What do you do with a BA in Journalism?

I have continued to remember my degree recently. I don’t know if it is the unemployment, or my significant other finishing his degree. But I continue to remember the song from Avenue Q called, What do you do with a BA in English?. NSFW

I however feel it applies to all writing jobs. I have a writing degree and like to write but feel like I can’t get a break because everyone feels like the can do better and some can. However, I have been writing longer than you and can judge audiences and theme to help you succeed. I’m tired of this shit. I can’t even get an interview now all of a sudden. Really November December = no interviews!  Maybe that is why that song is followed by It Sucks to be Me.

But if you notice we all follow up each other’s, my life sucks stories with something worse.  Basically until someone says, ‘I have/had cancer’ or ‘My mom died’ then you keep trying to one up the other person.  So, I guess we need to stop talking about life sucking and lift ourselves up by our bootstraps.

So, what can I do with a writing degree?

• Write a book – to be honest I do have the spare time
• Start a blog – CHECK
• Write for a newspaper – look for the not dying ones
• Copywriting – Writing about shiny things for any paying business
• Editing – face it, not everyone knows where Speck Check is
• Teaching – because there are bunches of retired people that want to write their epic
• Public Relations – known, not so nicely, as Spin Doctors

All snarkiness aside these are viable careers for anyone who is a writer and has a similar training to me.  I guess on the bright side it is a list.  I know if I was in a better mood or trying to cheer someone up other than myself it would probably be much longer.  For now, it is a god list and I can always update this post on a brighter day career-wise.

 

 

Advice for the Unemployed

After doing years of informational interviews I was recently asked to be the interviewee instead of the interviewer.  It was a weird switch for me especially after being unemployed and laid off so many times.  But it made since at the same time because not being successful means that I get to give the hard advice.  I tried to to sound bitter but at the same time I wanted her to know that it isn’t always butterflies and bunnies in the workplace.

The advice is stuff I too need to follow myself too but now I want everyone to see it.  Hopefully those recently unemployed or laid off will take what they can from it.

First, EVERYONE should watch this video because of the wisdom that he imparts are the things that no one ever tells you.  It is a little over 15 minutes in, but well worth it.

Contact, contacts, contacts

• Always keep your contacts fresh:  Take them out to coffee or email them quarterly.
• Attend networking events
• Get a mentor
• Christmas cards/baskets = awesome
• Join ANY and all networking groups you feel fit your needs.  YPOP, PRSA, AMA
• Many jobs aren’t advertised so you want to make sure they know your name from somewhere positive

Metal Health is Still Important

• Keep a savings account so you don’t have to sacrifice your ethics.  Enough for a few months at least.
• Keep a hobby or two that has nothing to do with your job – makes you less worn out and keeps the ideas flowing

If you don’t want any one to see it then don’t put it on the internet

• Drunk/NSFW (Not Safe For Work) pics
• Negative former/current job statements
• Misinterpreted comments

Life sometimes sucks

• Watch the Conan O’Brien graduation speech – sometimes you find the best in loss
• Someone will steal your idea – at least you know it was good enough to steal
• Someone will fire you for what appears to be no reason – if they are looking that hard you didn’t need to be there anyways
• You will have huge fights with other employees. – sometimes you have to fight to earn each other’s respect
• Your plans will fail – learn from it and come back stronger
• Sometimes people won’t just tell you what is wrong – ASK!

Communications Specific

Anyone can advertise

• No one says it but many act like it, it may be your job to tell people the right and wrong principles and why.
• Also, realize you won’t always win = just sit back and try to make it work
• You may only be doing it for part of your job along with admin/project management/customer service etc.
• But you will be measured on your advertising more than the others on average because of your degree.
• We get laid off first – because anyone can advertise

Millenials Are Stronger Than You

I guess this blog is evolving much like my life isn’t lately.  I have been unemployed for six months now.  I have been trying to find a new job in many different careers.  It use to not be as much of a problem but for some reason this time has been hell on wheels.  Yeah, you probably think I am just one of those whiny millienials but really?!

Sob Story

Here is a sob story for you:

1. Got out of college + had an internship for 1 month = Fired (Your not a good fit)
   • Pros – Met my boyfriend of 5 years that weekend
   • Cons – It took me a year to find another job in my field and I worked as a waitress which isn’t my fortay.
   • Also, the economy died the same week.
2. After a failed internship at a startup + (a great internship at an agency + renewed contracts + them creating a job for me) = Laid off
   • Pro – I got some beautiful experience and met the best people in the world
   • Con – Had just moved into a new apartment the weekend before, economy still sucked, had turned down a job offer from a friend at another great agency because “I was at a great company already.
3. Found another great startup + surgery = Laid off
   • Pro – More wonderful experience with a great company and another great title to add to my resume also, not laid off because of my surgery leave.
   • Con – Lay off part 2 makes it less, “life sucks” and a little more “you might suck”  + laid off in the middle of the summer
4. Finally found a place I fit + Everyone I like leaving = Laid off
   • Pro – Well, finally finding a great workplace with lots to do and I thought I helped
   • Con – Everyone who was the great part of the company left.  It didn’t need someone like me even though I did so much despite what other managers thought.

After that, please people, tell me that I am a whiny millennial.  I have worked my butt off.  This isn’t all the jobs I had in the last 5 years since graduation.  I have had paying 6 jobs in the last 5 years that were in my field.  It isn’t like I haven’t tried to stay and help the companies be successful.  If you count the jobs that I took part time or was not paid for I have had almost 10 jobs in 5 years.

Please, tell me that I am not applying myself.

I’m Just Mad

I guess I am just mad at the world.  A world where people don’t have retirement enough to retire so I can’t take a job at the company because everything is filled by skilled works like my parents and grandparents.  A world where I don’t get a job until I have experience and I can’t get experience without a job.  Or an unpaid internship and living in a studio apartment on food stamps.

I have been on government assistance for most of the time I have been unemployed.  I saved money but it is never enough to cover rent, bills, and food.

I Failed

All millennial feel like we have failed to live the “American Dream” that we were sold as children.  We were suppose to have the perfect job offer within months of being out of school with a short stint as a waitress.  Not months and years of people saying, “no,” “get experience,”, or “you aren’t a good fit.”

But It Doesn’t Mean I Gave Up

But yet, I keep trying.  I get back on that perverbial horse and plug along.  Even if there are days that I yell at God and cry alone in my apartment when I see everyone around me doing something with their lives.

I go out and try for another job.  Look for the best parts of my last one to show to the next one.  Try to see what I learned at the last job as great experience.  “Always look on the bright side of life,” as Monty Python would say.

Millennials Aren’t Failures

So, no, I don’t think millennials are failures and it isn’t just because I am one.  It is because everyone one I meet is working their butts off to meet the right people.  Help each other find the best company and even give each other advice that other generations may have left out.  Yeah, we occasionally sound like the French judge at the Olympics but we are brutally honest about things from grammar to what we are looking for in a job.

It sounds silly but I still think I can change the world, even after almost 10 jobs in 5 years. That is the hope I try to resurrect every time I am met with a lay off.

Hope, that is what you can’t take away from millennials.