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Reasonable time to use degree

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  • 18-06-2012 1:16am
    #1
    Paulie Walnuts
    Registered Users Posts: 82 ✭✭


    Hello all!
    I have just finished an engineering degree and am hoping to start a career soon. Having spent some time searching for a job it is becoming apparent to me that I may either need to buy a car or relocate or even emigrate. Each option will require money that I don't have right now. I'm thinking about getting a job unrelated to my field of study (call centre maybe).
    I'm wondering if anyone has an idea of how long I can wait before I "use my degree". I assume it's not a big deal to wait a few months but what if it goes beyond that???
    Also I was hoping someone might have an opinion on how easy it is to find work abroad without experience?


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    #2
    djpbarry
    Registered Users Posts: 13,104 ✭✭✭✭djpbarry


    Paulie Walnuts wrote: »
    I'm thinking about getting a job unrelated to my field of study (call centre maybe).
    Working is almost always better than not working, so if money is a concern, then yes, it’s not a bad idea to be working at something while looking for something else. I temped (in the financial sector) for the first few months after I did my engineering degree and it didn’t do me any harm in the long run – in fact I was offered a permanent position!
    Paulie Walnuts wrote: »
    I'm wondering if anyone has an idea of how long I can wait before I "use my degree". I assume it's not a big deal to wait a few months but what if it goes beyond that???
    Also I was hoping someone might have an opinion on how easy it is to find work abroad without experience?
    Essentially both questions boil down to experience and demonstrable knowledge/skills – that is ultimately what employers are interested in. Getting a job without any relevant experience is always going to be difficult, regardless of the wider economic situation. I graduated when Ireland was supposedly booming, but I still had problems finding jobs I was interested in. Employers are always going to look for experience first, qualifications second. However, if, like me, you can make a case for doing some work just to get by (that’s far better than sitting around and waiting for the “right” job, which a lot of people will do, remember), then you can turn this into something positive to have on your CV. I think the only way this can work against you is if you end up spending years stuck in a call centre, but that’s obviously unlikely.

    But, I would suggest that you consider all your options. It’s definitely not a bad idea to look further afield for more relevant positions – apart from anything else, work abroad looks very good on your CV. Not to mention that it will of course also broaden your horizons!


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