r/ChemicalEngineering • u/Intelligent-Rest8405 • Feb 13 '25
Job Search July 2024 graduate who’s fed up & tired
Soo it feels like I’m going through a mid-life crisis at 21. Which is insane.
I graduated last summer from a UK university with a 2.1 (which is sort of similar to a 3.6 GPA in US i think). I have applied to just over 100 jobs since then, and still haven’t been able to get one. It’s honestly so draining.
I’ll admit, at the start I had no idea what to specifically apply to, I just go on good engineering companies website, check their careers list and apply to an open role I think sounds ok. I still feel lost in the job application process, like it feels like I’m doing something wrong.
Graduate jobs/ 2025 graduate schemes opened up in August 2024 so that was my main focus. Finding available ones to apply to, not just entry level listed roles. For graduate schemes/jobs they have a process [different stages] like 1. application, 2. psychometric assessments, 3. video interviews & tests, 4. assessment centre days. So for a few of the companies (PwC, Unilever, GSK, etc) I actually got all the way up to stage 3 but didn’t progress to stage 4.
I can’t believe I’m still unemployed & it’s so frustrating. It’s not so much about the pressure I put on myself anymore, cos I sort of understand it’s difficult nowadays to get a job & I’m tired of stressing tbh. But it’s my PARENTS and other external pressure tbh and the thought of being at home ‘doing nothing’ for much longer. It’s so draining and exhausting.
Now I’m practically being pushed to look for masters courses to apply to for August/September entry, UK or US. That was NOT my plan or my idea, I feel like i suffered enough in undergrad so idkk if I can handle a masters degree- plus idk what I’d do it in.
Honestly idk where to go from here. I need a job asap so that I don’t have to jump into masters as an assurance. I’m literally open to working in UK, US, anywhere idk. Idk where else to apply, or what specific roles to apply to, if I should apply for a masters just incase, idk. Advice?
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u/ToughInvestment916 Feb 13 '25
I graduated in '72 and traveled the country shooting pool and playing cards. Finally, my college roommate talked me into moving to DC and finding work at a patent law firm. I walked in cold into a small law firm that offered me $7800 to start, only half of the starting salary of my ChemE class. I took it but asked for quarterly reviews, and by the second year, I was making $30k and soon thereafter $60k and free night law school. Think about what else you can do with your degree and just get a foothold. Prove yourself as valuable. I ended up making, in today's money, a million dollars a year working 30 hours a week.