I know there's been a ton of threads on this lately, but I wanted to hear some opinions on my situation.

I'm graduating in December with a degree in Public Relations. While I do like PR, crisis management, etc, I do not want to get stuck with a job doing internal communications (newsletters, brochures, etc.) for a company.

I'm interning at a very large company in RTP at the moment (for those of you that know me, please dont say what company). I'm doing internal communications, and am supposed to stay throughout the summer doing this.

I've interned there for a few months now, and the Web Communications department wants me to switch to their department doing web design (html, java, etc.) and database management & development- mainly Lotus Notes.

(I've been doing some smaller projects on the side for them, so apparently they think I have potential). I'm a very technicaly apt person, and while I dont have much prior training in this, I feel I can pick it up fairly quickly.

I'm getting the vibe that I'll have a full time position waiting on me upon graduation nomatter which department I stay in.

Do I stay in communications and HOPE to one day move up to a more prominent position, or do I take the Web Communications (Tech) job and hope that I enjoy it more? This is more of a case of "Should I take a job in what I paid for a degree in, or should I take a job that potentially seems more rewarding at the moment?"

[Edited on May 10, 2007 at 3:52 PM. Reason : .]

5/10/2007 3:32:20 PM

deciding anything based on what degree you paid for is not smart - although typically i would say what degree you earned...it's PR

how big are the 2 departments - i'd decide on which one you enjoyed more and which one you had the ability to advance the most in

5/10/2007 3:35:42 PM

two important things to remember

1) omarbadu is a douche

2) do whatever makes you happier, any difference in salary will be quickly overcome when you like waking up in the AM

5/10/2007 3:41:30 PM

Yeah just because you got a degree in something doesnt really mean anything. If an opporunity comes along that better suits you, even if in something completely off the wall, then you should seriously consider it. All things being approximately equal go with the job that is less stressful and more rewarding to you. Nothing sucks more than hating your job, even to the point sometimes its worth a little less pay and benefits just to be able to enjoy your day to day life a bit more.

5/10/2007 3:41:31 PM

I majored in Anthropology at UCLA. I help finance small breweries throughout the US, but lately I have been working with farmers providing financing for auction equipment.
Finance Pay>>>>>>>>>Anthropology pay

5/10/2007 3:43:37 PM

Yeah, I should mention that the pay is about equal in both jobs.

This place pays REALLY well. And both departments are about the same size.

Web Com - 3 people, 1 being the department head.
Communications - 4'ish people(3 or 4 people have other titles, but do a good bit of our communications stuff), as only my boss is dedicated as Internal Communications, and I'm working under her.

One thing Web Com has going for it is that the other 2 people working in it are only a few years older than me, whereas everyone in Communications is at least 15 years older. I already hang out with the younger people anyway while at work.

5/10/2007 3:50:57 PM

After doing both PR and Marketing for a few months with the new company I am with, I can tell you that working with people you get along with is great. Your self-esteem tends to be better, as you look forward to work and seeing the people and such.

Internal communications, however, would probably really suck I can imagine. Try speaking with your boss when the time comes, and evaluate what your strengths are and where you see yourself going. They should help you out, and hopefully direct you to the right dept.

5/10/2007 6:29:48 PM

Ok, so check it.

My boss was supposed to hire another intern this summer, so I was waiting on that to happen before I peace out and head to Web Communications.

NOW, I find out that she "couldnt find" another intern, so it's just me now.

I'd feel really bad going to Web Comm and leaving my boss without help. And my Web Comm boss is DIRECTLY beside my Internal Comm boss. So I'd see my old boss just as much as I do now.

WTF do I do? I'm really in a rush to do something now because the Web Comm boss was interviewing someone today to take the position, but I really think that if I want it, it's mine.

5/24/2007 6:16:55 PM

look, you know the situation a lot better than any of us. just make a decision and stop being so whiney about it. at least if you are resolute you're boss might have some respect for you. if you make it awkward and act like you did something wrong than of course everyone isnt going to be happy.

5/24/2007 6:40:01 PM

I'm not trying to be whiney, I've just never been in this type of work position, and I dont want to fuck things up.

With that said, I just called my boss and told her I'm going to interview for the other position. She was surprisingly ok with it, and understands that I'm just trying to get the most out of my internships before I graduate.

w00t!

5/24/2007 7:03:50 PM

thats my point, if you just tell them and do what you think is best, no ones probably going to think less of you. the shiftier or more guilty you act, the worse itll be.

5/24/2007 7:29:33 PM

yeah.

There's even more politics behind it that I realized though. The head of both the Communication AND Web Communications department (same guy) is on the board of a certain summer internship program. So he REALLY wants to have someone from that program intern in his department, otherwise it'd look pretty bad on his part.

That's the only thing that's holding this back now. We'll see what happens in the morning.

5/24/2007 7:57:23 PM