Is anybody else finding it hard to tear away from the biz?

[J-School Blue]

There was serious discussion among my old journo co-workers, when the In & Out Burger opened in town, of the fact that we could quit the paper and take only a small pay cut on the In & Out starting salary. We'd still get benefits and so, so, so much less aggravation.

In & Out is a very humane company to work for so, if you're seriously considering the fast food route, that's the one I'd pick. I'm told Starbucks is fairly decent, too.

 

[RickStain]

In order to work for In and Out, I've have to live in California. That wouldn't be so bad, but that means living among Californians. Dealbreaker.

 

[farmerjerome]

This is coming from my wife's new job at Wal-Mart. It's awesome and I envy her.

I have no idea how to respond to that. There are some horror stories emerging from our local Wallyworld. I wish your wife luck my friend.

 

[golfnut8924]

My girlfriend was saying the other day she read somewhere that within the next couple years, Subway will have replaced McDonalds at the top of the list for the number of stores. McDonalds has owned that title for decades.

 

[RickStain]

My girlfriend was saying the other day she read somewhere that within the next couple years, Subway will have replaced McDonalds at the top of the list for the number of stores. McDonalds has owned that title for decades.

I actually have experience working at Subway, and I left on good terms back in the day.

But, in my experience, Subway is long on hourly help and short on manager's spots. A place like McDonald's will have a GM, three or so assistant GMs and a bunch of "shift leaders." Most Subways just have one.

I'm thinking upward mobility here!

 

[JimmyOlson]

I've been out of the business for three months now. I left to go back to school for a masters in Media Studies and (hopefully), a Ph.D. after spending a decade in the business.

So far, I don't miss it. Which, to be honest, surprises me. This was what I've always wanted to do. Leaving was hard - my job was a big part of my identity, and I liked that. I loved writing, I loved the travel, I loved the games, I loved the chase of a big story. But the grind wore on me (as did working for the Evil Empire). So did wondering where my next step could be. So the siren call of graduate school lured me away.

And I haven't looked back. Sure, I miss the camaraderie of the room late at night. I miss the chase, the games, the Marriott points (oh, how I'll miss those). But doing something new, learning new things about our industry, has energized me in a way that covering another year of hoops and baseball never could.

About a month after I left, all heck broke loose on my beat. It became a big, national story. A few times during that, I missed it. A lot. But then I realized ... I didn't miss how that would have taken over my life. I didn't miss the stress of trying to cover every angle. I loved the fact that night the story first broke, I was watching U2 and Muse at Giants Stadium and didn't have to worry about it.

A couple other friends have left newspaper/media jobs. They told me the same thing - it's hard to leave, but once you do, it's great. They were right.

I'm not trying to tell anyone to leave the business. If you want to chase the dream, I raise a glass in your honor and wish you luck. But there is life outside the newsroom.

 

[golfnut8924]

It seems as if pretty much all the people posting here who have left the business are happy with their decision and don't regret it. That's pretty telling. And also quite un-settling for us 20-somethings here who think we're going to our graves with a pen in our hands.

 

[StaggerLee]

It seems as if pretty much all the people posting here who have left the business are happy with their decision and don't regret it. That's pretty telling. And also quite un-settling for us 20-somethings here who think we're going to our graves with a pen in our hands.

I can honestly say that it's not just people posting on these boards that feel this way. In the last three-plus years, we've had a ton of turnover at our shop, some of it layoffs, some of it people leaving the business. I've yet to come across anyone who was either laid off or left voluntarily who says they wish they could come back. In fact, most of them say their life (social and family) has improved drastically.

And a lot of these people didn't go on to better, more prestigious jobs. One's working at Target, another at a bookstore, another for a bottled water company. I think a lot of us are so used to being treated the way we're treated and we accept it as just a part of being a journalist that we don't know any better.

 

[TrooperBari]

In order to work for In and Out, I've have to live in California. That wouldn't be so bad, but that means living among Californians. Dealbreaker.

Could you deal with Chik-Fil-A? Working for them means guaranteed Sundays off.

 

[SilverAndBlack]

I think that's why I really enjoy Constitutional law now, because so often it's an average joe going through a struggle with titanic implications.

So Waylon with this I take it either you left the business or unfortunately got let go when you were covering college football. I guess my question to you is if you were never let go, would you still be in the business or if you left voluntarily, why was it? As you said was it the monotony of the beat or did you want better family life with your wife and kids?

 

[JackReacher]

In order to work for In and Out, I've have to live in California. That wouldn't be so bad, but that means living among Californians. Dealbreaker.

Could you deal with Chik-Fil-A? Working for them means guaranteed Sundays off.

Damn good call.

 

[RickStain]

In order to work for In and Out, I've have to live in California. That wouldn't be so bad, but that means living among Californians. Dealbreaker.

Could you deal with Chik-Fil-A? Working for them means guaranteed Sundays off.

Damn good call.

Not quite as universal as I'm hoping for here.