Experience Trap, Advice?

BlueShaun

I got a BEng(2:1 hons) 2 years ago now, and couldnt get any decent job as i hadnt taken any work experience placements during my time at university.

I decided to take a masters to improve my chances, and i was awarded a MSc with distinction.

I now have a stack(over 130) rejection letters/emails received this year, mainly citing more suitable candidates. i`ve followed every one up, and they all seem to mention lack of work experience.

I`ve tried entering lower down the chain, (than the graduate level jobs i`ve been targeting), but I`m also being rejected on this front. One HR person just said outright that they knew they couldnt keep me there, and it wasnt worth hiring me.

Does anyone have any suggestion of how to escape this experience trap?

ixus

If it's elec/comp engineering.
Try google, There minimum requirement is a 1st class, they prefer Phd's etc.

In your CV you've got to give the impression that what you have, they need.
Explain how what you've done in your masters could be relevant to the work they do

nesf

ixus wrote:

If it's elec/comp engineering.
Try google, There minimum requirement is a 1st class, they prefer Phd's etc.

In your CV you've got to give the impression that what you have, they need.
Explain how what you've done in your masters could be relevant to the work they do

Agreed, ideally each CV should be tailored to each employer. What's a good CV for one position might suck for another.

The idea of one super CV that can be used all the time is a myth. Sure it's the easiest thing to do, but if you're serious about getting your foot on the ladder you need to take care with every element of presenting yourself to a prospective employer.

AARRRGH

Are you getting to go to actual interviews, or are you being PFO'd at the first hurdle?

BlueShaun

Interviews:
I`ve had only 5 interviews, and to be honest i felt that four of them went really well.
I was able to answer questions well, explain some quite involved concepts (to both the technical and managerial interviewers) and I felt very comfortable.

PFO=Please F Off?

For the most recent position I was interviewed twice, with a callback between interviews for psychometric tests. (im trying to get the results, but the company is not willing to send them out...are they allowed to do that?)

My Area:
My degrees are Aeronautical BEng, followed by Aerodynamics and Computation MSc (mainly CFD) so google is probably not suitable.


On CVs:
I try to tailor as much as possible to each job/employer, to reflect the organisation; I also try to include information relevant to the job description (but I try and be a little bit subtle about it...i dont want it to read like a checklist)

What/Where?
There are not a whole pile of companies in ireland in this sort of business, so a lot of my applications are to English companies. I get the impression the expense of flying me for interview is a putoff in the 1st stage filter too.

I'm looking for aerodynamics/fluids work mainly. I would take a CAD/meshing job to start. Salary is not important.

I`d also quite like to work in Futures prediction, as my mathematical skills are strong; i also have a lot of numerical methods experience.

stopper

You could try applying for the ICT Ireland Graduate Placement program (www.ictireland.ie). If you qualified two years ago then you should be eligible.

Companies like Microsoft, Intel take on graduates on a contract basis to allow them to gain work experience.

AARRRGH

I was in your trap for a while.

My background is as a Linux Developer. Lots of hardcore stuff. I started finding it too difficult to get a job (not junior enough and not senior enough.)

So I decided to try something "new" and became an accounts person (not a qualified accountant, but running all the HR and accounts and legal stuff for a small - 20 employees - company.)

I learned A LOT. Made me understand business and develop as a person.

I'm in a great job now (new job) - I look after the technical strategy (development, testing, SEO etc.) for a very nice company. It combines both my IT and business skills.

What I'm trying to say is: open your mind to other things.

You say you are interested in futures predictions. Why not try to get a job using your maths skills? Paddy power etc.?

There are defo opportunies for you out there. You just have to see them! Don't be afraid to do something slightly off the wall (i.e. a business job in an engineering company.) It's all experience.

BlueShaun

Thanks dublindude.
I`ll have a look at something like that. You are right in identifying that (much like yourself) I have gone into quite a narrow field; I`ll have to try and persuade potential employers that i could shine elsewhere too.