I Just Need Some Experience

Reactor

Hi, Im 26, I have 2 degrees, one in Biotechnology from Athlone, one in Biology and Pharmaceuticals from GMIT which I did after spending a year on the dole after my biotech degree (I went straight into 4th year of the second degree). Ive now been unemployed again for 6 months.

My main problem as Im sure it is with a lot of people is that I have no experience and every single job advertised on Monster or Irishjobs etc requires 2-3 years or more. I have no problem working for nothing and have applied for every single WPP1 thing on the FAS website without even getting an interview. Ive sent CVs to every single drug company or lab in the country without a single bit of interest being shown, Ive never even done an interview apart from one phone interview with a place in UK.

Im just wondering if anyone has any advice on building up a bit of experience? Im starting to get really depressed now and its getting harder and harder to get out of bed in the mornings. How would you go about offering to work for free in a place for a year or so? Thanks.

Nilafhiosagam

I'm in the same boat. Have a degree in biotech from DCU and graduated 2 months ago from a masters in immunology. I have one interview coming up soon but if I don't get that, I'm going to start looking at PhDs/going abroad. As you said, 99% of jobs require a few years experience that I don't have

wylo

OP you may have to consider that you are not 'above' working in a job that isnt related to your degree

Reactor

Ill take anything, Ive applied to Halfords/Tesco/Dunnes/Maplins/Argos and a hundred others including all the WPP1 (Graduate) places on the FAS website, nothings happening, why dont companies want a free worker for a year or so? I dont get it

Mrs OBumble

wylo wrote: »

OP you may have to consider that you are not 'above' working in a job that isnt related to your degree

I don't see anything in the OP's post which suggests that s/he thinks he is like this.

And with degrees like that and no work experience, it's going to be difficult for the OP to talk his/her way into other jobs (see the other thread about "can you be overqualified today").

Some more helpful suggestions:

Have you tried working your network: do you know ANYONE (including former college lecturers) who might know someone who works in a firm you want to work in. "Accidentally" run into them and remind them you're looking. Even better, take 'em out for a coffee/beer and chat.

As well as the job-sites and recruiters, are you searching for yourself:
Do you have a list of potential employers? Do you look at (some of) their websites every day? Do you have a spreadsheet where you tick off who you've looked at each day? Do you have Google alerts set up for keywords involving them and words like "hiring" "expanding", and "investing"?

Have you considered shifting overseas, even if it's just to the UK? (Not for everyone I know, but some folks can).

Is there are a volunteer centre where you live? Register with them.

As regards fighting the depressing / harder-to-get-up side: you need to decide to fight it. Make a plan for every day. Over the week, be sure it includes job-hunting, exercise, doing something for someone else (even if it's just housework for your mother!) and time spent developing your skills / hobbies. Also make a plan for every week: set yourself some goals (extensions of the tasks above) and make sure you reach them. Above all, just keep trying, and believe that things will get better. You just have to make sure that you're ready to take advantage of opportunities when they do arrive.

Reactor

Thanks for that JustMary, I have a huge list, basically every company with a remote chance of being interested in me in Ireland that Im constantly checking all the time, and I always fire off an application on the rare occasion something is posted. My LinkedIn network is pathethic and its kind of a dead end trying to expand it, same for my real life network to be honest. The lecturers idea is good though, I will try that, thanks.

avalon68

Hi Reactor. Have you had someone look over your cv? If you're sending off so many and not getting any response you may need to restructure it or change it in some way.

Reactor

I had the careers guidance lady in GMIT look over it a few months ago and she thought it was okay, anywhere else you can think of? Thanks for the suggestion anyway.

Owen101

avalon68 wrote: »

Hi Reactor. Have you had someone look over your cv? If you're sending off so many and not getting any response you may need to restructure it or change it in some way.

Make sure your cv answers this question (from an employes perspective), straight away, "What can this candidate do for me"?

If you have an objective that reads something like "Seeking a challenging and rewarding position with opportunity for growth, advancement etc" delete it. Immediately.

ps I bet the well meaning careers guidance lady in GMIT suggested you put that in.

delonglad

look outside of Ireland maybe? The problem is if you have never been to an interview before this suggests you have never had to work while in college. Sure you may have an excellent qualification and great grades but if you have no experience what so ever on your cv the likelihood is you will be overlooked straight away. I know lots of people in your situation and their problem is now their over educated for the jobs they should have probably took up while in college(as apart time or summer job).

I know i'm assuming that you have not worked during your years at college if i'm wrong I apologise and stand corrected. My main point is experience is the most important thing in the world when applying for a job.

Also as some people have said look at your cv and make sure it applies to specifically to each job you are applying for.

Best of luck

Gary

avalon68

Well if you want to post up your cv I can give some feedback - My cv now looks nothing like the one the career guidance people had me prepare - they were very off the mark as to what employers want to see ..... in my case anyway. Plus it really helps not to use a standard template like the ones provided by careers services - you need to stand out a little

Reactor

Thanks for the offer Avalon, Ill take you up on that when I get back to my broadband connection, on 56k atm.

mohawk

Your not the only one OP. I have a Degree and MSc in biochemistry and no work experience :mad:. Haven't even been able to find a job to keep me going in a shop.
Your not alone. I keep getting responses back saying that I have the right skills just not the experience. Just keep applying for jobs you have the skills for. Sometimes a company won't find someone with the experience they are looking for and they will hire someone with the skills.
Good luck OP.

Reactor

Thanks Mohawk, I think this Spring will really be crunch time for people like us getting jobs because from this year on the colleges are going to be cranking out huge numbers of graduates and at least their degrees will be fresh.

I had an email from my course co-ordinator yesterday morning asking all her former students for help in getting 6 week work placements for this years students, companies dont even want free labour these days.

donkey balls

Hi, op there is alot of people out there that have a few years experience some even decades of experience that cannot get work in their chosen field,You might want to dumb down on your C.V take some of your quals off the C.V etc also customise the C.V for each job that you apply for. Hey even with all my experience I still get the PFO leters even though i could do the jobs with my eyes closed.;)

Reactor

At least you get a PFO letter, I get SFA.

finisklin

Reactor wrote: »

My LinkedIn network is pathethic and its kind of a dead end trying to expand it, same for my real life network to be honest.

I think this is one powerful tool that you are underestimating - linkedin is a great way to network, share and discuss opportunities, ideas, issues in your chosen field. Perhaps you need to reframe your job seeking in a different light. The traditional way of getting a job through applying to ads etc is diminishing and much more competitive. Networking is the key to this and if you can extend and engage people that you know in the industry through your studies, project work etc it may help improve your circumstances.

Your frank admission of the value you place on your network is honest, maybe commendable but this may reveal a weakness that needs to be developed to sell yourself to prospective employers. Work on your communication and networking skills as if you are fortunate enough to secure a role in the future, these skills will become more important as your career progresses. Especially in gaining a promotion.

Pick yourself up and network, network, network. Remember that good networkers are not born but made. They work at developing these skills.

Best of luck with it....

Reactor

Linkedin block you from adding people you dont know though dont they? Ill research it a bit more over the weekend but thats why I thought it was a dead end.

NeuroticMonkey

finisklin wrote: »

I think this is one powerful tool that you are underestimating - linkedin is a great way to network, share and discuss opportunities, ideas, issues in your chosen field. Perhaps you need to reframe your job seeking in a different light. The traditional way of getting a job through applying to ads etc is diminishing and much more competitive. Networking is the key to this and if you can extend and engage people that you know in the industry through your studies, project work etc it may help improve your circumstances.

Your frank admission of the value you place on your network is honest, maybe commendable but this may reveal a weakness that needs to be developed to sell yourself to prospective employers. Work on your communication and networking skills as if you are fortunate enough to secure a role in the future, these skills will become more important as your career progresses. Especially in gaining a promotion.

Pick yourself up and network, network, network. Remember that good networkers are not born but made. They work at developing these skills.

Best of luck with it....

Bah! I'm a technophobe so I couldn't pick out the bit of your post i wanted to quote!!

My question is how does one improve their networking? I have a degree in Biology discipline and have been trying to network by attending a few conferences, keeping in touch with lecturers and keeping an eye on college websites and attending workshops or open lectures if I can. Problem is, have had to move back home with the parents (down the country) as, like OP, I can't even get a job washing dishes in a restaurant. I have literally applied for every job under the sun. How can I network more effectively? And is there such a thing as networking via internet or is face to face the only way to go? (it's financially draining for me to trek off to Dublin or somewhere for one hr talks etc)??

Any advice appreciated! Have been out of college now 6 months and have nothing to show for it....I'm aware that there'll be a new wave of graduates to compete with soon as well!!

avalon68

Reactor wrote: »

Linkedin block you from adding people you dont know though dont they? Ill research it a bit more over the weekend but thats why I thought it was a dead end.

I wouldnt really go inviting a bunch of people you have never met to join your network. Firstly, its annoying to get those invites and usually they just get deleted, and secondly, its the equivalent of having 500 friends on facebook.....I dont see how it will help you tbh. I only ever add people I meet at conferences or through collaborations. There is no substitute for face to face networking.

avalon68

NeuroticMonkey wrote: »

Bah! I'm a technophobe so I couldn't pick out the bit of your post i wanted to quote!!

My question is how does one improve their networking? I have a degree in Biology discipline and have been trying to network by attending a few conferences, keeping in touch with lecturers and keeping an eye on college websites and attending workshops or open lectures if I can. Problem is, have had to move back home with the parents (down the country) as, like OP, I can't even get a job washing dishes in a restaurant. I have literally applied for every job under the sun. How can I network more effectively? And is there such a thing as networking via internet or is face to face the only way to go? (it's financially draining for me to trek off to Dublin or somewhere for one hr talks etc)??

Any advice appreciated! Have been out of college now 6 months and have nothing to show for it....I'm aware that there'll be a new wave of graduates to compete with soon as well!!

What type of biology degree do you have - what type of work do you want? Maybe try joining a society - eg the SGM. Identify labs you would like to work in, read up on their work and attend some of the conferences - network like crazy at the poster sessions and the meals. Positions such as research asisstant are far more common outside of Ireland so you may have to end up going abroad to get some experience....

tatabubbly

Hey there! I'm in the same situation. I've got a degree in chem/bio and i'm studying atm for a masters in biomedical science... I couldn't get a job anywhere and that's why i went back to college... I wish you the best, hope you get something soon!

NeuroticMonkey

@ avalon: I did Pharmacology with dissertation in Neuroscience. That's my primary interest area. I know I should have gone straight to do a MSc but tbh I had family problems during final yr so I just felt i needed a break from the whole college thing. I intend to go back next yr (probably to the UK) to do an MSc..i'm currently thinking along the area of Biotechnology or some sort of Protein purification type thing as I want something more industry-relevant. I felt my degree was a bit too much of the whole learning for the sake of learning. Just curious about the joining the societies thing. Can you join if you aren't a postgrad..cos I might join something like Neuroscience Ireland so.

@tatabubbly: Thanks for the good vibes mate, appreciate it. Trying to keep positive. I've identified a lab that may be willing to take me on as an unpaid research assistant for 3-6months so I'm going to see that through if I can trawl my way through all the paperwork! :-)

avalon68

NeuroticMonkey wrote: »

@ avalon: Just curious about the joining the societies thing. Can you join if you aren't a postgrad..cos I might join something like Neuroscience Ireland so.

Not sure about neuroscience Ireland, but the sgm is open to students, grad students at a reduced rate - everyone else is an "ordinary member". I think if you have a relevant qualification it should be ok.......though, if you are spending money to join, you would probably get more bang for buck by joining an international society. You generally wont meet many "leaders in the field" at Irish conferences as they are just too small.

maninasia

I STRONGLY recommend those who have no experience to look for an entry level position in the UK or other countries. This will be the quickest way for you to get ahead, there are simply 10X the number of opportunities there than in Ireland. The UK for instance has huge numbers of foreign workers in the life sciences, it is a fairly easy place to live and work. As somebody who has been there and done that I can say it is not YOU who is holding you back but simply your home country.
Ireland never had a surfeit of jobs for scientists even during the boom times.
Once you have some experience you can continue your career overseas or look for positions back home and you will have a good chance of landing something.
For those not continuing on with research (you'll have to get at least a PhD then) you should also consider commercial roles, sales & marketing, clinical research jobs etc. IT is always good, I know plenty of scientists who did 1 year IT diplomas and do very well for themselves.

psycho-hope

Hi op, my bf has the same degree as you, he managed to get a years contract when he graduated but he hasnt worked since last november. the uk or the states seems to be the best option hes had one interveiw in the last year and that was for argos.

In all honesty i think the biotech industry here is hanging on at the moment but sticking with the staff they have. there seems to be more jobs in and around manchester and liverpool. we are hoping to be over there by may before the new gradutes are all job hunting.

good luck and i hope you find something soon

snorlax

Maybe an internship in a company for a few months to get you going... with that on your CV it'll make the job search easier as you can get a reference and say your working voluntary in a relevant area?

Reactor

Do you think you need to be in the UK to get a job in Pharma/Biotech over there or can you just send your CV to recruitment agencies?

finisklin

Hi folks,

there seems to be a good few grads on here that are finding it difficult to locate a start in their prospective careers. I graduated in 1993 with a degree in finance, couldn't get a job so went on and did a masters. Networking was the key for me getting a start. I landed a plum role with a multinational who paid for me to do my thesis with them, this role came about via a brother of a mate who speclialised in that area.

This led to another role on completion of my master's for about 6 months. After that I was out of work for 6 months until a friend of my brother's helped me secure a role in sales. I was with that company for 8 years and provided strong experience that has stood to me since.

Networking is key and I would argue is even more important in the current jobs market. First of all you have to know the area you want to work in and why. Are you passionate about it? What interest's you in it and why? Are you up to date with the key trends, research etc? Who are the thought leaders and what are they suggesting is the forward for that field? Have you an opinion on this? Are you able to verbalise it and defend or argue it from several perspectives?

Critically, have you an elevator pitch? I know this sounds Americany and a little forward that some may be uncomfortable with but this is a key statement about you, your career and why you can add value in this field. Its a short 30 second statement that you would say, for example, to a mate who may not have seen you in awhile that gives him/her a flavour for what your about. This is your strating point in networking - friends, family, college mates or guys who may have been ahead of you or behind that can give some advice or suggestion for you to get a job lead.

Believe it or believe it not but some people actually have there elevator pitch scripted i.e. written down and learnt off to a tee, ready to be used at any opportunity. Ireland is a small country and whatever about 6 degrees of separation, in Ireland it is a lot less, IMHO.

Linkedin is a powerful tool that you need to be all over like rash. Why? It's an opportunity to showcase your professional attributes/achievements that may help secure your dream role. It has several key areas including opportunities to develop your own career profile, various companies, groups that share common professional interests (e.g. alumni groups of UCD, UCC, NUIG etc.), jobs and your contacts.

Get on their and develop your profile, learn about groups and contribute to debates in your groups about various topics in your chosen field. Start the discussion in your area if there are none there already, get the debate going and invite people to contribute especially in your target companies. By adding comments to this debate you build other group members awareness of you and what your about. After a period of time it is ok to invite other particapants in the debate to be a contact/part of your network.

Note that there is no substitute for face to face networking so any family members, friends or mates mates can be targeted when you meet them with your elevator pitch. Ensure that you link in with them after the initial contact. From my experience people are cool about linking up as it builds their network as well. Networking skills are developed and not something you are born with....maybe an investment in a networking book may be an idea as these skills will become more important as your career progresses.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Networking-New-Rules-Rob-Yeung/dp/1905736304/ref=sr_1_7?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1291665660&sr=1-7

I have no affiliation to this book and any of them on amazon as just as useful in helping you fine tune these skills into an art form early in your career. Other areas that people should develop a strong proficiency (if not already developed) are excel, word, access and powerpoint. The first in particular will always be a prerequisite in any role, IMHO. If you have spare time, work on becoming an advanced user as this will stand to you once you secure a full time role.

I hope some of this helps and gives some direction as I appreciate it can be quite difficult starting out. I still have over 150 PFO's from job applications that I made when I graduated, a reminder of how lucky I was when I eventually secured a job. I have attached some stuff that may help explain linkedin better and other resources that may provide enlightenment. There are other linkedin threads on here so search them out too.

Remember network network at every opportunity, it may be the difference between getting the role or not.

Best of luck

finisklin

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maninasia

I think networking is next to useless if you don't have the experience to get your foot in the door. You can network all you like but nobody is going to hire you to dig a hole if you didn't bring your shovel! Also you can bring a shovel around with you but nobody but if nobody needs a hole dug what's the point? This is a scientific field, you don't just meet somebody in an elevator and get a job with nothing to back it up.

Bite the bullet and emigrate for a while.