Career Advice?

[timwang2k]

Hello,

I want to work in market research and am trying to find the best path.

I already have a bachelor's in political science where I took a handful of courses that utilized SPSS and then went to grad school for 2 semesters for a Public Admin degree. I took 2 graduate level analysis classes where I did a quantitative survey research project for the Red Cross that got accepted to my school's Graduate Research Forum. After that I decided I'd rather change my focus and stopped going to school after realizing I didn't like the non Analysis classes too much.

I then heard that if you knew SPSS you "should" be able to get an analysis job easy.

I tried applying for jobs, but after sending resumes and applying to places all over the eastern half of the country and not getting any response I gave up after about half a year because the economy just kept getting worse. Although, because of a personal connection I did end up landing one job but the position was done away with by the company before I was actually hired. Of course these events took place about 3 years ago or so, so I am in no way a recent graduate.

So for someone in my position what would be best? Should I go back to school and get a Bachelor's or Master's in Marketing? Statistics? Social Science? Pursue an unpaid internship?

Would any of those ideas work?

[ruthevans41]

I went to a graduate school in Boston for the same area of study. Will your courses transfer over at all, even if they are in a little bit of a different field? If so, its crazy not to finish off your MBA. These days, an MBA is as valuable as a college degree was 10-15 years ago.