Jobless Twentysomething
March 3, 2012 11:15 AM Subscribe
Please help me plan my post grad life (aspiring designer).
Hi MeFites,
As some of you may know, I am an engineering student graduating with a bachelor of arts this year. I have finally narrowed down my career options, or at least identified what I enjoy. I am not sure if there is a basic job description for interaction or user experience design, but this field interests me a lot. Coupled with internships in game design and my love for architectural (civil engineering), I would love to construct digital platforms or work in new media for a few years. I also have extensive experience in entrepreneurship (co-founder of organization) and sculpting (studio arts minor). My long-term goal is to attend architecture or design school. The problem is, I have so many academic options and few career options. Four out the five jobs I interviewed with (out of literally ~60 applications) will make their final decision in may. During this time, I can decide to:
1. Remain in school for an accredited bachelor's of engineering degree (and take out $40k in loans)
2. Keep my fingers crossed for a job offer and apply for more
3. Update my portfolio and apply for residences
4. Move back home in hopes of lucking out
Are there any ways to maximize my chances of getting hired in this economy? Also, is it common to graduate without a job? I'd love to here your experiences! Thanks a bunch!
Hi MeFites,
As some of you may know, I am an engineering student graduating with a bachelor of arts this year. I have finally narrowed down my career options, or at least identified what I enjoy. I am not sure if there is a basic job description for interaction or user experience design, but this field interests me a lot. Coupled with internships in game design and my love for architectural (civil engineering), I would love to construct digital platforms or work in new media for a few years. I also have extensive experience in entrepreneurship (co-founder of organization) and sculpting (studio arts minor). My long-term goal is to attend architecture or design school. The problem is, I have so many academic options and few career options. Four out the five jobs I interviewed with (out of literally ~60 applications) will make their final decision in may. During this time, I can decide to:
1. Remain in school for an accredited bachelor's of engineering degree (and take out $40k in loans)
2. Keep my fingers crossed for a job offer and apply for more
3. Update my portfolio and apply for residences
4. Move back home in hopes of lucking out
Are there any ways to maximize my chances of getting hired in this economy? Also, is it common to graduate without a job? I'd love to here your experiences! Thanks a bunch!
Response by poster: Thanks for the insight, silby!
posted by nikayla_luv at 12:23 PM on March 3, 2012
posted by nikayla_luv at 12:23 PM on March 3, 2012
Could you tell us a little bit about your current program? I'm not familiar with a bachelors of arts in engineering.
posted by rancidchickn at 8:14 PM on March 3, 2012
posted by rancidchickn at 8:14 PM on March 3, 2012
We are in the same boat. It is common to graduate without a job, as far as I can tell! What kind of jobs have you been applying for? If you've been getting interviews (5 is GREAT), you are doing something right.
Could you apply for jobs both in your college area (I'm assuming those 60 applications are there) and back home? What kind of residences do you mean? It sounds like you are equally interested in left and right brain careers, so just for now, maybe committing to an engineering degree (with loans) may not be the best idea. You could later return to get the engineering degree. What are the requirements for architecture or design school? Is there a requirement for architecture/ digital platform careers you could fulfill in the meantime?
Good luck, from another jobless twentysomething.
posted by ichomp at 12:56 AM on March 8, 2012
Could you apply for jobs both in your college area (I'm assuming those 60 applications are there) and back home? What kind of residences do you mean? It sounds like you are equally interested in left and right brain careers, so just for now, maybe committing to an engineering degree (with loans) may not be the best idea. You could later return to get the engineering degree. What are the requirements for architecture or design school? Is there a requirement for architecture/ digital platform careers you could fulfill in the meantime?
Good luck, from another jobless twentysomething.
posted by ichomp at 12:56 AM on March 8, 2012
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by silby at 11:48 AM on March 3, 2012 [1 favorite]