Career related dilemma (UPDATE IN POST #44)

[DCSaints_fan]

I have a family member in journalism (print, not TV).

I doh't know much about Jefferson City, but it seems to me that in the future you are going to have loads more opportunities in D.C. than there. Unless TV production is what you really want, or you are going to be making alot more money (considering the cost of living), I would go to D.C.

[Hersh]

I would take the sure thing. It's great experience and it's a sure thing. Adding to your resume will only help your chances of getting to work in DC in the event VoR doesn't hire you verse staying in Greenville and not working within your profession.

[thebluefood]

I would take the sure thing. It's great experience and it's a sure thing. Adding to your resume will only help your chances of getting to work in DC in the event VoR doesn't hire you verse staying in Greenville and not working within your profession.

Yeah, this wouldn't be as much of a big deal if it weren't a logistical nightmare.

I still might do it, but it's going to be a ***** and a half getting there, much less actually getting settled in and doing my job.

[renaissance]

Are you applying for other jobs? Like do you have any other prospects or are these literally your only two?

[ixcuincle]

I would suggest taking the job somewhere else, as this happens all the time

People get their starts in other markets and then move around

Get your start at foreign market and work your way up to DC town

[megared]

Oh, yeah. I had a 40 minute long interview with them a couple weeks ago. They know exactly where I stand, even with the D.C. job. The guy over there said I would be his first choice for the gig.

Like I said, it's not that it's kind of in the middle of nowhere that bothers me. Most young journalists have to pay their dues that way, anyway. It's just that I don't have a car and I'd be far away from relatives that will need me in the years to come.

I'd say in general it's a mistake to disclose that much information. Now how much of their "immediate" need for your decision hinges upon the fact that they know the longer you wait, the more likely you are to take the other job, entertain other offers, or ultimately 'settle' for them? Even though it's your livelihood, while it's good to be open and honest, you still need to hold certain things to your chest to maintain an upper hand in negotiations.

Also, has the DC job (not your colleagues) expressed interest to you for filling that vacancy? Do you have an interview lined up? Have you seen the job requisition and determined that you'd fit their needs? Have you spoken to an HR person, or even better yet, the person doing the hiring? Finally, are you sure that the hiring is imminent?

Have you spoken to your professor about this? She's really the only person whose feelings you should be worried about, as she recommended you.

[thebluefood]

Are you applying for other jobs? Like do you have any other prospects or are these literally your only two?

I've applied to many other openings, but very few have responded, saying either yes or no. Through this process, I've continued looking for, and putting in for, other positions.

I would suggest taking the job somewhere else, as this happens all the time

People get their starts in other markets and then move around

Get your start at foreign market and work your way up to DC town

Yeah, that's what usually happens, and I knew early on that I would probably have to take that route. This job in D.C., though, is a golden opportunity. While I don't want to put all my eggs in my basket, it's so rare for things like that to happen. This job wouldn't even be on my radar if I didn't think I had a chance at it.

I'd say in general it's a mistake to disclose that much information. Now how much of their "immediate" need for your decision hinges upon the fact that they know the longer you wait, the more likely you are to take the other job, entertain other offers, or ultimately 'settle' for them? Even though it's your livelihood, while it's good to be open and honest, you still need to hold certain things to your chest to maintain an upper hand in negotiations.

Also, has the DC job (not your colleagues) expressed interest to you for filling that vacancy? Do you have an interview lined up? Have you seen the job requisition and determined that you'd fit their needs? Have you spoken to an HR person, or even better yet, the person doing the hiring? Finally, are you sure that the hiring is imminent?

Have you spoken to your professor about this? She's really the only person whose feelings you should be worried about, as she recommended you.

Yeah, I'm going to talk to my professor about this today.

As I've said, the job is great. It's just the logistics of getting out there is rough.

[megared]

This job wouldn't even be on my radar if I didn't think I had a chance at it.

What I was getting at with the other questions is, are you truly being considered for the job, or is it the case that you'd be sticking around for the possibility of being considered? If you don't have an interview scheduled, or a concrete sense (not chatter) that they want you, you're taking a relatively huge risk.

Why don't you get in touch with the hiring manager and initiate a conversation? That'd probably really simplify the decision you're facing.

[PeterMP]

These are always tough decisions. I gave some advice privately, but thought I should peek my head in here.

The thing I would worry most about is stringing people along. It's too easy to develop a bad name. Once you commit... commit.

Everyone wants to be loved and no one wants to be second choice so don't let anyone know they are the second choice.

Serious question.

Is that really an issue in journalism?

In science, everybody realizes that most people (except at the most prestigious instititions Harvard, Cal Tech, MIT), almost everybody has somewhere else they'd rather be. Either somewhere they interviewed and didn't get the job, or a place where because the insitituion wasn't going to be hiring any time soon there wasn't going to be a job there.

The other thing is that taking the job at MO and then jumping to the other job if it was offerred wouldn't be a big deal (partly I suspect because of the first thing).

If this was science essentially at any level (BS, MS, or PhD), hands down my advice would be take the job you have and keep looking for other things.

[thebluefood]

What I was getting at with the other questions is, are you truly being considered for the job, or is it the case that you'd be sticking around for the possibility of being considered? If you don't have an interview scheduled, or a concrete sense (not chatter) that they want you, you're taking a relatively huge risk.

Why don't you get in touch with the hiring manager and initiate a conversation? That'd probably really simplify the decision you're facing.

Yeah, I spoke with the Washington Bureau Chief the other day. He said:
1.) This process will probably take until the end of the month
2.) They have my resume
3.) He knows who I am (which I wasn't expecting)

[Dont Taze Me Bro]

Its simple, take the MO job. Then if you get the offer from VOR, see what pay they offer and if its less than the MO job and they are willing to match it, leave MO and move to DC and take the VOR job. If its more than MO, take it and move back to DC. If its less than and they wont match, you have a job in MO. And then there is always the chance they dont make you an offer anyhow. Neither party needs to know about the other unless they come back and actually offer you a job. But the MO job doesnt need to know about VOR.

You can always get a drivers license in MO after you move there, Im sure you know how to drive. I know its tough to leave family, but unless you've started a family of your own, its a lot easier to move right now while you got your whole life ahead of you. Plus, if you're not driving currently, I assume you would hop on a plane to get back to NC if something did happen. You can do the same in MO, its not that much further of a plane ride, maybe 2-3 hours? DC is about 1.5 hrs.

[Burgold]

Serious question.

Is that really an issue in journalism?

In science, everybody realizes that most people (except at the most prestigious instititions Harvard, Cal Tech, MIT), almost everybody has somewhere else they'd rather be. Either somewhere they interviewed and didn't get the job, or a place where because the insitituion wasn't going to be hiring any time soon there wasn't going to be a job there.

The other thing is that taking the job at MO and then jumping to the other job if it was offerred wouldn't be a big deal (partly I suspect because of the first thing).

If this was science essentially at any level (BS, MS, or PhD), hands down my advice would be take the job you have and keep looking for other things.

I think so. Even though the movement in the biz is pretty fluid it's also a pretty vain world. If it's a clear jump people wouldn't care, but I think because tv is usually considered higher than radio (with certain exceptions) this would be turning down a position to go laterally or down.

[renaissance]

Yeah, I spoke with the Washington Bureau Chief the other day. He said:
1.) This process will probably take until the end of the month
2.) They have my resume
3.) He knows who I am (which I wasn't expecting)

My coworker was recently strongly encouraged by a department director to apply for a position in her shop. Like she called and specifically told him this would be a great position for him. So he applied and had a great interview with her, and she scheduled a follow up meeting the next day.

Know what she told him at the follow up meeting? He didn't get the job.

Just be really careful in assuming how close you are to getting a job, and don't make the mistake of counting your chickens before they hatch.

I agree with DTMB, and it's the same advice I got when I asked a very similar question on here just over a year ago.

[thebluefood]

UPDATE TIME:

So, it looks like you guys were right about Voice of Russia. Not only did I never hear back from the bureau chief, but I haven't even been paid for the work I did with them in the autumn. So, it seems I'm Jefferson City bound, right?



Recently, I caught the attention from some PR folks at NASA's HQ in D.C. Apparently, they saw my work on Twitter during the election and liked what they saw. So, next week, I'm slated to have a conversation with someone who apparently has the authority to hire and fire at NASA.

Now...
Cons:
-I don't have any PR experience. I have my communication degree, but my background is in journalism
-I don't know if there's work for me or anything that I'd qualify for. All I know is that this guy wants to talk to me next week.
-As I've mentioned, Jeff City is a sure thing.

Pros:
-From what I understand, having a journalism background actually helps when doing public relations.
-The fact that this guy wants to sit down and have a chat with me is big. All they've seen from me is a few tweets and my resume
-From what I've read, NASA is the best place to work in the federal government
-Those government employee benefits, man...can't be beat.

Just wanted to get your input on this new information.

Thanks for your past help in this thread.

[Elessar78]

It's essentially the same as before, bird in hand is worth two in the bush. Jefferson city is real and NASA is potential.