Situation ...

presumably you network with others in the field on a regular basis, like say at a state championship game where there are reporters from all over the state at one event or while covering college sports. also hiring managers are more likely to be impressed by someone with current employment than someone who is currently sitting around doing nothing.

 

Unless you're an editor who doesn't go out in the field and so 8-9 hours a day that you could be looking for jobs, you're working on shit in a dead-end job.

 

I think there's a bit of a psychological aspect at play too. Subconsciously, you probably put forward better vibes if you are employed (even marginally) as opposed to being unemployed. Looking back at the 18 months I was unemployed, that was probably the most depressed I had been in my life.

 

I can see that, I guess. But I'm looking for a job while employed and I feel like I can't get anything done in the search.

 

I worked in the unemployment office briefly before I got alid off. (True story).

It is not quite as true today as it was in the past, but employers usually prefer to hire people who have a job. The recommendations and work experience are more fresh, and often if you got laid off, fired, moved, quit, they see you as somehow "damaged."

Now, in our industry, with terrific people being let go, I do not see it as quite the stigma.

 

I agree with IJAG. When I was freelancing and looking for work, I found it much easier because I had time to look. Plus if you have a job and try to look quietly, you probably won't be using a current boss as a reference, thus you wouldn't have a fresh recommendation.

 

not quite as true today as it was in the past? there are job ads today that say "currently employed only"

 

Get a job at Walmart to get past the "currently employed only" policy crappy companies have. At least you wouldn't have to worry about comprosing your ethics by writing puff pieces, which shouldn't be a problem if you think free polls and shoes are good benefits.

 

If newspapers fault you for credibilty, remind them of those ads they're selling on the section fronts now.

 

Front page ads don't damage credibility as much as MEs throwing out the first pitch at a game, or papers running "talking points" stories pitched by the Chamber of Commerce.

 

You get my point. In fact, you expanded it.