Do what you love. Don't settle for anything less.

So as I have mentioned already, I graduate this May. May 8th to be exact which is approximately 18 days away and yes I still do not have a job lined up. I always knew that I could find a job - I've had three internships with great companies, was a hiring coordinator at the age of 20 for a huge retail company, and I have always been involved in many activities in and outside of campus. So lets just say that I am extremely proud of my resume and the work that I have accomplished.

Even though I have applied to as many as 50 jobs, I still have not had a first interview. It was frustrating at first and I even felt like giving up and waiting to look for more jobs till after I graduated. But that is not the way to make it and believe me I have never stopped looking and applying. I have applied everywhere from Ohio, Florida, New York, to Timbuktu (not really but you get the point) because I know that if I want to be in the field of public relations you cannot limit yourself to one area.

However, the point of this posting is that I did get an opportunity through one of my uncle's relations to work in the BIG APPLE - New York City! I thought this was my dream come true because it would be working for a media relations company that dealt with networks like ESPN! Before I flew my "anticipating, can't wait to work here" little self to the big city, I had a first interview with one of the account executives. Let's just say the job description really wasn't what I thought it would be.

The interview about myself went great and then he asked me some questions. He asked if I had anyone I could live with in New York because since it was an entry-level position the pay would not be very good ( but the pay was even worse because this was a position many people would love the opportunity to work in). This itself did not deter me because I was willing to suffer to get my dream job and then he told me the job description. At the University of Toledo I do media relations as an intern and my supervisors are media relations supervisors. We write stories, send press releases, establish relations with the media :), and we use public relations to help maintain the image and awareness of the University. At this media relations company, it is more of a financial consultant position. You take the network's budget and you fit it into what the network has available. This might sound enticing to a lot of people and many people asked why did I not go and see if I could get the job, but I do not want to sit at a desk and crunch numbers all day. I am actually decent in math ( I was in advanced math classes in high school) but it is not my strong suit and I know that I would not be happy. I want to be a public relations professional in a corporate or agency setting. I want to use my creative talents to bring my clients awareness to the public and provide a fantastic image to the community.

I know that I do not have a "job" right now and maybe I still will not have one on May 9th, but I know what I want. Even if that means working at the local coffee shop or waiting tables in my hometown before I find a job in a public relations setting and an opportunity into the PR world. Do what you love folks. Don't settle for anything less because we only live once and it is not worth it to be unhappy.