Time to be me

Being laid off sounds like you're left twiddling your thumbs waiting for the next job to come along, so I'm not surprised that the first question posed by many of my journalist friends is what are you doing? And I'll even admit that a part of me worried I'd get bored before too long. But that worry yet to materialize. There's a whole outside that I could only watch in years past because of the strictures of newsroom ethics policies. I'm not talking about posting a political yard sign, but yeah I could now do that too! I'm talking about being more involved in my community without worrying that someone was going to infer that I was speaking on behalf of the Star-Telegram, rather than my personal beliefs. And there was that old cynical newsroom caveat about serving on boards and taking roles in volunteer groups: You're a journalist first and if something bad happens you have to come out swinging.

I've argued with my homeowners' association. I've agreed to be president-elect of the parents' association my youngest daughter's school. I'm blogging for Maynard and considering joining the board of a non-profit that raises money for homeless children. There's also time to think, to evaluate, to just take a deep breath. There was little time to assess how I really felt about things, or even to acknowledge why my thinking had changed. For 23 years everything happened at a rapid pace - I even had precipitous labor with both my children, no need for an epidural. nged or evolved.

In a way, the lag in the job market is a blessing. Rather than just jump from a career to a job, I've had time to really think about what that next step could be and what industries I might like to work for. I know what I really don't want to do in my occupation. And I don't think I ever want to work for an industry that requires me sublimate my beliefs when I walk in the office everyday, as well as when I'm off. I understand why I had to do it as a journalist. I did it willing and without complaint. I just don't want to do it again. I've assessed what I can offer and have had time to figure out how to market myself. My keywords include "innovative" "creative" and "strategic".

I've written and rewritten resumes, and thought about catch phrases for cover letters. Journalists acquire a lot skills and traits that should make us attractive to employers, if we can just remember to check the newsroom attitude and aloofness at the door. I laughed as I filled out an online questionnaire that kept asking if I minded working nights and weekends. Where I'm from you stayed at work until the job got done or the paper came out, whichever comes first. After all, there was no time to do anything else.