Job search kind of sucks

I guess it depends on the fiscal year and when it rolls over. My former paper's fiscal year began Oct. 1. Many hires came closer to August or September with new people starting ... wait for it ... Oct. 1. No need to fuck up when you're close to coming in under budget.

Also, understand that there are two levels of jobs in this profession.

Level 1: Those decent-paying, pro and major college beats, which you won't get unless you're insanely talented or at the very least, brown-nosing with the right people. It's not what you know, it's who you know, and if you live in the Dakotas, you're stuck there. Sorry.

Level 2: Those low-paying, high school and lower beats, which aren't really beats because you also design and shoot your own photos. Anyone can get those as long as they're willing to work for less than $24K and off the clock for 20 additional hours per week. They're the ones that keep popping open once per year because those of you who can't move to Level 1 toil around Level 2, and simply swap jobs. It's the same group of people working the same shit jobs. You may think that a new town and paper is what you need, but really, you just spent a shitload of money to move to the same fucking job you just had. It's kind of like electrons bouncing around the atom, but you'll never be the nucleus.

Hope you feel better about your prospects.