Q. I am finishing my final undergraduate credits this summer and I plan to move to Washington, D.C., in a few months to look for a reporting job. I've done a few phone interviews for jobs I don't really want -- writing for a publication geared toward lobbyists, for example -- and one of my journalism professors told me to move first and then look for work. He has a number of contacts for me in the "real" journalism world, but he suggested that I wait to talk to them until I am relocated.
I hesitate to move to an expensive city without a job lined up (although I have a free place to stay for about one month) but my professor insists it will be better for my career. Should I accept a job offer that is less than ideal before I head to Washington, or should I venture to our country's capital city with nothing lined up?
David A. Certainly, your professor's advice has worked for others. The other approach is to work your way to D.C. through other jobs. As one of the nation's media capitals, Washington has a lot of media jobs -- including
a lot of lousy ones. So, the decision really depends on you, how anxious you are to get there right away and how much money you have. We can advise, but you will decide.
You have the makings of a plan that embraces your professor's advice, but might not break you. Prepare an application blitz of a month or two and hit Washington with advance knowledge of the market and your resume ready to go. It is a long shot that the right job for you will be available in that short window, but you will get some sense of how tough things are and what employers see as an appropriate level for you to start in. With that additional information -- and firsthand experience with D.C. prices -- you'll be in a better position to know whether to follow your professor's advice or your own instincts.
Coming Wednesday: After two low-wage jobs in journalism, he wonders whether public relations could provide the kind of paycheck he needs. But would he be able to make it back to journalism later?
David, I recently moved to D.C. for my first job...
