Finding A Job In Today’s

Depressed Marketplace

Dr. Frank E. Parcells, Professor of

Communication @ Austin Peay State University

How to Identify Job

Opportunities

Still Hot Communication Jobs Today

Corporate IMC

Corporate Video & Media Technology

Internet Content Management

Online News Writers, & Editors

Web Design & Internet Services

Anatomy of Today’s Job Market

Who’s Hiring COMM Who’s Hiring COMM Grads Now?Grads Now?

Average Starting Salaries in Average Starting Salaries in Communication Industry TodayCommunication Industry Today

Surprising Facts About Today’s Communication Employment

Women continue to have more success in the Women continue to have more success in the communication labor market than do men.communication labor market than do men.

Graduates in traditional print journalism Graduates in traditional print journalism experienced a decline in the level of full-time experienced a decline in the level of full-time employment.employment.

Graduates in PR, IMC, and Web design fared Graduates in PR, IMC, and Web design fared better than those in print journalism or better than those in print journalism or broadcast mediabroadcast media..

Job Centers Available for New Communication Graduates

Make use of the PRSA Job Center Make use of the PRSA Job Center athttp://www.prsa.org/jobcenter/.athttp://www.prsa.org/jobcenter/.

Use the IABC Job Centre Use the IABC Job Centre athttp://jobs.iabc.com/home/index.cfm?athttp://jobs.iabc.com/home/index.cfm?site_id=65.site_id=65.

Try out the National Communication Try out the National Communication Association Job Center at Association Job Center at http://www.natcom.org/Default.aspx?id=505.http://www.natcom.org/Default.aspx?id=505.

Communication Job Opportunities in

2012

Absolute Essentials for Communication College

Job Searches

o Be flexible and focused.

o Broaden the number of communication careers you are considering.

o Apply for as many jobs and recruiting opportunities as possible.

o Join professional communication organizations during your college studies.

o Network as extensively as possible with communication professionals through Linkedin.com and professional organizations during your college experience.

o Do  at least three internships  during your college studies.

o 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.

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.

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.

Develop Job and Internship Search Leads Through Interviews with Pros

Contact communication industry pros with whom Contact communication industry pros with whom you’ve networked and ask to do a phone or email you’ve networked and ask to do a phone or email interview to collect information. Must be phone or interview to collect information. Must be phone or email to save them time and make it convenient!email to save them time and make it convenient!

Call it Call it fact finding fact finding as a way to collect more contacts as a way to collect more contacts and information about upcoming job and internship and information about upcoming job and internship opportunities. opportunities. Don’t wait for formal job or intern Don’t wait for formal job or intern announcements!announcements!

Take job and internship searching as a serious matter – Take job and internship searching as a serious matter – make it your priority – and not just another bothersome make it your priority – and not just another bothersome college taskcollege task..

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!

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.

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!

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.