Just be realistic in your salary. With the economy, you would be lucky to find something around $40k.

If you can't find a job, try lowering your requirements. Jobs are always available, but people just ask for too much and complain about jobs are not available.

 

i know a person who started in market research straight out of college within that salary range. its not outside the realm of possibility.

 

4 years of college @15k a year tuition (just for a public school here in CA) and only $40k 1st year out...Kind of discouraging knowing people without high school diplomas can go out and get jobs that pay higher than that. I guess a MA is the only way to break into the next pay bracket these days.

 

I graduate tomorrow, with a marketing degree as well. Don't waste your time posting resumes on career builder, monster etc unless you want to get ten phone calls a day from head hunters looking to fill crappy sales positions. Entry level with a marketing degree will most likely be a sales (80%) or low level market research job (20%) I spent months searching for that golden opportunity that paid well and was very unsuccessful even though I have an excellent resume, internships and good grades. Your best bet for a good job opportunity is networking with the people you know, it landed me a job. although I am not making a lot of money, I was able to land a spot in a prestigious agency in Manhattan with plenty of growth potential. Don't be so concerned with making big bucks right after school, focus more on working for a company that promotes quickly and has endless potential for career pathing. If your smart and you can work hard, the money will come your way soon enough

 

You can always get into pharmaceutical sales. They typically start at 45-50k, the work environment is excellent, hours are even better and promotion potential is there.

 

My restaurant is looking for a waiter.

 

I heard that was becoming highly saturated. I think I might lower my standards a bit and just bartend a few nights. I have been a bartender for 5 years now, I'm just sick of the restaurant business. I appreciate all the comments, time for a new game plan.

 

man...

i took a "low" salary offer of $50k +benefits for my first job after getting my BS in mechanical engineering.

i guess after 10-15 years though if you're good you'll be bringing home a lot more...

 

I've had some councelling from the local authorities on job seeking, and according to the experts, job offers on the internet/newspapers etc, are only the tip of the iceberg. What you need to do is send spontaneous offers to companies, as that is the hidden part of the market, and quite lucrative.

Having worked in some international companies, I find that sometimes there's a huge turnaround in staff to the degree where up to a third of all employees are replaced every year (retirement/being kicked out or simply them finding another job and the company having to replace them). So there's definitely a lot of jobs out there.

You could also go to a local employment office and ask for advice on writing a CV/resume, writing a cover letter for spontaneous offers, and so on. Do a google search as well, lots of good advice there.

But you need to build up a list of companies in your area, and then start sending in letters. Each cover letter should also be tailored to fit the company you're writing to, for example you could mention that you've heard something good about their products, or that you've been told the work environment is great, etc... etc... If the letter feels like it was written for 'that' particular company, it stands out more.

And have no shame in calling the reception and asking the receptionist to give you the full name of someone working in recruitment at HR, you need to send the letter "To the attention of: Mr/Mrs xxxx yyyyy" so that it goes right to the correct person. If you just address it to the company, who knows where the letter may end up. An other practice is to also mark the letter "Private and confidential", you don't want any old person to open the letter... Might seem a bit geeky or ridiculous, but it's just a case of professionalism and confidentiality on your part.

Don't forget to keep a list of companies you've sent letters to, nothing's worse then sending them a second letter a few months later, they just might remember you and find it invasive if they keep getting the same/similar letters from you.

Finally, when sending a letter to a particular person, tell them in the letter that you will give them a call one week later to get an update/feedback and discuss your potential candidature. You need of course the direct phone number of the person you've sent the CV to, and this follow up call is a good way to gouge their interest in you, as well as showing them you're serious. You never know if the person you sent the letter to, might not even be the right person even after all the research you've done on the company, but with you calling them, they'll be able to direct you to another more appropriate person, and if they know they'll get a call from you, they won't just throw your letter in the bin.

So a ton of tips out there, some more appropriate then others

 

Radio and TV sales pays excellent. The problem is that you need to get in and work your butt off for little pay for the first year. You'll gain accounts through hard work and attrition and make $80k or more in 3 years.