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Q. I work as a features/news editor at a decent-sized daily in a part of the country far from my home state. Earlier this year, a family situation developed that makes me want to get much closer to home.

I am not in a position, however, to quit my job, move back home and lose my reasonably priced employer-provided health benefits for however long it may take to find work in my desired region.
Even with 17 years of experience, I'm not landing interviews. I know features work is tight right now, but I also know I can do better than the copy I'm reading in the papers where I've applied. I've tried to address things I can control -- writing stronger, fresher clips, revamping my cover letter, applying for jobs that aren't ideal, working every contact I have in my desired region, etc.

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But I don't know how to address two other issues.

First, although my bosses tell me I'm a strong line editor, I made a mistake becoming a manager. Is my desire to give up "features editor" in favor of "features reporter" hampering me? Do potential employers think of me as a has-been instead of a rising star? If so, how do I address my revised career goals?

Second, my own newspaper is not terribly interested in out-of-region candidates, and I'm afraid the newspapers in states where I want to go aren't either. My only opportunity at the moment is at a previous employer a couple hours drive from home that is in a very small market, offers considerably less pay, and isn't somewhere I can imagine living forever. But it is in the right part of the country, and it would put me much closer to other newspapers in my desired region, and much closer to my family.

Still, I fear that on paper, this also would look like a big career step backward. Since I'm having no luck with landing interviews now, would employers who obviously wouldn't know my family situation see this as, "He must've really screwed up?" I'm not thrilled about putting my family's personal business in a cover letter, but emphasizing my roots in that region doesn't seem to be working either.
Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer.

Can't You Go Home Again?

A. There could be a lot of explanations, but we'd just be guessing.

Plan a visit to the area and arrange to meet some of these editors for a face-to-face informational interview.

Joe Grimm

Explain your desire to return to the area but don't get into personal information. It is not at all unusual for people to want to return home.

Ask the editors what they look for in candidates. Ask them what your chances would be. Get frank about issues such as ballpark wages in case they think you're simply too expensive. Try to discuss other potential barriers such as moving costs or any concerns about your work or career arc. This conversation can be wide-ranging and honest, but it will not likely be an actual job interview, and don't try to turn it into one.

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Coming Monday: Her newspaper tryout went well, they told her, but now she can't get an answer about whether she got the job.

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