Help getting work experience please!

[pentoman]

For the past few months my efforts to get into motoring journalism (as my first real job) have been going pretty unrewarded. I'm not expecting miracles, but would at least like replies to letters asking for work experience.
Mercedes Enthusiast I'm talking about you - Letter (including name dropping one of the editor's friends) & CV, and email all sent to the editor, nothing heard .


Aside from an article mentioned as 'commended' in the 2004 Daily Telegraph (v. popular newspaper in UK) Young Motoring Writer Competition, and my own confidence and enthusiasm, I don't have much to run with.

It's not an easy thing to get into, taking a journalism course has been suggested by friends but I don't think it'll make people any more likely to reply to me, just waste time and money.


So i'm thinking of applying to a computer statistics modelling/programming type job with an Investment bank (my degree was in this sort of thing).

Is this wrong of me? It's likely twice as well paid and they'd train me, but would I be selling out?
What are investment banks like, has anyone worked for one?


If I had the choice to go with what I love (cars) I would, but I don't seem to have that choice .


Depressing isn't it

Russ