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  • Outdoors
  • Flagstaff
  • Travel
    • Travel
    • India (Yoga Teacher Training)
    • Peace Corps Ukraine
  • Lifestyle
    • Forestry + wildfire (my day job)
    • Yoga (my night job)
    • Our huskies
    • Recipes (cooking + baking)
    • Sustainability
    • Books + movies + music
    • Skincare + haircare + physical self-care
    • DIY + decor
    • Chicago (I used to live here)
    • Odds and Ends
  • Stuff I like
  • About
    • About Randi
    • Contact
    • Professional ish (AKA: portfolio)
    • Disclosure and privacy policy

Exciting announcement!

April 23, 2015 June 6, 2017 Randi20 comments2403 views

Remember a few months ago, when I posted a really discouraging post about how draining my job search was, but included a totally cute desktop wallpaper file to go along with it so I wasn’t a total buzzkill?

And remember basically every Sundown Rundown since then, where I’ve alluded to filling out hundreds (literally, hundreds) of job applications?

Good news! I landed a new job.

Better news! It’s in an entirely different state.

Best news? I am moving to Chicago to start my new job at the Chicago Tribune!

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I am unbelievably excited. Working for a Chicago publication – I kid you not – has been my childhood dream. Early Edition was my favorite television show growing up, and it was what sparked my interest in journalism and the news industry. I knew from the moment that camera entered the “newsroom” of the Chicago Sun-Times on that show that I wanted to work for a newspaper. In Chicago.

And now I get to do that. It is so surreal.

Journalism is one of the most disparaging careers you can sign up for. It mocks you, berates you, overworks you and does not always love you back. Sometimes it gifts you with unpaid overtime and sometimes it lays you off.

But sometimes, it rewards you. Sometimes, you get the chance to accompany someone on the adventure of a lifetime. You get to tell a dying man’s last story. You get to interview your childhood idols. You get to represent the unheard voices of your community. You get to uncover government conspiracy. And you get to work to leave a legacy behind in the form of a byline.

It is my passion and I cannot imagine doing anything else with my life.

When I was applying for jobs, I decided I wanted to try something other than journalism. I wanted a cushy 9-to-5 with a nice salary, benefits package, mundane responsibilities and stable future.

I started looking into marketing, public relations and communications jobs. I filled out more than 300 applications, easily. Of those 300 applications, only one of them was for a newspaper.

And guess which job I got?

If that’s not a sign that I’m meant to stay in journalism and delay the inevitable selling out that most overworked and underpaid reporters submit to, I don’t know what is.

And even better – my lease here in Mount Pleasant ends in a month with no opportunity for renewal. The timing could not have been more perfect. I spent months stressing endlessly about job searching and leasing and moving and financing and guess what? It all worked itself out. God is good, you guys.

More specifics: I will be working in the social media department of the Tribune. I’ll be working under Scott Kleinberg along with Whitney Dawn Carlson to share Tribune content via various online platforms. I have found social media to be one of the most interesting parts of my job at my current daily paper, and conducted extensive work in social media as part of my graduate assistantship, so I think this job will be a perfect fit. I know I keep saying this, but it’s true. I could not be more excited.

So, here’s to a new job! A new city, a new home and most importantly, a new adventure.

I hope you stick around and follow me on my new journey!

PS: Do you live in Chicago? Let me know in the comments; I would love to meet up!

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Related:

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20 Comments

  1. Meet Marloes says:
    April 23, 2015 at 2:32 pm

    First of all – love your blog name ;). And second, congratulations! Sounds like the dream job. All the best!
    – X Marloes

    Reply
    1. Randi M. Shaffer says:
      April 27, 2015 at 12:52 pm

      Thanks! And thanks! It’s definitely a huge adjustment. I appreciate the well wishes!

      Reply
  2. JasminCharlotte says:
    April 23, 2015 at 2:44 pm

    This is so exciting – congrats! Moving to Chicago must be so exciting as well, it was one of my favourite cities I visited when I was in the US! xx

    Jasmin Charlotte

    Reply
    1. Randi M. Shaffer says:
      April 27, 2015 at 12:53 pm

      Thanks! It’s honestly a dream come true. It’s such a gorgeous city. Let me know if you’re ever back in it!

      Reply
  3. Id Rather Be Single says:
    April 23, 2015 at 2:53 pm

    So incredibly excited for you!! Can’t wait to visit!!

    Reply
    1. Randi M. Shaffer says:
      April 27, 2015 at 12:53 pm

      Obviously you’re welcome whenever! Thanks!

      Reply
  4. Novellette says:
    April 23, 2015 at 4:33 pm

    Glad to see you’re so excited! Congratulations! Btw, I love the name of your blog. It’s so cute 🙂

    http://novellette.com
    https://www.bloglovin.com/blog/12522799

    Reply
    1. Randi M. Shaffer says:
      April 27, 2015 at 12:53 pm

      Thank you thank you thank you!

      Reply
  5. Caitlin says:
    April 23, 2015 at 4:44 pm

    I believe you chose the wrong link for getting to meet your childhood heroes.
    xo, Caitlin
    And Possibly Dinosaurs

    Reply
    1. Randi M. Shaffer says:
      April 27, 2015 at 12:54 pm

      Haha, I tried that one first but I couldn’t get the page to load!

      Reply
  6. Angela Morales says:
    April 24, 2015 at 11:27 am

    Oh no. This now means I have two friends who live in Chicago. I GUESS I’ll have to visit there again. Do you know how horrible this is?!

    zero percent. that’s how horrible. Congratulations, hun! This is huge and so fantastic! Good luck on you new adventure.

    Reply
    1. Randi M. Shaffer says:
      April 27, 2015 at 12:54 pm

      Thank you! And yes obviously visit ANY time!

      Reply
  7. Valerie Price says:
    April 24, 2015 at 2:16 pm

    Oh wow, how exciting! Congratulations on the new job!

    Reply
    1. Randi M. Shaffer says:
      April 27, 2015 at 12:54 pm

      Thank you so much!

      Reply
  8. danielle says:
    April 24, 2015 at 6:17 pm

    that’s amazing, congratulations! i’ve been a few times and loved it 🙂

    avecdanielle.blogspot.com

    Reply
    1. Randi M. Shaffer says:
      April 27, 2015 at 12:54 pm

      Thank you! 🙂

      Reply
  9. Little Miss Katy says:
    April 30, 2015 at 5:56 am

    Eeeeek congratulations Randi!!!! 😀 that’s amazing!!

    I love it when things like that happen. It’s like it was meant to be! 🙂 xx

    Little Miss Katy | UK Lifestyle Blog

    Reply
    1. Randi M. Shaffer says:
      May 1, 2015 at 3:21 pm

      Thanks so much Katy! It’s honestly the dream I’ve had since middle school and I’m shocked and blessed that it’s happening while I’m still this young, to be honest. Crazy!

      Reply
  10. Sarah Elizabeth says:
    May 4, 2015 at 7:27 pm

    Congratulations! I love when everything aligns perfectly & you can see God at work in your life. I hope this next chapter is everything you hope for it to be & that it affirms your calling to journalism.

    Reply
    1. Randi M. Shaffer says:
      May 25, 2015 at 1:00 am

      Thanks so much! The more I think about where I’m at, especially now, the more I realize that this was DEFINITELY God telling me where I needed to be. I’ve never been happier and I feel like this is where I’m meant to be at this point in my life. Thanks for stopping by!

      Reply

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Randi with an i

Randi M. Shaffer

Hi! I'm Randi. I spend my days working in forestry and wildfire, my nights instructing yoga and my weekends exploring northern Arizona (and beyond). I'm a former journalist, a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer and a Midwest native. Welcome!

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