Free Career and Job Search Advice

s_leah · Newbie Joined: 05 Oct 2008 Posts: 3 Career Advice: +0/-0

Well, after reading through this site for a while I decided to try and put a question out there and see who answers. I’m in need of direction here.

Ok, I’m an undergrad just out of college. I’m majoring in Creative Writing with a minor in Business Administration since no one I know thinks a B.A. will get me anywhere. I originally started out in Computer Science, but since it was really boring to me I almost didn’t get through school. I went changed majors and picked up a job as a part-time office assistant with the financial aid office. That’s how I wound up minoring in Business Administration.

I’ve been looking for work as an office assistant around my town, but no luck. I would love to land a job at a newspaper or magazine someplace. My resume has some retail jobs I’ve held in high school and in college. How do I get in the direction I need to go?

juhanna · Newbie Joined: 06 Oct 2008 Posts: 3 Career Advice: +0/-0

Well to answer the last part first, getting a job as a writer or editor is possible, but it takes a long time. If you want to go in that direction, you will need to know that it will take lots of drive, luck, assertiveness and willingness to accept low paying work for a few years.

mistro · Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 9:49 am Post subject:

Creative writing is a tough field, as I'm sure you know. You'll need lots of experience (and most of that will be voluntary) to build a portfolio of work to get a job with a magazine or newspaper.

You could also write for blogs? There are lots of blogs out there paying people a small wage to write (see problogger.net). The pay is low but could lead to a piece for a magazines website and potentially into their paper based version.

My friend was in a similar boat to you and ended up getting a job working for London tourism office updating the reviews for their events website which she is using to build her portfolio and experience to move onto other things.

Goodluck.

abby_gail · New User Joined: 02 Oct 2008 Posts: 7 Career Advice: +0/-0

Start with the career center of your school. You might find jobs you didn’t even consider. Have you tried working in a senior center or after-school program teaching creative writing? If you are really in need of direction, start looking online for information related to what you want to do.

jb · New User Joined: 29 Sep 2008 Posts: 8 Career Advice: +0/-0

How about working for a nonprofit? There is usually a need not only for office personnel, but also someone who can be responsible for their publications and newsletters. Fundraising is another area which you might be able to use both the business and writing interests.

suda · Newbie Joined: 09 Oct 2008 Posts: 2 Career Advice: +0/-0

I don’t know anything about the writing, but the office assistant job depends on how specific you are when searching. Job listings can go in a general direction in need such as ‘’experience in an office environment’’. This would be anything from data entry to filing clerk to phone bank. It could be back office for a bank or an examiner for an insurance company. Depending on how narrow you have defined your search you may either find too general of a job listing or miss an opportunity because you were too narrow in your focus.

I would find an entry-level position using your business minor and then continue looking for what you want while employed. Looking for direction when in need of money is a lot harder than if you have a steady income.

juhanna · Newbie Joined: 06 Oct 2008 Posts: 3 Career Advice: +0/-0

I would keep doing the office assistant job and volunteer at a small newspaper for the experience. Many of the smaller publications today are mainly volunteer and part-time help. Try getting into the office pool of the newspaper and see if you can submit articles on the side.

Try for internships at a larger magazine or publishing house. The experience there may help if you are in need of direction.

abby_gail · New User Joined: 02 Oct 2008 Posts: 7 Career Advice: +0/-0

Craigslist! I know I tell lots of people that but it would work for you here too. You can not only look for possible writing and office jobs, but you can post your resume and look for work on the side. You can also look into other jobs which might fit your skills. You could also offer to write resumes.

l_steele · New User Joined: 28 Sep 2008 Posts: 8 Career Advice: +0/-0

You should also look at rewriting your own resume. Many times I see resumes that are in need of a direction. If you have job duties like filing, mail delivery and answered phones, you need to rework these with your writing skill to be quality selling points that describe the duties in positive detail.

mike_781 · New User Joined: 23 Sep 2008 Posts: 8 Career Advice: +0/-0

Try staffing agencies. These guys can not only help you gain any office skills needed, and you get in a direction which can show some focus instead of job hopping.

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