Tonight begins something new. For many finding the right job can be a challenge and a bit discouraging. Get The Job Q&A is an opportunity for job seekers to tell their story and build business connections. If you know of a job opportunity for the seeker please contact me directly at mariadjames [at] gmail.com.
Photos provided by Kia Jefferson
Quick Snapshot
Name: Kia Jefferson
Current Location: Washington, DC Metro Area
Type of Job Wanted: Public Relations/Communications/Marketing
Willing to Relocate: Yes
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Q: Tell us a bit about you
A: I guess my story starts with BET. I don’t know what age I was, but I was young…perhaps middle school. BET came on only at night and I would stay over my girlfriend’s house to watch. Donnie Simpson, Sherry Carter….those Video Soul episodes did something to me. Years later in high school – it was Oprah. This black woman had her own show on a major network. Wow! I then started seriously considering a career in communications. Everyone, my family included, thought such a career would not be steady but I wouldn’t take no for an answer. I went on to graduate from Lincoln University in Pennsylvania and at that time they didn’t have a Communications Department – I had to take all my courses at Temple University in Philadelphia my junior year. The program was competitive and expensive but I didn’t let that stop me. Since Lincoln didn’t have a communications department, I was on my own to find my own internships and mentors. I went on to become a National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) intern and was placed in Missouri the summer upon graduation – I even won an anchor spot (one of two) during their yearly convention. After that and an entry level job in television (Production Assistant), I landed a job in Public Relations in my hometown of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. After 3 years of sending my resume to BET – once on a coffee mug in a recipe format, I eventually got in – as a temp. in BET’s tape library. Everybody thought I was crazy but I knew my gamble would eventually pay off. I left my family and friends behind and moved to the outskirts of Washington, DC. After a year of shoveling tapes I landed in the marketing department. I was now booking events with Sherry Carter- the same personality that captured my interest in childhood. After my position was eliminated in 2001, I was rehired in 2007. In 2010 I was downsized due to the slow economy and department reorganization.
Q: What are you doing now?
A: Since then, I have been job searching. Monday- Friday, I get up like I am going to work and I am on the computer – searching websites, sending out resumes, re-connecting and networking. I have been fortunate to land some clients and have started a consulting business, Creative Consulting, but the work is not steady.
Q: What would be your ideal job?
A: My ideal job would be one that has some type of creative element and is primarily in the communications or marketing department. This element can be found in a variety of industries (Non Profit, Private, etc). Example- writing proposals, researching demographics, working with clients, promoting/coordinating events. I would love to have a voice for a multicultural project or an organization that values the voice of an underserved population.
Q: Tell us something unique about you
A: In 2005, I was hand selected among 1,000 applicants to be on the Barbie Collector panel in LA. As an avid black Barbie collector, this was a dream come true. At that time, I had the idea to pitch Mattel on an African American sorority series. As my sorority’s centennial approached, Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA), I focused my efforts on an AKA Barbie. After 3 years of pitching, researching and keeping in touch with the marketing professionals at Mattel, the AKA barbie was born. To date, that is my proudest accomplishment. It confirmed that my love for ethnic marketing, my ideas and today’s multicultural audience are all relevant.
Read the article: BET Article- Barbie Shows up at AKA Rush
http://www.bet.com/news/news/2008/02/11/newsarticlealphakappaalphabarbie.html
Connect with Kia directly on LINKEDIN
What Do You Think?