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Topic: Incredibly frustrated recent grad.
| Author | Message |
| Ace5203 | Posted – 12/6/2007 5:30:58 PM | show profile I graduated from a State school in June with a B.A. in Journalism. A thing I now know is completely useless to me. I have been actively searching for a job for a year now. I went to school in Ohio and am now living in Southwest Florida. I would really like to end up in either Boston, Chicago, or back in Columbus Ohio. Ideally I would like to work in Book or Magazine publishing but haven't gotten any bites. I had to put my self through school and have major debt and no internships. I just don't know what to do anymore. I am even having trouble finding a non-media related job just to pay the bills. Is it just the economy right now? or is my lack of a network and internships really going to doom me to a life where "would you like fries with that" is my mantra? After 100s of rejected resumes where do you go from there? And where is all this experience that employer's are looking for. I've looked into even trying to get an internship but even most of those require experience. What is going on? |
| jessicab | Posted – 12/6/2007 5:58:25 PM | show profile I graduated with a BS in Journalism too, but started looking long before graduation and was lucky enough to land something that began a week after I left school. Try freelancing in the mean time, with enough queries you're bound to nail a story or two. And if they're for little (or no) money, hey, they still get you published. With some work to show, you're much more likely to get noticed. Did you write at your school paper? Is there a regional mag that could intern at? An online pub that you regularly read? Try pitching unique FL pieces for travel pubs, might as well take advantage of your location! Good luck! |
| jkdscribe | Posted – 12/6/2007 8:49:54 PM | show profile A recent grad myself ...and the best thing I can say you need is experience. The paradox, as you well know, is how can you get experience if everyone requires it? Work cheap. Work free when you can. Get your foot in that door, give them a face with a name. Also, how are your interviewing/applying skills. Maybe you have an issue there? Tell us what it's like when you interview. And you resume, how is it? Have you had a lot of people look over and critique it? Could it be better? Last but not least, especially if you feel like your back is to a wall, call them up and politely ask why you weren't chosen and what they would suggest for the next time you try and get a job. Worst case scenario, they hang up on you; more likely, you'll learn something valuable. nd try to freelance while working the joe jobs. BEst of luck. Hang in there. |
| rainydaygirl | Posted – 12/7/2007 10:47:51 AM | show profile Recent grad in May. What I learned from the whole ordeal of rejected interviews and resumes day to day which I emphatize fully, is horribly depressing, is yes, networking is important. Two things which helped me immensely: 1) my alumni network that got me tons of interviews at great places 2) temping - which secured me the current job I had today. And it wasn't even a temp-to-perm position, it was supposed to be strictly temp but working on the inside, found out they needed someone for a position, I happened to be working there already for a month and they knew me... the rest is history. |
| Mirage | Posted – 12/7/2007 11:57:04 AM | show profile Try placement agencies who can line you up with some temp jobs in publishing. It's a good way to get in without having any experience/internships, and if they like you enough, they might offer you a FT job. If not, then at least you're getting some experience (and paychecks). I know how hard it is to start out with no contacts, no internships, and no one to "open doors" for you. But keep at it -- it can be done. Good luck! |
| jkwan163 | Posted – 12/7/2007 7:41:00 PM | show profile took the words right out of my mouth! Looking through these bulletins for the same answers to my own questions and I keep stumbling upon other recent grads like myself with the same comments! Its nice to hear that I'm not the only one in this hole! It seems the only thing that might give us a chance is freelancing or trying to get an entry-level job at some little newspaper somewhere in town. I'm not into news writing much but I think I might have to sacrifice if I want to get anywhere with some experience. Good Luck! |
| jkdscribe | Posted – 12/8/2007 7:13:13 PM | show profile Yeah, took me a little while to wake up and realize that I did have to work as some places I might not like. Doesn't mean you should settle for what you don't want, just that it's good to get experience while you're on your way to what you want. |
