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Topic: What am I?
| Author | Message |
| JeanMarie | Posted – 7/20/2008 3:15:20 AM | show profile | email poster I need help with a resume issue. I currently work for a small regional magazine (circ. legit 24k, 10 issues/yr). The staff is small and the owner is pretty hands-off (not really a publishing guy by trade). I wear some hats all of the time and all of the hats sometimes. During any one publishing cycle I: Receive list of confirmed advertisers from our local sales guy and reconcile that with national advertising that comes from another source. Assist local advertisers in ad design when needed. Receive preliminary story plan from senior editor, match that plan up with the amount of advertising sold and report back with a word-count budget for each writer. Advise all writers of assignments and deadlines (and sometimes write myself, depending on need or schedule. Either shoot or acquire all photography used in the issue. Either design (or assign) design of magazine cover and other inside editorial graphics. Determine page locations for all editorial, photo, graphic and advertising content (and pass that plan to parent company for physical layout and prepress duties). Receive and edit copy of all proofs. In addition, I provide content to the companion website that includes: text, photos, graphics, audio, video, flash, etc. So?????? What's my job title? How do I list this on a resume? Thanks in advance for your time. Jean :) |
| Upward Bound | Posted – 7/20/2008 10:36:24 AM | show profile What do you want to be? I Asusme you're fretting over this because you're ready to move on to another job. What is your title on the magazine's masthead? Surely you're listed there, right? If not (and I would find that strange), I would decide on a title that reflects where you want your career to go. If you want to be an editor, choose somehting with editor in the title. Actually... This is probably the best fit. You sound like you do a good amount of sales, Web and design tasks, but I would call the bulk of your tasks "editorial." If it were me, I'd go with "managing editor" but you could go with something like executive editor if you wouldn't be stepping on someone else's toes. |
| JeanMarie | Posted – 7/20/2008 1:48:43 PM | show profile Thanks for your response. No, I'm not necessarily looking to move. But I am interested in taking on a few side projects to supplement the income, and I want my resume to at least try and reflect what I do. I don't actually do any sales, and I'm not interested in that. It doesn't seem right to list me as managing editor, because although I have the greatest # and variety of duties, the owner doesn't consider me the high person on the totem pole. That designation goes to the guy who has been there the longest, writes the most, and has the power to veto anything I do. (He never does, but that power structure does exist.) I'm currently listed as Associate Editor in the masthead (with an added mutimedia designation on the website), but only because I thought that it fit and the owner (not a publishing guy) said it didn't matter to him. I just want to be accurate and overstate or understate my position. Most days I love my job. A few days I only like my job. Any other days (they are few and far between) I grouse at my computer screen and eat too much chocolate. I'm free to create and execute many of my own ideas and I know that's rare. Thanks again. |
| Grateful Deadline | Posted – 7/20/2008 3:34:14 PM | show profile Job titles are never universal -- you may be called one thing at one magazine and have higher-level duties with a lesser title at another magazine. Go with the title you use in your work, and add a description of what you do or, better yet, a description of your achievements in the job that reflect what you do. |
| WritingSoul | Posted – 7/20/2008 4:48:01 PM | show profile How about "Senior Editor"? |
| JeanMarie | Posted – 7/20/2008 9:04:19 PM | show profile Owner is: Publisher Next guy is: Senior Editor Then comes me.... I don't want to disrespect anyone and just want to be sure that Associate Editor is an appropriate title for now. |
| Scottie | Posted – 7/20/2008 9:19:05 PM | show profile Associate Editor is just fine as a title. Grateful Deadline's advice is spot on. Describe your most relevant accomplishments and responsibilities for each job you apply for be it freelance or permanent. |
| Grateful Deadline | Posted – 7/20/2008 9:23:56 PM | show profile Another thought: If you called yourself by a higher title than appears next to you name on the masthead, do you think that would raise questions? |
| foodlit | Posted – 7/21/2008 11:10:14 AM | show profile You always want your resume to highlight those things you want to do in your next job. You can do this effectively by listing your top duties in the first few bullets, and even leave off those things you do not want to do. Good luck, Pam |
| kristendkirk | Posted – 7/21/2008 12:38:09 PM | show profile Ask the publisher if you can call yourself Managing Editor. That title is usually for someone with a variety of responsibilities. The senior editor might not like it, but maybe her title could change to Editor in Chief at the same time. As someone pointed out here, be sure your title on your resume is the same as your official title with the company. |
| tiredtiredtired | Posted – 7/21/2008 4:08:02 PM | show profile sounds like managing editor to me |
| bjoconnorfla | Posted – 7/21/2008 7:53:53 PM | show profile sounds like a combination of: photographer/designer production manager web producer writer/editor I'd go with "managing editor" but make sure to stress the specific skills you need to highlight for your next job. |
| bjoconnorfla | Posted – 7/21/2008 7:55:59 PM | show profile As for "what you are?" Underpaid! |
| Grateful Deadline | Posted – 7/21/2008 9:06:42 PM | show profile FWIW, I what you did, except designing ads, when I was an associate editor. I wrote, too; rewrote; and did first edits. Just shows to go you. |
| leenamick | Posted – 7/21/2008 11:05:29 PM | show profile | email poster Mediabistro I don't want to blame anyone,Just my wish is to get senior Editor, The senior editor might not like it, but maybe her title could change to Editor in Chief at the same time. ======================= sanjeeda Social Media Marketing [url="http://www.widecircles.com"] Social Media Marketing[/url] |
| JeanMarie | Posted – 7/22/2008 12:53:48 AM | show profile | email poster Underpaid? Probably. I'm trading money for freedom at this point. I've never had any money to speak of, no reason to start now. :) I'm satisfied with associate editor for now. Under-promise, over-deliver. (Should that be hyphenated? LOL) Thanks again for all your thoughts. First proof is coming in and we're launching a new web widget soon - so I'm back to work. Jean :) |
