Hey Chris - 2 weeks out of college I landed a job in marketing through a friend's dad's referral at a software company about an hour away. Got my feet wet with everything from research to sales engineering, design, etc. Went to night school for my MBA while working there which was a great experience. Got to see and learn about the inner workings of a lot of other companies from startups to Fortune 100's. From there I've traveled a varied path - Working in the world of investments at a brokerage, then on to an e-learning design company startup where I was employee #3, to health insurance and employee benefits, to being self employed as a freelance consultant and designer full time for a year, to working at a software company again and still doing some freelancing on the side.

Probably my best is advice for getting started is that it's not as much what you know but who you know. I met a lot of people through the MBA program and also have gotten some great insight and connections being a freelancer for a variety of companies ranging from diesel trucks and industrial equipment to vacation rentals in Maui to electrical contractors, a health food company, and a few other software/tech companies.

I'd suggest some professional networking when you can, but not only that. Internships would be a great way to get your foot in the door as well. I tried doing some shoulder rubbing through the American Marketing Association and other Professional Guilds and stuff and in the end, honestly they were all a waste of time. The best connections and contacts I've made have been at places you'd least expect. Weddings, my neighbors at a campground, some guy broken down at the boat launch, riding up a ski lift, that sort of thing. It's real easy to ask "so what do you do" in those kind of situations and strike up a conversation and try to steer it towards occupations and companies. You never know where it will lead.

I'm FINALLY working with a friend, doing some design/consulting, etc. for his custom marine shop and services. He's doing ballast, stereo and electrical upgrades, light service work and repairs, procurement and consignment, etc. I'm hoping it will take off and become something I can invest fully into. It would be a dream come true.