http://www.transitioning.org/2010/1...h-a-masters-engineering-degree-still-jobless/
Hi Gilbert,
Thank you very much for setting up transitioning.org website. It has been a great support to me whenever I feel depressed while searching for a job.
I’m Deborah (not her real name) currently a job seeker who has graduated from a local university with an engineering degree (3rd class Honors) few years ago.
Upon graduation, I worked as a sales executive in a small local firm for 2 years until the owner decided to wind up his business. The reason why I have taken up the job that is completely unrelated to my degree was because I wanted to improve on my soft skills. Although I have seen some improvement, I have to admit that I am not really cut out for sales.
I decided that I should go back to the engineering industry but faced 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 job for about a year. In the meantime, I continued to send resumes to prospective employers and went for about 10 interviews for different job positions – administration, customer service, engineering, etc but failed to land a permanent job.
In mid 2009, I went overseas to pursue a Masters in engineering as I reckoned that with the advanced qualification, it would increase my chances of getting an engineering job. I came back to SG in Sept this year and have been actively looking for a job since.
So far, I have been to two interviews. One is a manufacturing firm but I think that my chance of being selected for employment there is low as they expected me to have the necessary working experience which I lack. The other position is more promising but they are still interviewing candidates for the position. I am keeping my fingers crossed here.
I was actually expecting more interviews after applying for about 40 positions with an expected salary of a fresh graduate. Moreover, it seems that the job market is doing well as there are more advertisements now compared to the period 2008 – 2009.
However, after getting only two interviews from 40 applications, my confidence level is at its lowest ebb now.
I have seen your report about how job seekers are leaving out their post graduate qualification to avoid being seen as being over qualified for a position. I wonder if I should do the same to increase my chances of getting an interview but if I do that how can I explain the one year gap in my resume?
I would like to seek help with a career counsellor to identify the type of jobs that I am suitable for and also to seek assistance on how to improve my resume and interview skills.
Hope you can help me with it.
Thanks.
Best regards,
Deborah
Hi Gilbert,
Thank you very much for setting up transitioning.org website. It has been a great support to me whenever I feel depressed while searching for a job.
I’m Deborah (not her real name) currently a job seeker who has graduated from a local university with an engineering degree (3rd class Honors) few years ago.
Upon graduation, I worked as a sales executive in a small local firm for 2 years until the owner decided to wind up his business. The reason why I have taken up the job that is completely unrelated to my degree was because I wanted to improve on my soft skills. Although I have seen some improvement, I have to admit that I am not really cut out for sales.
I decided that I should go back to the engineering industry but faced 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 job for about a year. In the meantime, I continued to send resumes to prospective employers and went for about 10 interviews for different job positions – administration, customer service, engineering, etc but failed to land a permanent job.
In mid 2009, I went overseas to pursue a Masters in engineering as I reckoned that with the advanced qualification, it would increase my chances of getting an engineering job. I came back to SG in Sept this year and have been actively looking for a job since.
So far, I have been to two interviews. One is a manufacturing firm but I think that my chance of being selected for employment there is low as they expected me to have the necessary working experience which I lack. The other position is more promising but they are still interviewing candidates for the position. I am keeping my fingers crossed here.
I was actually expecting more interviews after applying for about 40 positions with an expected salary of a fresh graduate. Moreover, it seems that the job market is doing well as there are more advertisements now compared to the period 2008 – 2009.
However, after getting only two interviews from 40 applications, my confidence level is at its lowest ebb now.
I have seen your report about how job seekers are leaving out their post graduate qualification to avoid being seen as being over qualified for a position. I wonder if I should do the same to increase my chances of getting an interview but if I do that how can I explain the one year gap in my resume?
I would like to seek help with a career counsellor to identify the type of jobs that I am suitable for and also to seek assistance on how to improve my resume and interview skills.
Hope you can help me with it.
Thanks.
Best regards,
Deborah
