Working a job unrelated to my previous experience

colm_gti

So like many a college graduate emerging from the relative comfort of study and into the big, bad unknown of unemployment and job hunting, I find myself weighing up my short term options to keep me sane.

I hold a BSc and an MSc, both of which were Pharmacology/Biotechnology based, and like many of my peers, am struggling somewhat with getting onto my ideal career path. I'd really like to get into some form of scientific support role, though I understand this isn't something most would walk straight into. I've applied for a number of regional/national sales positions within both large and small companies, exchanged emails with a sales manager that's friends with a family member, and had first, and even some second round interviews. I understand a lot of sales reps can move into support roles. However, as usual, due to lack of experience relative to other applicants, I'm rarely considered, and not entirely sure I'd enjoy a sales position anyway.

Anyway, moving on, I don't really want to spend the coming year, or however long it takes, applying, interviewing and being rejected. I am considering looking for a job related to one of my passions in life, cycling or coffee, and was wondering if this would be detrimental to my CV, or if employers would view it as a good sign? I do understand the difficulty of obtaining such a position given my previous experience, but theoretically, if I was to occupy such a role for 6-12 months.....

Would love to hear your experiences/thoughts on the matter.

C

colm_gti

Also, forgot to mention, I worked every weekend and full time during mid-term, Christmas and summer holidays in various retail and catering positions, so not without experience in those particular fields. Haven't taken more than 2 weeks holiday since finishing my leaving cert.

freeze4real

colm_gti wrote: »

So like many a college graduate emerging from the relative comfort of study and into the big, bad unknown of unemployment and job hunting, I find myself weighing up my short term options to keep me sane.

I hold a BSc and an MSc, both of which were Pharmacology/Biotechnology based, and like many of my peers, am struggling somewhat with getting onto my ideal career path. I'd really like to get into some form of scientific support role, though I understand this isn't something most would walk straight into. I've applied for a number of regional/national sales positions within both large and small companies, exchanged emails with a sales manager that's friends with a family member, and had first, and even some second round interviews. I understand a lot of sales reps can move into support roles. However, as usual, due to lack of experience relative to other applicants, I'm rarely considered, and not entirely sure I'd enjoy a sales position anyway.

Anyway, moving on, I don't really want to spend the coming year, or however long it takes, applying, interviewing and being rejected. I am considering looking for a job related to one of my passions in life, cycling or coffee, and was wondering if this would be detrimental to my CV, or if employers would view it as a good sign? I do understand the difficulty of obtaining such a position given my previous experience, but theoretically, if I was to occupy such a role for 6-12 months.....

Would love to hear your experiences/thoughts on the matter.

C

Completely unrelated but..

Apply to some finance programs, those courses will have a good bit of maths in it. lots of finance firms like virtu, SIG etc employ guys from science background for roles such as trading analyst and they pay well.

The big 4 accounting companies also employ science students such as KPMG who are looking for enginerring graduates for research into tax or something.

Ah well with your science degree you have a good future ahead of you. Kepp your chin up and something will come up. I'm also in the same bot as yourself.