"Getting out of the business" resource thread

[agateguy]

I don't know if anybody would be interested, but I'm about to start reading "What Color is Your Parachute," and I'd be more than happy to setup a group to discuss it somewhere -- on a thread here, on facebook, in an AIM chat room.

Is this still a possibility?

Every single day that passes, and the job losses that follow, render such a group all the more necessary.

One thing Bolles discusses is the concept of transferrable skills - everyone has job skills that they learn at one job and can take to the next.

It would be very helpful to at least have a list of jobs within journalism, such as reporter, copy editor, agate clerk, manager and page designer, and list the skills that could transfer to other careers. Sometimes people have no idea just what their transferrable skills are, which hurts them on when they're on the job hunt.

It's still a possiblity. I've just been crazy busy with stuff. After the Olympics, anybody who's expressed interest will get a PM about it.

Looking forward to it.

Meanwhile, here's another "what to do if/when you become 'involuntarily separated' from your job" link:

http://gannettblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/in-news-bought-out-laid-off-share-your.html

 

[SlickWillie71]

Anyone have/had any experience as a car salesman? I got an offer from one my area's leading car dealers to begin as a salesman. They're paying for my training, and offer benefits (which my paper does not).

Thoughts?

 

[fremont]

Anyone have/had any experience as a car salesman? I got an offer from one my area's leading car dealers to begin as a salesman. They're paying for my training, and offer benefits (which my paper does not).

Thoughts?

From what I gather you can make some pretty good money but it's all dependent on your ability to sell - it's all on commission - sell something or make nothing. I'd hit a Toyota dealership and sell Priuses.

Good luck, man.

 

[sportschick]

Anyone have/had any experience as a car salesman? I got an offer from one my area's leading car dealers to begin as a salesman. They're paying for my training, and offer benefits (which my paper does not).

Thoughts?

Shoot a PM to OTD and bitteryoungmatador. I know both of them have sold cars.

 

[dixiehack]

Anyone have/had any experience as a car salesman? I got an offer from one my area's leading car dealers to begin as a salesman. They're paying for my training, and offer benefits (which my paper does not).

Thoughts?

Everybody not named Toyota or Honda is getting their asses kicked in this environment. This is a miserable time to be in retail car sales.

 

[KevinmH9]

Anyone have/had any experience as a car salesman? I got an offer from one my area's leading car dealers to begin as a salesman. They're paying for my training, and offer benefits (which my paper does not).

Thoughts?

Exactly. You won't be finding a lot of people going out and buying cars nowadays. I'd stay away;=, very far away.

 

[Michelle Hiskey]

Possibly a relevant Facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=30565981677&ref=nf

Take your journalism skills to a new industry that appreciates and wants you. Post job listings, tips, resources and personal experiences. Rework that resume and cover letter. Get the skills you need. Try to stop reading Romenesko every day and let go of an industry that doesn't care about or deserve you.

Journalism and the newspaper industry are two different things. We are still passionate about journalism and its role in our democracy. We can still do it in new and innovative ways. The newspaper industry is an abusive relationship. We keep getting beat up but we keep coming back because we love him. It's time to leave.

 

[agateguy]

Possibly a relevant Facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=30565981677&ref=nf

Take your journalism skills to a new industry that appreciates and wants you. Post job listings, tips, resources and personal experiences. Rework that resume and cover letter. Get the skills you need. Try to stop reading Romenesko every day and let go of an industry that doesn't care about or deserve you.

Journalism and the newspaper industry are two different things. We are still passionate about journalism and its role in our democracy. We can still do it in new and innovative ways. The newspaper industry is an abusive relationship. We keep getting beat up but we keep coming back because we love him. It's time to leave.

You have to be logged into Facebook for the link to work. It looks good, and could become a very helpful resource.

It's been up for less than a week and already they have over 700 members.

That said, I wonder if, for journalists with facebook accounts, if it might somehow work against them to be a member of a site like that? It SHOULDN'T, but I would be leery of how corporate might see one's membership in such a group, especially with corporations looking at things like Facebook and Twitter accounts when evaluating job candidates.

 

[Jersey_Guy]

So, one of the first things they do at law school orientation is give a presentation by the office of job placement. The assistant dean opens with this:

"You couldn't have picked a better time to go to law school, the business is booming."

She uses a Powerpoint to show steadily rising lines for job placement (nationally) and starting salaries. She was very, very cheery and excited, as were the students.

It was, to say the least, a little disorienting for someone who's been through what newspapers are going through.

 

[Reacher]

unless the law school is one of the top-tier schools, that person is lying

 

[Jersey_Guy]

Well, let's just say the accompanying powerpoint with stats from two national publications over a 10-year period offered a different opinion.

 

[Cadet]

OK, enough arguing over law schools. Let's move on.

All you lawyers/wannabe lawyers, what can you tell us about any possible legal recourse for someone who was "involuntarily terminated" if they believe they were targeted for unfair reasons?