Jobs for Recent University Grad? (Atlanta, Lenox: 2009, apartment complex, leasing)

[mackenzie43]

Hi, everyone As we are all aware, the economy is in a major slump and is affecting the job market accordingly. I just graduated from a prestigious university in North Carolina with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. I graduated in the top 25% of my class. My plan is to take a year off of school to (hopefully) gain some experience in the law field, and then proceed to law school in Fall 2009 at either Emory University or Georgia State (unless I happen to find something I love to dowhile I'm not in school). I spent nearly a month in Atlanta immediately following graduation so that I could do some networking to find a job and an apartment. Well, the apartment part was easy; it's the job part that is killing me!! I have been working since the age of 15 and continued to work part-time throughout college, so I am no stranger to hard work. I have had jobs in various industries (retail, sales, advertising, marketing, restaurants, customer service, telemarketing, accounting...I could go on and on). There was a period of time when I was working three jobs and maintaining my status as a full-time college student, so I obviously don't mind working. I have a few really good connections in Atlanta, and both of them have been great in terms of willingness to circulate my resume among their attorney friends. I even went to Lenox to apply for jobs in retail and have interviewed with one apartment complex to become a leasing consultant (I also have a friend in that industry who is circulating my resume). I registered with a staffing agency, as well. BUT NOTHING YET!! Everyone is telling me to just be patient and wait for something to come through. They all think that I need to take a break from school and work and just relax for a while. It's not that I don't want to relax - it's just I'm a naturally proactive and intrinsically motivated woman, and I like to keep my momentum. I'm always working toward something. I'm laid-back in nature and not easily "ruffled," but this uncertainty is worrying me a lot.

So my questions are as follows: what is the best way to ensure that I will have a job soon? How often should I follow up with employers? Which markets seem to be a bit more flexible in terms of allowing entry level employees within?

Any advice from you all would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance

[goozer]

I sympathize with your plight. You work hard to get into a good college, you work hard once you're in college, and then you graduate and the economy is in the tank so you struggle to get a halfway decent job. While it sounds like you want to test the water on law before deciding to commit to law school, you might want to consider getting a job where you can and then trying to volunteer 10 hours a week at a DA's office, a public defender, or some such public interst law organization. That way, you could get the flavor of what a law career might be like, even if you cannot land a paralegal-type job. The other thing to consider is trying to get a legal related job in DC or NY -- both major hubs for legal employment. You can always bail in a year or two to go to law school (in Atlanta or somewhere else), but the experience would be similar to what you would find at a similar law firm, etc, in Atlanta.

[grindin]

I feel your pain. FInding a job is hard in a competitive city like Atlanta, especially during a recession right now. I finally found a job after much networking and prayer. But given the gas prices nowadays, I've been considering dancing on the side at one of the many strip clubs around here to make ends meet. Since I'm overweight, my stage name will be "Food Court". All jokes aside, I hope things will work out for you.

[mackenzie43]

Thanks for the advice, goozer I actually considered DC - I have a lot of family there: 2 cousins who were attorneys and one who is a judge...I have a cousin in NY who is an entertainment attorney...but I think NY is a little much for me right this moment. I want to live in a city but not THE city lol I would definitely move there if I had the means right now, but I think I would struggle a lot there in terms of just making ends meet. I'm just assuming. The main reason why I considered Atlanta is because of the entertainment industry there, namely music. And I eventually want to be an entertainment lawyer. But thanks for giving me something else to consider and for your words of encouragement
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and LMAO at grindin!! Thank you for the laugh, omg! haha I'm dying over here! Your response is so much like one that my best friend would've given me...A laugh always helps
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I'll just keep at it - something is bound to come through!Take care, the both of you

[grindin]

I bet that the DC area has many more law firms and attorneys overall than the Atlanta area. You may want to check up there too. I have family up there and I love it. Too bad the cost of living is so high there though...otherwise I'd move up there in a heartbeat...

[j0ja]

Just keep at it: I went through college myself and got a liberal arts degree and graduated during a really tough job market too. I had all kinds of jobs I could have had out of high school and had to pay my own way through (to pay tuition). Only in my late 20s did I get settled into a career, so it essentially took me about 5 years after graduating to go through many "McJobs" to find something I felt somewhat comfortable in.

The best thing you can do is network. Try doing things like joining a local club such as Toastmaster's or Rotary. You can definitely network in places like that. Honestly, Atlanta has one of the strong job markets. For your area, DC definitely sounds like an option. Though I am not crazy about government, have you considered Federal, Local or State employment? Now they typically overpay what people make in the private sector and if you at least have a bachelor's degree, you can usually get somewhere in the government.

Though I have almost no direct experience, I think the entertainment industry is just tough no matter what part of it you are involved in.
Good luck!

[mackenzie43]

Hey jOja...ironically, I HATE government lol At least my state government class during my last semester was absolutely the most boring BORING BORING (I must emphasize how boring it was because at 2:19 am, I can't think of a better word lol) class I've ever had. Surely, there are some intricacies in some form of government that I will probably enjoy...I'll look into some more options. Thanks for your input

[HoneyRyder]

The obvious job for you is a Paralegal. It must be the highest paid job in the legal field after attorneys. You will get experience working at a major law firm and will be able to get your foot in the door there...if they like you they could offer you a position after law school. You might need some other certification to be a paralegal though.

Another job you could get is one that deals heavily with the law. For example, insurance is a heavily regulated industry. You could get a job working for their legal department (or perhaps as a claims adjuster). Anyway, I'd try to get a business job. You will fare better in corporate law with some business experience.

Also, volunteering in the public interest capacity is a great idea!

Good luck and keep searching!!!

[mackenzie43]

Muchas gracias, HoneyRyder...coincidentally, I was talking today to this random guy in GNC about being a paralegal. That may be feasible for me. I'm just going to do what feels right, I think. I have put out soooo many different contacts to various employers, so I'm positive that something will come through for me. If I can so without sounding pompous, I am definitely a go-getter!! Results are bound to happen, I believe...
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Thanks for the kind words Take care