Two distinguished department alumni returned to campus this semester to assure undergraduates and members of the Purdue Public Relations Student Society of America that there are jobs in today's economy for communication students.

Ted McDougal, B.A., 1997, is senior vice president and director of Ketchum Public Relations Corp.'s Midwest office. He was joined by Jeff Bodzewski, B.A., 1998, vice president, who leads Ketchum's Midwest public affairs work.

	Ted McDougal, center, talks with faculty and students

McDougal told a group of gathered students and faculty that if you're good at your job, the job outlook today is OK. He told students to be open-minded about jobs they might accept.

"Don't be concerned with pay and prestige," he said.

McDougal said he almost didn't take the first job he was offered in his field. He had been bartending and making a lot of money doing it, when he got a job offer at a startup daily as a sports editor. It was a lot less money, but he knew it would lead to bigger and better things.

Bodzewski told students today was a good time to be a "generalist" because you never know who your client or employer might be. And both men encouraged students to not turn down internships.

"Take the job that gets you in the door. Once inside, you can prove yourself."