Can't Find a Job. Advice?

LSarah11 on 29/02/2020 - 23:06
Last edited 29/02/2020 - 23:25

I'm in the process finishing a computer science degree, and have been actively looking for my first job as a junior software developer, but have not even been able to get a single interview. Lately I have become quite disheartened about my future prospects in the field. At this stage, I would even be willing to take an unpaid internship as I need some experience.

My grades are very strong, I have put a lot of work into my portfolio and am involved in various IT meetups and hackathons, I am a female so am worried that it may be the reason why I'm finding it so difficult (perception that women can't code is still common unfortunately). I do have a males name though, so may not be the actual reason, not sure.

What do you think I should do to increase my chances of finding work? Masters degree? Bootcamp?

Education & Work

Comments

    • [Deactivated] on 06/03/2020 - 19:17

      And that's why she or he should give up, Australian government doesn't have time for local degrees, not even the politics in degrees matter only that they are appointed members that will soon resign or leave to their degree depending on their political career blows up

      So yes more forigners please they did build this country, if you're indigenous you could say you're stealing my job, because in reality I would be even if born here due to my liniage.

      But indigenous people do have assistance (if they wish to see it or not) for education or employment.

      But in the mean time those who arrived here in the 60's or 70's as baby boomers and now their kids are suffering (it's okay your linage arrived) so let's let the next forigners in it's free market Australia, while you wait a forigner is paying the tax on behalf of you.

      • Cynicaloflife on 06/03/2020 - 20:24

        Well the government does ensure that Australian Citizens or Permanent Residents are employed. That’s why many international students with Australian degrees struggle to get a job.

        I have seen very few companies (Empired, Schneider Electric, telstra, google), hiring people (from India) for Australian grads jobs, when they were here on a tourist visa.

        But if a person with an international degree just graduates and gets their P.R., they can also apply for Australian graduate jobs.

        This is a loophole as the adverts ask for a ‘relevant undergraduate degree’ and do not specify it has to be Australian.

        So a smarter move is to send your daughter or son to India/China, get a degree for the fraction of cost and apply for grad jobs here. Getting a job is also straightforward as the questions are mainly behavioural for a majority of the companies. So the quality of education does not apply.

        • [Deactivated] on 06/03/2020 - 22:25

          So a smarter move is to send your daughter or son to India/China, get a degree for the fraction of cost and apply for grad jobs here.

          Interesting, but with mainland Chinas discrimination on forign people half blooded or not, they impose serious rules, and my gawd (no offense to Indian people) but in education they skim over topics in English even if you don't know it, then they grill you for not understanding it, so I'd decline that offer, maybe the philipines or Japan.

  • Sarah11 on 09/03/2020 - 11:40

    Thanks everyone. I really appreciate all the advice, including all the encouraging messages I have been sent over the last week. Thank you for everyone who has offered to help.

    I realise that I need to really spend some time working on cv, making sure it is absolutely perfect. I will also need to build my portfolio so that it better reflects all of my skills, at the moment it is probably not up to standard. Also I will definitely need to apply for more jobs, as 20 jobs is probably not much in the scheme of things.

    I will continue going to events, hackahtons, meetups and try to network as best as I can. Let people know that I will be graduating soon and am looking for a full time job. I will also contact companies I really want to work for an let them know that I am interested. I will also use 'Ms' on my cover letter as it may make a difference. I don't want my pride to stop me from securing my first job.

    Thanks again.

    • try2bhelpful on 09/03/2020 - 11:48
      +1

      Best of Luck on the journey. The first step is the hardest.

    • tzar on 09/03/2020 - 20:22

      As someone who has reviewed quite a few candidates for software jobs.. The CV is much less important than your portfolio or other evidence that you know what you're talking about. Technical writing, github etc will all factor into my decision more if I can find them, especially as a new grad. Most important things to demonstrate are that you communicate and learn well and take pride in your work. Your CV will let me know your background broadly and ideally where to look for this evidence, but that's about where it ends for me. Very easy to bullshit on a CV

      Good luck!

  • Kaboda on 09/03/2020 - 20:17
    +3

    I was a SAP developer for 7 years when mobility and web development came around my skills were worthless. My best advice is keep moving to organisations that are moving your skills towards the future. IT industry is brutal and I am so glad I've left it behind sorry to say.

    Best of luck.

  • LikeMike on 10/03/2020 - 10:39

    Get creative with your CV. I once got an IT job by sending a can of Spam with my CV and cover letter. The person in HR and the IT manager both loved the joke.

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join