How do I handle this?
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Several weeks ago, I quit a reporter's job on a small weekly. I was the
only reporter with a too-large beat. I worked for about a year. The
longer I worked, the more knowledgeable I became on the communities I
covered and spread myself even thinner. I worked hard, developed my
skills and got a wealth of experience. I know I did it well because my
sources told me so. The editor at the paper was no help to me. In
hindsight, I could have handled him better, but the fact is, I didn't.
Thank you!
Michele
You worked too hard to get into journalism to now be afraid to even send out an application.
The sooner you do it, the better, as your employment gap is growing.
Do not bother to explain in the cover letter why you quit. That won't
really help you. Simply note your employment dates on your resume.
Write a positive, powerful cover letter, and ask for an interview. The
interview, not the cover letter or the resume, is the place for
explaining your reasons for quitting.
Keep the in-person explanation brief and not too critical. Take the
high road. Try to direct the interview toward the future. A candidate
who gets mired in a lengthy explanation of why an old job or boss
didn't work out is going to have a hard time getting any traction.
