Too much time at one job?

Q: I have been the sports editor for three weekly papers for almost four years now. Before that I was a stringer for 10 years, writing for weekly and daily publications. In addition to writing, editing and laying out pages for my three weekly papers, I occasionally help a daily in my company, covering high school football and state tournament games in other sports.

For the past few years, I have been looking for positions at daily papers and have gotten the occasional interview. I’m at a point where I’m beginning to feel like I’m in a rut at my current position and would really like to take the next step. What I’m wondering is if it’s possible that there’s a certain point where staying at a job for a length of time could be viewed as a liability when looking for other jobs. Is it possible that when I send out resumes and an employer sees that I’ve been at my current position for almost four years that he or she wonders why I haven’t moved on and takes it as a sign that maybe I’m just not that good?

Stephen T.

A: Yes. Even at major metros, a person who has been in the same position for a long time –- and who has no new tricks to show for it –- can appear to be stale.

I once met a middle-aged photojournalist who wanted a portfolio critique. He said he wasn’t looking for  a job, but that he wanted the critique. His portfolio was varied and strong, and I told him so.

“Thanks,” he said. “I shot all of this in the past year.”

“Really? You’re not looking to move, yet your portfolio is up to date?”

“Yes. I use it to keep myself sharp. Every year, I want to beat myself, so I never show anything that is more than a year old.”

He will not become stale. I have been at the Detroit Free Press for 20 years. I try to do at least two things every year that are résumé-worthy. By doing that, I hope to be able to have fresh ideas, talents and skills.

A second issue you’re facing is that you’re at a weekly trying to get to a daily. If you were trying to go the other way, or from a magazine to a newspaper, or some similar transition, editors might wonder whether you could handle the transition as well as some other candidate who would not have to make that transition. The editor is looking to minimize the risk.

You ask some good questions and I would put them to the next newspaper that interviews you, but then decides not to hire you.