Ben Tiede ⋅ Basking Ridge, NJ Johnson & Johnson ⋅ 9 years experience

Thank you for your service.

I agree with Timothy's response - if you want to pursue a job in higher education, the PhD is likely a good idea, but otherwise it's a field where experience reigns supreme. Although it is frustrating, you may need to start with a job that you are overqualified for. But, if you find and organization that has good upward mobility, it is a field where you will be able to advance quickly.

One thing to consider is working for a consulting company or agency. There are many that specialize on communiations and/or public relations. They provide an opportunity to get a foot in the door, have a range of experiences with multiple clients, and build a network where you can land your next job.

Charles Krause ⋅ Glendale, AZ CJK, Inc ⋅ 40 years experience

Also an AF alum who gained a BS and MBA with the help of the previous GI Bill - Go for the job that uses what you love to do and fills your immediate financial requirements. If you love it, you will excel and the rest will be history.

I know this is an over simplification, but it has worked out for many guys and gals just like us.

Timothy Strickland ⋅ Frederick, MD Defense Health Agency ⋅ 10 years experience

Really, it all depends on what you ultimately want to do. If your goal is to pursue a career in education, you mention that you are a TA, than by all means a PhD is the way to go. However, if you plan on communications as your career you might want to give pause. Communications tends to be a career field that your recent work counts just as much as your degree, if not more. I would suggest you focus on building your portfolio of work and making contacts in the field. Higher education certainly plays a role in career progression. However, it can be difficult to pursue both at the same time effectively. If your top priority right now is a career, focus on the career. After all, there may be other skills that a PhD won't teach you that are more critical to your career path: web design, e-publishing, etc. Good luck.

Al Pozos ⋅ Las Vegas, NV American Automobile Association ⋅ 30 years experience

I would like to be of assistance and would suggest that you define what you would like to do. With degrees in communication it is important to focus on what your career goals are. Without that focus it is very difficult to provide any type of career counseling and whether or not a Ph.D. [I presume in Communications] would be of value or not.

Barron Evans ⋅ Ann Arbor, MI Customer Experience Change Management ⋅ 30 years experience

Foremost, thank you for your service.

You're timing is good, in that the economy, hiring trendlines (esp. w/ military service) are all up... so my advice would be to exclusively pursue the communications role, and 'hold' on the Ph.D for now - esp. since many companies will help augment your education. If you're not on LinkedIn, I would encourage registering, which would allow you to use certain search features (e.g., geography, title, etc.) to identify relevant individuals / organizations. You don't indicate work preferences, but I'd encourage you to prioritize amongst private sector, public sector, education, not-for-profit, etc. - and also - your minimum salary needs. In this way, you can focus efforts, and go in 'eyes wide open' with expectations. As well, be clear on whether relocation from Corpus Christi is an option, and if so, what are your top 4-5 preferred geographies. The final thing I would do (and LinkedIn will require this) is to establish a 'selling proposition' for yourself, e.g., what value/benefits can I provide to a hiring organization - in which you'll be able to capture both the military and educational skills gained. Hope this helps... and best wishes for success!