[QUOTE=ilhappy;53972]
Quote:
Originally Posted by Unregistered
I'm quite surprise a 2nd upper in Economics can only land up with 2 such unattractive offers. Is it from NUS or private uni?
I'm from nus/ ntu/ smu. It's not easy to enter the MA/graduate program, I have applied many jobs directly but not short listed or replies. I believe they do internal hiring/referral and hencey cv is filter out, at the same time, I'm at a disadvantage as employers prefer candidates with working experience. In additon, many companies outsource their hiring, hence outsourced recruiters will look for candidates with relevance working experience as that's the criteria stated by the employees, hence I am unable to be short listed for perm position through the recruiters agent. I have friends who have been doing contract for 1 year plus as the banks are cutting jobs and also they do not have the head count to convert contract into perm. I think that even if bank have the head count, they will give the priority to the ones whose doing contract with them rather than a nus/ ntu/ smu fresh grad without working experience, as that's a risk for them to take. I have spoke to agency recruiter and that's where I get my information from. Correct me if I'm wrong.
I am also surprised how difficult it is and that private sector emphasis a lot on working experience then academic. Well that's the truth I have to accept.
The 2nd offer is a perm position. I agree the 4 months contract is not a good position. But the perm? How do you define good job? Sales? Otherwise, in banks I think majority (>50%) are doing bank ops/back end+middle office. |
I think you are going about this the wrong way.
I don't know what sort of management graduate programs you have been applying, but if it's those global atas ones like P&G, Unilever, Shell, BCG, Mackenzie, IBM, Google, JPM, GS, BP etc. then I suggest you stop wasting time there, they are not interested in a 2nd class honors from a local uni.
If it's local company graduate program or smaller mnc sort of entry level executive/analyst role, I am quite surprise that you cannot secure an offer in this space as your academics are actually quite good. If you cannot even get an offer in this space, likely something is wrong in the way you write your CV or the way you conduct yourself in the interview. Might want to seek professional advice on those.
Most low level recruitment activities are outsourced to agents nowadays and that is nothing new. There will always be jobs for freshies as there are for experienced hires, your lack of success might be symptom of more deeper problem. It is not just employers only want experienced hires. Among a batch of new school leaver, probably <5% are management program type, the rest 95% is just normal hire - this does not explain your lack of success.
Also I notice you keep mentioning about banks only. Only the real ivy elites or well connected can afford to pick and choose their employers because everyone is rushing to sign them up. You are in no position to do that now. Continue down this path and all you will get is all these unwanted leftover jobs.
Don't waste your good academics for some low level banal operations job in a bank, you are just limiting your career growth by insisting on only joining a bank even if the offer sux. The sort of offers you are getting is usually taken up people with lousier results in a local uni or bought their degree from some private school.