Job Market in LA for New College Grads? (Los Angeles, Paramount: loans, how much)

[Oogax3Girl]

Hey everyone. I'm about to start my senior year of college and I'm getting a degree in French, but don't have much of a desire to do anything with it. (I did a semester of teaching English and really didn't enjoy it.) Anyways, by the time I figured this all out, it was already basically too late to change and I figure a generic humanities bachelors degree is better than spending another year (or more) in school taking out higher loans and trying to figure out what I want to do.

I googled the job market in LA, but most of the things I found online were circa 2008 or around there, which I suppose makes sense because 2008 was a pretty bad year. I searched this forum back a few pages, but couldn't find anything.

I'm wondering what the current (within the next year) job market is like in Los Angeles for recent college grads. Is it possible to get a job without moving here first/having ties? I currently live in South Carolina and while I have a couple of friends from California, I don't otherwise have ties to the area.

I do have work experience. I spent two years working as an office assistant doing all sorts of office things (everything from running errands to writing receipts to answering telephones to organizing events). I'm basically just looking for an "entry level" position somewhere in LA and I'm not sure where to start or even what the current opportunity is.

[Boosane]

Originally Posted by Oogax3Girl

Hey everyone. I'm about to start my senior year of college and I'm getting a degree in French, but don't have much of a desire to do anything with it. (I did a semester of teaching English and really didn't enjoy it.) Anyways, by the time I figured this all out, it was already basically too late to change and I figure a generic humanities bachelors degree is better than spending another year (or more) in school taking out higher loans and trying to figure out what I want to do.

I googled the job market in LA, but most of the things I found online were circa 2008 or around there, which I suppose makes sense because 2008 was a pretty bad year. I searched this forum back a few pages, but couldn't find anything.

I'm wondering what the current (within the next year) job market is like in Los Angeles for recent college grads. Is it possible to get a job without moving here first/having ties? I currently live in South Carolina and while I have a couple of friends from California, I don't otherwise have ties to the area.

I do have work experience. I spent two years working as an office assistant doing all sorts of office things (everything from running errands to writing receipts to answering telephones to organizing events). I'm basically just looking for an "entry level" position somewhere in LA and I'm not sure where to start or even what the current opportunity is.

What school are you attending? Or at least its prestige/reputation? Employers will care about that especially if you have a "useless" degree ie. French.

[Oogax3Girl]

I go to the University of South Carolina, which is really well recognized in South Carolina and the southeast, but I'm not sure that many schools in the southeast (aside from perhaps somewhere like Duke) would hold a high reputation in California.

I should also note that I just spent a year living in France and the university that I went to there is one of the most reputable in all of France. (Something like the last five French presidents all attended there.) But again, I'm not sure how much clout that would carry in California.

[thelopez2]

Tourism, hotels, french tutor. How much would it cost you to get a more useful degree. 30-40k. If that degree helps you get a "real" job, immediately instead of hunting for a year, the return of investment is pretty good.

[infinitekid]

Start shopping for a mercedes benz right now...nothing is gonna bring the "ka-ching" in LA like a degree in French.

[disgruntled la native]

You'll find something if you try hard enough, but cost of living is way high and wages are stagnant. So even if you get an "entry level job" you'll barely make it.

[genjy]

You will land a decent job if you are intelligent and motivated--but don't expect your French degree from Univ of SC to be of much help.

[RudyOD]

If you have office experience, you should be able to find an entry level office job. It'll be a hunt, but I'm sure you'll manage. Expect to have room mates, and to live in an area like Koreatown (if you're smart about where you find a job, you won't have to struggle with the extra expense of a vehicle) where you'll have access to great public transportation. I have a few friends that graduated with humanities degrees as well, and they went back to get some more technical degrees from a community college.

You might want to consider looking into a paralegal program. Make sure to get California residency first, so that tuition will be super cheap (last time I check it was $46 per unit at California Community Colleges for residents.) Many paralegal programs have night courses so you can work during the day. Graduates get hired fast since it allows for law firms to cut back on attorney expenses (not a great time to be a law school grad). If it isn't for you, at least it is a short term solution to getting yourself off the ground and not getting paid minimum wage. Once you're here you might be able to find a niche for yourself.

The French have a presence in L.A. due to the film industry (French Film Festival, French Cinema Festival a week of French Film Premieres in Hollywood) and the evolving photography scene in Los Angeles (Welcome to Paris Photo Los Angeles - international fine art photography fair - Paramount Pictures Studios). If you are savvy and make the right connections you could find yourself gaining frequent flyer miles between LA and Paris. Remember, your degree is an ASSET as long as you know how to use it. Best of luck! (Also check out: Bonjour L.A.! Los Angeles with a French touch - Los Angeles Francophone & Francophile )

[kasuga888]

I guess its a little better than a spanish degree in LA

[RudyOD]

Originally Posted by kasuga888

I guess its a little better than a spanish degree in LA

Sarcasm noted, but if it were a degree in Spanish translation (legal) with certification, then the O.P. would be set. Or Korean for that matter - lots of Korean firms are use the L.A. as their launchpad for the North America market, and invest a lot here. (Perhaps I should learn Korean, tired of my jobs, ha )