway."

If you have cultivated a frank and open relationship with an understanding editor, you can be honest and even enlist a little help. Good editors will understand your career ambitions and help you achieve them. While they don't want to lose you, they might use their network to help you move to another paper.

So, evaluate your relationship with your editor. Start by seeking advice from more experienced colleagues at your paper.

Note: "Ask the Recruiter" has moved to Poynter's new Career Center. The new home is here. Remember to change your bookmark.

An Explanation for My TV Firing?

Note: I turned this one over to Scott Libin of the leadership and management faculty at The Poynter Institute. He  graciously agreed to help. -- Joe Grimm)

Q: I was terminated two months ago by a TV station after nine years on the assignment desk.

In August, I received a good review and a modest raise. Later in the month, my wife had surgery. I asked for time off (which I was owed) to be with her during her chemotherapy and was terminated two days later.

The newscasts went off without a hitch as far as I could tell, but the next day I was told I was let go without the news director giving me a chance to tell my side of the story. I'm having difficulty dealing with this and really don't know the real reason I was let go.

The company I worked for was "self-insured" when it came to health insurance. They already paid for my wife's surgery, and was now informed of the needed chemotherapy.

The company did not fight my claim for unemployment ... and even gave me extra severence pay I did not expect.

Is there any legal remedy here? How do I deal with this when applying for other jobs?

Right now, the only work I can get is part time as an on-air announcer at a small-market radio station. I'm afraid my career may be over. I've been in broadcasting since 1981.

Any thoughts on this?

Terminated

A: You're in a tough situation personally and professionally. Your wife's health crisis would be difficult under any circumstances, and I can imagine it's a lot tougher on both of you now.

No one at Poynter can offer you any legal advice. We aren't qualified, but you might well want to consult an attorney who knows Indiana employment law. As a former news director who now trains newsroom managers, I can offer you this much:

If you are unclear about the real reasons for your termination, I think you should ask for clarification. Your August review and raise would not preclude your being fired for performance reasons in December, but your side of the story about the incident involving equipment doesn't quite add up.  If the newscasts were unaffected and the episode was a "first offense," it does not seem to me like the kind of thing that generally gets people fired. Your letter seems to indicate that you suspect your wife's medical condition had something to do with it. I hope that's not the case, and I have trouble imagining that any successful company would jettison a valued employee solely to avoid the costs involved in his wife's medical condition. (Would you really want to work for such a company anyway?)

You might consider requesting a meeting with your former news director. Ask for no more than 30 minutes. I think it's fair to seek clarification on the grounds for your termination, if only to determine how it might affect your future employment. What will the news director say if someone calls for a reference?  How can you ensure that your account and the station's do not contradict each other with any prospective employer?  These are legitimate issues for discussion, in my opinion.

Be aware that your news director and his or her bosses will be very sensitive to the possibility that you might be preparing a lawsuit, even if it turns out you don't have firm legal grounds to sue, or don't want to. They might even decline to meet with you for that reason, or without giving a reason, and I'm sorry to say I don't think you have any way to force such a meeting -- short of suing, that is, and doing that would dramatically change everything about your relationship with the station. If you can't arrange a meeting, a phone conversation or exchange of correspondence might be the best you can do.  You might well find that the station's lawyers advise it to say nothing further at all.   

Maybe most important, I think you need to answer a few questions for yourself: What do you hope to accomplish? Reinstatement? Is that at all realistic? If not, what would be a more reasonable goal? My suggestion would be to learn whatever you can about what really went wrong, so that in the short term you can adjust your job-search strategy accordingly, and in the long run, you can be even better prepared for whatever challenges might lie ahead.

Best of luck.

Note: "Ask the Recruiter" has moved to Poynter's new Career Center. The new home is here. Don't forget to change your bookmark.

Escape a Burned-Out Editor's Depression?

Q: Through various newspaper sales and staff reorganizations I have a new editor who seems suffering from burn-out. He has admitted several times that the only reason he's still doing his job is because of health insurance for a child. He frequently talks about the "death of the industry" and is just an extremely negative presence in the newsroom. He speed-edits and seems to do the bare minimum possible. He rarely gives feedback about anyone's work and I get the feeling he really doesn't care as long as it's in by deadline. I feel that I would have the same work experience if I wrote my stories from a distant bureau (and I sit next to him.)

His mantra seems to be "we're all lucky to have a job" and obviously dislikes his. It's like he wants to be a hermit in a cave somewhere but it doesn't pay as well (he ignores phone calls from readers because "they always want something," and wants to move all our workstations away from his so he can "be alone.") I've never met an editor who so dislikes being around other people.

On the plus side, he's not abusive or antagonistic but every utterance he makes seems to indicate to me that he's depressed.

I've only been here a year and it's been a rollercoaster. How can I keep my morale up and my desire to work there when my supervisor so obviously hates his job?

Thanks,

Battling Burnout

A: Let's make sure this extinguished editor doesn't put out your fire.

He may well be battling depression and I think you, as a direct report, are not in the position to suggest he get help, so let's keep this focused on the work.

First, I would appeal to him as a fellow journalist: "Look, I know you're down on newspapering -- and you have your reasons -- but I'm not and I really need your help. I need you to teach me your best lessons. Please, I need you to punch up my writing, give me feedback on my reporting and teach me everything  you can about journalism. Sure, things have changed a lot, but the bedrock principles you know are the things I need to learn. Pass what you know along to me."

If this appeal doesn't improve the editing, seek out mentors in your newsroom and the industry and start looking for a new editor. Top editors hate it when reporters "editor shop," so be careful. You also probably won't do yourself any favors by explaining what is wrong with your current editor. The top bosses already know.

Apply for positions that come open, even if they are lateral moves, that will get you working for someone better. Offer to work different shifts -- even ugly ones -- if they mean you will spend more of your time working for better editors.

Don't internalize what this editor is telling you. Burnout was not invented with publicly owned newspaper companies or new technologies. Those realities are speeding up the changes that can lead to certain kinds of burnout, but this is not a new phenomenon.

My guess is that this editor's burnout has a whole lot more to do with what's on the inside than with what's on the outside. Protect the fires that are in you.

Note: "Ask the Recruiter" has moved to Poynter's new Career Center. The new home is here. Don't forget to change your bookmark.

Reporter or Copy Editor?

Q: I hear all the time it's going to be an asset in the future to be well-rounded as a journalist. Does this apply to someone with experience in both copy editing and reporting? I have done both and enjoy both, but am always told it would come off negatively as indifference if I said that in an interview. I graduated from j-school in May and have been a reporter at a small daily for several months now. Previously, I was a Dow Jones Newspaper Fund intern and heavily involved as a reporter and editor at my college daily.

Out of the blue, I was recently contacted by a major metro paper asking me to apply for a copy editing position, and I'm torn. Colleagues tell me I shouldn't unless I'm absolutely certain I would rather copy edit. Regardless of what I decide, does it really have to be that black and white? I know the simple answer is I have to pick one, but in doing so does it sound bad to recruiters if I say I enjoy the other discipline as well? Maybe it's just me, but it has seemed like the variety on my resume in terms of copy editing and reporting has been more of a hindrance than an asset. Thanks for doing this column, and I'd appreciate any advice you have.

Dan

A: Flexibility is more of an asset once you are in a job than it is when you are looking for one.

Editors often interview trying to see where you fit into the newspaper's needs, current or future. A person who has more than one "fit" might come across as being indifferent, as you say.

Once hired, though, the person who can spring up and help in different parts of the newsroom -- or in developing ones -- is seen as helpful, adaptable and flexible.

The particular problem for the reporter/editor combo is that there are so many more reporting  resumes than editnig resumes on the editor's desk at any one time that it can be difficult for a staffer to move from the desk to the street than the other way around. Essentially, filling a reporting job with an editor make the job of hiring that much tougher.

The strategy, of course, is to be very, very good so that they'll move you rather than risk losing you.

Should My New TV Job be This Hard?

Q: I don't write for a newspaper but I am a journalist for a television station. I too am a one-man band -- bureau reporter. I shoot, write and edit my own stories. Right now, I am having several difficulties with my job -- one being that I honestly don't think I am cut out for this line of work.

I know all throughout J-school I was reminded you must have a passion for this or you will not succeed. After a couple months on the job I think I have lost that passion ...

Right now, I am still trying to figure out why. There are several elements. One, the area is very dangerous. I cannot play cop when I'm all by myself, my station doesn't know the area either so the burden of creating good quality news stories lies all on me, and lastly the frustration and stress levels of having a good story written, shot and edited by deadline. I have let the stress of it all get the best of me -- work is all I think about to the point where I can't even sleep well at night. I mean, is this normal?

I know it must sound like I'm complaining but I've tried to give it some time and I am still in the same position. The problem now is if I don't think I am cut out for this line of work -- how do I tell my news director when I have a two-year contract

Any advice would be greatly appreciated it. Thanks!

Elizabeth

A: We turned this question over to three broadcast professionals who generously took time to give some advice.

Carol Wang, health reporter, NBC-5, KXAS, Dallas

A lot of reporters will tell you in the first job of their careers -- the first few months were among the toughest of their lives. It's overwhelming to go from college to real life. You have likely moved to somewhere new, have no friends where you are now, and are learning to be completely independent while at the same time faced with a steep learning curve at work, that allows for no time to adapt.

So what do you do ...  first off, figure out how to make work as simple as possible for you. When you're talking to people, get story ideas from them and keep a running list for when you need them.  Try to set stories up ahead of time, so that you know what your day is going to be like and are prepared for it. Practice editing and shooting faster if you think those are slowing you down.  And don't set the expectations so high for yourself that you stress yourself out even more.  Keep your shots simple and clean, don't overshoot when you don't have time.

And if that isn't helping enough, talk to your news director and propose that you turn stories three to four times a week so you can have research days/planning time to get what you want done.  And seek out programs, conferences, journalism organizations that can give you skills you need.

You have evidently made a lot of sacrifices to get to this point, so I don't know that it's lack of passion that's the underlying issue -- it sounds to me like it's the exhaustion of being new.

Andrew Humphrey, meteorologist, WDIV-Local 4, Detroit:

First, two pieces of good news:

1. Success in any field, especially journalism, is a combination of three things: 1) Talent, 2) Timing, and 3) Who You Know. From what you've said, you definitely have Talent. Doing it all is the future.  Possessing the ability to write, shoot and edit is amazing, and multi-talented journalists are highly valuable and will become the industry norm. Have confidence in that, and it will show in your work.

Instead of telling your boss you've had it and have no passion for journalism, share the specific stresses and concerns of your job with him/her. Let's look at the three you mentioned.

Your physical safety is vital and paramount to getting the story.  You want to stay healthy and alive, and your news director wants that. Talk about the details of specific cases, explain how you felt threatened, and ask how to avoid harm in the future.

If lack of knowledge (of the geography, sources, communities,or cultures) of your coverage area is widespread, that is a news department problem. Without singling out individual co-workers, explain your experiences to your news director. If communicated effectively, he/she will actually appreciate you bringing this to their attention and encourage the entire staff to know the region. In the meantime, do all you can to acquire the knowledge yourself for the type of stories you cover. Proactively studying maps and calling to introduce yourself to sources will make your future work easier.

Finally, all journalists have the pressure of meeting their deadline (i.e., "making slot"). Being an all-in-one journalist it requires a great array of aptitudes, which you already know. The additional attribute is time management. This is something your news director knows about, too. So far, your stories are good and have made it on the air. Now the key is to get them on the air with considerably less rushing and stress. If you ask your news director for the best ways to get a story done in a timely fashion, they should be able to give you advice and even take you under their wing. It's also good to seek guidance from veteran journalists at your station.

Bottom line, look at your news director not just as a boss demanding the job to be done but as a guide to help you get it done.

Al Tompkins, broadcast and online group leader, the Poynter Institute

I understand your frustration and uncertainty about your career choice.

Working as a one-man band or "backpack journalist" as it is being called these days has the advantage of autonomy and freedom of creativity, but for somebody just starting out it can be a lonely existence. One man band workers often tell me that what they miss most is the feedback and friendship we all get from a reporter or photojournalist partner. Working in a bureau can be even more isolating. It also makes sense to me that a one-man-band worker would also have concerns while working alone, especially at night on some assignments.

It is time for you to talk to your boss about your safety concerns. All of us have worked, at some time, in a job that was not fulfilling, but feeling unsafe is not tolerable.

How often, if ever, does the station send other folks to the bureau to work with you or give you feedback? When somebody at the station is sick or on vacation, do you get to work at the mothership?

I wonder if you were promised one thing but when you took the job the duties changed -- or did you get exactly what you signed up for. If the station changed the job after you signed a contract, the contract could be void.

Do you have a mentor who can give you feedback on your work? I think having a professional mentor is vital -- especially for a young journalist.

What part of your job do you love? (Hint-if you can't name anything, you might in fact be in the wrong career.)

I can't tell you if you are in the right job, but it is a difficult situation to put a new journalist--in a bureau doing three complicated jobs at once-reporting, photojournalism and editing. You are learning valuable skills right now that are going to serve you well in the future. If you become a full time reporter you will have a great awareness of what photojournalists do. If you become photojournalist you will be a photoJ who can write. These skills are in high demand in the online and convergence world right now. With a year or two of experience, could be highly marketable.

Telling my Boss to Back Off?

Q: My editor covered my beat for five years and was recently promoted to editor.  I thought this could be a good thing, but it's turning out to be a burden.  He still feels ownership over this beat and loves to talk about random details at length and assigns me stories, and a "column," that are in vein with his interests.

He has high expectations for me, and, trust me, I'm a perfectionist and my own harshest critic, but we have different visions for the beat. He just can't seem to let go and assume his new position.  Is there a polite way to bring this up?  Or am I expecting too much of an editor?

Sara

A: I once heard someone in the newsroom say, "When it comes to husbands and editors, keep your expecatations low."

And she was an editor!

No, I don't think you are expecting too much. You apparently have an editor who cares a lot about this beat and who may miss doing it himself. This is not entirely bad.

I would try to tackle it directly. Schedule a meeting with him outside the office, and explain how you feel.

Tell him, "Look, I need your help and guidance on this beat, and I appreciate your enthusiasm for it, but I have to be allowed to do things my own way. I will not find every story you would, but given a chance to put my own stamp on this, I know I'll find some new things. I need you to back me up, but I have to be allowed to find my own way, make the occasional mistake and learn to do this job just as you did. I know you're only trying to help, but too often I feel like I'm just filling story orders.

"Let's keep talking, but please give me a chance to put some stories on the table myself. I think I can surprise you."

Note: "Ask the Recruiter" is moving to Poynter's new Career Center. The new home is here. Don't forget to change your bookmark.

Juggling Two Potential Job Offers?

Q: I am a newspaper reporter looking for my second job out of college. I have an interview in two weeks at a newspaper that I really want to go to and it would do wonders for my career.

Another newspaper just left me a message saying they are interested in interviewing me. The first paper has told me that I am the only person they are interviewing and that, if all goes well, they will make me an offer.

My question is: do I accept an interview offer from the second paper, knowing full well that I have a possibility I will jump at if it's offered to me? I would hate to have someone schedule an interview and make travel arrangements, only to cancel. However, I also don't want to put all my eggs in one basket and decline the second interview in case the first one doesn't work out. How do I handle this?

Rachel

A: Ah, that’s ticklish. You anticipate the recruiting companies’ positions well. Express your genuine interest in the second paper, but tell them it’ll be a couple weeks until you can commit to a travel date. The issue will arise only if there is air travel involved. Hotels can be canceled with 24 hours notice or less and schedules can be canceled quickly.

Skin Tone Affect Job Opportunity?

BlackAmericaWeb.com interviews University of Georgia doctoral student Matthew Harrison, whose research shows that dark-skinned blacks fare less well than light-skinned blacks in interviews -- even when their résumés are better.

The Web site quotes a statement in which Harrison said, "Our results indicate that there appears to be a skin tone preference in regards to job selection. This finding is possibly due to the common belief that fair-skinned blacks probably have more similarities with whites than do dark-skinned blacks, which in turn makes whites feel more comfortable around them."

Do clothes make a difference?

Hats off to NorthJersey.com for its article on dressing-to-get-hired in which Latina magazine editor Betty Fortina says "There's a big difference between Wall Street and teaching and a creative advertising agency. You really have to do your homework on the culture of the workplace you'll be entering."

I couldn't have said it better.

Journalists are best dressed as journalists, and not according to off-the-shelf advice that works better for Wall Street.

Newsrooms are neither corporate nor night clubs. A basic suit for an office that is between casual and conservative is a good place to start.

Hiring freeze froze my dream job?

Q: Last week I had an amazing and inspiring interview with an editor who found my résumé online. The interview went so well that we actually lost track of time and had to break so she could get some things done. She handed me all of the corporate applications, background check forms and I went for a drug test. I even went out that evening with several of the reporters and immediately connected with them. As I was leaving the next day, I told the managing editor that even if things didn't work out, I was leaving with three new friends.

The position they were interviewing me for is literally my dream job -- one no one gets right out of college. While the salary numbers they threw around were quite low, the cost of living in the area is cheap enough that I could live without too much difficulty. I left with the feeling that if they made an offer, I would immediately accept because I wanted to work with them so badly.

Turns out, they felt the same way -- except two days after the interview, their parent company froze all open positions.

I talked with the editor this afternoon and she said they were trying to appeal the freeze so they could make me an offer, but she didn't know how long things would take -- or even if it would work. She said they had a strong case, but she just couldn't be sure and she didn't want to get my hopes up.

Meanwhile, I need a job. I want to say I'm willing to wait for the parent company to get their act together and release the position, but I have no idea how long that will take. The editor knows I have other applications out there and another interview pending and she asked me to keep her updated -- and to give her a call in a few days to see how the appeal was progressing, in case she didn't call me first.

I know journalism hiring generally moves at a glacial pace. I've only sent out a few applications, but I've had numerous responses, several interviews and even turned down a job offer because I just didn't feel inspired by the place.

Out of all of the opportunities I've had, this job (if it even exists) just feels like the perfect fit. I literally felt like the editor was reading my mind during the interview and I know we will work very well together. Moreover, I know I will have friends in the newsroom and love my beat -- if I ever get the job, that is.

Should I wait it out or send out another batch of applications? How likely is it that the parent company will approve an appeal like this? How long should I wait?

Not sure if I'm desperate yet

A: This is a sad sign of the times. A little more advice from the editor might help, but my sense is that you're best off to pursue other opportunities. There are a lot of variables that are not on your side. One is the freeze, of course. The other is that the length of that freeze will not be determined by the people who really like you.

You also have to consider that, when a freeze is lifted, the job you want me not be the one they want to fill first. It is not a stretch to think that they could, in this freeze, have someone leave who will just have to be replaced when the thaw comes. And, sad to say, the freeze hit right when you were really hot. You might not seem as interesting to them six months down the road.

So, I would look for other good opportunities while keeping in touch with this newspaper. We can't tell which will come first: the opening at this paper or at another.