WEEKEND EDITION: Local Business News Lets You Time It Right
It pays to stay alert for opportunities. They may, after all, be fleeting. That's why timing is everything.
Case in point: I took advantage of a walk-out.
Like many, I worked a variety of low-level jobs early in my career. Sure, I freelanced the occasional piece, but I just couldn't find my groove. I couldn't find a local reporter position open.
Then came the classic good news/bad news situation.
Good news: A new daily fish wrap opened. Finally, our mid-sized metro had a publication to compete with the established Gannett newspaper. I had clips (i.e. copies of my published articles), a resume and a relatively fresh degree - certainly I'd have a shot at a full-time reporter position!
Bad news: The upstart pub recruited its staff from the established paper, thus eliminating the chance to nab a full-time gig.
Then it got interesting.
Management, apparently, was not familiar with the concept of a well thought out business plan. And, if they were - and actually had one - it didn't include little things like paying salaries.
The bulk of the staff, understandably, walked out just a few months after the paper was founded. This staff revolt was covered by the local TV and radio news.
So I did the only logical thing. I called the paper and got easily got through to the Editor-in-Chief.
Since I was very early in my career and didn't have land taxes, I didn't really care how much I was paid. I just wanted a full-time daily newspaper gig. Even if it was short-term.
Which it was. But, given the staff walk-out, I knew this going in. Poorly-managed, cash-strapped start-ups are funny that way.
But during the short time the paper remained open, I was able to add to my portfolio and make a little (very little) money. I was also able to drastically improve my resume.
In short, it was a good launching pad.
IN THE CARAVAN: I nabbed an important (albeit short-term) gig because I stayed abreast of local business news. Because I knew timing is everything.
Indeed Job Search
Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.
Comments