Has Degree.. Is unemployed...

Random Hero said:
Thank you gunner. I was starting to feel like it was only me sitting in this hole, but realising that it is not just me who is or have suffered a bit. I know of a guy who did bcom economics and has not worked a day in his life he is also 25. I think the best thing is to stay motivated and keep searching.
Click to expand...

Have you seen our unemployment rate? It's clearly not just you.
 
OrbitalDawn said:
Have you seen our unemployment rate? It's clearly not just you.
Click to expand...

What do you do for a living, how old are you orbit?

No I have not, I know we have a big unemployment problem. but it really gets to you.

Do you think that kids with rich parents help them get into the industry?

I found this document its a bit dated but does represent the unemployment of graduates is rather high.

http://sun025.sun.ac.za/portal/page/portal/Arts/Departments/political_science/docs/Tab/GRADUATE_UNEMPLOYMENT_IN_SOUTH_AFRICA__A_much_exaggerate.pdf
 
Last edited:
Getting into a job with a marketing degree is relatively easy (although in the beginning not very well paid and expect grunt work). Like others said, get your LinkedIn profile going and start posting LinkedIn stories of value. Then start hitting up all the agencies with a compelling, unique and convincing CV - very easy to get engaged if you are witty on their social media channels.
 
MagicDude4Eva said:
Getting into a job with a marketing degree is relatively easy (although in the beginning not very well paid and expect grunt work). Like others said, get your LinkedIn profile going and start posting LinkedIn stories of value. Then start hitting up all the agencies with a compelling, unique and convincing CV - very easy to get engaged if you are witty on their social media channels.
Click to expand...

Hi magic dude,

My linkedIn is up to scratch and I think my CV looks clean and informative, and easy to navigate. I have probably had interviews with 5 agencies now. with no real luck.. trying to keep my head up and stay motivated though.

You say its easy breaking into the job market. where do you think should I begin?
 
Random Hero said:
Yesterday I was bombarded by you and others about the way I "act" on the forums... I do not get why you have to get the "feels" thing involved. But I believe you are probably just being humorous, in that case lol.

what industry are you in and what do you do?
Click to expand...

All of your threads does have some 'feels' to them. This is the first straight up question and answer thread from your side. But jokes aside.

I own a software development company, purely in the software-as-a-service market. Thus far I have only gotten clients by word of mouth, only recently did I start using social media (fb) and adwords to try and boost sales. But I don't really understand online marketing all that well. For the last 7 years, I only did face to face sales to people that approached me. I did hire a sales person last month, but he will be travelling and setting up face-to-face meetings with actual clients. I would love to get up to speed with online marketing and gather leads.

Going by my need for a marketer or marketing advise, there must certainly be a demand for your skills, especially if you can fine tune it to the current trend of social media and online whatever. Have you considered starting a small business on the side while you study? Doing online marketing, managing Facebook pages and twitter accounts, designing marketing strategies etc. There is even a market for you to manage the content companies place online in order to ensure maximum SEO and advert exposure (look at http://alfalfacontentgenerator.com/ one of my clients, that is all they do all day long.)
 
Gunner182 said:
Having a degree means nothing these days, especially if you don't have an in demand one.

My cousin has a BSc Environmental Water Sciences Hons, still trying to find work. That's why I'm pushing the rest of my, still school going family, to either go BComm (pref Economics) or BEng.

But don't give up bud, I was unemployed for a year and half after graduating before I got my break.
Click to expand...

This is a fallacy and inaccurate.
If you think looking for a job with a degree is hard try looking for a job without. What a degree wont do is guarantee you a job.
 
Random Hero said:
Hi magic dude,

My linkedIn is up to scratch and I think my CV looks clean and informative, and easy to navigate. I have probably had interviews with 5 agencies now. with no real luck.. trying to keep my head up and stay motivated though.

You say its easy breaking into the job market. where do you think should I begin?
Click to expand...

I hope that you asked the people at the interview for honest reasons why they did not proceed with the next interview step. I generally explain to people, why I don't think they are a good fit (and yes, people are often disappointed or disagree, but it's the perception they created leading up and during the interview).

So perhaps you are applying for the wrong job with insufficient skills/experience or for the wrong salary. I am not sure where you are based, but I would canvas the following:
- IAB: http://iabsa.net/members/
- Look at agencies and their clients: http://www.quirk.biz/portfolio/clients (this is just an example, but IAB will give you plenty of links)
 
ngwe23 said:
This is a fallacy and inaccurate.
If you think looking for a job with a degree is hard try looking for a job without. What a degree wont do is guarantee you a job.
Click to expand...
Prob worded it wrong, yes doesn't guarantee a job, as they hand those things out like hotcakes these days , however you're more likely to get a job straight after school (not glamorous at all) than a graduate will straight after varsity. Not saying people shouldn't study further, just much more difficult to get your first job.

As said before the key is to study something that's in demand. People do the strangest degrees ever and expect to walk into a job.

Ps. Many of my friends didn't study further and got sales jobs and teller jobs straight after school, many have started their lives already. I'm currently playing catch-up, but will far surpass them in a year or so.
 
Same boat here..

Graduated with a BSc in Genetics and Ecology. Hated Ecology and couldn't turn back to do Microbiology because apparently UCT doesn't offer Micro anymore. I took a year off working here and there.. mostly did call centre work until I got an opportunity to pursue an internship at the South African National History Museum in Gardens, cpt. Turned it down.

Now working on weekends and studying Food Technology for an N.Dip.
Working my ass off and making sure I score in the 80 percentiles.

It sucks because it means I graduate when I'm 26.
I hope I get a job...
If not I'm not going back to studying.
 
Gunner182 said:
Ps. Many of my friends didn't study further and got sales jobs and teller jobs straight after school, many have started their lives already. I'm currently playing catch-up, but will far surpass them in a year or so.
Click to expand...

Didn't know if was a competition man..
 
Gunner182 said:
Not what meant at all, but the expectation is that a graduate would earn more than someone without a degree or am I missing something?
Click to expand...

Expectation =! Reality.
Focus on doing you homie.

Know people without degrees coining it and people with Masters making the bare minimum.
Don't do comparisons with other people, you end up depressing yourself :cry:
 
Just a thought,

Saw something you might enjoy at uber (cab company)

Saw there looking for a marketing manager, or something similar.....

Give it a go, you never know....
 
Random Hero said:
Hi,

I have a BBA: Marketing Management Degree which I obtained from the IMMGSM.
I worked for 6 months last year doing an internship, but my contacted ended and for the last 5 months I have had no luck finding a job.

My interests are marketing research, marketing strategy and brand strategy.

I am I white male.. I have had no luck or responses from any corporates. I am not having much luck with recruitment agencies..

Can you guys give me some tips on starting a career.:confused:
Click to expand...

Do you put as much thought into spelling/grammar in your job searches as you do this post?

Because that would explain a lot.
 
White, male, SA, 2011...and you go for marketing??? Ouch...

Well I hope it works out for you. Tips wise...only thing I got is recommending persistence and widening your search a bit.
 
When I was studying lecturers would joke that the first people fired when their are signs of trouble are the marketing people.

Given the amount of trouble we are in I don't think marketing people are that sought after, unless they have strong statistical and modelling knowledge with years of experience.

Also your degree doesn't inspire confidence, yes its a degree but is it on par with a degree from UCT or any other established institution?

My first job I was head hunted without having any experience, simply because my qualifications had UCT written all over it.
 
Speaking of unemployed graduates, do Bcom Acc grads need an Hons or CTA in order to get articles? My neighbour is unemployed and he has Bcom Acc and has asked me to help him find work. It's sad to see him like that taking up anything just to get working with a supposedly in demand qualification.
 
Random Hero said:
Hi magic dude,

My linkedIn is up to scratch and I think my CV looks clean and informative, and easy to navigate. I have probably had interviews with 5 agencies now. with no real luck.. trying to keep my head up and stay motivated though.

You say its easy breaking into the job market. where do you think should I begin?
Click to expand...

A whole 5, is that all? You should be going to at least 5 interviews a week.
Heres a few to start with:
https://www.pnet.co.za/5/job-search...ld=resultlist2&whereRadius=0&ke=marketing&ws=
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X