Career Ideas and Strategies

Creative, Consumer Researcher, Digital Media Consultant, Market/Marketing Researcher or Coordinator

Employers in this area

Advertising agencies and in-house agencies of large companies

Strategies for starting a career in advertising

• Do an internship or participate in cooperative education in a market research firm.
• Earn a Creative Writing minor, Creative Writing concentration and/or Studio Minor.
• Demonstrate talent, persistence, assertiveness and enthusiasm; be prepared to start entry-level.
• Obtain solid statistics background for research.
• Creative portfolio of writing/ideas showing originality and imagination for creative department.
• Gain knowledge of various media, contemporary tastes and trends.
• Obtain campus newspaper, TV or radio experience. Participate in student-run or personal business involving promotion and sales and/or join the Montclair State University Marketing Association.

Credit Lending, Operations, Retail, Systems, Trusts

Employers in this area

Commercial banks, Regional banks, Savings and Loan associations, Credit unions

Strategies for starting a career in banking

• Do an internship or participate in cooperative education.
• Earn a Certificate of Entrepreneurship, a Professional and Public Writing Minor, and/or Business Minor.
• Develop strong analytical and computer skills.
• Obtain cashier, teller, or clerical experience.
• Gain experience as financial officer/treasurer in campus organization.

Communications Coordinator or Specialist, Management, Sales/Marketing, Human Resources, Leadership Consultant

Employers in this area

Business organizations

Strategies for starting a career in business/industry

• Do an internship or participate in cooperative education and gain work experience through part-time jobs and related volunteer work.
• Get a Business Minor and/or a Professional and Public Writing Minor.
• Acquire computer skills.
• Secure a leadership role in campus organization.
• Join student professional associations for future networking.

Teacher, Professor, Instructor

Employers in this area

Public schools, Private schools, Colleges and universities, Libraries

Strategies for starting a career in education

• Apply to the Teacher Education Program.
• Gain volunteer experience with Big Brother/Sister program, tutoring, sports, summer camps, teen counseling, child care centers for special populations.
• Participate in school activities: debate, literary club, student publications and government, alumni and admissions work.
• Obtain graduate degree in post-secondary teaching. Master’s required to teach introductory courses. Doctorate required for full-time professorships.

Paralegal, Attorney

Employers in this area

Law firms, Corporate legal departments, Government agencies, Public service agencies

Strategies for starting a career in law

• Do an internship or participate in cooperative education.
• Get a minor on one of our programs from the Department of Justice Studies or Department of Political Science and Law.

Librarian

Employers in this area

Public, school, and university libraries, Museums, Private collections

Strategies for starting a career in library science

• Do an internship or participate in cooperative education.
• Get a part-time job in a library.
• Pursue a master’s degree secondary secondary and information science.

Research, Writing/Editing, Media Liaison

Employers in this area

Public relations firms, Advertising agencies, In-house public relations departments, Trade associations, Colleges and universities, Nonprofit organizations, Government agencies

Strategies for starting a career in public relations

• Do an internship or participate in cooperative education.
• Get a Business Minor and/or a Professional and Public Writing Minor.
• Develop strong research skills, public speaking ability, enthusiasm and good interpersonal skills.
• Become an effective team worker by working on group projects for campus organizations.

Magazines/Books/Newspapers/Editorial, Advertising/Sales, Circulation, General Books Coordinator, Production, Publicity

Employers in this area

Special interest magazines, Trade magazines, Associational and organizational magazines, Sunday newspaper supplements, Mass-market paperbacks, Educational and professional books, Religious books and magazines

Strategies for starting a career in publishing

• Do an internship or participate in cooperative education.
• Get a Journalism Minor and/or a Professional and Public Writing Minor.
• Develop word processing and editing skills.
• Join The Normal Review and/or The Montclarion.
• Develop word processing and editing skills.
• Work on student publications.

Store Management, Sales/Marketing, Human Resources: Assistant Events and/or Outreach, Receptionist, Recruiter

Employers in this area

Bookstores, Department grocery, drug, specialty and variety store chains, Online retailers

Strategies for starting a career in retailing

• Do an internship or participate in cooperative education.
• Earn a Certificate of Entrepreneurship, a Professional and Public Writing Minor, and/or Business Minor.
• Gain experience through part-time jobs.

Digital Media Consultant, Instructional Consultant, IT Specialist, Laboratory Technician, Technical Consultant

Employers in this area

Businesses, Libraries, Nonprofits, Universities and schools

Strategies for starting a career in the technical field

• Do an internship or participate in cooperative education.
• Get a job in the Office of Information Technology at Montclair State.
• Earn a Computer Science Minor.

Book Critic, Business Writer, Creative Writer, Content Manager, Copywriter, Documentation Specialist, Journalist, Freelance Writer, Literary Assistant, Manuscript Reader, Speech Writer, Technical Writer

Employers in this area

Newspapers, magazines, broadcast media, script writing, Trade, professional, or consumer publications, Advertising agencies, corporations, government agencies, colleges and universities, Any organization or publication with technical focus or technical areas

Strategies for starting a career in writing/editing

• Do an internship or participate in cooperative education.
• Get a Creative Writing Minor or Concentration, Journalism Minor and/or a Professional and Public Writing Minor.
• Select a wide variety of electives.
• Join The Normal Review and/or The Montclarion.
• Develop speaking/debate skills; write and edit reports.
• Take basic science/computer courses; gain knowledge about technical areas and trends.

Take advantage of our college’s career services team. You can make an appointment with a career coach, attend career workshops, and even meet prospective employers at on-campus career fairs.

Students at Montclair State can also access a comprehensive career guide produced by the University of Tennessee Center for Career Services. Highlights are listed below.