Intrepid Miami journalist

Introduction: As a highly experienced professional seeking another leadership role that advances your career, there are a few things you should expect.

Extra obstacles: First, you'll find there are many fewer openings. That's particularly true in my chosen field of journalism. It's enduring a well-documented, painful shrinkage across the country over the past decade, or longer in many parts of the country.

Secondly, you'll face stiff competition for each veteran leadership role you pursue.

Thirdly, after spending weeks preparing and going through multiple rounds of interviews for a single senior management post, you'll often receive news from the hiring manager that's some version of: while your talents and experience are formidable, the company has opted to promote an insider into the position. You're immediately thinking why did we both spend weeks to get to this point. Although frustrating, it goes with the territory. Your consolation prize is honing your elevator speech and learning something from each interview experience to use in later interviews.

I'm saying this from firsthand experience as a national award-winning reporter and editor who has worked for three decades at market-leading news organizations from Philadelphia and Miami to the San Francisco Bay Area, plus in between in Chicago and Houston.

Since the Miami Herald eliminated my business editor position Oct. 27, 2023, I've been navigating a free agent journey to my next career chapter in journalism, academia or the corporate world as a professional communicator.

Differentiator: With the three challenges noted above, it's imperative for long-tenured, battle-tested veteran workers to figure out creative ways to gain an edge and stand out when vying for openings you deem most coveted. Another way to view it, you have to differentiate yourself from competitors to separate yourself from your pack of highly qualified rivals.

You're probably wondering, how do I do that? Depending on your profession and the next position you're seeking, there's probably several potential courses of action to put yourself in the front of the crowded field of superb candidates for a given position.

Before I give you one real-life example how I'm currently engaging in this critical career management maneuver, put yourself in the mindset of being determined to go beyond your written resume and short phone calls with hiring managers to show them how you think and would approach the respective leadership role if hired.

Initial letdown: A month ago, a dream editor job at a privately held, highly respected statewide news organization registered on my radar. After two interviews, including one with the executive editor, this week I was told an internal candidate will get the position.

This was a great disappointment, but there's still the chance for a happy ending to this story. That's because after my second interview, it occurred to me I should draft a vision and strategic plan touting my operational priorities and goals. The written document also would explain how I'd execute them in this leadership role.

Wrote a three-page working plan and submitted it to the executive editor, even though he never asked for it. In my second interview for the position with another senior editor, he asked how I envisioned getting started and what could I draw from previous editor experience. It was just a few minutes of talk in a 70-minute call. Figured my written plan would augment what I said in both interviews regarding strategic planning.

Silver lining: Well, it hit the mark and here's how I know. When I got word an insider bested me for what I considered a dream job, I was told the executive editor and senior editor wanted to know if I'd consider and be willing to soon discuss another position expected to come open. Of course, my reply was yes. Then I reaffirmed my interest in the possible alternative position in a short email to the executive editor.

This top editor's reply indicated he's mulling a new position, another senior editor option for me to consider in this news organization, because he was impressed with the "uncommon rigor" I brought to my candidacy during the recruiting process for the attractive leadership position that went to the insider.

Needless to say, this email was uplifting and quickly turned my disappointment into excitement to find out the leader of this particular media outlet apparently wants to devise a way to get me on the team. Still, I realize it's an opportunity rather than a job offer at this juncture.

A competition of one: Actually, it's more than that. I've managed to convincingly sell my abilities and leadership style to a level that now there could be another real position for which I'll be considered alone ... with no competition. Then it would be up to me to decide if the role and job responsibilities and expectations fit the criteria I've set for my next chapter.

Stay tuned and watch this space to see how this intrigue unfolds. Maybe my journey soon ends and my next career chapter soon starts. Or maybe this will end up as more valuable interviewing experience for subsequent interviews.

Family asides: Before I conclude, have a couple of shoutouts related to my 85-year-old Dad's recent open heart surgery in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and a family member milestone in New Orleans, Louisiana.

After his triple-bypass operation three weeks ago, my Dad, Galen Bomberger, was making a strong recovery so he was transferred from intensive care to a regular hospital room. He, his medical care team, and his four children -- me being the oldest -- began talking about best physical therapy options for him to bolster his recovery.

Two steps forward, three steps back: Then he had a jarring setback and his kidneys nearly failed. He's been back in the ICU, and again is moving forward following his major surgery. Dad, the storyteller who set the pace for me to become a professional storyteller as a reporter and then editor, we continue rooting strongly for you. Your display of resilience under challenging circumstances remains inspiring.

Gator indoctrination: Last month, my youngest granddaughter, 8-month-old Lorelei Herzog, went to her first Alligator Festival in New Orleans. The fest coincided with the start of something special in Louisiana, the kickoff of annual alligator hunting season.

No gator hunting this year for smiling Lorelei. But I'm wondering if she got her first taste of gator-something food at the recent fest? As a Pennsylvanian unfamiliar with gator customs in the Big Easy, I'm going to have to inquire from my inside sources and report back.

Thank you for reading. Hope you'll continue this journey with me to my next career chapter. Please feel free to connect on LinkedIn or Substack, or at [email protected] to offer your thoughts, suggestions and job leads.