Taylor Knowles
Lindsey Derrick graduated from University of Georgia’s Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication in 2011 in hopes of becoming a sports reporter. Two years later, she is still trying to find the perfect job to jumpstart her career.
The journalism industry took a massive hit along with most of the job market in 2007, but recent studies show that graduates leaving college are becoming more successful in finding work.
Each year surveys are sent out to graduates who are asked to disclose their employment status. Questions may include whether or not the graduate is employed, if the job is full-time or part-time, how much it pays or if their job correlates to their field of study. Findings from the Annual Survey of Journalism and Mass Communication Graduates, from the James M. Cox Jr. Center for International Mass Communication Training and Research were released on Aug. 9, 2012.
Director of the Cox Center, Dr. Lee B. Becker, associate director, Dr. Tudor Vlad and graduate research assistant, Konrad Kalpen reported that from 2010 to 2011, bachelor’s degree recipient’s full-time employment status was up from 58.2 percent to 62.2 percent. Research also showed that there was a slight increase in the salary compared to the year before. This change doesn’t seem like a large increase, but researchers are confident that this number will continue to rise.
Despite the research, some students are still struggling to find full-time, high-paying jobs. Derrick says the full-time job search has been anything but easy.
Derrick said that she was fortunate enough to have a job waiting for her after graduation and has had three jobs since graduating. Initially, she was employed as a freelance sports writer and is currently a public relations contract writer for Dalton Public Schools.
“Both of these are part-time, and I'm finding it difficult to find that big job- the one with the big magazine or company. It's just really difficult and discouraging sometimes.”
Job experience is one of the factors Derrick believes is holding her back from getting the paid position she wants.
“Both of these are part-time, and I'm finding it difficult to find that big job- the one with the big magazine or company. It's just really difficult and discouraging sometimes.”
Job experience is one of the factors Derrick believes is holding her back from getting the paid position she wants.
“I'm seeing the same things with job requirements- they want someone with a master’s or someone with years of experience or both. It's really frustrating sometimes because I just feel like recent college grads aren't getting an opportunity to get job experience.”
Graduates need experience, but some employers don’t pay their interns, making the hunt for that perfect job even harder.
Dr. Leara Rhodes, associate professor of journalism at the University of Georgia, agrees that some businesses are taking advantage of the job market. However, Rhodes says this shouldn’t deter students from getting the experience they need.
Rhodes advises her students to become familiar with working on different types of platforms.
Dr. Leara Rhodes, associate professor of journalism at the University of Georgia, agrees that some businesses are taking advantage of the job market. However, Rhodes says this shouldn’t deter students from getting the experience they need.
Rhodes advises her students to become familiar with working on different types of platforms.
“Find one or two things that you can really be good at, but introduce yourself to everything else to kind of get familiar,” Rhodes said.
Cecil Bentley, director of Grady College External Relations, says unpaid internships for college grads are nothing new. Many students recognize Bentley by his job and internship listserv emails that are sent nearly every week to help students gain the work experience they need to be competitive in the job market.
“A lot of internships are unpaid,” Bentley said, “but the key things you want to make sure in there is that you are getting professional experience- you are working with someone who can be a mentor or supervisor.”
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| Cecil Bentley, director of Grady College External Relations |
“I definitely am going to check out Dawglink and the Grady Career Fair,” Allen said. “There are a lot of opportunities through UGA as a school that can lead to jobs or interesting ventures after graduation.”
Don’t know where to start in the job search? The Career Center has plenty of resources. Career Consultants can help edit resumes and cover letters, go over job search strategies and conduct mock interviews so the real thing doesn’t seem as scary.
Many students use the University’s resources to find jobs. Keith Roper graduated in December of 2012 and has already signed a contract to begin working as an evaluation analyst. He found the job listing on Dawglink, but says the key to finding the job was networking.
“Take every opportunity while you’re still in school to go to networking events,” Roper said.
With the University resources to help students find jobs and the slight increase in employment, it’s important to stay active in the job search and consider every option that becomes available.
“I think if a student is flexible and determined and focused, they will find a job,” Rhodes said. “I think the landscape is open for those types of people.”
Edited by: Nicole Galonczyk
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