I wish I'd juggled more than one boyfriend in college.

I think infidelity might have prepared me for the insanity my life has been for the past few weeks. Since mid-August, I've maintained more than one steady connection. I've courted three different newspaper editors regarding four different positions. I've stumbled through keeping their names and publications straight. Furthermore, I've run out on my own editor in pursuit of each of these opportunities.

Truly, newspaper infidelity at its finest.

After several hours of interviewing for each position, this is what I wish I had done differently:

 1.     Your umbrella doesn't do you any good if it's in your trunk. If there are rainclouds, keep it in the cab.

2.     Always have a glass of water with you for phone interviews. They can't see you, and they'll remember if your voice cracks.  

3.     Just because it's a phone interview doesn't mean you can be clumsy. Avoid falling off your bed and spilling water on yourself.

4.     Avoid driving for several hours in your interview attire. You can redo your makeup in the car, but you can't iron out wrinkles.

5.     If you have to drive several hours bring a can of hairspray, a brush, all your makeup and a can of wrinkle release. There's no need to look like you just popped out of a cornfield, even if you may have.

6.     Bring your entire life history with you and hide it in a padfolio. You may not care that you once worked as a summer camp counselor, but your employer might.

7.     Be honest about your other opportunities. If they want you bad enough, they'll make accommodations.

8.     If they take you to lunch, don't order something labor intensive. They'll fire questions at you faster than you can slice a steak.

9.     Don't ask all your best questions about the company in the beginning. Save them for the end, so you can end the interview on a strong and positive note.

10.  If you say you know how to draw and you demonstrate, that little sketch may actually go in your file.  

Well, I suppose it's time to let my own editor down easy. This past week I gave him two-weeks notice. Next week, I'll give him my newsroom key.  Despite all those imperfections, I received three stellar offers. It seems like working in my fields and fields of dreams finally paid off.