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Jobs for a Sociology Major
Hexmage-PA
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
I graduated earlier this month with a Bachelor's Degree in Sociology and am in the process of looking for work. Does anyone have suggestions for entry level positions I could be applying for?
Hexmage-PA on
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So how's teaching sound?
Things like marketing, advertising, or HR/recruiting would be good.
Here's what I've got under skills on my resume:
- Typing speed of approximately 80 words per minute
- Good sense of design aesthetics
- Able to handle multiple responsibilities
- Amicable and patient in regards to others
- Tolerant of differing points of view
- Familiarity with word processor programs (such as Microsoft Word)
- Knowledge of survey research methods and experience utilizing them
- Possessed of superb writing skills which allow information to be relayed in a clear and concise manner
- Attentive to detail
- Able to think critically
- Willing to cooperate and compromise as part of a team
I've already applied for a Marketing Assistant position at Fort Benning (I'm in Georgia, BTW), a Marketing and Advertising job at BCMG in Atlanta, and I just took the required test for the Juvenile Probation and Parole Specialist position last week.
What kind of actual job and internship experience do you have? That's what's going to make the difference.
For some of those more general skills (such as tolerant of different points of view/able to handle multiple responsibilities) - do you have work experience and examples that would show that rather than tell me? Showing me that you have good design aesthetics rather than telling would also be good as well.
But yes, your options are mostly in administrative/teaching/communications. Right now it's getting any tangentially related experience under your belt, but I think it'll be easier to chase what you're passionate about.
I'm sure knowledge in social/societal aspects would provide some benefit in these types of occupations.
Unless you have a lifelong passion for sociology, learn a few things about excel/PowerPoint and go corporate. Corporate living is the tits
Also, how do you graduate with a degree without knowing what kind of job you want after?
In reality, you can apply to really any entry-level position in a corporation other than engineer or accountant. HR might be a good thing to check out. Having a degree is really all you need to get your foot in the door corp.-wise, and if you like it you'll pick up what you need along the way.
The selection processses are long - anywhere from six months to three years - but, on the plus side, government's rarely go out of business and marry high job security to fairly competitive compensation (the lowest level analysts start with 46 to 50 k a year salaries up here, plus plenty of money set asside for learning opportunities and lots of room for advancement).
I can only assume that analyst positions in U.S. Federal and State government departmetns and agencies would be similar in their basic requirements for entry-level analyst candidates - though, of course, I could be totally off base. And I have no idea what kind of compensation you'd be looking at in your State. But it may be worth checking out, as government work offers a lot of very interesting opportunities for someone interested in developing and implementing social/economic policies and programs.
I don't have any internship experience. As for my previous jobs, I've worked as a stock clerk at a local grocery store, been a sales rep at a telemarketing company (I only answered incoming calls, so don't accuse me of having interrupted your dinner), performed minor maintenance work as a student worker at my college, and painted designs on tombstones for a small company called Designer Memorials.
It was really just a means to a degree, but I did develop an interest in it along the way. I wouldn't be heartbroken if I didn't get a job directly related to sociology, though.
Not that great. I was surprised that I passed the one statistics course I had to take. However, I did have to take two classes associated with survey research and seemed to do okay with the applications of statistics associated with it.
I initially wanted to get an art related job, such as being a graphic designer or a concept artist.
I attended the Atlanta branch of the Savannah College of Art and Design for one year. However, I transferred to another school and pursued a sociology degree. There were two primary reasons for this:
1) SCAD is really expensive, and I was afraid I'd be in debt for the rest of my life if I stayed.
2) Over the past few years I've become increasingly dissatisfied with my drawing and have lost a lot of the enjoyment it once gave me. I don't know if I'm really making mistakes or if I'm just imagining things (I do have an anxiety disorder, and often I won't see exactly what's wrong with a drawing but will want to erase or discard it because it just doesn't look right somehow).
I still want to be an artist, and after a long period of not drawing at all I'm trying to get back into it. I don't think I'm talented enough yet, though, and as for now I just need to get a job so I can start paying back my bills.
I think I'd prefer working for the government over a private company. I'm just having trouble finding where the jobs are at.
Even if you don't think you have a "network," just mention your job search to anyone who currently works. With the job market like it is, employers can pick and choose who they interview (much less hire), and they almost always would rather interview someone recommended by a current employee rather than a stranger. And once you get into a company, you will be first to know about new job openings - So even if you stock shelves for a while, you could eventually move in to a different department, or at the very least wait out the economy for a bit while you figure out what your interests are.
Edit: as far as government work, my girlfriend works for them and says it is difficult right now to get hired. Because of the economy people are staying in jobs they might otherwise leave, and hiring priority goes to people already employed by the gov. So just like the private sector, just try to get in any way you can and then keep your eye out for opportunities to transfer to a department closer to your interests.
I know you're not looking for more school, but Art School is(can be) beneficial in various ways in terms of talent discovery and overall creative development.
It's also important to note on the art side that you don't really get what you pay for. What I mean is that you don't need to go to a really expensive school to get a great art education. I would recommend sitting in on a few classes at different places and seeing what the professor and facilities are like. However, that's more long term advice.
Right now, I'd recommend going to a few temp agencies. It's important that you ask what the temp agencies specialize in. You don't want to be sitting around a temp agency for construction workers if you have no experience in that field. Also, you could look into print shops depending on your art skills. You don't have to be able to paint the Mona Lisa to be a great printer.
These include:
Coca Cola
Home Depot
UPS