career/education advice

rebel105

hey,
I'm graduating this June with a degree in Commerce with a language.
I have applied for jobs in banking, (that went by the wayside very quickly) and sales/marketing. I've done two interviews so far, one which came to nothing and one which I've still to hear back about and there's one other company that I applied to that I'm waiting to hear from.

Basically I'm just looking for advice as to where to go from here?
Ideally I would like to get out there and get a job but this is not looking very likely at the moment. Its not that I'm against doing a Masters, I'm just worried that if things deteriorate further, this time next year I would probably be better off with a job than another years education under my belt.

Also does anybody have any advice on good agencies or anything like that to try and look for other job opportunities. I've exhausted gradireland and my university's careers website at this stage.

Thanks in advance!

Ellechim

Apply for absolutely everything.

Think about applying for accountancy in an accountancy practice - it may not be what you want to do however it will open doors.

I have hired graduates on internships in the past - so apply for those positions as well because they get you good experience and look great on your cv and sometimes open doors into companies.

There is very little out there and for what is out there there will be thousands of applicants so competition is stiff.

I would consider getting more qualifications - it does help when job hunting.

I left uni in 1989: at the time all my friends either left the country or did more qualifications. Consequently I have a lot of friends with phds! I went to London and was really lucky - it is a bigger market there. I do know people who graduated UCD Commerce with 1st class degrees who couldn't get a job here and got jobs in London and did very well.

Use every contact you or your parents or their friends have: if it gets you an introduction go for it.

Best of luck!

M

So Many Shoes

Hi Rebel105,

I can't offer any advice but just wanted to say I feel EXACTLY the same as you....

I'm graduating from Business Studies this year. I'm going mad trying to debate what to do, do a masters (cost €7000 and I was talking to people who are finishing the masters that I'm thinking of doing and 1 person has a job?) or get a job (prob not in the area I want but get my foot in the door somewhere). I went to my careers advisor in college and my dog would have been more helpful!

Anyway I'd love to hear what other people think also, I have looked up older threads on this and it was 50:50, just wondering if it's still the same now, a year later?

Thanks!

kilomike31

To state the obvious, the jobs market is not great at the moment. I would suggest taking the Masters, provided you have an interest in it. If your heart isn't in it you'll find it hard going.

Kilo31

rebel105

Thats the thing, I'm worried about doing a masters just for the sake of it and then not getting anything out of it or any job at the end of it!

Ellechim, as regards going into accounting, I would be wary of it as I have no real experience of accounting, I did a module of financial and management in first and second year but the lecturers were so crap that its all forgotten by now, plus i didnt do accounting for the leaving cert so i dont have that base that other people have. So I would be afraid of being out of my depth!

But at the same time, I want a job so I suppose its worth trying everything!

So Many Shoes

Hi Kilo31, I know what you mean about not being any jobs, if I didn't get a job I would definately do the masters, but it would be really only for the sake of doing it, and to be honest I am sick to death of college!

Rebel105, we are very very similar! I didn't do accounting either for the Leaving, and it kind of bores me, but like you said it's a job! I suppose the only thing is it take 3 and a half years to be qualified....

I'd love to hear from employers/HR, would they prefer to hire someone straight from a masters (with no real "real-world" working experience) or someone from a degree and who has some "real-world" experience?

rebel105

yes that is exactly what I would like to know aswel!

so anyone have any answers?!

InReality

This is only my opinion but i'd vote for the person with work experience.

And unless you have a first i don't think employers really pay a lot of attention to degrees/masters.

Ellechim

I have done lots of recruitment in the past, interns, grads, what separates the wheat from the chaff are those with work experience.....so it is really important to get good summer and weekend jobs

however I reckon if you're going for grad trainee positions and have a masters it gives you an edge - esp if you say have commerce, want to get into marketing and have a marketing related masters.........

So Many Shoes

Hi Ellechim I suppose that's my biggest problem, I have your normal weekend/summer jobs (pubs and shops) and I only have 2 "real" jobs on my CV, one of them for co-op.

I'm just so sick of college, I can't imagine spending another year there but in saying that I'd prefer to stay in college for another year than go on the dole....