Depressed College Grad?

Question

I just graduated this May w/ an English B.A. (I once wanted to be a magazine editor but changed my mind b/c there aren't any venues for that in my area). I am stuck. I have been consistently applying for office jobs, retail jobs and have gotten nothing. I am currently applying to grad school for a masters in communications. I am so down right now...I don't know what kinds of jobs I can obtain right now with my schooling. How can I market myself with my degree? I really need help from caring individuals. Please only serious answers. I truly appreciate your help.

Answer 1

Yours is a very familiar situation. My daughter did about the same thing in another area of study ... Business Administration. She looked for one year and finally went into programing ... one of four out of 365 applicants. You don't have to find a job in your area of training, just find a job that you will have fun doing. My daughter is now in her fifth job and was just chosen as employee of the month last month. There was about a ten year break in her job record while she raised my grandson. Good Luck! You do write well and that seem rather rare today.

Answer 2

Dear Depressed:

I assume you did not have a business minor?

If your GPA was good and your computer skills are strong there are a number of things you can try...

Human resources, law firms, advertising agencies, insurance agencies all hire people with English degrees for entry level jobs. The last 8 HR folks I hired had English or Poly Sci degrees.

Target folks in your church that you know have professional positions and ask them to post your resume in their companies.

IF you're willing to do the Administrative Assistant thing until you get your Masters you should be able to find a pretty good job, but you will need to register with several agencies and endure a lot of interviews before you get a job.

Most of all - realize that you're competing with all of the May grads with business, accounting, finance, etc. degrees. It will take you longer to find a job, but in the end - you will find one.

Best wishes...

TB

Answer 3

College degree is only one of many things you need to get a good job. Have you considered proofreading or copy editing?
Because that can be done at a distance...don't need to be close. Did you graduate at the top of your class? Did you excel in your internship? I recommend doing a volunteer internship to prove your skills to an employer. If they like you they will often hire you. A college degree is a little bit like the key to a car. It works great if you have a car. But if you have no car you still can't drive. The key is only one of the things you need to succeed.

Answer 4

ahh, a fellow BA in english major. market out there sucks for us don't it?? i found out the hard way that a college degree doesn't always lead one to a promising job. key is to not sell yourself short and keep focused on what you want. i assume that right now you need A job and one that doesn't necessarily fall into your line of training. bills are bills right? most people with our education NEVER fall into their original line of work. I wanted to be a journalist or writer for a newspaper or magazine much like you did at one point. however, my lack of devotion and limited (meaning zero) published works pretty much killed my chances of every becoming what I wanted to be. fact is, most people who go to college don't always find work in their intended field. usually whatever job they work at during school or whatever eventually turns into a career path for them. just gotta get lucky I guess. but for now, do what you have to do. try and find something "professional" like and not the mind-numbing retail or temp work. will kill your morale and doesn't really look that great on a resume. trust me. grad school might not even benefit you. have you thought about that? will put you in greater debt and buy you some more time until repayment butwhat will a communications degree get you? probably not much differnt than what you have now I'm guessing. hold off on that for now. devote your time, or as much of it, to finding work. even hook up with a temp agency/headhunter/recruiter to find work for you. this will get you work, possibly in something you might find interesting and get you into the professional world. and then from there you can figure your way out. I'd personally nix the grad school for now and spend about 3-5 months loking for work. if this doesn't pan out then you can consider the grad school again.

Answer 5

Apprenticeship position or maybe Sales to start out. Sales is important as you have just found out. Everyone must sell something, even yourself (at an interview).

You will meet new people, have new responsibilities, gain experience, sharpen your social skills, see whats out there.

It's frustrating for someone your age I know. It is designed that way so when you do find that job, that comfort zone you will appreciate it more. Good Luck !!!

Answer 6

I totally understand! It sucks because you have to have experience and an education...but how do you get experience in the field if no one hires you?! I just took a job that paid decent with decent hours and volunteered for my field. Maybe help out with a school paper or your town/ city paper and get your foot in the door and good recommendations. Good luck hunny!

Answer 7

You may want to consider applying everywhere, not just in your local area. You'll have a better chance of finding a job if you are willing to relocate.

Answer 8

What about a home business? I am a rep for Mia Bella Gourmet Soy Candles and I have a BA in Business! Check my website out and see the opportunity for yourself and email me if you are interested.
Best to you!
Lisa
www.jarsoflight.scent-team.com

Answer 9

nicely, you're able to desire to pass back to college with a significant that gets you someplace. Edit: nicely you could attempt to pass to a distinctive city, and get an honest paying interest, and stay like that for something of your life.

Answer 10

Get an M.B.A. Then you can do anything.