RSdoesNU: Job Search (Part 1)

So I’m seriously thinking about the job hunt. It’s become a priority in recent days as I approach the end of my residency. I have a list of things that while I’m not sure they go together, I’d like to have as many of them as possible.

Here are some of them (in no particular order):

*Location: preferably the Bay Area
*Travel
*Strategy
*Writing
*Presentations
*Quant.: Exposure to data analysis functions (not necessarily getting my hands dirty; only if I choose to)
*Competitive salary (at least double what I was making before grad school)
*Qualitative analysis
*Research
*Ability to work alone and in teams
*Opportunity to telecommute

I’ve got a long list of companies to consider and I’m constantly looking for more. This list (as it evolves) will hopefully help me to weed out some of those companies.

RStheGr8: Work Social Life

Since my first job out of college up until now, I've learned a lot about the importance of work social life. Even now in my temporary work situation, it is critical for me to form relationships and those usually develop after work hours. I'm taking advantage of every opportunity to socialize with co-workers from happy hours to baseball games to lunches. I consider it an investment of my time and money into a bigger long-term reward.

A year ago, I would always pause when co-workers inquired about my weekend plans. Now, I realize that that's one way to forge a connection. I realize that although I didn't always feel like participating, I was only hurting myself. I'm sure I missed out on some deeper connections and friendships in the workplace. Part of a positive work life balance is engagement.

How can you really be engaged if you only go to work and come home every day? That leaves the potential to miss out on so much.

Do you have any thoughts on work-life balance and forming friendships on the job?

RStheGr8: Laid Off? Now what?

It almost goes without saying that there were more cuts announced in newspapers this week. (See here and here.)

But this round is a bit more personal. This is the 3rd (?) time I know that San Jose Mercury News employees were told to stay home in the morning to see if they'd be getting the axe. Imagine my even greater surprise when I realized that with this latest round of cuts, I now know virtually nobody there anymore--even though I worked there less than two years ago.

The people who have left have always impressed me as a young journalist. I wonder what they will do with their talent. I know the paper isn't letting them go because they're not good. But I want to know just what goes into those decision discussions.

How can a seemingly great journalist get cut just like that? For those journalists who are really talented--what are they supposed to do now? Get jobs that are at-risk at other papers? Or do they have to give up the craft they love, live and breathe?

I just don't get it. And don't bother trying to explain it to me. It will NEVER make sense.