The BS vs MS Dilemma

I'm finding myself at a bit of a deciding-point regarding the job search. I had been looking for the last 2-3 months in the Twin Cities Metro area and have had little to no success. Many of the jobs I found in a field related to Tech Comm (or the field itself) ended up wanting a BS and like 5 years of experience post-grad (or they wanted an MS). Um HELLO!? How can anyone start a career if their BS isn't enough? How can people expect us to get our careers started this way? Now granted, as Livesey mentioned, that can be a hopeful not a requirement--but the jobs I applied for all turned me down citing that very fact--lack of experience. The only jobs I can find that I'd likely get, pay $10 an hour and are crummy service jobs. How can I build 5 years of experience working in the field if I'm reduced to a job at Target in the check-out lane?! I'm frustrated! Maybe it's just the market in TC area, I've heard other people in other fields say that it's just saturated and not much to be found.

On another note, I have been talking with a woman from NASA Goddard Space Center in Maryland (6 miles from DC)--she had made it seem like she had a job offer to make (at first). Now, I'm not quite so sure there's going to be any decisions made any time soon. I keep getting bounced around in e-mail messages and no follow-up interviews have been set. Since it's getting so clsoe to G-Day (graduation) I think I'm going to make the plan to fly back to California now. Stay with the folks, look for a crappy job, (I figure if I have to take a crappy job I might as well have one in sunny & warm rather than frozen & dull) then see what happens. I would like to start doing some freelance work (writing / design) for local non-profits. I think that would be a good start. Once I get established, I will begin applying for Grad School (probably at CalPoly in the town my parents live in).

So, that's my plan, Californa or bust! Hopefully not bust!

I don't blame the degree, I don't blame the school, I don't attribute this to any lack of performance or ability on my part--I simply think the job market right now is very ill-tempered and difficult.... Darn politicians!