Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, copy editor

It's kind of silly that this is a smaller (and worse) paper than the Atlanta JC, yet it's this one with the requirement involving circulation size. As has been said before, nothing like making sure you limit your applications.

 

The trouble that place has had finding desk people in the past, setting limits on the applications is nuts.

 

Those circulation limits are BS. I worked for a 30K and they wanted an answer as to whether I would take the job before I left the building. I said no a couple of days later.

 

I've heard a thing or two about the hard sell mode they go into when they offer a job.

 

Same thing happened to me in Eau Claire two years ago. ME looked at me cross-eyed when I told him I'd need a few days, it got worse when I told him it was because I was being flown in for an interview at a different paper, and he damn near shit a brick over the phone when I declined the offer three days later.

 

Sounds like you made the right choice. Any editor who tried to twist my arm into accepting a gig like that would be someone I'd turn down.

 

Had an interview for a similar position here two years ago. Or at least it was advertised as such until I got there and Mr. Gruetze told me there was not actually a position open currently.

I should have walked out right there, but I had driven a ways to get there (for which I'd be compensated, of course). After sticking around and taking a few editing tests (should a position open in the future, naturally), I went home.

Still waiting for the mileage check...

Steer clear, particularly of Gruetze.

 

That's amazing. I applied for a writing job and they flew me up. When I got there, he told me the position was filled and that I was applying for a copy editor job. This place is super sketchy when it comes to making hires and reporting who will become the Steelers head coach.

 

It's not just the Trib. I've run into places over the yeas that advertise a job, then tell you they only wanted to have resumes on file in case it ever opened up.

About 10 years ago my wife applied for an apparent opening at a paper in NC and after the sitdown with the ME and the editing test was told they just wanted to evaluate her for future openings. We both fumed about that one until a daily in a neighboring county had a legitimate opening for her.

 

Most newspapers put you through so much horseshit to get a job -- multiple interviews, interminable waiting periods, tryouts -- you better make sure what they expect is clearly defined and that you like the working conditions.

One thing I like to make clear in job interviews is that I'm there to interview THEM.