I'm looking for a good paying opportunity but it's not happening?


Question:
I am a degreed individual from a 4 year university (BS in Communication) and I speak Spanish fluently. I currently live in Atlanta and I can't seem to find a decent paying job. I recently took a job as a Public Relations Coordinator for a small non-profit but the pay sucks. 12.00 an hour to be exact. I feel I have good experience (3 years full-time work out of college) but I've messed up because I have been taking jobs out of necesity for having a job instead of putting myself on a career tract. It seems like only jobs out there are in sales. I DON'T WANT TO DO SALES. Also every job that I look at such as a communication manager for a company is requiring 5 to 10 years exp.I really would like to work for a PR Firm or Ad Agency eventually creating TV commercials. The question is, am I doomed to keep taking crap jobs with low pay? Do I need to relocate? Will I be 30 years old making only 30,000 a year?

Answer:
Well, you do have some choices...

First, let me agree with you that communication degrees are one of the most difficult degrees to market. Generally, they are a pre-cursor to a law degree. There just isn't enough core business hours to get your foot in the door unless you had a double major in business.

1. If you are truly bilingual Spanish/English consider relocating to the sunbelt to capitalize on that skill. We have a HARD time finding people that can communicate in both languages. Target firms that cater to the Hispanic market - HEB, Eagle, etc. Or investigate the same kind of firms in Atlanta. And, you're right - to get a communication management position you need at least 5 solid years of experience with a large portfolio of your writing samples and publications.

2. Look at other careers. Human Resources is a good place for communications people. Just expect that you will have to take some additional hours to become successful. But, if you can land a job in HR you can expect to make $50-60K withing 5 years.

3. Breaking into the ad industry... you gotta know someone that knows someone, etc. Try contacting your professors at your college and see if they will help you through their sources.

4. As a last resort, target companies that turn and burn their communications folks - utility companies, retail, state and federal agencies.
Welcome to the rat race and the ever present, catch-22 of needing experience to get a job, but not being able to get experience without a job.

I would suggest that you go to a few employment agencies (i.e. headhunters) and let them know what kind of career you're looking for. Talk to the school where you graduated and find out about their job placement programs. Network where you can -- go to Chamber of Commerce mixers, town/city council meetings, etc (especially look for social events within the industry you wish to be a part of).

Your dream career is not going to fall into your lap. You have to work at and earn it. Remember that every "no" is one step closer to the "yes" you're looking for.
you should try capital-introduction for a big investment bank's prime brokerage arm. cap-intro put together investors and hedge fund (generally), it's a job about soft-selling, and lots of socializing time, like conferences and drinks after work etc. if you don't like direct sales this is good for you especially if you like meeting people and socializing. pay is very good if you know enough potential investors way more than $40k per year but it takes time to build your network. good luck!
Location, Location, Location!!
I think you will find better opportunities if you are willing to relocate.

To test the area where you live I would talk to a recruiter. The feedback you receive will let you know where the demand for opportunities are in your field.

Another way to find out where employers are seeking people with your skill set is to post your resume on a website (career builder/monster with personal info hidden) to find out how many hits and responses you receive and from what location.

Being able to speak Spanish fluently is a sought after skill in Arizona, Texas and California (to name a few). Concentrate on getting your foot in the door, advancement will come because of the location --- there are more JOBS than people.

Be willing to go to where the JOBS are for now and once you gain experience, you can select where to live according to your preferences. Hope this Helps, I understand!
Monster , Yahoo Hotjobs, Careerbuilder are some of the largest job boards, where you can apply for jobs and upload your resume. Since Craigslist, allows free job postings, many smaller companies post their vacancies on this online classifieds website. You can also search for jobs from multiple websites using aggregators like SimplyHired and Indeed. Referrals are also becoming a increasingly popular way to get hired.
More details and website links available at
http://tinyurl.com/emdyn
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