Intrepid Miami journalist

Introduction: Two statements jumped off the screen recently in my daily reading that I want to share because they go to the heart of the grinding process of a free agent career journey and can help you ultimately land at a desirable destination.

The first: it's a marathon, not a sprint. Certainly, the sooner you allow this reality to sink in as you explore and assess opportunities for your next professional step you'll be much better positioned to patiently navigate for three to six months if necessary to achieve your goals.

The second: pursue a job in a field you love so much you would do the daily work for free, if you didn't have financial obligations to put a roof over your head or food on the table. For many of us, the pandemic assisted in driving home the latter point. Some people responded by changing jobs or resetting work lives for a better, healthier balance to have more free time to pursue whatever hobbies or leisure activities.

Position yourself for success: I'd strongly recommend to my fellow journalists nationwide recently displaced, or anyone voluntarily or involuntarily making a job or career switch, to reflect on those two statements. Then calibrate your career transition accordingly.

Don't worry if it's taken a few months of job searching for this reality to dawn on you or for you to accept it. I'm in my fifth month as an unexpected free agent, after the Miami Herald dumped me overboard on Oct. 27, 2023 while also eliminating my position as business editor from the newsroom team.

Competition and focus: Fortunately, my consistent and persistent networking with former colleagues, industry associates, friends and family has rewarded me with multiple interviews for a few meaningful work opportunities inside and outside journalism for which I'm fiercely competing and squarely focusing.

Believe me, I'm not saying if I could've waved a magic wand in November when my journey began I would've desired to make this voyage last five months or longer. What I expected then when my free agency began was it likely would take considerable time to reach my next preferred career destination. The ensuing days, weeks and months proved that to be correct.

Now here I am in month five, or more appropriately, here we are. In my industry alone, there are a few thousand of us across the country who experienced disruption on our professional paths since 2023 ended. And many times it came abruptly with little or no warning.

Purposeful and meaningful: As I've said many times in this Intrepid Miami journalist mini-series, I'm allowing anyone via LinkedIn or Substack to follow my journey through my written dispatches for two primary reasons: I don't want to become someone hiring managers consider out of sight, therefore out of mind; and I strongly believe since my three-decade journalism career telling thousands of impactful stories has given me immense fulfillment I have a responsibility and obligation to pay it forward to hopefully help others with takeaways, suggestions to use in career management. Cause remember no matter if you always work for a company and report to one of its managers, you are the only boss of your career.

Positive and critical thinking: As you traverse farther on your transition journey, it's critical to ensure you have structure in your day to be organized, positive and think critically and carefully. You need to maintain the energy, resilience and fortitude to handle a six-month trek.

On a daily basis, take a morning walk, run, or bike ride or go to the gym for a workout. This is a great way to get the blood flowing and clear the mind to envision yourself in your next role or to dream about the next city where you want to live and work -- or merely visit.

Really a job search at its core is about converting your career goals into reality to make your work life as meaningful and fulfilling as possible. Like work, this free agency is laborious and can be quite draining. There are days of jubilation when you learn you snagged an interview, or a second one, for a position in the top tier on your target list. And there are days of discouragement and disappointment when the rejection emails or calls come in from hiring managers. Help yourself by accepting rejection, using it as extra motivation, determination to score interviews for other opportunities.

Savor the wins: When you reach the journey stage where I am, your resilience will be tested and in order to maintain a winning mindset you need to pace yourself and not be overly tough on yourself. Certainly, at the end of each week you should take stock of your networking, interviews, job leads, and savor the wins. The further you are on your journey the more leeway and periodic detachment you need from job searching, in order to stay sharp and impressive for hiring managers.

Give yourself slack: That means take a day off from all that goes into being a very available free agent seeking work, as you would from a job to relax and enjoy time with family and friends. Take time to celebrate a birthday or a holiday. Reminds me this weekend is St. Patrick's Day. I'm part Irish so it means revelry, but even if you're not, this is a great holiday to have fun and you might even be rewarded with a little luck of the Irish.

While you're giving yourself slack, it doesn't mean don't follow up strategically and periodically with the few key hiring managers you've talked to multiple times about positions high on your priority list and you are going all-in to close the deal and secure the job offer.

What it does mean is plan to make time for your loved ones so your visits and experiences with them are even more special. Think about your bucket list of things you want to do or places you want to see in the coming months and travel to experience them. Take a cool getaway weekend or a just a relaxing staycation. Or plan a summer or fall vacation, confident before then you'll land the next position you desire in your career.

Celebrate milestones: For me, for example, there are big milestones around the corner I'm going to celebrate, enjoy and be thankful for. Next week my magnificent daughter Laney, the mom of my lovely identical twin baby granddaughters Diana and Daphne and wife of my wonderful son-in-law Dave, turns another year older. In early April, Diana and Daphne will mark their first birthday. This summer my spectacular partner Kathy and I will ourselves celebrate milestone birthdays on our memorable journey together. Life and careers have taken us in 24 years from the Philadelphia suburbs to South Florida, to Chicago, back to Philadelphia, to Houston, to Delaware, to San Francisco Bay Area and back again to South Florida.

Be the best you: When you master pacing of your job search to avoid burnout, keep your confidence running high, know the career and position you want, live life to the fullest with family and close friends, you will be at your best to make your dreams come true. And then you also can be the most attractive candidate for hiring managers.

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