GETTING A FIRST JOB THAT IS UNRELATED TO YOUR STUDIES

Good news, you have just figured out your dream career. Bad news, you have also just spent at least four years studying a totally different course. Does this mean your degree is totally worthless now?

Let us face it, playtime was over the moment you were done with secondary school. Barely out of your teens, you were forced to make a decision that would impact your whole life. You had to make a choice out of the hundreds of options offered by the universities. After much deliberation, you picked one, perhaps due to parental pressure or peer influence, and hoped for the best.

Fast forward a few years later to your graduation, and you realised you would rather not join the industry most related to your academic discipline. Instead, you have your eye on a completely different field. Does this mean you need to start your career planning over from scratch?

The correct answer: not necessarily. A 2019 YouGov Omnibus survey revealed that over half of Singaporean graduates work in jobs unrelated to their degrees. So, it is absolutely possible to get a first job that is not related to your studies. But before jumping the gun, contemplate the steps you should take before sending out your resume for full-time jobs.

Take a deep breath, you are not alone in this

Before moving forward, it is worthwhile to take a step back for yourself. Even if you are determined to move forward, having feelings of guilt about the degree you just completed is normal, especially after all the effort and time to get it. But know that getting it has not been a waste of time.

Most employers agree that having a degree, regardless of the field of study, is better than not having one at all. Understanding this fact is important, and goes a long way in building up your selfconfidence: you still have plenty to offer employers, even if you currently lack the technical skills.

Introspect

• Understand that it is common to work in jobs unrelated to your degree

• Be confident and reassure yourself that you still have plenty to offer employers

• Talk it out with people who support you, and do not let your doubts hold you back

• Remind yourself that this is your decision, and you will make it happen

Research the job and industry

It is easy to think you want to be a game developer just because you love playing video games, but do you have what it takes? Are you good enough in math to learn how to code? Can you handle working up to 70 hours a week during crunch time? How about the possibility of earning lower salaries than your peers with similar skill sets working in banking or IT firms?

This may sound like discouragement, but the truth is that every industry has its own set of challenges and unpleasantness. The key is to do enough research to understand that you are passionate enough about the industry to deal with the difficulties that come with it.

Take

• Understand what the industry is all about

• Know what it means to work at your dream job

• Prepare yourself for the skills you need to learn

Internships are your best friend

If the amount of research has not put you off, the next step is to apply for the relevant internships. After all, they are one of the best opportunities to learn on-the-job and pick up some much-needed skills.

While landing an internship can be competitive, you will not be dismissed just because you lack the technical skills. Your level of motivation and enthusiasm very much plays a part, and this is where creating a compelling cover letter can pay off.

Why you should complete an internship

• Helps you determine if the job and industry are right for you

• Learn industry-focused skills while getting relevant work experience

• Allows you to build your resume

• Helps you build your network

Learn what you are lacking in

Invest in yourself and take up the relevant courses that cover what you are lacking in. If you think some courses are too expensive, there will always be free talks or subsidised sessions if you dig deep enough.

There are even affordable programmes offered by community centres, and you will get further discounts if you are a PAssion Card member. Focus on building your technical skills first since this is where you need to work on immediately.

Conclusion

Once you have beefed up your resume with the relevant work experience and skill sets, then you will likely receive more favourable responses when you start applying for jobs. Remember, most employers do not only look at what you have studied. Instead, what they look for, and value more, would be the experiences and skills you have acquired.