I have a good job for a wire service stationed in a major foreign city. I also have a wonderful husband who unfortunately hates living in this major foreign city (the traffic, the noise, the smog).
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We have a young son, and it admittedly has been difficult raising a child far away from our families. Here's the quandary: There's a job at a local paper in a town where we both have family. The community is scenic and ideal for raising children. My husband is in favor of making the move.
Financially it would be tight, but we could probably swing it. My biggest concern is what this would mean for my long-term career prospects. I've spent 10 years building a resume that gets noticed.
Would time at a small-town daily completely negate that? Should I be prepared to stay indefinitely at this paper if I go there, or is it reasonable to think that I would be able to advance to a bigger outlet after that? If I did take the job, is there anything I could do while there that would mitigate the damage to my resume (i.e. taking on higher management duties, freelancing for major publications, earning an advanced degree in a specialty area)?
Katherine
It sounds like you're ready to make a compromise, as we all must do.
Let me suggest another.
Rather than move to the town where you both have family but where your career might take a hit, could you move to another city near there that would be more in line with your career goals? Perhaps there is a place that offers many of the personal benefits you're looking for along with the professional opportunities.
If not, I think you are wise to try to trade up in jobs as you trade down in terms of the company's name recognition. This could mean you become a columnist, editor or projects reporter.
Although there is a job open right now in a city that may be ideal for your family, look for the job that provides an ideal combination of advantages.
Coming day: A wall of silence prohibits this reporter's attempts to move from the copy desk to
the reporting ranks, and she wonders how to make an internal move.
Have you been offered the job yet? Is this job...
