Desperate Plea, Please help! Options

[kcroxyoursox]

After graduating with honors in December, I have found myself still without a full-time job 5 months later. I've gone on some really bogus interviews and worked at some really crappy part-time fillers, but I'm more than ready to find a career that I actually give a crap about.

I'm asking ANYONE who might know ANYONE in the Fort Worth area with the power to employ me to please help me out. I'm smart, outgoing, friendly and hardworking. I'm punctual, dedicated and motivated. I'm everything anyone could ever want! Except, no one wants me... and I'm (almost) desperate.

I don't want to sell Mary Kay. I don't want to sell door to door. I don't want to sell myself. I don't want to bother people in the evenings while they eat dinner with their families.

I do want a job that puts my degree to good use. I do want a job I can enjoy, for a company I can pledge my loyalty. I do want a decent salary with basic benefits like health insurance.

So for those of you that have jobs that you love, or know people who do, I'm sincerely asking for help.

I have a degree in public relations and a minor in English. I have solid work history in retail and grocery. I love people, football, music and movies. And food.

Thanks.

[PS - I'm asking that mods/admin help keep unrelated and uncalled for posts out of this thread, please.]

[Mommy]

After graduating with honors in December, I have found myself still without a full-time job 5 months later. I've gone on some really bogus interviews and worked at some really crappy part-time fillers, but I'm more than ready to find a career that I actually give a crap about.

I'm asking ANYONE who might know ANYONE in the Fort Worth area with the power to employ me to please help me out. I'm smart, outgoing, friendly and hardworking. I'm punctual, dedicated and motivated. I'm everything anyone could ever want! Except, no one wants me... and I'm (almost) desperate.

I don't want to sell Mary Kay. I don't want to sell door to door. I don't want to sell myself. I don't want to bother people in the evenings while they eat dinner with their families.

I do want a job that puts my degree to good use. I do want a job I can enjoy, for a company I can pledge my loyalty. I do want a decent salary with basic benefits like health insurance.

So for those of you that have jobs that you love, or know people who do, I'm sincerely asking for help.

I have a degree in public relations and a minor in English. I have solid work history in retail and grocery. I love people, football, music and movies. And food.

Thanks.

[PS - I'm asking that mods/admin help keep unrelated and uncalled for posts out of this thread, please.]

KC, I hate to tell you this and I mean it in the nicest and most sincere way possible... you are probably going to have to work a retail job for a while. When I moved here to Austin, CompUSA interviewed me and when they found out I had a degree, gave me an admin position. Start searching Craigslist for receptionist jobs or retail jobs, preferably retail like Best Buy because they offer a chance to move up and an increase in pay. I know it sounds shitty, but its because you are young. I get a lot of rejection because of my age, even though I have the qualifications. I have some family that lives in the DFW area and I'll get in touch with them to see if they know of anything. I think tomorrow you should fill out the online application for Best Buy and then wait a couple of hours and go ask to speak to a manager. I know its shitty, but at least its money and youll gain some type of experience.

[GOB]

what type of job are you looking for specifically?

i know several people who might be able to help, but i'd like an idea of what i should be asking them about so i'm not wasting their time.

[kschristia]

you should have a better chance of getting a job around this time because companies know there are a lot of recent grads and it's a good time to hire

[James]

Wouldn't that reduce her chances of getting a job due to more competition???

[kcroxyoursox]

At this point, I'll take just about anything. I'd love to write, I'd love to do wedding/party/event planning, I'd love to work in an agency and get more experience. I just need something that pertains to my major so I don't feel like I wasted 3.5 years and thousands of dollars!

I could work in advertising, communications and journalism since they are all closely related to my degree.

[impala454]

try for a PR intern job w/one of the pro sports teams around there.

[kcroxyoursox]

you should have a better chance of getting a job around this time because companies know there are a lot of recent grads and it's a good time to hire

Wouldn't that reduce her chances of getting a job due to more competition???

I think it's somewhere in between. There are more recruiters looking, but there are more people they're looking at. For my sake, I hope it's proportional, or in favor of the former.

[Seeker]

There's not a lot of college grads in Ft. Worth though (except for TCU) so you should have a pretty good chance.

[kcroxyoursox]

My biggest problem has been that a lot of the jobs I've learned about are in Dallas or on the east side of Dallas. I know everyone always groups Dallas and Fort Worth in one lump area, but I don't know anyone living in Addison or Plano or Frisco that would drive to Denton every day for a job - therefore I can't really do the opposite...

[GOB]

there are a ton of people that live between ft worth and dallas that commute to either. where does jason work? if you find a job in dallas, you could move somewhere between the two offices. driving 1-1.5 hours to work every day is totally worth it if you need the job. my dad drove from the denver tech center to colorado springs (50+ miles each way) for 3 years, so you just do what you have to do.

my contacts might know some event planners, so i'll see when i get back home. are there any local organizations that are active in your line of business? you could try toastmasters or rotary club stuff to meet people who might know people. try looking for office manager jobs with smaller financial or insurance companies/law firms on monster.com, because that probably will involve some PR or community outreach stuff. maybe non-profit companies like susan g. komen foundation/MDA/special olympics. keep in touch with the ttu career center, too.

if there are any specific companies you really want to work for, just call their HR person and explain your situation; if they're not hiring, do what impala said and see if they would bring you on as an intern so you could get experience while you continue to search.

[theIncredibleEdi...]

KC, I feel your pain. I am in the same position down in Houston. I have been barely getting by with substitute teaching, but now the school year is over and I am having to find something. I want to get my teaching cert so I can work as a full-time teacher, but that costs a lot of money. I have also gone on lots of crap bogus interviews for companies that seem like scams.

It kinda sucks, cus I know quite a few people who had no problem finding work after graduation. My ex is working at Disneyland with his Masters in Theater Arts LOL

[James]

Highly unlikely in your field, but you might be able to find a school that will do an emergency certification.

[theIncredibleEdi...]

Well, I have to take the TeXes....I am wanting to do high school science. I have to take the exam in August, because the next test is June 18th (too soon for me to round up all the money and review for it enough). So, I am gonna try taking it in August, and if I pass it the first time around, I will see if I can continue to get by with subbing, or possibly getting a late position. The school district i work for, next school year if i work for them for 60 days, I can get a guaranteed interview for a position.

[Jim]

If you were in Austin, I could get you a job there :S Sorry

[James]

You have to take the PPR, too. And I didn't realize you were doing science. In that case, my previous comment is incorrect. Science teachers are in high demand. Several of the students in my certification courses are currently teachers and just taking the courses at night then completing an internship instead of student teaching.

Good luck though. I've not heard much good about the science certification exam since it's so diverse - physics, biology, AND chemistry. I've only seen two science people trying to get a certification, too, out of about 50.

Sorry for hijacking your thread KC :-[

[Mommy]

I just think KC should take whatever she can get right now because everyone and their mother is graduating with a mass comm degree. Its a tough job market, and working to get by actually make you more employable to the nice companies...shows youre willing to do anything

[kcroxyoursox]

Sorry for hijacking your thread KC :-[

Not a problem. If someone else needs/get a job from here, all the better!

I just didn't want a lot of "you should become a stripper" or "sell drugs" kind of crap.

[jonathan83]

i'm also looking for jobs in the dfw area and not having luck!
i looked online forever and it kinda blows, but after coming down here and seeing friends and stuff, i realized its all about who you know. a couple of my friends said they could probably find something for me, and then i realized i shouldnt be spending so much time looking for jobs online.

[kcroxyoursox]

there are a ton of people that live between ft worth and dallas that commute to either. where does jason work? if you find a job in dallas, you could move somewhere between the two offices. driving 1-1.5 hours to work every day is totally worth it if you need the job. my dad drove from the denver tech center to colorado springs (50+ miles each way) for 3 years, so you just do what you have to do.

Yeah, I'm willing to travel some, but within reason (driving over 100 miles a day for $8/hr isn't really worth it if I can drive 10 for $7.50)

Right now, we live northwest of Fort Worth, almost to Denton. Jason works for his dad right up the road (<5 miles) and their business really only deals with the FW area. We have discussed moving if I find a good job, but our lease isn't up until next March, and although we can make whatever work for a year, we're not moving to Dallas if it makes our positions vice versa of what we are now.

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions so far.

i'm also looking for jobs in the dfw area and not having luck!
i looked online forever and it kinda blows, but after coming down here and seeing friends and stuff, i realized its all about who you know. a couple of my friends said they could probably find something for me, and then i realized i shouldnt be spending so much time looking for jobs online.

Where are you living now? Jason and I would kill for some company!!

[chook]

Well, I have to take the TeXes....I am wanting to do high school science. I have to take the exam in August, because the next test is June 18th (too soon for me to round up all the money and review for it enough). So, I am gonna try taking it in August, and if I pass it the first time around, I will see if I can continue to get by with subbing, or possibly getting a late position. The school district i work for, next school year if i work for them for 60 days, I can get a guaranteed interview for a position.

You should do the egg experiment like on southpark !

[jwttu]

i would suggest looking into some of the minor league sports teams. Ft. Worth has the Cats in baseball and the Flyers in basketball, and of course there is the roughriders out in frisco. You might have to go on unpaid for a little bit of time but if you work up you can make some good money and if you like sports have alot of fun with your job.

[Rocky]

i'm also looking for jobs in the dfw area and not having luck!
i looked online forever and it kinda blows, but after coming down here and seeing friends and stuff, i realized its all about who you know. a couple of my friends said they could probably find something for me, and then i realized i shouldnt be spending so much time looking for jobs online.

Don't give up on the online front. I personally would say update your resume and polish it nonstop and hell, even delete it and re-enter it on job sites.


I just moved to Dallas and I start my new job tomorrow morning, and the recruiter that sniffed me out found my resume online.


I completely agree that it is generally WHO you know that gets you a job - but you can't give up on the online stuff and just count on people.

[jonathan83]

Ive actually considered those things online where you pay $100 for them to completely rehaul your resume.

and kc, im in mckinney visiting my sister but im leaving to go back home to abilene tomorrow. ill let you know when im back in the area.

[Spectatrix]

I can't help with the DFW area, but anybody looking for technical jobs in the Austin area, lemme know. I'm slowly networking and am willing to lend help to whomever needs it. I know that job-hunting can be hell; my own three months after graduation were bad enough.

[Psykopath]

I'm still w/o a job as well, but it's only been a little under 2 weeks for me.

Basically I'll take anything outside of food service....and handjobs.

[schwab]

i got an offer at the last company i tried, so my recomendation, is continue to look, if you can access the tech experience website, use it as well as monster and careerbuilder ones

good luck, i wanted to work in dfw or austin or even lubbock, but didnt have any luck

[chook]

I can't help with the DFW area, but anybody looking for technical jobs in the Austin area, lemme know. I'm slowly networking and am willing to lend help to whomever needs it. I know that job-hunting can be hell; my own three months after graduation were bad enough.

i may bother you in a while about it

[theIncredibleEdi...]

Hey KC....the work sucks, but it's money coming in...have you tried any temp agencies? I have been doing that while hunting for a steady job, and it's been SOMETHING coming in.

[Billy]

i may bother you in a while about it

You're not liking Raytheon?

[fingercuffs]

This may not ever apply to anyone here, but if any techsans ever find themselves in the San Francisco bay area, I can try to hook you up with work. It's who you know, and techsans is as good a place as any for networking, right?

[Spectatrix]

This may not ever apply to anyone here, but if any techsans ever find themselves in the San Francisco bay area, I can try to hook you up with work. It's who you know, and techsans is as good a place as any for networking, right?

I actually was looking at the Mountain View area for a while there, but I settled on Austin and I'm very happy here. But yes, networking for the win.

By the way, anyone use LinkedIn?

[jonathan83]

I actually was looking at the Mountain View area for a while there

haha, google?

[impala454]

I really don't want to be a downer here, and KC or any other mass comms please don't take this the wrong way, but anyone in their younger years of college need to read this and take it to heart when choosing their major.

[Epic]

i have to agree with Impala. I knew full well that i was risking unemployment by majoring in english and philosophy, but the plan initially was to go to law school.

when i decided to go into student affairs, i knew that there were jobs aplenty, albeit poorly paid ones.

however if this is what you love, more power to you, and best of luck

[Mommy]

yup. agreed. My point is though that with mass comm fields, you usually wont find a job in your field for a while. You are going to have to do something outside of your field for a while to gain work experience

[Epic]

quick disclaimer, I don't know anything about how you handle yourself in the application, interview or anything like that, just suggestions here.

I was in charge of hiring this year at my place of employment. What i respected the most, were people who applied, called/emailed to follow up, and asked to speak with me directly. People who really show that kind of initiative impressed the hell out of me, especially when they were confident and professional about it. People want go-getters, and as long as they weren't really fucking cocky, I'd pull them in for an interview and usually had much more success with them than the people who would just apply and seem bashful when I called them. Just a thought.

[zetec]

I actually was looking at the Mountain View area for a while there, but I settled on Austin and I'm very happy here. But yes, networking for the win.

By the way, anyone use LinkedIn?

FYI, my Mom works for EDS and just told me last night that they're doing a big campaign on LinkedIn looking for new employees... They're headquartered in Plano too.

I'll repeat: EDS has a shitload of new jobs they're looking to fill.

[Spectatrix]

haha, google?

Nah, Google has no need of mechanical engineers. I was looking at several places, among them a smaller company that had offices in Mountain View and Albuquerque.

I really don't want to be a downer here, and KC or any other mass comms please don't take this the wrong way, but anyone in their younger years of college need to read this and take it to heart when choosing their major.

It's not just a matter of major. It took me three months of heavy job-hunting in Austin before anyone showed the barest amount of interest in interviewing me. Then, of course, I got an interview at one place right after I'd gotten the job offer from where I am now, but not a single bite before those two places.

[jwttu]

my company is headquarted in ft. worth i'll check and see what type of openings they have