Progressive Boink

[Mike]

Hi!

So after almost four years of being told I should move to Florida by a small but pretty great group of friends, I've decided that maybe I should listen.

So I've begun looking for journalism jobs. I'm looking to move to somewhere in between Tampa and Orlando. Karen lives in Winter Haven, and I have several friends in Lakeland.

This thread documents my progress. It's not going to be a rushed process at all. I want to have something else to move down there besides a girl and some pals.


"On-line News Editor," the St. Petersburg Times, St. Petersburg
Posted: Sunday, April 8
Application sent: Sunday, April 8

This is the one I'm hoping for the most. It's all web stuff I know and am great at, plus Photoshop skills that shouldn't amount to more than editing digital photos. It sounds like I can do it and do it well, plus other wording in the posting indicates that they're perfectly open to the idea of a non-Floridian hopping onto their team.

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"Associate Producer," WFLA-TV, Tampa
Application sent: Sunday, April 8

I can't find this posting anymore, so it's probably been filled already. That's OK. It just sounds like what I'm doing now in Philly, except with a TV station instead of radio, so probably only a slightly higher salary.

My currently salary blows at $22k. Surprise!

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"Producer, Community News," TBO.com, Tampa
Posted: Thursday, January 11
Application sent: Sunday, April 8

If that was posted in January, it's most likely filled by now, but it's still posted, so it's worth a shot.

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Right now I only have hopes in the St. Pete job.
Craigslist has been little help.

CareerBuilder and Monster are showing me GREAT jobs in Ft. Myers and Ft. Lauderdale, but those are several hours away from the people I want to live near, so that defeats one of the important purposes of moving.

[Jim]

ive got a job for ya heh heh heh

Good luck, Mike. I believe that it was Method Man (and his pimped-out sports car) who put it best when he said "C.R.E.A.M., get the money. Dolla dolla bill, y'all."

[Kristen Smith]

good luck. It takes a lot of courage to just pick up and move somewhere. I was going to move to las vegas with my friend but then I chickened out.

[Mike]

I neglected to mention a fourth job I applied for last week, because it is not located in Florida.

"Web content editor," PhillyBurbs.com, Tullytown, PA
Posted: Friday, April 6
Application sent: Monday, April 9


Not the phone call I was hoping for, but I knew a guy there.
The job entails
(a) putting newspaper articles on a webbed site oh gee fun times, and
(b) writing and get paid for it, partially on a blog

I have an interview next Tuesday at noon, and of course I'm not going to turn that down and say DUHHH NO YOU ARE NOT IN FLORIDUHHHH

Better make a step in making myself a professional writer. The dream can wait. I took long enough to get the balls to kiss the girl in Florida anyway, but I had actually made several shitloads of progress with that arrrgghhhhhhhhhhashdfjasdgfkasgdljf

Summer's supposed to be coming at some point.
Right?

I'm feeling 50% excited and 50% frustrated that it's not the dream come true I was hoping for, but I'm also feeling 99% confident. About, well, pretty much everything. So

[Mike]

Associate producer/desk assistant, Bay News 9, St. Petersburg
Posted: Tuesday, April 17
Applied: Wednesday, April 18

Basically what I do now, except for TV and involving writing. Really I just want to see what salary they're offering. I'm going to tell them I'd need something over $30k, but I'll consider anything over $25k. Anything under that—which is likely—forget it.

Also Bay News 9 is owned by Bright House Networks, owners of the field the Phillies play at in March.

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Promotion writer/producer/editor, Bay News 9, St. Petersburg
Posted: Tuesday, April 17
Applied: Wednesday, April 18

This one sounds like I'm underqualified for it, but I figured, what the hell? The worst that could happen is that I waste five minutes of a stranger's time. A lot of lists of requirements in job postings are more like employer wish lists. So it's worth a shot.



These are two I just found and applied for just to find more out about them.

[7th]

I've worked for Brighthouse, they're a good company to work for, and Bay News 9 is the best news channel in the Tampa Bay area. I've been to their office complex a number of times, it's right across from where the Bucs old business office used to be.

It's a good opportunity, but if you get it be ready to commute, none of the apartment complexes near it are in good neighborhoods. I'd suggest moving a bit south of Tampa, say in Brandon, and making a northen commute. The area north of Tampa, especially when you get closer to Brooksville, is a dead area.

[Mike]

I was thinking somewhere in west Polk County. Karen lives in Winter Haven, so I figure a halfway point is in order.

[Mando]

The name Polk county has always made me lol.

[7th]

You know, there's a town called Crystal Lake over that way. The fun just writes itself. GLAZED OVER IN DEATH TWEET BLOOT

Halfway mark between Winter Haven and Tampa... Lakeland is your huckleberry Mike. Not too big, not too small, nice area, and close to everything you'd want, but your daily commute to work would be at least a good 45 minutes to an hour.

[Mike]

I've been to Lakeland and I have newlywed-to-be friends there.

Finding a place won't be difficult.

It's the job part I'm trying to get straightened out.
I need something full time that I can live off of and expect career development out of. That may take a bit to find.

Meantime, I have the possibility to add something really great to my resume.

[7th]

Well I would say Disney would be a great place to work, but they outsource so much of that stuff these days. And plus I just can't picture you working for radio disney.

[Mike]

I would totally work for Radio Disney.

They do have a position open in St. Pete, but it's for Station Manager and I'm not qualified to do that at all.

[Mike]

Web designer, WCJB, Gainesville (The CW)
Resume sent: Friday, April 20

This wasn't an actual job posting as much as it was a friend of mine has a friend there who was complaining about their lack of a good website guy, so our mutual friend wanted to recommend me. It may be nothing, but it may also be something.

Gainesville is like a 2 1/2 hour drive from Winter Haven, but better 2 1/2 hours by car than by plane, I figger. Plus I could live in some halfway or third-of-the-way point.

[7th]

Gainesville's a pretty calm area, not a whole lot going on there, but close to a lot of other places that are fun/interesting to visit. Would be a good fit if you can't find anything closer to Orlando.

[Mike]

Had the interview with phillyBurbs.com today.

I got lost finding the place. It's pretty well hidden, so they didn't seem to mind.

The guy with whom I was supposed to meet was pulled into a meeting. I only got a quick handshake out of him, and spoke with two other web content editors, which is what I'd be doing.

It's a small place tucked away in the back of Bucks County. Looks like the building used to be a VFW. I'd say my part of the interview went fairly well. I've been an overall pretty confident dude lately. So if I get this job, great. I could use the raise. But I won't be too sore if I don't get it. I'll just keep looking.

[Mike]

On-Line News Editor, TampaBay.com, St. Petersburg, FL
Applied: May 22

This is either the same job posted earlier by the St. Petersburg Times, or they have more than one spot available. Either way, the site's job bank was given a major overhaul, so I resubmitted my application.

====================

Online Operations Specialist, TampaBay.com, St. Petersburg, FL
Applied: May 22

The online operations specialist will be responsible for supporting Web-based product development and provide daily operations support. This position will create and maintain project documentation, design UI prototypes and monitor day-to-day progress and communication for cross-department teams.

It doesn't really list what specific qualifications or skills they want in a candidate, but it sounds like I could handle it without trouble and still have it be challenging.

====================

Upon the VERY LARGE amount of progress Karen and I have made, I've decided not to respond to phillyBurbs if they decide to give me a chance. Florida or bust.

Now somebody needs to hire me down there. Like, right now.

[Mike]

Web Content Manager, Genesis Communications Radio Group, Tampa, FL
Applied: May 22

This would be a perfect jump from what I'm doing now. This one actually sounds promising and has a name attached to the job posting instead of just CLICK THIS BUTTON TO APPLY.




In other news, Karen just accepted a job as a 2nd grade teacher. Happy happenings!

[Alicia]

Awesome! Good luck!

[Karen]

I can't wait until this thread can come to an END... fun fact.

[Mike]

Web Producer for Entertainment/Lifestyle, OrlandoSentinel.com

In this position, you’ll add and manage Web enhancements including interactive elements and photographs. You’ll also work with the Sentinel’s Data Desk to ensure the accuracy and completeness of event listings and handle other channel-specific data. As part of the Web news team, you’ll also edit and produce breaking news.

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Web Copywriter, Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau

Responsibilities include developing, assigning imagery, enhancing and posting content for our consumer Web sites. Also writes and proofs electronic communications as well as print.

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Orlando is closer than Tampa. Fingers crossed!

The St. Pete Times' "On-Line News Editor" and Genesis Communications' Web Content Editor jobs are also still posted.