Should fresh grads apply to jobs which need experience?

[balduus]

I will be graduating soon from NTU in January (competing my ComScience course in 3.5years). i have been applying for jobs since November and i taken advice from a few friends. They told me to ignore the 'experience needed' column when applying for junior level executive jobs.

I would have attended around 3 interviews, and 2 of them which need experience ended up in me being told off a bit harshly for not having the required experience. One job the interviewer asked me why did i not read the job description carefully, which clearly states 1-2 years of experience needed, and told me off for wasting his time. I did reply that i could pick up skills quickly and am willing to settle for a lower pay, however the interviews did not end good.

I do understand most interviewers don't read my resume beforehand, one even remarked that he didn't know i had yet to graduate, and i am under qualified for the job as i have no degree in my hand.

I just want to know if as a fresh grad should i only be applying to jobs that do not need experience? That leaves me with those jobs like MA or Graduate programs which looks very non-technical. I'm a technical guy with little interest in management, so i choose to stay away from those jobs.

P.S
A little bit about me: NTU Com Sci graduate soon (2nd lowers). No other technical certs but im studying for a CCNA cert.

If I'm the hiring manager, 2 thoughts come to mind:

1) This guy doesn't read or he doesn't understand English.
2) This guy doesn't care about instructions or what the boss/company wants.

Would you hire "this guy"?

If they want to hire freshies, they would put "Fresh Graduates are welcome to apply", or they would leave out the exp part. At Fresh Grad level u can't be that arrogant, expecting higher level jobs

Originally Posted by balduus

I would have attended around 3 interviews, and 2 of them which need experience ended up in me being told off a bit harshly for not having the required experience. One job the interviewer asked me why did i not read the job description carefully, which clearly states 1-2 years of experience needed, and told me off for wasting his time. I did reply that i could pick up skills quickly and am willing to settle for a lower pay, however the interviews did not end good.

I do understand most interviewers don't read my resume beforehand, one even remarked that he didn't know i had yet to graduate, and i am under qualified for the job as i have no degree in my hand.

It's the company's fault if they didn't read your resume before calling you for interview. I'm shocked that such companies exist.

It must be a crappy company judging from their HR hiring practice, so don't feel bad if they reject you.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

It's the company's fault if they didn't read your resume before calling you for interview. I'm shocked that such companies exist.

It must be a crappy company judging from their HR hiring practice, so don't feel bad if they reject you.

i agree...the company's hr must be all kinds of cock up in that case. anyhow call people, wasting everyone's time.

i think fresh grads applying to jobs which state 1-2 years experience needed is fine...nowadays rarely any jobs will say fresh graduates welcome...i can only think of mindef dxo that explicitly says that...

Ask those that spend months looking for jobs, I bet most of the interviews they went, they have met dozens of HR that did not read through the applicant resume. I personally been through those interviews few times

Don't be too upset with those HR insulting you because you are a fresh grad. They should be reprimanded for not screening your resume and wasting time. I have heard worst interviews with fresh grads. Especially with recruitment agents. They called you asking for your experience and qualification then they would end off the call saying you have zero experience and the job could not afford you at all.shouldnt they screen your resume before calling you? Moral and ego are seriously hurt.

Once a recruit agent who are recruiting for XXX pharmaceutical company ( quite a reputable one) called me because they receive my resume. They want to know my class for degree. I was working and I had no time to reply their email. They called me up and ask for my degree, telling them I don't have a FCH, they said okay. I asked if I still need to scan my certificate and reply their email. They replied saying it is okay. Shortly after our conversation, less than 5 min, I receive a rejection letter. Excellent efficiency.



Well you just have to keep your positive mind open and embrace any opportunity that knocks your door. You may never know where you can jump to next. You just need someone to give you a head start.

Cheers! May the luck be with you

[balduus]

Thanks for your inputs guys. It was both small companies hence i guess their HR made a mistake in scheduling me for an interview.

I don't feel bad i got rejected, i just feel bad that there are so many jobs out there that require experience

Originally Posted by balduus

Thanks for your inputs guys. It was both small companies hence i guess their HR made a mistake in scheduling me for an interview.

I don't feel bad i got rejected, i just feel bad that there are so many jobs out there that require experience

yeah pretty much a catch-22 situation eh.

i'm in the same boat.

jobs need experience, i need a job to get experience. go figure...

Originally Posted by Unregistered

yeah pretty much a catch-22 situation eh.

i'm in the same boat.

jobs need experience, i need a job to get experience. go figure...

Thats why Grad programs, Internships and cappy SMEs exist. For you to get experience