Dream Job (part 2)

While journalism is not completely out of the picture, I've also grown interested in another industry - public relations.

In college, I was involved with student government (ASUP), most notably the Campus Program Board (CPB), a student-run event programming organization.  During my time as CPB Director, I gained experience in event planning, which was rewarding, enjoyable and challenging.  During my first term, I was still convinced that I would pursue my dream job of being a journalist and figured I can do event planning on the side, like as a wedding planner.  As graduation loomed closer, I was torn about what I wanted to do.  My adviser, Jillian, suggested public relations because I would be able to combine my skills as a writer and an event planner.

I didn't know much about public relations, but luckily I was able to take a course about it before I graduated.  I got a basic understanding, but during my first post-grad summer, I talked to someone at Burson-Marsteller, who said I had a superficial image of public relations.

It wasn't until I moved to New York that I got a better understanding of this new dream job...

Thanks to my internships with City Parks Foundation and Baltz & Company, I have a better understanding of public relations.  While it's from an intern's perspective, it's better than where I started.

According to PRSA, the official definition of public relations is:

“Public relations is a strategic communication process that builds mutually beneficial relationships between organizations and their publics.”

From those experiences, I found out how public relations was used to connect organizations with their publics, whether that was through a variety of media outlets like television, newspapers, magazines, or social media as well as events and public appearances.  Through my internships, I found that public relations allows me to practice and learn more about communication - verbal, written, in person, online, over the phone, one-on-one, or in a group setting.  It definitely keeps me on my toes and will continue to do so as communication change with technology.

I'm interested in learning more and figuring out which field is my forte, whether that is non-profit, food/hospitality, technology, travel/tourism, corporate communications, or in-house among others.

While the ultimate goal for this dream job is not concrete quite yet, I'm sure that once I get more into it with a company I love, that goal will formulate.  As for now, I'm taking it one day at a time and hoping to optimize the next opportunity to officially start my public relations career.

Dream Job (Part 1)

"What is your dream job?"

"Where do you see yourself in 2-3 years?"

I've been so concerned about finding a job now that I haven't stopped to think about what I'm working toward career-wise.  It was easier seeing where my life was going in high school and the beginning of college.

With a Communication Studies degree with emphasis in Journalism, I dreamed of becoming an anchor for the TODAY Show, starting at the local news stations at home and moving up from there.

Skyped in as a Viewer Question on the TODAY Show. (Jan. 2012)

I also dreamed of becoming editor-in-chief of a magazine that fancied my interests - travel, lifestyle, fitness, etc.  I was thinking National Geographic, SELF, or Marie Claire, for instance.

Don't get me wrong. I still love everything about journalism. I love creating stories, reaching out to different people to get the story and connecting with an audience through words.  I love that thrill of writing a story, and the words just seem to fall together perfectly.  To me, writing is like a puzzle, and it's amazing to figure it out while creating a masterpiece.

It was a little discouraging to find out that journalism was deemed a "useless" degree, according to the Daily Beast's list.  It also didn't help that many newspapers were going out of business or downsizing while I was in my junior and senior year.

In addition, I don't have that experience of working on the school newspaper or the yearbook (except for in middle school, high school and sophomore year in college).  Without this essential experience along with journalism internships,  I felt - and still feel - like it's harder for me to apply for reporter positions to continue on that path, especially without published writing samples.

To be continued...

JOB SEARCH: Reminiscing yet Moving Forward

(via www.jvskc.org)

Cleaned out some emails and saw all the jobs/internships I applied for while living in New York.  Emails to a variety of public relations agencies - boutique agencies, global companies, agencies focused on technology, sports, beauty, food/hospitality and more.  Emails to MTV.  Emails to magazine companies.  Emails to restaurants.  Emails to stores.  Honestly, I was looking for work everywhere.

After organizing my email, I was inspired by my boldness and willingness to work in different places.  I understood that I needed to start somewhere, working from the ground up. 

As the job search continues, I need that same attitude again...

On the flip side, I also found an email chain about an internship with Benvenuti PR.  I interviewed with them but disclosed my concerns about scheduling.  That eliminated my opportunity to work with them.  Looking back, I'm sure I could have done it, balancing two unpaid internships and a job at Macy's.  Possibly getting a full-time job out of it.

(via One Degree of Separation)

If you're looking for job experience, internships are definitely a great way to accomplish this.  In addition, they allow you to explore the industry you're interested in.  While it is easy to turn your head away from unpaid internships, they provide great job experience, especially if you have an excellent mentor to help you and support you as you grow in the position and prepare for your career.  Just be sure the unpaid internship is legit and follows the legal guidelines.

Enough of looking in the past, it's time to keep moving forward and keep searching for my ideal job/internship...

JOB HUNT: Good but NOT good enough...

When I first read this on tumblr, I reworded it:

If something is not happening for you, it doesn't mean it's never going to happen...it means they're not ready for YOU!

 I twisted it to make it more optimistic for me, but thinking it over, maybe I am the one who isn't ready...

After yet another rejection, I realized that this statement is true as is.  

With all these rejections, one thing has stayed constant.  All of them said that I have a good resume and good experience, BUT...

The exception is my lack of enthusiasm, my lack of experience, my lack of interest in that particular industry in public relations.  My problem is that I want to try out different areas of public relations to see what I like and what I don't like.  I guess being well-rounded isn't a good thing in this case.

I need to focus, but with so many interests (having yet to discover others), it's been difficult to figure out where I want to go in public relations.  So far I have experience in a non-profit organization that focused on community programming through its park system and experience in a boutique food and hospitality agency.  I loved working in both, but I want to be exposed to, learn more about, gain experience in:

• Corporate communications
• Fashion/beauty
• Entertainment
• Travel
• Digital/Social Media
• Technology (consumer-based)
• Museums

While I want to be part of a bigger global picture, I need to start off somewhere. I enjoy making people happy, which is key in public relations right? Making your clients/patrons/media partners/community members happy?  I like being behind the scenes, making things happen, getting stuff done and reaping the rewards afterward - mostly just the sense of accomplishment will do. 

So how do I go about trying to figure out what path to go on in public relations? Apparently the experience route is out of the question. Textbooks? Blogs? Websites? I have no problem with research, so let's go!  I'll record my thoughts on yet another blog that will solely focus on public relations material: http://tmmpr.wordpress.com (it's still under construction). Hopefully this method will help clear this vague picture I have of public relations and all its different facets and take me down a path worthwhile.

With this new game plan, I still ponder this question (referring back to the quote)...

It may be true that I'm not ready for it, 

but how will I be ready without a chance?

P365: Macy's [006]

It was my first day back to work at Macy’s after a good 2 months.  It was good to see some familiar faces.  The actual daily grind of work was the same as usge, except instead of a ton of coats, there was a ton of swimsuits to process. haha :)

NYC: 9 months (and counting...?)

Today marks my ninth month in New York City.  Kinda funny because nine months ago, I arrived in New York at LaGuardia Airport at night, and today, I arrived at JFK early in the morning. 

But anyway...almost a YEAR?! What?!  However, the question isn't how long I've been here, it's what have I accomplished since I've been here...

• I've completed two public relations internships, giving me a glimpse of the non-profit and agency worlds.  I'm leaning more toward non-profits because it was such a fantastic experience.  The programs that we promoted were awesome and the people I worked with were truly a blessing and appreciative of my work, while helping me gain vital PR skills.  
• I dabbled in quite a few part-time jobs, more than I ever had back home or in school.  It's been interesting and fun doing those jobs, but I know it is not what I want to do for a career.  They are part-time for a reason.
• I've made some new friends, but I wish I got to hang out with them more often. 
• I know more about navigating through this large city but continuing to discover more every day. 

It has been an amazing adventure thus far, even with its ups and downs; it's all part of this journey of the post grad life.  However, something has been bothering me.  Although I feel accomplished in a way, there's a part of me that feels like I haven't achieved anything.  I think it's the lack of a full-time job in public relations, communications or marketing that's bringing me down.  A full-time job would truly exemplify an achievement, after completing all those hours of interning and working. 

I feel like I'm in the same place I was last year after I graduated.  I thought I would get hired immediately after completing college, and this time, I thought I'd get hired immediately after completing my internships.  You think I would have learned from the first time around that that's not how it works.  Patience and optimism is key. 

So the job search and my time in NYC continues...

JOB HUNT: New Directions

Just need to keep looking!

After much consideration and frustration with applying for jobs solely in public relations, I've decided to start applying for jobs at restaurants and stores.  It sounds like a step down from my main goals, but thinking it over, I feel like I need to do an internship before actually getting into PR.  So here's the new game plan for my job hunt: apply for internships and part-time jobs.  I need the experience from the internship and the money from the part-time job.

Do you think I'm making the right move?  I feel good about it, but at the same time, I have my doubts.

I'm a little worried that my education might be a bit much for these places, but I know of recent grads working at Nordstrom and such after graduation.  Higher education shouldn't be a factor.  Sometimes you just need a job for the time being while reaching for higher dreams and aspirations.

So far from this new plan, I've been rejected by American Eagle.  It was an Assistant Store Manager position, so I understand, especially since I don't have experience in retail but I do know how to manage people from CPB.

All the other applications are still on file.  Do these online applications actually work?  I hope so because I've submitted so many already.

As for the internship search, I'm looking for public relation agencies in the area, but it's pretty difficult.  This search might take me elsewhere which means my other search will have to relocate as well.

I want to stay close to home to save money on housing and such, but with a limit of jobs in this area, it might be more beneficial for my future to relocate.

I really did not expect all this stress and frustration after graduation.  I hoped that getting a Bachelor's Degree would mean that I'm a shoe-in for getting a job, but that certainly is not the case.  It seems that much more is needed nowadays; most importantly, you need to know someone.  It's all about networking.

Have you seen the movie POST GRAD? I feel exactly like the main character in that movie, except the whole falling in love with her neighbor deal.  That wouldn't happen here.  Anyway, it's somewhat inspiring, but only because I know exactly how it feels to be a college grad and not finding a job.

Sure, it's only been a couple months, and I know there are people who haven't found a job for years. I hope that doesn't happen to me, but if nothing comes up soon, I may need to devise another plan.

MOVIES: St. Elmo's Fire

Tonight I watched St. Elmo's Fire, and although, it isn't a highly reviewed film, I thought it was alright.  It follows the lives of seven friends who recently graduated from college.  All of them have different paths, but they all stick together through thick and thin.  Some of them are in relationships, while others concentrate on their careers or just have fun. 





Anyway, as I was watching, it just made realize how my friends and family are going through our post-grad lives in 2010.  Even though this movie took place in the 80s, nothing has really changed, except for maybe a little more opportunities and options to choose from after graduation.

In St. Elmo's Fire, the women of the group seemed to only have two options - career or marriage.  How limited.  Based from this movie, it seemed like the 1980s society was still strongly ran by men, but women were striving to make their way in their careers.  But either way, women were encouraged to get married soon as if there was nothing else to do after college.

In 2010, the confusion of what to do after 
college is still there after 30-ish years.  

For me, I'm on the "year-off" path, even if that may take more than one year.  I just want to gain some job experience or something to test out the waters, you know?  I'm taking it one step at a time because in this time of uncertainty, anything can happen.

For some of my friends, they are on the track of heading to med school.  It's a tough path, and they may have a couple bumps on the road.  Nevertheless, I know they'll pull through and persevere.

Other recent grads I know are volunteering or planning to around the world.  It's so cool that they have that chance to visit different places and truly make a difference in other people's lives.  I want to do this eventually, but we'll see.

Some other grads have already gotten married.  I'm glad they found that special someone and be able to spend the rest of their lives together. Best wishes to those couples! :)

Post-grad life is a confusing part of life because there are so many opportunities for grads to share and expand their experiences, yet at the same time, it seems so limited.  

A bit contradicting, but it's true...