Q. I've read a lot of responses about the age of clips, but I'm not sure your general reply works for me. A lot of my clips are three or four years old because I spent three years on disability. My health is fine now. I'm completely recovered from the condition that kept me from traditional newspaper employment.
I've also written and sold a book in the last eight months, although I don't know how that will help or hurt me when I apply at papers. My clips are old, but some of them won awards and all of them are (of course) excellent examples of news and features writing.
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I do have two recent (within the last year or so) clips from
Salon and the
Times of London. The problem there is that they're similar (
The Times of London hired me to re-write the
Salon piece and expand it by 1,000 words). These essays do explain my disability and how I've emerged from it, which may or may not help me.
Vis-a-vis all my other clips -- which demonstrate my ability to write hard news, features, reviews and editorials -- if I explain the time gap, will those clips be acceptable? If I mention a disability, will editors drop my ancient clips directly into the circular file? It's a conundrum.
Sincerely,
RebeccaA. Congratulations on the book.
While the disability explains the gap in your writing life, I am a little concerned that it will raise another red flag with employers who, though they might not say anything, will be wary. The
Americans with Disabilities Act, which covers you, says "Employers
may not ask job applicants about the existence, nature, or severity of a disability." It also says they cannot discriminate against you for simply having had a disability.
But, the disability aside and whether it is a good reason or not, it is just hard to go up against other candidates who have fresh clips. I suggest you take an additional six months to write some fresh stories before you start your job search. Or, you might try a blended approach, sending out applications as well as freelance queries simultaneously.
Good luck.
(Thanks to reader John Beale for the photo.)
Coming Friday: She has learned that she is paid much less than a colleague with similar experience and wants to ask for a good raise during her evaluation.
