How I got my job: Maryna Polyakova

Age: 23

Home: Minneapolis
Job title: Assistant account executive at LaBreche

What do you do? Public relations

Salary: $35,000 to $45,000

Previous job experience: Assistant director of Premiere Modeling and Self-Improvement School, where I taught modeling classes; communications student [a work-study position] at the University of Minnesota Alumni Association

How did you get hired? I found out about an internship at LaBreche and decided to try out the agency world. I interned there while I was finishing my last year at the University of Minnesota, and after graduation they offered me a full-time position. Before I delved into full-time work, I spent a month in Ukraine, visiting family and old friends I have not seen in seven years. I came back ready to jump-start my life as a young professional.

Education: Bachelor's degree in strategic communications with an emphasis in public relations, University of Minnesota

Where do you see yourself in 10 years? It's almost unheard-of these days, but I hope to still work at LaBreche and lead one of the business practices. Both my parents spent most of their working lives at a company that they started out with, and I see a lot of value in that. Aside from my professional ambitions, I will be happily married with a couple of adorable children. I see myself having a passport full of international travel stamps, including, Greece, India, Japan, France, Russia and Ukraine.

Hobbies: Pageants (competing and coaching), modeling, ballroom dancing, traveling, reading, going to ballet and theater performances, spending quality time with my family and friends and keeping up with my Russian culture.

What is the job outlook in this industry? Hiring and lateral movement are expected to slow down this year and early into next year. Long term, the industry is expected to grow by 7 to 10 percent each year.