Hi Gilbert,
Thank you very much for setting up transitioning.org website. It has been a great support to me when I feel depressed about looking for a job.
I’m Aileen, 27 currently a job seeker. I graduated from NTU with Degree in Mechanical Engineering (3rd Class Honors) in Jul 2006.
Upon graduation, I worked as a business executive in a small local IT distribution firm till Jul 2008 when the owner decided to wind up the business.
The reason why I had taken up the job that is completely unrelated to my degree was because I wanted to improve on my soft skills.
Although I had seen some improvement in my soft skills after working 2 years as a business executive, I have to admit that I am not cut out for sales.
I decided that I should go back into engineering but had difficulties getting a engineering related job as it was the start of the financial crisis at that time.
As a result I took on a temporary administrative position for about 9 months. During these months I continued to send resumes and had went for 10 interviews for different jobs scopes (administration, customer services, engineering.. etc) but failed to land a permanent job.
I left for Sweden to pursue a Masters degree in solar engineering as it was my interest and I reckoned that it would increase my chances of getting an engineering job after that.
I came back to Singapore and have been actively seeking for a job. I had tried applying jobs with REC but to no avail. They seem to prefer people with semiconductor and manufacturing experience.
I have also tried sending resumes to local solar system integrators but most are not hiring and there are only a handful of such companies in Singapore.
So far have been to 2 interviews; one is a local start up dealing with PV module manufacturing (which I think chances are low as they have expected me to have site experiences which I don’t) the other is contract manufacturing firm for account engineer position (I think chances are higher but they are still interviewing candidates for the position).
I was expecting more interviews after applying for about 40 positions because it seems that market is doing well as there are more jobs adverts compared to 2008 and 2009 but getting 2 interviews out of 40 applications is making me less confident about landing a job.
I have seen your report about job seekers leaving out their post graduate qualification to avoid being over qualified. I wonder if I should do it too to increase my chances of getting an interview.. but if I do.. how can explain the one year gap?
I would like to seek help with a career counsellor to identify the types of jobs that I am suitable for and to seek help in improving my resume and interviewing skills .
Hope you can help me with it.
^^^^^^^^^^
Hi Aileen
Thanks for your mail and sorry to hear about your predicament.
Its true that job seeking can be abit daunting and discouraging. There’s the uncertainty that brings about a sense of insecurity.
I am glad that you have not given up but still looking out for work and sending out applications.
I always believe that it is good to be honest and if employer found that you have omitted something from your resume it may not look very nice on you.
Just include everything that you have and let the employer decide if they want to hire you.
Its also true though that some department bosses may find you a threat if you are too qualified for their liking – that’s the fact of life. and it’s their loss if they didn’t want to hire you.
Solar engineering is also a fairly new industry in Singapore and I am sure that its also a very niche area.
My take is that you may find better opportunities working abroad as our economy is still quite new in this area.
Solar energy has never really take off well here due to the cost factor. In Australia, however, many states have implemented cost-cutting measures using solar energy resources.
The recent carbon tax is another big push for the country to seriously consider using solar energy to reduce electricity cost in Australia.
I will assign you a career coach soon – do give me some time to arrange as we all have full time jobs.
I also seek your permission to post this mail on my site – I will leave out your name and sensitive info so that your privacy is protected.
Lastly, never give up and stay strong. We are here for you.
Regds
Gilbert Goh
Please don’t come to look for job in Australia, we have too many FTs here already.
Austrslia jobless rate is 5.2% this is higher than S’pore. But many oz took up jobs & didn’t declare they were working so that at the same time they can still receive some sort of social benefits.
Personally I don’t really quite believe that Spore jobless rate is only 2%.
Not to forget Australia has generous unemployment benefits. Many of their blue collar and less educated aussies work only 6-9 months each year, and collect unemployment benefits for the remaining 3-6 months while they bum around and relax during the summer months.
Having more hardworking Asians in Australia will threaten these type of people’s lifestyle, as their employers will naturally prefer to hire harder working employees. With the salary range for even blue collar work being in the $15-$20 an hour range, many Asians will willingly work 50 hours per week easily.
As for Singapore’s 2% unemployment, it is distorted figure due to the below factors:-
1. 1 out of 2 workers in S’pore are foreigners (PRs or work pass holders). If foreigner becomes jobless and cannot get another job within 3 months, he or she will leave S’pore, and they don’t increase the unemployment statistic.
2. If you’re jobless and no CPF contribution for >6 months, you’re considered retired i.e. voluntarily out of the workforce. You won’t be counted in the unemployment stats.
3. If you’re jobless and currently attending any WDA / E2I / CDC training course, you are counted as “employed” even though you may not have secured any job, and are merely getting $800/mth training allowance.
Solar energy is still not economically viable — too damn expensive. Without govt grants (i.e. handouts), most solar energy projects will go bankrupt and close shop.
But Gilbert is correct in that Oz is currently the best place if you want to pursue solar engineering due to their emphasis on reducing carbon emissions and the recently introduced carbon tax. Still you may need to be prepared to take on lower level positions like technician in order to secure a job. But that’s still OK, as these angmoh countries have much lower Gini and the salary of even bus drivers and garbage collectors can afford a bungalow and 2 cars.
Other than Oz, you may want to consider Nordic countries, since you did your masters in Sweden. The nordic countries are still doing economically better than the rest of Europe, so still got chance to get jobs.
Hi Aileen
Your NTU degree in Mechanical Engineering is 3rd Class Honors. Some employers might feel that you are unsuitable for engineering job. But your Masters degree in solar engineering should able to help you.
Since you worked as a business executive in a small local IT distribution firm and administrative position but never in engineering line before, then some employers might choose to hire other applicants with relevant experience. Some employers will question you on this part during interviews.
If you feel that you should leave out your post graduate qualification to avoid being over qualified for certain positions then of course you should do that. You can disclose your Masters degree in solar engineering at later time after you have settle down in a new job.
Do you really need to state the one year gap in the resume? Just do away with it.
If any employers question you on the one year gap. Oh well, just say you help out your parents with their small F&B biz stall or you went to try out your own small biz etc.
I am back in Europe after 30 years,
Why would you go back to Sg, you should
Know the situation that Sg is not wanted in our
Own country,
I am surprised to her that you have not found
A swedish man to marry or dO a PhD where you
Will likely to get a research grant.
Why in the world would you go back to Sg when
The situation in Sg is for foreigners since 2006 !
Only Sg who cannot leave Sg has no choice but
To remain in Sg and suffer under the govt policies
And insult of foreigners.
Would you want to be unemployed with a Masters
In Sg? Or very much underemployed?
Please come back to Europe so that we Sg can
Network;
But I know Sg nationals are a cohesive people,
Even when overseas, I know that, I have lived in
A few countries.
So it is not unusual that we are not respected
By foreigners in our own country?
Hahahaha
Singapore is the first in the world where foreigners
Feel they have the audacity to insult the citizens in
The country where they are temporarily residing!
So Singaporeans continue to vote the ruling Party
Since you like it so much,
I am not even in Sg now but just reading on the
Internet forums make me piss off;
Who instil that kind of mentality in the foreigners
Working in Sg, spass and epass are called foreign
Talents? Hahaha
So waiting for Election 2016 ?
I bet the govt has his way to influence you to
Vote them!
Hahaha
….Surprise that…
….NOT a cohesive ….
Yes, female can succeed in Aust. Aust men want
Cxnt !
But not so for asian men;
When I was training to be a Math teacher in Aust.
Many years ago,
My Supervising teacher must have felt strange As to why
Would a chinese ( a sg chinese is chinese as far
As they are concerned)
Pronounce “at all” as “at-tall” and standing ovation
As “standing ing-ovation”
They would think you don’t know a fuck on the proper use
Of English words
But if an Englishman pronounces it, it is Queen’s
English or pronounciation!
Most Australian, of course not all, do not like Asians
I do not know if they have changed, its been 20 years
Australian are not exposed to the Asian world
And think highly of themselves.
I do k
Since I migrated and left the bloody country
The officials are the worst !
Yes, female can succeed in Aust. Aust men want
Cxnt !
But not so for asian men;
When I was training to be a Math teacher in Aust.
Many years ago,
My Supervising teacher must have felt strange As to why
Would a chinese ( a sg chinese is chinese as far
As they are concerned)
Pronounce “at all” as “at-tall” and standing ovation
As “standing ing-ovation”
They would think you don’t know a fuck on the proper use
Of English words
But if an Englishman pronounces it, it is Queen’s
English or pronounciation!
Most Australian, of course not all, do not like Asians
I do not know if they have changed, its been 20 years
Australian are not exposed to the Asian world
And think highly of themselves.
I do not know whY they are so when they are the
Descendents of the worst criminals Of british stock !
Since I migrated and left the bloody country
The officials are the worst !
Alot of Singaporeans can work in Australia but how many Australians can work in Asia. Getting into Uni in Australia is so easy less the very good ones like ANU, UNSW, Melbourne Uni etc. Agree with your comments
Getting into Australia uni should be easier than trying to get into NTU, NUS, SUTD, SMU. But going for higher education in S’pore by enrolling into Australia uni carry some risk.
In 2007, UNSW closed down its campus at redhill leaving hundreds of students in shock & panic.
In 2002/2003, university of ballarat & its S’pore private sch partner closed down the 1st time running dip in IT & multimedia. University of ballarat wants to use powerpoint to teach multimedia but students all complained they already knew how to use powerpoint. When a male student got aggressive, the private sch quickly refunded the money to students to close the course but later the private sch reopen the dip course again on their own. I can’t remember the name of the private sch but i remember it was located at present united house kramat lane. The private sch lady boss seems to be related with the former orchard sch, also a private sch.
2011/2012, Uni of south australia & kaplan stopped continuing the bachelor & master of logistics courses. Students were given options of either pay to continue by studying on their own or withdraw.
Even our local Temasek Polytechnic also suddenly closed down its dip in library studies leaving students in shock & panic. BMC private sch also closed down a deg in law course before. A student had to study on his own in order to continue his studies. The student was summoned to court to testify against BMC when BMC was complained.
All the uni or private schools will not hesitate to close down those courses which they feel it is not making enough money for them.
Hi Aileen
I met a business delegation from Portugal several weeks ago. I met the BD mgr of MARTIFER solar who may be interested to have a chat with you. I will pass the contact to Gilbert.
Ciaou
Shan
Hi Aileen,
You might also like to read some of the encouragements and ideas from the readers on TRE:
http://www.tremeritus.com/2012/07/15/solar-engineering-grad-with-masters-only-has-2-interviews-out-of-40-job-applications/
Cheers!
Dear Aileen,
I am currently pursuing opportunities in the set up of solar energy harvesting systems in Singapore and ASEAN region.
If you are interested to find out more, please send us your CV – resume@greatwayz.com.
Your background in mechanical engineering + solar will be valuable to my envisioned team.
Cheers
Kim Hwee
Till date I have yet to receive any emails from Aileen.
please contact me as i am looking for a engineer
Engineering jobs are always high paying but they take a lot of skill to be hired. You also need more experience so that you can easily get hired. ,*`”
Warmest regards
http://www.melatoninfaq.com/melatonin-side-effects/
Its not easy to be a lady engineer especially in Spore….stereotype. and most of them become HR or teachers n etc. But if yr passion still in Eng’g…R&D is a good place to start with. About over qualified, I’ve ever spoke to a mgr that overqualified person will only take d job temporarily n move to another job 6 months later…