Gerald Said:

Should I get my MBA? 24/F, worked 2 yrs -Int'l Banking in Chicago - just moved to Pittsburgh, looking 4 a job.

We Answered:

If your heart's not completely into it, and you don't have a pretty good idea what you want to focus on, then don't put yourself in a position to accumulate more debt right away. Take some temp positions while you search and try to figure out what to do. Big cities often have specialized agencies for financial workers, so it won't necessarily mean boring admin duties.

Also, do you have contacts or an alumni network you can draw on? Even if they're back in Chicago, they might have friends of friends where you are.

Melinda Said:

Pittsburgh Traffic from the Airport to Oakland?

We Answered:

Traffic by the airport isn't bad at all, unless you try to drive thru the Robinson shopping area on the weekends. What you will have problems with is commuting into town (Greentree and thru the tunnels). I think the airport is way too far to commute to Oakland given all the other closer options. If you are set on staying in that direction, try looking at hotels actually in Greentree. You'll save yourself 15+ minutes vs staying closer to the airport, yet in the eves/weekends you'll still have easy access to Robinson for shopping/dining or downtown too. If it was me, I'd stay north of the city and avoid the tunnel mess all together. There is a Holiday Inn on McKnight that would be a pretty easy commute, yet still give you easy access to shopping/dining.

There are bus routes you could catch from Robinson, but I'm not certain how difficult it would be to get to Oakland using them. I'd think you'd have to change your bus at least once to get to Oakland though I'm not sure. I've only taken a bus once and it was 10 years ago. Check out their website, I'm sure there is a route planner you could use. I can't remember if it's PAT or PTA...Pittsburgh Transit Authority or Pitt Auth. on Transit....

Good luck to you!

Michele Said:

How to search for career opportunities outside of your area?

We Answered:

Hi --

You seem to have a fairly clear idea of what you want, but as you may suspect, that is of little interest to a prospective employer. This is why I always suggest 'proposal' self-marketing, rather than resumes.

The school where you got your degree may have a placement office of some sort, and may be able to help you. What you want to do is find some problem in the industry of interest, or at a particular business where you would like to work, and then create a proposal that solves the problem and involves you as a key player. This involves research. The only enticement an employer wants is someone who clearly understands a problem they are facing, and has a plan for solving the problem.

Sending a stranger your resume and hoping to persuade them of what a wonderful employee you will be simply won't cut it. A well-crafted proposal will set you apart from all the job-seekers out there. Visit the site below for the free download if you want more information on this.

Hope this helps.

Best, Steve

Samuel Said:

Does majoring in French have potential for a good job?

We Answered:

My wife's best friend majored in both French and Political Science at Michigan State University. She graduated magna *** laude and was recruited by Interpol to work in Lyon, France. While she has had the usual job problems everyone faces (usually personality conflicts), she LOVES France and doesn't ever intend to move back to the U.S. So there's all kinds of job possibilities, depending on what you want to do.

As for the question about your degree, it is true that a degree in a foreign language is not particularly useful if you won't be in a line of work where you'll use it, so you might want to consider a double-major like my wife's friend. That way you'll be more well-rounded and still have the added benefit of being able to speak a foreign language.

Shannon Said:

What is the best site to find a job?

We Answered:

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