We know they’re not real and we shouldn’t compare our lives to theirs, but sometimes when watching a movie or TV show, we just can’t help but be jealous of the characters’ jobs. On Friends, when Rachel went from a coffee shop waitress to a buyer for Bloomingdale’s, we all rolled our eyes… and drooled over her new career. While that transition was an unrealistic one, many of those jobs we dream about are much more attainable than we think.
1. Rachel from Friends
The Job: Buyer at Bloomingdale’s
Description: Getting paid to shop? Umm, yes please! The buyer picks out and purchases the merchandise to stock the store, so she needs to understand customer preferences, be able to communicate with suppliers, and be able to market the products to maximize sales.
Major in: Communications (A&S) or Marketing (CSOM)
Relevant BC Courses: Public Relations, Gender and Consumer Society, and Consumer Behavior
Outside of the classroom: A buyer can work in any line of merchandise, but let’s be real – like Rachel, we all want to get paid to buy clothes. So an interest in fashion is certainly a plus, whether this is through an internship with a designer or fashion magazine, or even a personal blog (see: Rusted Revolution). However, showing up in a cute outfit to the interview isn’t enough. This job requires business sense and customer understanding, so an internship in marketing (or as an assistant buyer!) would certainly be a plus. Many large department stores have executive training programs to help you work your way up the ladder.
2. Temperance “Bones” Brennan from Bones
The Job: Forensic anthropologist
Description: It’s a little creepy, a little gross, but solving crimes just by examining remains – we have to admit, it’s also pretty cool. A forensic anthropologist examines bodies to determine cause and circumstances of death, often for a law enforcement agency.
Major in: Biology
Relevant BC Classes: Introduction to Physiology, General Chemistry, Introductory Anthropology, Forensic Mental Health
Outside of the Classroom: This is a very specialized field, so be prepared to get a Ph.D. and spend many years in training. Forensic anthropologists can work in crime labs with law enforcement agencies, for the military, or in universities. Try contacting some of these institutions for fellowships and intern positions. Since you will need so much training, you’ll definitely want to be sure this is the field for you.
3. Mary from The Wedding Planner
The Job: Wedding Planner
Description: Though J-Lo jokes that “those who can’t wed, plan,” this is not just a job for the bridal rejects. A wedding planner gets the satisfaction of planning an amazing event, all on someone else’s dime. She needs not just great taste but a capacity for organization and management. The planner must coordinate between the venue, the caterer, florists, and ideally, the groom and bride. If you choose this path, hopefully you’ll have more luck with that last one than Mary.
Major in: Communications (A&S), Art History (A&S), Human Resources Management (CSOM), or Management and Leadership (CSOM)
Relevant BC Courses: Seminar in Positive Psychology, Leading High-Performance Teams, Negotiating, Modern Architecture
Outside of the classroom: You should be developing your ability to manage projects and people, whether this is on the UGBC Event Management Team, Nights on the Heights planning committee, or even on Appa council organizing trip logistics. Wedding planners often work for themselves rather than a larger company, but you can get your start in an assistant position for a current planner – that way you’ll build contacts and experience until you’re ready to go off on your own.
4. Carrie Bradshaw from Sex and the City
The Job: Newspaper columnist about sex and relationships
Description: If you were already jealous that Carrie gets with Big, Aidan, Jack, and all the others, then prepare to turn green with envy. She also manages to use that to pay the bills. No, it’s not as bad as it sounds – she’s paid by the newspaper she writes for. You’ll need strong writing skills and also a unique understanding of a certain topic if you want a specialized column like Carrie. No one starts off with full freedom and their own column, though, so an ability to work your way up and do the lower jobs is a must.
Major in: English (A&S) or Communications (A&S), and a minor in whatever you’re interested in writing about, whether it’s Faith, Peace, and Justice, Sociology, or Women’s Studies
Relevant BC Courses: Writing Workshop: Creative Nonfiction, Writing the Self in Early Modern English, Advanced Journalism
Outside of the Classroom: To be a specialized reporter, you’ll need writing skills, so experience in publications (The Heights, The Gavel, The Chronicle, or of course Her Campus) is certainly a positive. However, also participate in activities that show your unique interest. If you’re going for a direct copy of Carrie’s column, you should get involved in BC Students for Sexual Health or Eagle Dates. Try to get an internship at a newspaper or magazine, and even if you aren’t writing there, it’s all about working your way up.
5. Gail Simmons from Top Chef
The Job: Food critic and food magazine writer
Description: OK, so she’s a real person, not a character, but she is on a show, and she does have a pretty sweet job. The woman gets paid to eat – it doesn’t get much better than that! True, it’s a little unrealistic to expect to be a judge on a food competition show, given that there’s probably under 10 people total who have that job. Being a food critic or working for a magazine like Food & Wine, though, are definitely realistic options.
Major in: English (A&S) or Communications (A&S)
Relevant BC Classes: Advanced Nonfiction Workshop: Writing for Magazines, Survey of Mass Communication
Outside of the Classroom: Having critical skills and articulation are both huge in this field. Writing restaurant reviews for a publication would be good, but showing a critical eye and writing ability in any field is great, so being an Arts & Review staffer for The Heights, for example, would be a great start. Bon Appetit and Gourmet magazines both have internships in several departments, and if you really want to focus in on food, culinary school down the line would show advanced knowledge of the field.
BC prepares us for jobs as businesswomen or nurses, teachers or doctors, but there’s so much more than that out there. It takes a bit more creativity, but those glamorous, exciting jobs are not just “seen on TV” – they’re out there for you, as long as you take the right classes, get involved, and have a real passion for whatever you’re doing!
Photo Sources:
http://www.savvysugar.com/Do-You-Exchange-Gifts-Get-What-You-Really-Wanted-6712104
http://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/temperance-brennan/
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0209475/
http://www.coutureinthecity.com/2007/09/24/the-return-of-carrie-bradshaw-sex-and-the-city-movie/
http://liveoc.wordpress.com/2010/11/05/interview-with-top-chefs-gail-simmons/