Pre-Graduation Bleus |9:00 AM

Just not too long ago, I was at the cross-roads of choosing between post graduate studies and work upon graduation in about 3 months time. For me, the choice was more interest driven than money driven. All I know is that I want to try my best to stay in the field of Biomaterials or its affiliated / related industries. Well, try I did, for the past few months, searching, looking, asking around for any openings in this area, BUT NO, despite being the supposedly ‘focus’ of Singapore for the past few years or so, the number of job openings in this field are pathetically limited and almost strictly restricted to the research and development field, which in Singapore, almost always means that you need at least a PHD, for any chance of advamcement in your career path. So there, my choice is obvious, postgrad studies!

However, things are seldom this simple. Just not too long ago I approached my beloved FYP supervisor and highlighted my interests of doing postgraduate studies. Well, her initial reaction was a mixture of joy and surprise. She promptly asked for my 1 page transcript containing my glorious war history thus far. Then, in that split second you could almost see the glimmer in her eyes extinguishing and in it place was an awkward smile coupled with a slightly sympathetic and belittling look. The next few minutes were probably my most awkward minutes of my life. My supervisor tried reallllly hard to explain the evilness and crap you have to take as an academic researcher. She also attempted to glamorize working in the industry and serving as a manufacturing engineer in any field. It was PATHETIC and PLAIN TORTURE, I tell you. A simple “your grades are not good enough” or “you just don’t make the cut” would have been far more merciful and bearable. Save the high and mighty preaching man!

So, move on I did. Next up job hunting! Till date, I have 1 interview which sucked like hell, where I was ‘raped’ for not having enough knowledge on the electrical aspects of products when I applied for the position of Failure Analysis - Microscopy. Which part of that sounds electrical or calculating input output voltages to you? Even more peculiar is that this aspect of Failure Analysis has been conveniently ignored or left out in my 4 years of studies.

And yes, move on again, I did. Am currently mass applying for jobs in a desperate bordering on hysterical bid to get a job interview which could lead to a job offer. But one interesting thing hit me, when some of the companies ask for the ‘expected salary’. Then it got me thinking. How do you know how much are you worth? In fact. How much am I worth to an employer or to anyone for that matter?

Perhaps I am just plain unemployable. Doomed to solitary confinement and leaching of parents’ fund for the rest of my life. Actually, that doesn’t sound half as bad as slogging on 12 hour rotating shifts in manufacturing plants ehy?

Haha. Think I am going mad soon.

MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

Music : James Morrison – You Give Me Something
Mood: Crappy & Flusy
moo.
Daneo.

-got milk?-