I just graduated and I cannot find a job!

[unrevealed]

Sorry to jump in on your thread but I think I might as well seek some advice from you guys.
I’m from Southeast Asia, masters degree and EPEC holder with more than 5 years of work experience back in my home country, considerably within customer service including 6 month frontline banking experience for an UK based bank plus some amateur/one-off assignments done in the UK in sales and marketing and a long term part time job with a public media organisation back home (English speaking job). Myself involved in quite a few social/cultural activities, reckon enough to show off in my CV. Not too daunting facts I suppose. But thing is I took few months out of work (5 months) looking after my brother whilst helping my friend starting out her own business and sadly still am unemployed. Does that devalue my application? I’ve been here in Singapore for ~ 6 days, been searching for 4 days, applied for ~10, got only 1 test and get turned down. Does that sound normal or I indeed need to take something else into consideration? What would you say?

Thank you very much in advance x

[sundaymorningstaple]

There's been guys here for 6 month up to 12 months trying to find a job and an EPEC in hand. In fact, that's why the EPEC will give ICA the ability to approve a LTVP of up to 12 months. Even then, there are no guarantees.

[Strong Eagle]

Sorry to jump in on your thread but I think I might as well seek some advice from you guys.
I’m from Southeast Asia, masters degree and EPEC holder with more than 5 years of work experience back in my home country, considerably within customer service including 6 month frontline banking experience for an UK based bank plus some amateur/one-off assignments done in the UK in sales and marketing and a long term part time job with a public media organisation back home (English speaking job). Myself involved in quite a few social/cultural activities, reckon enough to show off in my CV. Not too daunting facts I suppose. But thing is I took few months out of work (5 months) looking after my brother whilst helping my friend starting out her own business and sadly still am unemployed. Does that devalue my application? I’ve been here in Singapore for ~ 6 days, been searching for 4 days, applied for ~10, got only 1 test and get turned down. Does that sound normal or I indeed need to take something else into consideration? What would you say?

Thank you very much in advance x

My view: Phone based customer service jobs are all leaving Singapore for Malaysia and the Philippines because labor costs are cheaper there. Front line banking jobs are not going to go to foreigners because there are a crop of young people here entering the market and capable of doing these kinds of jobs.

Maybe you didn't tell the whole story here, and based on what you've said, I wouldn't spend five minutes with your CV. Here's why:

a) You say you've got five years experience but the 'top' jobs you seem to mention are 6 months with a UK bank, amateur assignments and a part time job.

b) You have a masters degree but your work record indicates that you haven't held any job worthy of a masters.

Perhaps you've got what it takes, and I cannot tell from what you wrote. You are going to need to seriously reconsider how to sell yourself, what your CV says about you, how you minimize the negatives, accent the positives.

If you come across as you did in this post, little wonder that you're not getting leads. PS: Your written English is an asset.

[JR8]

^^^^^ +1

Words of wisdom (IMHO), take note!

[unrevealed]

Highly appreciate your reviewing my super brief CV, truly do!….Coincidence! What you’ve left was exactly what I thought as soon as having clicked on Submit button. Sadly frontline sales is exactly what I wanted to eliminate out of my working life but at the same time it was what UK companies noticed and keep offering till now, to explain why I still spare a thought for it as one of the top priorities (considered it might be the same in sg), and the first company ever giving me a favour in Singapore had their eyes on me for a phone based customer service position!
For your further info, what I didn’t mention was 4 year work experience as a senior customer service exe like the title says so aka office administrator since I was actually in charge of a [small] representative office, dealing from correspondence through to Advertising, PR, Marketing planning. I had to blur this ad+marketing part as I reckoned (probably wrong) there would be no place for one tiny me in this strongly competitive marketing communications world with no relevant qualifications/certificates and having NO knowledge about dealing with Singapore people and culture. I could kill to learn further some subjects of my own option but obvious to me, a matter of time and money!
You’re totally right, it was very struggling writing up my CV and still yet satisfied with it. One that worked previously within a specific boundary will not necessarily work in others. Actual fact!
What would you experts suggest as potential jobs out there for foreigners?
Life is so. Not always get what you want and what you need at the same time. Just repeat!

Cheers x

[unrevealed]

PS: my biggest weakness is probably the lack of ambition/aggressiveness, pls don't mix this with passion what I always have. There was some times my bosses proposed higher/much higher positions and I turned them down. Stupid decisions as my friends told me off but personally no regrets. My ambition is getting a bit higher now lol

[unrevealed]

lol not yet satisfied with my CV, I meant

[Strong Eagle]

PS: my biggest weakness is probably the lack of ambition/aggressiveness, pls don't mix this with passion what I always have. There was some times my bosses proposed higher/much higher positions and I turned them down. Stupid decisions as my friends told me off but personally no regrets. My ambition is getting a bit higher now lol

At least you are honest. But I would never hire you with this attitude towards life... you just want to glide along... people who want to glide along are a dime a dozen. What the hell is the difference between passion and ambition? You've not shown you can tell the difference.

[Strong Eagle]

What would you experts suggest as potential jobs out there for foreigners?
Life is so. Not always get what you want and what you need at the same time. Just repeat!

Cheers x

My view is that you will not succeed in getting a job in Singapore. Insufficient meaningful experience. Working in jobs that in no way reflect the use fullness of a masters degree. Confusing responses to questions in this forum.

My advice would be that you prepare to find work elsewhere... you are living in a fairy tale world if you think you will be hired here.

Sorry.

[serve_the_servants]

I just graduated from NUS with BA Arts (Pass) in Dec 2010.

I know my degree is not good but my situation is not the worst. I have applied for jobs in 50+ companies, gone for some interviews and have been rejected by 10 over companies.

The positive side is that it has given me time to think what I really want to do. I felt I did not like what I studied, and I will not be able to carry on for long in my field of study. Therefore, I decided to join the home team uniformed groups. To my amazement, I was rejected. As of now, I still have an SCF interview tomorrow; however my hopes are not that high. I think the problem lies with the interviewer as well! They are highly opinionated and just don’t like me!

I regret not participating actively in school activities and I do not have any working experience. I was on a research programme in replacement of my Industrial Attachment which puts me at an disadvantage in the interviews. As a result, my CV is not as good as many other graduates. But my salary expectation is not a lot! My demand is just 2.5K.

Being human, I also go through the cycle of enthusiasm, anticipation, rejection, demoralisation, listlessness etc. I face a lot of stress now. I avoid going out with friends, stop msn-ing or facebook. It’s a mental torture. If you could see attached, that is the list of emails I have sent to requesting for a job interview which I found from newspapers.

Please advice. Thank you.

Besides all the negativism to fresh starters here, I think you can get a job fairly easy.

As you have no experience, try to put your resume that way that you show off other skills and ambitions.

During interviews, you need to have a good story, many ways to prepare for that.

Currently in some very hot industries, banking for example, they switched from asking from 5 years experience to fresh graduates. How do I know? Because I sit opposite the hiring managers.

Show some drive and you eventually will land a job. Being cheaper than other local grads is important in Singapore as the costs of doing business are on the rise (quote).

[unrevealed]

Strong eagle, harsh but I can’t agree more to your view on what I wrote down. However, you can’t judge people by their few words. True, I probably fail to sell myself in some aspects but am I wrong for the want of living a simple life? Are you certain you will never want to glide along? Somehow there will be some points in life…You’ll see!
I don’t say ambition is bad! I would sing the praises of it. Re the "hell" difference, you are passionate about painting doesn’t necessarily mean you have an ambition to become an artist, ambition involves planning, passion doesn’t, just my best way to clarify my view. Alternatively, if your remark was towards my poor English, you’re more than welcome, I’m not fazed of it and I am willing to learn more.
Btw, 6 months with the bank was my first job as soon as having obtained my masters degree with no banking/finance experience. I personally don’t see anything wrong with that, without relevant experience, you don’t have chances to secure higher positions. That’s it, at least with the bank I worked for.
I am not about to tell my whole story here but I am not leaving as long as I am legally allowed to stay. I am not expecting a miracle to find a job in Singapore but will try harder to get one.
Still, can’t say thank you enough for your sincere views.
Cheers x

[aargon]

an arts degree is pretty much a one way ticket to a career at mcdonalds -earning minimum wage.

good luck to all you art students - I`ll have fries and a coke with that please

[econbizer2]

Hello... don't give up!

For most pple, every 100 applications gets you 10 interviews... and 10 interviews gets you 1 or 2 offers.

Everybody is faced with this. You are not alone.

[Sad Panda]

If I can make one little suggestion. Find something in your community that needs help, something that you can be passionate about and volunteer there!

Be it a veterinary clinic, homeless shelter, Big Brother/Big Sister mentoring program, library!

This not only shows that you have interests other than just a paycheck, it shows responsibility, ethic, etc. Not only will you meet people who can give you great references, but it also gives you so much more in return.

Volunteering really is the best advice I've ever been given.

[PinkChampagne]

Brush up on your soft skills, communication, etc

Show that you are confident, able to adapt and a fast learner. You got a degree, it should open more doors for you.

I've only got a diploma (Totally irrevelant one) , but i managed to get a 2.2K starting pay.

First thing HR said: Your cert is not relevant at all, what makes you think you can do this job.

I said: I'm a fast learner, my previous job experience has equip me with skills to blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah. I'm a great team player, blah blah blah, i adapt very fast, blah blah.

Be Confident, alittle Shameless, Try to speak up, be different. I'm Loud but in a sensitive way, know when to lie low, when to shine.