Graduate can't find work!

snowyeoghan

Hi all,

I am just looking for your advice, opinions and ideas (apologies in advanced for the slightly long post).

BACKGROUND: I just finished an honors degree in computer and communication engineering (with a 2.1) and also have an ordinary degree in Electronics. Since finishing in june I have been applying for positions advertised on the web and have only been offered two interviews, which unfortunately were unsuccessful! I am finding it impossible as an entry level with little experience to find any work in my field.

OPTIONS:
I have applied to do a masters in Security and Computer forensics in DCU but feel it will still be hard to get work as an entry level due to lack of experience. I have been thinking of deferring as would like to study this in 3 or 4 years time but not right now.

I have also thought of going to America (I have American citizenship) to seek work but a bit hesitant as this is a pretty big step packing up and leaving etc.
I can't find any information how to approach emigrating to the States etc...

SO, I am asking for your advice and opinions on what path I should take or look into.

Thnks!!

ash2008

when i first graduated from computers, the only job i could get was tech support/helpdesk in a call centre. Kinda sucks, but its a first step and some money. I stayed a year before moving on..i did learn some stuff too, so it wasnt all bad. And you can still keep looking for a job you'd prefer while doing it, as these places have such a high turnover, it doesnt look too bad if you leave after a while.

As for the emigrating to America, have you had a look at the thorntree forums on the lonely planet website. I know lonely planet is mainly associated with travellers, but the forum has people emigrating too so i think you can get some good info on there.

cronos

snowyeoghan wrote: »

Hi all,

I am just looking for your advice, opinions and ideas (apologies in advanced for the slightly long post).

BACKGROUND: I just finished an honors degree in computer and communication engineering (with a 2.1) and also have an ordinary degree in Electronics. Since finishing in june I have been applying for positions advertised on the web and have only been offered two interviews, which unfortunately were unsuccessful! I am finding it impossible as an entry level with little experience to find any work in my field.

OPTIONS:
I have applied to do a masters in Security and Computer forensics in DCU but feel it will still be hard to get work as an entry level due to lack of experience. I have been thinking of deferring as would like to study this in 3 or 4 years time but not right now.

I have also thought of going to America (I have American citizenship) to seek work but a bit hesitant as this is a pretty big step packing up and leaving etc.
I can't find any information how to approach emigrating to the States etc...

SO, I am asking for your advice and opinions on what path I should take or look into.

Thnks!!

You could apply to work in the Guards and then do the Masters as the people who do that masters in security end up working for the gards in the end anyway.

StickyMcGinty

cronos wrote: »

You could apply to work in the Guards and then do the Masters as the people who do that masters in security end up working for the gards in the end anyway.

i'm sure the MSFC would also open up some opportunities for you in the states aswell...

I've seen a few jobs bouncing around looking for graduates from the MSFC course... Symantec in Dublin rings a bell.

I know a few IT grads who are finding it tough to get work at the moment, i'd say hold out for another month - their might be some more job opportunities when the current intern students finish their placements

bills

welcome to reality!! im graduated 4 years & still not in my job of choice. Its not that easy. You dont just walk into a job. I wouldnt panic- you are only looking a couple of months. You may just have to lower expectations & take a job out of your field for now. Dont worry too much.

snowyeoghan

Great thanks for the replies! Puts me at ease. I just had the foolish expectation that jobs would be there and waiting for me!! I will definitely check out the thorntree forums.

As for the Masters, I know in the long run it will be very handy to have however after 6 years of college i wouldnt mind a break from it for a couple of years!!

I guess I will have to keep my options open, even to a Tech support position!!

Climate Expert

I get so angry reading crap from the govt. about IT, science and engineering courses when the reality after graduation is far different.

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/thousands-of-jobs-lost-as-courses-snubbed-1457757.html


The standard of jobs for graduates in Ireland in these areas are very poor.

pwd

I thought the envronment for grads looking for IT work had become a lot friendlier the last couple of years. Maybe not a long term shift?
The main problems as I see it with graduates getting work in IT are:
The degree grade often does not reflect the grad's skill at programming etc.
The degree often does not focus enough on skills that will make graduates employable.

You can address those issues yourself by developing stuff and putting it online, or by doing an industry certification in a skillset that there is a demand for.
Learning about how they assess you in interviews and making sure your cv is good could also benefit you.

I graduated in 2002 with a 2.1 in computing and found it hard to get work I wanted for a long time (programming). I eventually got a good enough job after developing a couple of websites and applications which I put online, and learning a lot about how to do a good interview. As regards the development, you don't have to do anything mind-boggling - just enough to demonstrate that you are genuinely interested in what you want to do and you have some sort of competency in it.

magooly

Climate Expert wrote: »

I get so angry reading crap from the govt. about IT, science and engineering courses when the reality after graduation is far different.

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/thousands-of-jobs-lost-as-courses-snubbed-1457757.html


The standard of jobs for graduates in Ireland in these areas are very poor.

I was surprised with this article today, I would say the figures are a projection of the jobs that will move out of ireland when we have no longer have quality grads waiting in the wings to fill them. There certainly are not 1000s of IT jobs about right now.

OP, its a lillte more serious than the catch 22 cant get job without experience, cant get experience without a job. Ive 5yrs experience and been looking for 3 months, have attended 3 interviews but no offer. Id advise you think consider the Masters while you wait for the market to respond. It will always stand to you, who knows how long you will be out of work.

Lastly there is talk of fees returning for those from families capable of paying so you should consider getting in before that happens.

pwd

The government don't know their arse from their elbow. A few months ago they were going on about developing ireland as a knowledge-based economy to take us into the next stage of the celtic tiger. Now there's talk of bringing back college fees and reducing research funding.

I think the numbers presented for IT jobs are distorted because they include a large number of helpdesk positions, and possibly jobs that are only vaguely related to IT.

FruitLover

An engineering or IT position in the US military (personally, I'd go for air force) could be interesting.

newestUser

I didn't think the jobs market was that bad the last time I was looking (3/4 months ago). I was looking at grad-level jobs, but I've an MSc and a PhD, so I'd probably go to the top of the pile for those jobs. Still, there's a good few jobs out there at graduate level.

Pwd's advice is good. I run a few websites on the side, doesn't take too much time, and you gain valuable practical experience in doing programming projects of a decent size. This kind of thing makes you look motivated, interested in your line of work and gives you an insight into what the job is like that you mightn't pick up during the practical aspects of your course.

June is two months ago. Seriously, chill out. Check university careers sites, there's often grad jobs there. Check gradireland.com. Go to a website like the Irish software association or something, get a list of companies, go to their websites, see if they have any vacancies, etc.

What *kind* of job do you want? You're not very specific about this. Network admin? Programming? Database stuff? Web design? Do you want to work in the IT industry, finance industry, public sector/private sector, etc? Exactly how technical do you want your job to be?

snowyeoghan

newestUser wrote: »

What *kind* of job do you want? You're not very specific about this. Network admin? Programming? Database stuff? Web design? Do you want to work in the IT industry, finance industry, public sector/private sector, etc? Exactly how technical do you want your job to be?

I have studied a lot of networking, communications and signal processing. My downfall is that I have done very little programming. I understand its only been two months and I shouldnt panic.

@PWD: I have started to develop a site to portray my qualifications and abilities and have actually just got a job from a friend of a friend to do three other sites involved with marketing which will tie me over for a while and could lead to other opportunities...