A Fresh Begining
We were sitting in the university cafe when a sudden high pitched scream frightened us. One of our class fellows had got a job in a leading telecom vendor and he was celebrating by waving his appointment letter and shouting in the cafe.
This was starting to become a routine in those last days of the final year. On one hand everybody was busy meeting the deadlines of the FYPs and on the other frantically trying to land a job in the telecom sector. A good job was the only thing most of us had dreamt of, as a reward of our fierce studies. The going was tough and totally against our expectations. All through our course work, we had talked of getting lucrative jobs even before the completion of our final year projects. Everyone was joining job websites, dropping their resumes in offices of Telecom companies and trying to contact employers through every possible mean.
My frustration of being jobless was increasing with every passing day. I was amazed at the people who had offers from more than two companies. We were a group of four friends in our university and none of us had even been called for an interview. Some times we used to blame the system, and at other times we censured ourselves for a relatively lower CGPA. Though I was good at technical stuff, but the mental disturbance was so much that on rare occasions I even blamed myself for choosing a wrong discipline. After an agonizing wait of 3 months a call came from Huawei Technologies for a job test. To my utter amazement the test was scheduled next morning. It went fine and I was called for the interview. After going through the rigorous exercise of two interviews, the lady luck struck me and I was finally selected in the RF department. After serving at Huawei for five months, I joined Mobilink as an RF Optimization Engineer.
Time has flown since then and things have changed. But I am unable to forget the air of uncertainty, having no direction and the feelings of being worthless during the haunting months of joblessness. Many young graduates might feel the same today.
It’s hard on the part of a fresh graduate to know all the requirements for landing a decent job in an industry that is ever growing and ever changing.
After being in the telecom industry for almost a year and a half, I have found out several things which if kept in mind by a fresh graduate would help to find a decent job or would at least minimize the frustration of being jobless.
1. Acquire knowledge about the Telecom market and its different dimensions. Be specific and focused in area of your interest.
2. Remember there is a thin line between a focused approach and limiting your opportunities.
3. Interact with people already working in the Industry. Try to reach out and discuss the opportunities that the industry offers with your university seniors.
4. Prepare your resume in the most effective way.
5. Make yourself part of Telecom forums and websites. Read news and the latest happenings in the Telecom sector.
6. Keep your knowledge updated about the Telecom sector.
7. Prioritize things. For example an internship in a department of your choice will pay you a lot better then a lucrative placement in a field which you do not intend to follow in the future.
8. For an entry level position, give more importance to technical exposure rather than the salary.
9. Never miss an opportunity for the sake of work station or fringe benefits. Look for the element which would pay and benefit your career in the long run.
10. Positive energy can lead to you a whole world of opportunities. Be optimistic when you apply for a job. Keep searching for the job vigorously unless you get one.
I hope the above mentioned points would help the fresh graduates in some way or the other. This Telecom World is full opportunities, if you have the talent and the will to move forward.
12 Responses to “A Fresh Begining”
By Raja Usman Mehmood on Nov 3, 2008 | Reply
Great thoughts!
By Awais on Nov 4, 2008 | Reply
I have completed my Telecom Engineering 4 months ago and i am applying in every company science 6 months bt i am never been called by any one even i had GPA of 3.37. Few of my friends got job and told that with some referance they got job even they had very low grades. Now my Question is that how can people like me can get job without referance or who will take step to help guys like me?????????????????
By moona malik on Nov 4, 2008 | Reply
hahah,, iam a fresh graduate and being lady i am suffering more than u did.more saturated environment than ever and more sources than ever and last but not least more expectations from a candidate than ever are required ,this is leading our young generation to move out out country … but my plans are higher inshallah i,in a stage of my life ,establish oppertunities for young grads instaed of mailing on blogs and groups.May ALLah bless me and give me strenght to achieve my goals
By Aroona Moshabbir Mir on Nov 5, 2008 | Reply
Thanks moona for your feedback. I like your plans. Our country badly needs people who can create opportunities for fresh graduates. But mailing on groups and blogging isn’t useless either. One gets to interact with people of a community that one wants to be a part of. Also one gets to know thoughts of people already working (the prospective employers) in a sector, which is really important for job search.
By Aroona Moshabbir Mir on Nov 6, 2008 | Reply
@ awais: What people without reference should do is a very pertinent question in today’s job market. The answer to this question is point no. 10, search vigorously. Another thing is that try not to sit idle during the job search. Try getting a TAship at your university and don’t hesitate to do a non paid internship. That would be at least a valuable addition to your CV.
By Mohsin J. on Nov 7, 2008 | Reply
All,
We should stop moaning about “references” and start creating some of our own.
Our career is our resposibility and we can not let circumtance lead/ruin our careers.
Get involved with telecom professionals, arrange meetings with them where you ask them career related questions. Build a professional relationship and then jobs will come to u otherwise if u keep asking people about jobs then keep avoiding u..Read the below segment and feel free to ask questions..
http://www.zumbeel.net/career/
All the best in your telecom career.
By ASAD on Nov 14, 2008 | Reply
HI SALAM TO ALL MY SISTERS AND BROTHERS HERE.
SOME TIMES I FRUSTRATE THAT WHAT WILL BE HAPPEN AFTER MY GRADUATION IF THERE IS NO JOB OFFERED TO ME .WILL I BE JOBLESS OR I HAVE TO WORK A THOUSANDS MILES AWAY FROM MY HOME .TELL ME WHAT IS THE SCENARIO OF JOBS AFTER GRADUATION.IS IT MATTER ON CGPA/REFERENCE/LUCK.THANKS
By shoaib khan on Dec 15, 2008 | Reply
Hi All
I agree with Mohsin bhai…life is tough not just for fresh grads but for those too who are already in the field..first step in anything you do will be difficult…but that’s how u learn to gain experience…also getting high grades does not mean u’ll get job before someone with lesser grades…or immediately after ur studies…it only reflects ur aptitude..u will also come across ppl who might have failed once or more thn once during their studies …but that does mean they cant work in the industry…from my experience learning through books and learning in the field are completely different…often an avearge student performs far better than the position holder of his/her class when in profession…there is plenty plenty of competition when u pass out …u need to find “that extra bit” which can make u stand out amongst the lot…remember networking in crucial WHATEVER the field u talk about..u need contacts,luck & the right aptitude..
By Waqas on Dec 18, 2008 | Reply
Well i am also a fresh graduate and searched alot ov jobs and was jobless for round abt 6 mnths and always thought tht only guys with refrence gets the job, but i tried and never gave up, and always try to be updated with new technologies coming in market unless the time came and i got the job in Ericsson and without refrence. So the thing is dnt giveup…try try and try again and inshallah ur tym will come and u will get job…
By fawwad on Dec 22, 2008 | Reply
Assalam-o-alikum to all
Well, organized network helps a lot in finding and getting a well job.
organize ur fellows chart and find out wht they can do for you.
they can help you to enter for an interview rest is ur skills…
By Farhan Asif on Dec 24, 2008 | Reply
Well, we just cannot the involvement of sources/references in getting employed. But still the greatest reference to your talent is your hard work and your consistent temperament. Hard work and dedication never goes in vain. I had no source. No reference. But i did get a good job ALhamduLILLAH. Have faith in Allah and in your self. ISA everything will work out to be fine.
By Shoaib Waqar on Dec 31, 2008 | Reply
For fresh grads
In today’s market situation one has to be aggressive in the job hunt. Fresh grads need to keep in touch with the people sitting in the market. Even bother them time and again. Do not miss any chance of giving an interview even if the position is not an ideal one. Then analyse yourself, your weaknesses, your strengths. See what the employers want from you. Mostly, they are not interested in how much you have learnt so far, they are interested in your innovative approach and your ability to grow with their organization.
Having said that, fresh grads should also have a little experience in form of a short internship. It gives huge value to your resume.
Finally be optimistic in your job hunt no matter how long it takes because always remember, you could be useless to one organization but you can be an asset for another.