Aliya S. King

Discovered in my Inbox:

Hey Aliya:

Love your blog. Will send something for your ‘pitch me’ column soon.

In the meantime. I need advice. BADLY.

Graduated in May from REDACTED University with a degree in journalism/mass communication. For nine months, looking for a job. In the meantime, I have been fake-interning at an entertainment magazine (a pull out supplement in the Sunday paper) in my hometown. I don’t get paid. (I was an official intern when I was in college.) I am just here so I can keep my face visible for when a job does become available. I work in several different departments. I do get to write a little. I even work in the design department sometimes which is great because I feel like I’m learning lots of different things.

I kept hearing rumors that the editor-in-chief’s assistant was moving and that he would be looking for a new assistant. But I never saw a job listing and no one seemed to know anything definitive. I applied for two editorial assistant jobs at very well known magazines. One job is at my ULTIMATE DREAM MAGAZINE. I was pretty sure I didn’t have a chance. But thats the job i would kill for. Anyway, last week, the editor in chief at my current “job” finally asked me to apply to be his assistant. Seven other people applied and I got the job! I accepted the job and my start date is set for April 1.

Two days later, I got a call from REDACTED magazine (my dream job). I was offered a position as an editorial assistant.

The salary is 15,000 higher at my dream job. And it’s Manhattan. (I currently live about 100 miles outside of NYC)

I had already taken the other job. But I still said YES immediately to the new job.

Now I have to quit a job I haven’t even started yet. The staff there has known me since I was an intern two years ago and everyone is nice and friendly. I know I will burn a bridge forever and this is my hometown so I will see these people. My parents and my college professor told me I need to keep the job I accepted and that is wrong to do anything else.

What would you do? I really want this other job. I know you are busy. And by the time you write me back I might already have made a decision. But I’d like to get your thoughts on this situation anyway. Thanks you.

-Nott Marealname

Here’s my answer to Nott: (well, an expanded version of my answer…)

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From my In Box:

Dear Aliya:

Your site is a great resource for new freelancers. Thanks for offering your advice and experiences. I have a query. I’m still a student, but starting my career as a young journalist based in New York. I have a regular gig with a prominent website, but recently I had my first foray with print. I wrote up my pitch and sent it in (to a national weekly). Call it beginners luck but they bought it soon afterwards. I know things can move slowly with a magazine and that editors can sit on stories for as long as they want. They can even enact the dreaded kill fee. I recently filed the story and to be honest, I don’t know anything about its current status. Is there anyway to know if a story is being sat on? or whether its death is being contemplated?

Thanks much, I hope to hear your advice,

-Alex

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What I love about my blog is that when I hear from new freelancers, they are going through the same things I’m going through, even with ten years in the game.

My response to Alex:

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