The Black Hole Phenomenon

[Ksa]

Here's the thing: Job search in Canada failed for 8 months. I am 28 y.o. got a degree in Chemistry and another one in Chemical Engineering. I worked in a lab for 2 years but it was not paid, was either a project or volunteering. I can make anything you can imagine and cannot imagine, yet, every time I send a resume somewhere, there is...a silence...a lack of response. It is overwhelming because I sent 1,000s of resumes, talked to 100s of different people, met 10s of people and it doesn't seem to go anywhere.

It's like a Black Hole out of which no light ever comes out. There's nothing I can measure. I cannot tell which job search approach works best because the success rate is zero for all of them. Dividing the time I spend looking for a job by the success rate gives an error. It's not something my brain can compute. I wasn't trained to work with such variables.

Does anyone know what's going on?

 

[alasdairm]

there's a well-known definition of insanity: "doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result".

while it is a numbers game to an extent, if sending out 999 resumes nets you zero responses, what makes you think resume 1000 is going to be any different?

you need to start doing things differently. you need to, perhaps, start identifying companies at which you wish to work, mine your network for contacts to get your foot in the door and informally explore opportunities (as opposed to just applying for posted positions via the front door).

alasdair

 

[sekio]

"the chemistry job market always sucks" (paraphrase)
-- chemjobber

 

[Ksa]

start identifying companies at which you wish to work, mine your network for contacts to get your foot in the door and informally explore opportunities (as opposed to just applying for posted positions via the front door).

alasdair

I've done countless informational interviews where I met with directors of many companies including Kruger pulp and paper, I talked about future opportunities, the role of the engineer in the company, where new grads may best fit, I had a 2 page transcript of questions to ask, I left the room with 3 pages of notes every time.

You want me to get the foot in the door, I put my foot in the door and the same was I put it in I put it back out or they would call security on me. I don't get it, why would they let me register at the faculty of engineering if they new there's nothing out there.

 

[alasdairm]

^ i understand you're frustrated but i'm not sure how i'm supposed to already know your full job hunt history? if you're going to just shoot down people's opinions, probably better to not ask for them in the first place.

good luck.

alasdair

 

[Ksa]

^ i understand you're frustrated but i'm not sure how i'm supposed to already know your full job hunt history? if you're going to just shoot down people's opinions, probably better to not ask for them in the first place.

good luck.

alasdair

If you don't know my history why do you comment on it, never asked such a thing. Look, my car breaks down, I'm asking you what's going on, never met you before but you stopped by to help me on the road, then you go on telling about how a car should be driven so it doesn't break down. Why interfere? You're right! You don't know how I've driven the car, so why comment on it...comment on what you know, aka:

- The job situation in Canada
- The Full Employment statistics, how the 9% rate went down to 6% and how the bank interest rates are frozen because of it
- How you personally managed to find a job
- How the chemistry field is doing, sekio got it there

 

[Ksa]

In communism, you couldn't physically register to a faculty if you didn't have a job spot reserved for you. Companies were literally ordering engineers, accountants, lawyers, based on the need in the industry. Paperwork was sent to the government, had to be approved, and if the company ordered someone, that someone underwent a 4 year program and then wasn't hired, the manager went to jail or was shot. I begin to think it was a mistake to leave that place.

The American society allows for this crap to happen without any repercussions on universities/companies so I need a way out. The way out could be going to another country, I need outside the box thinking because I'm stuck in this shit lol.

 

[alasdairm]

q.e.d.

so think outside the box.

best of luck with your search. with such a positive attitude and such great people skills, you're sure to go far...

alasdair

 

[Tude]

If you don't know my history why do you comment on it, never asked such a thing. Look, my car breaks down, I'm asking you what's going on, never met you before but you stopped by to help me on the road, then you go on telling about how a car should be driven so it doesn't break down. Why interfere? You're right! You don't know how I've driven the car, so why comment on it...

Because he's trying to prevent you from being in this situation again in the future?

Anyways, perhaps your resume should be rewritten? The way accomplishments are relayed is as important as the accomplishments themselves.

You mentioned asking recruiters two pages' worth of questions. I'm just curious; what are you asking?

 

[Roger&Me]

my advice is give up hope of ever getting a chemistry job (say thank you to the chinese for this)

parlay your quantitative skills to something like finance

 

[Foreigner]

Another country might work. On the other hand, why would they hire a foreigner if they can find an engineer domestically and not have to deal with visas, etc?

You're not the only young person stuck right now. Most young people I know cannot get accepted anywhere following university. A guy I know from university who did applied engineering is currently working at starbucks. With the economy being what it is, and market saturation of degree holders, companies aren't hiring degree holders who don't have experience. Our generation is suffering the ultimate let down.

Like the advice above, I would find another job that let's you keep your analytical skills sharp, and bide your time. The economic situation is coming to a head and come spring 2014 I think we will know which way the wind is going to blow.

Economic stagnation is a real bitch, and this globalized economy our generation is getting fucked by it.

 

[Roger&Me]

our generation is going to have to learn to be flexible to survive. i think the successful ones among us will become so by changing careers multiple times throughout our lifetime, and following the money. no sense in sticking it out in a failing industry.

the economy is doing well where its doing well (to state the obvious). i mean, c'mon, dow is gonna break 16,000 soon. from that perspective, the economy is fantastic right now. the money is out there to be made if you're clever and flexible, and willing to change fields, possibly retrain, and follow the money trail.

you have to make moves though, this isn't the 1990's anymore.

 

[Ksa]

Great ideas guys thanks. I know enough math to do finance, sounds great.

 

[Roger&Me]

all i ask in return is that you buy me a ferrari when you strike it rich