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Topic: desperately seeking entry-level journalism/PR posi
| Author | Message |
| rizzom13 | Posted – 12/12/2007 3:27:38 PM | show profile | email poster I graduated in 2006 with a BA in PR/Journalism and a minor in Advertising. I've since worked for an event planning firm and boutique sized PR agency out of Hoboken, NJ. Although they've both given me some great experience, neither has provided me a decent salary or health benefits! I live in NJ, just outside of NYC where all the great magazine publishers are housed and big PR agencies reside. I have two previous internship experiences specializing in PR, promotions, marketing and special events. They've both allowed me the opportunity to acquire some hands on experience in the PR/journalism industries. I am also afforded the opportunity to work directly with major fashion, beauty and lifestyle clients. I've even scored some informational interviews w/ editors from the top magazines. Buuuut they all say that I don't have enough experience and at this point, (coming up on two years after graduation) I just don't know what to do. I have hefty student loans and really want to work in the PR/magazine publishing (preferably editorial) industries, but i don't know what I can do to make my resume stand out in an industry thats already saturated with a million other people in my position. What can I do to secure that first entry level position. Any suggestions???? |
| katestarrr | Posted – 12/12/2007 3:55:58 PM | show profile if your internships weren't in the magazine industry, that might be what is holding you back. |
| UnemployedNNJ | Posted – 12/12/2007 4:41:21 PM | show profile | email poster I definitely feel your pain. I graduated in March 2007 with only one PR internship under my belt. I don't like PR but I love fashion and wanted to do editorial work. I applied for a lot of different jobs within fashion and actually landed a floater position at a large publishing house. I have been temping this entire year trying to find a career that I enjoy and also gain experience in different fields. Right now I work at a retailer in the marketing department as media assistant. What I am saying is try temping in the area you want to be in. That is a great way to network and also get the first hand scoop on available openings. It's hard work but it's necessary in the long run. Defer your student loans even if it costs like $50 per loan (mine did) so atleast you have 6 months-1 year to hold off on payments and focus on finding a permanent job. I still job searching while I am at my long term temp assignment. Try going directly through the company that way you know how long an assignment will be and don't have to deal with an agency. Good Luck!!! |
| flight risk | Posted – 12/12/2007 4:44:19 PM | show profile Do you want to be a flack or a journo? You should probably choose one career and build from there. Don't leave it up to a flip of the coin to decide. And definitely don't mention that you can do both wherever you apply. |
| ManhattanMatt | Posted – 12/12/2007 4:49:30 PM | show profile First of all ... ... you need to FOCUS on what field you want to get into: PR or journalism. They're completely different fields, and as a hiring manager, when I hear someone say they're looking for a job in "PR/Journalism", two thoughts come to mind: 1. He has no idea what he wants to do. 2. He doesn't even know enough about my field to know that it's the furthest thing from public relations. Saying you're looking for a job in "PR/Journalism" is like saying you're looking for a job in "engineering/banking". Pick one. Focus. Proceed. |
| UnemployedNNJ | Posted – 12/12/2007 4:56:25 PM | show profile Why is it a bad thing to have experience in more than one aspect of an industry? I met a few celebrity stylists and they all seemed to give the same advice "don't be afraid to try different routes to get to where you want to be, because there is no set path that will take you there". My dream is to work at Essence Magazine but honestly those positions don't come easily and if I sit and wait and until one does I would go stir crazy. And bill collectors don't want to hear any sob stories about searching for your dream job. |
| UnemployedNNJ | Posted – 12/12/2007 5:00:15 PM | show profile I have a question for you Manhattan Matt How many recent or fairly new graduates do you know that actually know what they want to do? It's so overwhelming trying to find a career that you won't wind up hating in a few years. |
| foodlit | Posted – 12/12/2007 5:59:25 PM | show profile Neekah, You can be as unfocused as you like...when you're at home. I agree with Matt, when it comes to a job search, you need to give the appearance to an employer that you are focused and have a clue what you want to do (even if you don't!). So, you can apply for jobs in completely different areas, PR or Journalism, for instance, but when you send a resume for a PR job....be all about PR and when you interview don't just say, "I'll do whatever", really focus on PR. Otherwise you come across as wishy washy and unfocused and overall not sharp or driven....and it's all about perception. Put yourself in the hiring managers shoes and they're looking at two candidates, one who is gung ho and excited about the job they have in PR, the other who is 'open' to whatever, PR or Journalism... Who would you pick for the PR job? Remember, perception is reality when it comes to interviewing....have several versions of your resume and shift gears completely when you apply and interview for each job...a razor sharp focus gives the perception that YOU are sharp as well. Good luck! Pam |
| ManhattanMatt | Posted – 12/12/2007 8:09:08 PM | show profile Neekah ... Recent graduates need to at least have SOME sort of a clue (or as Pam just explained, the PERCEPTION of a clue). This is symptomatic of a larger problem among the younger generation: too many options, and an inability to make a decision and COMMIT to it. If you're trying to get an interview with me and you don't even know yet if you want to work in my industry ... please don't waste my time. I have too many other candidates waiting in line who KNOW they want to be here. |
| rizzom13 | Posted – 12/12/2007 9:44:12 PM | show profile I realize the importance of being focused, commiting to a decision and sticking to it. However, I was a journalism major under the PR track and had a minor in advertising. Therefore, I had the opportunity to experience a broad spectrum of different industries w/in the communication field. While I'm aware that it's important to have goals and stay loyal to one specific field, (especially when I'm interviewing for specific positions) I was just trying to say that I'm interested in both PR and journalism. I've been applying for positions in both industries and have found them equally hard to break into as a recent grad w/ some -not much-but some solid experience. I was just looking for advice as to what steps I can take in order to get a foot in the door position among one of these fields. To be honest, I don't know which I would like to pursue more...I am equally interested in both industries and believe I could thrive in a career as both an editor or PR professional. |
| careergirl | Posted – 12/12/2007 10:26:34 PM | show profile I think everyone is getting away from the true topic here. Even after he or she focuses on one field or deliver's a great first impression/interview to a hiring manager, it is still can be very difficult to find a GOOD job. They DO all seem to say the same thing....not enough experience....blah blah... His/her internship's could have been in pr and he's applying for a pr position... and its still not enough... actually I take that back. It will get you somewhere, but usually it is not somewhere that the salary is decent, benefits, they match your 401k, etc... After two years (in the case of the poster) isn't that enough experience? I mean what is the real reason hiring managers say it? I've heard it, my friends have heard it....do they just not think were right for the position? Is it really the case they want someone who has done that EXACT position at another company? (so they don't have to take time and train you) It just seems like you can have a great resume, be excited, focused, driven, have SOME experience, whatever...and in some cases it still doesn't work out..or you hear, you don't have enough EXPERIENCE....why is this?!? On the bright side though Rizzom13- Even though it is frustrating and seems like it will never work out, eventually it does...it sucks for a while but you'll get over it...keep applying, networking, etc...don't get discouraged.. You need to focus on one field, you need to make sure when that hiring manager is looking over your resume, they can see exactly how what you have already done will match what they want you to do in that position for which you are applying. You need to really SELL yourself through that resume and cover letter. Take time and really think about what you are writing. Get books/literature/talk to people about interviewing...role play it with your friends...who cares... find out as much info as you can about the position/company etc...In the interview talk about what you have done that SHOWS your experience and how it will benefit the company/hiring manger to hire you. The bottom line is...your smart... do whatever you NEED to do to get the job. |
| ManhattanMatt | Posted – 12/12/2007 11:08:47 PM | show profile Careergirl ... "His/her internship's could have been in pr and he's applying for a pr position... and its still not enough... actually I take that back. It will get you somewhere, but usually it is not somewhere that the salary is decent, benefits, they match your 401k, etc... After two years (in the case of the poster) isn't that enough experience?" It depends on what kind of job you're looking for. Like it or not, less than three years is still pretty much considered "entry-level". And what's your idea of a "decent" salary? |
| careergirl | Posted – 12/13/2007 12:40:03 AM | show profile Living in Manhattan, with two or three years experience, I would think that around $50K or so... would be decent. I know it does depend on the industry also. |
| ManhattanMatt | Posted – 12/13/2007 1:27:18 AM | show profile Careergirl ... get real. $50K is not entry-level. People in neither journalism nor PR with less than 5 years of experience get that kind of money, Manhattan nothwitstanding. $35-40K would be a much more appropriate number. After 5 solid years of experience, then maybe 50K. |
| careergirl | Posted – 12/13/2007 11:24:07 AM | show profile First of all, you asked what a "decent" salary would be...not what is realistic. Second, I said it did depend on the industry. What exactly are young people to do then? By your standards...they won't be making $50k until their 27 or so...usually thats around the time people want to buy a condo/house/coop or possibly get married. Oh but wait, they have ZERO dollars...living on $35k is pretty hard in nyc...let alone the idea of saving anything. |
| careergirl | Posted – 12/13/2007 11:29:57 AM | show profile Matt...you seem to have everything all figured out. Alot of people on here are asking for advice.. do you have any genuine, helpful advice you have learned over the years? Advice about job hunting, financials, etc...Most of the poster's are asking the same questions in different ways repeatedly on here. I'm sure they would appreciate the advice. |
| catlondon | Posted – 12/13/2007 1:00:33 PM | show profile careergirl: sometimes young people don't want to hear the advice we old people have to give. Media is competitive and it doesn't pay very well. I worked two jobs--my day job and an evening retail job--when I first started. It was about two years before I was able to work just one job. However, maybe for me it was easier, since I paid for college by myself and worked multiple jobs then, too. I just kept one of my college part-time jobs after graduation. And I had roommates and no car and lived off Ramen noodles and didn't go anywhere and the whole stereotypical new grad experience. I believe the starting salary for my job was $18,000. |
| catlondon | Posted – 12/13/2007 1:37:35 PM | show profile rizzom: when you're job hunting, see if you can't get a feel for if and how quickly a company promotes from within. I know a PR account exec who started as the receptionist, then moved to be someone's assistant, and then...well, you get the idea. She was lucky to land at a company that prefers to promote from within (which conversely makes it difficult for mid- to upper-level people to find their way in). Not all companies do this, but it does work. |
| UnemployedNNJ | Posted – 12/13/2007 4:27:28 PM | show profile Catlondon That is exactly what I meant in my previous post. Sometimes to get to where you want to be you have to start at the bottom and taking a job at a company that promotes from within is the best way to do it. In all honesty alot of companies think $35k is a good salary for someone who is young and a recent graduate even if they do have experience in that industry. |
| katestarrr | Posted – 12/14/2007 12:16:28 PM | show profile "sometimes young people don't want to hear the advice we old people have to give." ...aren't you the person that told me 'get your elbows off the table' is a grammatically correct sentence and then sited a college website to prove it? |
| katestarrr | Posted – 12/14/2007 12:16:57 PM | show profile i meant 'cited' ...because i'm sure that you'll want to point that out. |
| catlondon | Posted – 12/14/2007 12:41:37 PM | show profile Ah, katestarr, hostile and immature. Always an attractive combination. Which grammatical error were you trying to bring to my attention, please? |
| katestarrr | Posted – 12/14/2007 12:48:27 PM | show profile anyone else want to point out what is wrong with the sentence "get your elbows off the table"? i'm sure people can spot it, but they won't want to admit that someone older than 30 is wrong. |
| catlondon | Posted – 12/14/2007 1:04:14 PM | show profile kate: we already went through this. Both are correct, but often people prefer to omit a preposition if it's not necessary. In academic writing, that's generally the standard. If you are going to wade into disputes about grammar, you're going to have to get a thicker skin. Grammar geeks are very cranky and love a good fight. |
| Mag Girl | Posted – 12/14/2007 1:06:44 PM | show profile Kate, cat's right about this. Let it go... |
