Free Career and Job Search Advice

JTK_30 · Newbie Joined: 02 Aug 2009 Posts: 1 Career Advice: +0/-0

Hi Everyone,

I recently graduated as one of the top in my class at one of the premier universities of Pakistan. While i was studying i got offered an internship at a Fortune 500 company (i'm talking in the top 10 of that list) which was completely unrelated to what i was studying(I graduated as an electronic engineer). I guess i took it because a) It was a big big name b) I was kinda frustrated with the people who were teaching me, and industry in general.

Fast forward a year : I get offered the job with the same company, cushy salary and benefits and i jump at it since its a recession and not too many jobs were on offer.

Been 2 months now, and i really dont know what I' m doing. I grew up in another country and my parents are still there. Pakistan was only meant as a stop for studying, help out my parents since its was cheaper than going abroad and to prove myself in a tough environment since i knew i had the skills to succeed wherever i studied. The jobs alright i guess, its a managerial position, but i really dont know what to do at it. I feel its mind numbing and im losing my creativity, i miss being at home with my family, im in a city where i cant roam about freely.

Funny thing is, I dont know if i even have a problem, maybe i just needed to write all this out and talk to someone. Does anyone have experience of something similiar ? Changing industries as a first job ? feeling lost in the corporate world ? Sad

Pauloz · Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2009 10:42 am Post subject:

JTK_30

This situation could become a problem down the track. You've had a bit of luck, the idea now should be to make sure it's good luck, and this job doesn't turn into a dead end detour. The management experience can be used for an MBA down the track and it will look good on the CV for the next job. Learn the language, how the culture works, and what gets results. (I'll get to the creativity issues later.)

What this has done is take your career track out of its context. It's no surprise you're feeling disoriented. The trick now is to take advantage of the situation, not get lost in it. A degree in electronic engineering, combined with management experience in a top corporation, is a couple of aces in your hand. You'll be surprised how many doors that will open for you. The name alone of a top Fortune 500 company is a reference in itself.

Obviously, you'll move on, but it's how you move on that you need to watch. To get where you want to go, you need to know where you want to go. So how do you use the current job as an asset?

Answer:

Use this job to get some management experience. The recession will be going for a while, so you can use up a year or so while you're planning and checking out your next moves.

If you want to be creative, define that concept, before you do anything. How, where, with whom, and in what way, do you want to be creative? That's not a rhetorical question. Everything about creativity has to have practical applications. I come from a family full of artists, writers and musicians and I promise you, the blue sky is sometimes are real distraction at the wrong time, when you need clay instead.

The current job will give you a lot of credibility in any new job, provided you leave on good terms and you do actually get some management credentials. Two months is nothing, in that culture. You need more time on the job to use it as a career tool.

Meanwhile, figure out the game plan with this extra asset. It really can do you a lot of good, if you play this card properly. Try Manager, Electronic Engineering, doing pure research, if you want some real creativity in the raw. Won't get dull, I can guarantee you.

fakeman · Newbie Joined: 19 Aug 2009 Posts: 1 Career Advice: +0/-0

Times solves everything.Do not waste energy in worrying.Either enjoy that time instead of worrying,as worrying is not going to do any good.IF u are a low energy person like me,then perhaps things won't move fast,but why worry?

Guest · Posted: Tue Sep 08, 2009 7:49 am Post subject:

HI there,

I only to say that taking different job can enrich your experience, especially a fortune 500 company and you can learn more things from that company. Although it is unrelatd your major, it depond on your side. As a traditional chinese sentencesaying that "既来之，则安之” means Take things as they come。And the jib attitude is very important. Good luck !!

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