Finding A Job In Today ’ s Depressed Marketplace

1. Finding A Job In Today’s Depressed Marketplace Dr. Frank E. Parcells, Professor of Communication @ Austin Peay State University

2. How to Identify Job Opportunities

3. What’s Works • Slow down & network. • Be patient & keep applying. • Work the Holidays! • Don’t stop job hunting. • What Doesn’t Work • Reliance on responses to Trade Journal ads. • Job applications alone online without networking and follow up. • Counting on family friends.

4. Still Hot Communication Jobs Today Corporate IMC Corporate Video & Media Technology Internet Content Management Online News Writers, & Editors Web Design & Internet Services There are nearly than 2.5-billion Internet users worldwide today as potential media consumers!

5. Who’s Hiring COMM Grads Now? Average Starting Salary of $30,000 with B. S. in Communication Average Starting Salary of $36,200 with M. A. in Communication Anatomy of Today’s Job Market Average Starting Salaries in Communication Industry Today

6. Surprising Facts About Today’s Communication Employment • Women continue to have more success in the communication labor market than do men. • Graduates in traditional print journalism experienced a decline in the level of full-time employment. • Graduates in PR, IMC, and Web design fared better than those in print journalism or broadcast media.

7. Job Centers Available for New Communication Graduates • Make use of the PRSA Job Center athttp://www.prsa.org/jobcenter/. • Use the IABC Job Centre athttp://jobs.iabc.com/home/index.cfm?site_id=65. • Try out the National Communication Association Job Center at http://www.natcom.org/Default.aspx?id=505.

8. Communication Job Opportunities in 2012

9. Absolute Essentials for Communication College Job Searches Be flexible and focused. Broaden the number of communication careers you are considering. Apply for as many jobs and recruiting opportunities as possible. Join professional communication organizations during your college studies. Network as extensively as possible with communication professionals through Linkedin.com and professional organizations during your college experience. Do  at least three internships  during your college studies. If you have waited until the last minute to start a job search, don't panic. The hiring season is not as compressed as it used to be in the past. Keep trying.

10. Work Hard at Networking Your networking should be both on and offline. Keep business cards of people you meet in the communication industry. Use Linkedin.com as a primary social media network. It has loads of communication industry professionals as members with whom you can connect. Linkedin has over 14-million pro users with whom you can connect and build your own career network.

11. New Ways to Network andUsing On-Campus Resources Use On-Campus Resources Work with APSU Career Services to fine tune your resume and other employment forms. Ask your Communication Department professors to review your resume. Tackle on-campus Interview workshops. Employ Peer Search Resources Include your peers as employment resources in networking as they may well share job or internship leads with you. Reciprocate with your peers: share leads you don’t follow should be shared with your peers.

12. Develop Job and Internship Search Leads Through Interviews with Pros • Contact communication industry pros with whom you’ve networked and ask to do a phone or email interview to collect information. Must be phone or email to save them time and make it convenient! • Call it fact finding as a way to collect more contacts and information about upcoming job and internship opportunities. Don’t wait for formal job or intern announcements! • Take job and internship searching as a serious matter – make it your priority – and not just another bothersome college task.

13. Important Preps: Portfolio Development & Career Services Plan early on to enroll in portfolio development and other career preparatory classes. Do not overlook AP Career Services!

14. There is NO EXCUSE for Postponing of Job Seeking Preparation in Today’s Market 3. Find and schedule an internship by your Junior year in school. 4. Current communication industry trends suggest between 3 and 5 internships to lead to successful employment. 5. Begin developing professional communication contacts during your Sophomore year in school. Today’s Mandatory Preparation for Employment 1. Develop an Internship and Job Resume by the end of your Sophomore year in school. 2. Start seeking internship opportunities in the communication industry during the second semester of your Sophomore year in school.

15. Don’t Waste Your College Time: SEEK ADVICE & PREPARE A PLAN Take advising and registration seriously and don’t waste time on unneeded classes! Seek advice on what to take for a minor that will help you get a job!

16. THE JOB MARKET IS DEPRESSED BUT NOT IMPOSSIBLE TO CRACK “Yes!” These are tough economic times! BUT even with that the communication industry is still all about growth and the introduction of new technologies to speed that growth. Make no mistake about it, the communication industry is all about business communication today (successes with profits). Plan for career success in your major, minor, and elective courses you take. Develop a resume early in college. Practice interviewing and calling. Join campus student organizations (IABC, PRSA, BEA, & AE/RHO). Do practicums on campus in preparation for internships off campus. Attend professional communication organization meetings in Nashville. Develop a network of professional contacts. Do multiple internships even without pay, if necessary. Use social media and networking for internship and job hunting.