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[h=2]Solar engineering grad with masters only has 2 interviews out of 40 job applications[/h]
July 15th, 2012 |
Author: Contributions
I’m Aileen, 27, currently a job seeker. I graduated from NTU with Degree in Mechanical Engineering (3rd Class Honors) in Jul 2006.
Upon graduation, I worked as a business executive in a small local IT distribution firm till Jul 2008 when the owner decided to wind up the business.
The reason why I had taken up the job that is completely unrelated to my degree was because I wanted to improve on my soft skills.
Although I had seen some improvement in my soft skills after working 2 years as a business executive, I have to admit that I am not cut out for sales.
I decided that I should go back into engineering but had difficulties getting a engineering related job as it was the start of the financial crisis at that time.
As a result I took on a temporary administrative position for about 9 months. During these months I continued to send resumes and had went for 10 interviews for different jobs scopes (administration, customer services, engineering.. etc) but failed to land a permanent job.
I left for Sweden to pursue a Masters degree in solar engineering as it was my interest and I reckoned that it would increase my chances of getting an engineering job after that.
I came back to Singapore and have been actively seeking for a job. I had tried applying jobs with REC but to no avail. They seem to prefer people with semiconductor and manufacturing experience.
=> Go there to see how this company has been filled to the brim with Pinoys. And to think that the FAP has given much incentive - derived from SGs' blood and coffin money - to this company to relocate here.
I have also tried sending resumes to local solar system integrators but most are not hiring and there are only a handful of such companies in Singapore.
So far have been to 2 interviews; one is a local start up dealing with PV module manufacturing (which I think chances are low as they have expected me to have site experiences which I don’t) the other is contract manufacturing firm for account engineer position (I think chances are higher but they are still interviewing candidates for the position).
I was expecting more interviews after applying for about 40 positions because it seems that market is doing well as there are more jobs adverts compared to 2008 and 2009 but getting 2 interviews out of 40 applications is making me less confident about landing a job.
I have seen your report about job seekers leaving out their post graduate qualification to avoid being over qualified. I wonder if I should do it too to increase my chances of getting an interview.. but if I do.. how can explain the one year gap?
.
Aileen
* Letter adapted from transitioning.org, a non-profit society specially set up to cater to the emotional needs of the unemployed Singaporeans.
.
I’m Aileen, 27, currently a job seeker. I graduated from NTU with Degree in Mechanical Engineering (3rd Class Honors) in Jul 2006.
Upon graduation, I worked as a business executive in a small local IT distribution firm till Jul 2008 when the owner decided to wind up the business.
The reason why I had taken up the job that is completely unrelated to my degree was because I wanted to improve on my soft skills.
Although I had seen some improvement in my soft skills after working 2 years as a business executive, I have to admit that I am not cut out for sales.
I decided that I should go back into engineering but had difficulties getting a engineering related job as it was the start of the financial crisis at that time.
As a result I took on a temporary administrative position for about 9 months. During these months I continued to send resumes and had went for 10 interviews for different jobs scopes (administration, customer services, engineering.. etc) but failed to land a permanent job.
I left for Sweden to pursue a Masters degree in solar engineering as it was my interest and I reckoned that it would increase my chances of getting an engineering job after that.
I came back to Singapore and have been actively seeking for a job. I had tried applying jobs with REC but to no avail. They seem to prefer people with semiconductor and manufacturing experience.
=> Go there to see how this company has been filled to the brim with Pinoys. And to think that the FAP has given much incentive - derived from SGs' blood and coffin money - to this company to relocate here.
I have also tried sending resumes to local solar system integrators but most are not hiring and there are only a handful of such companies in Singapore.
So far have been to 2 interviews; one is a local start up dealing with PV module manufacturing (which I think chances are low as they have expected me to have site experiences which I don’t) the other is contract manufacturing firm for account engineer position (I think chances are higher but they are still interviewing candidates for the position).
I was expecting more interviews after applying for about 40 positions because it seems that market is doing well as there are more jobs adverts compared to 2008 and 2009 but getting 2 interviews out of 40 applications is making me less confident about landing a job.
I have seen your report about job seekers leaving out their post graduate qualification to avoid being over qualified. I wonder if I should do it too to increase my chances of getting an interview.. but if I do.. how can explain the one year gap?
.
Aileen
* Letter adapted from transitioning.org, a non-profit society specially set up to cater to the emotional needs of the unemployed Singaporeans.
.
