Jobless Person Seeking Some Jobhunting Advice/Ideas

[bym007]

Hi,

I have been jobless for a while, and jobhunting is not cutting for me at the moment unfortunately. I am on Tier-1 PSW visa (visa running out in Jan 2012).

I have a recent MBA from UK, and have a computing background before that. I have about 1.5 years experience in IT in 2002-2003 in Pakistan, and then I moved to UK and apart from gaining 2 more degrees (including the Middlesex MBA last year), I have worked in Retailing as a Store Manager.

I am trying to switch back to a back office role at the moment, preferably in Marketing, but did not manage to get a single interview call since Feb '10 despite uploading my CV to a lot of recruitment portals.

As it happens, I am beginning to lose hope and a bit of confidence in myself. By chance, I popped back in these forums today, and noticed that people are still getting offers.

I want to stay positive as long as I can, but finding it hard at the moment. Can you guys give me some advice, as to what could be wrong.

[bym007]

Anyone ?

[renzokuken]

Looking at your profile, it seems you only have very little work experience prior to MBA. The other problem is Middlesex probably not the most reputable university to do MBA.

Even people with many years of experience + MBA from reputable B school finding it difficult to find a good job. So I can only suggest to keep on looking, try to get more relevant job experience and wait until the economic condition better.

[Wanderer]

Really MBA should be taken to build on practical experience, otherwise it's worthless..

[kenfrapin]

Just try to hang in there but also be practical. Just 2 yrs exp with an MBA from Middlesex will not open a lot of doors for you. At the moment, there are many local Mid to Senior Level Managers across segments like Retail, Reality, IT and Banking who are also hunting around for jobs.
This morning I received a profile for a guy with 7yrs experience with a Cass MBA!!! Pretty sure this guy is looking to be picky and get the juiciest contract in the market but still goes to show that Recruitment agents have to knock on all doors to get a decent contract for a Cass MBA grad.
But back on Earth - I interviewed a couple with MBAs from Lancaster which is a pretty good university and my clients did not take them on as they had about 2 yrs experience only which was sad. They were even ready to work for £26k which was sad to be honest for an MBA grad of that caliber. This gives you a fair idea of how the market is at the moment.

So do be practical and dont lose a lot of money out here when there may be no hope for quite some time now. You may be better off going back to your home town and getting a really decent job with good pay. I guess you are trying to make good use of your Tier 1 Visa but honestly, UK isnt what it used to be about 5 to 7 yrs back so dont worry if you dont get in here and if nothing works out, go back home and make a smashing career for yourself!!!

All the best to you...
KP

[bym007]

Sorry guys, if I did not make it clear in my first post. I have about some 1-1.5 years experience in IT (in Pakistan) and then just under 5 years of managing experience in UK retailing. So I do have the experience to make things happen.

I was slightly surprised by the first 2 posters, picking on Middlesex. There is a saying for MBA graduates everywhere, that "your MBA is what you make of it". An MBA from Said or CASS school doe snot guarantee a job, neither does an MBA from Middlesex.

I was trying to get some sort of positive advice and hope more than anything here. Thanks for your time.

[renzokuken]

I was slightly surprised by the first 2 posters, picking on Middlesex. There is a saying for MBA graduates everywhere, that "your MBA is what you make of it". An MBA from Said or CASS school doe snot guarantee a job, neither does an MBA from Middlesex.

I was trying to get some sort of positive advice and hope more than anything here. Thanks for your time.

Don't take it personally, I just wanted to give you honest idea on why you didn't get response from your job application.

I also think it is very naive to compare MBA from Said and Cass with Middlesex. They are of different league. Again, just an honest opinion.

I really do hope you will get a good job soon, and good luck to your wife for her PLAB exam

[Wanderer]

Like i said, MBA is spot on for those with lots of experience, like 25/30 years real management at director level.

MBA with no real business experience is a sham, totally worthless, and I feel sorry for anyone who fell for it. They need to grow up, sorry.

[kenfrapin]

Wanderer,

MBA only for 25/30 years experience? - now that I have to disagree with completely.

An MBA from the top Unis with even 5 years work experience under your belt is enough to open doors to interviewing at some top notch companies. And when I say Work Experience I do mean just Work Experience and not ONLY management work.
Also, if you are a person with 25/30 years experience an MBA makes no sense at all as the knowledge learnt in all those years dont even merit an MBA!!!
As for Tier 2 colleges, if you have good management experience of around 5 years then that too helps open a lot of doors. Getting into the right job in the sector one prefers is all upto the individual. However, you dont need 25/30 years to do an MBA and be successful. Trust me, I personally know quite a few 30 year olds living the life with a solid MBA coupled with experience

The problem is with those run of the mill colleges that attract students from all over making them believe an MBA guarantees a job no matter what. MBA grads from such colleges cant even string a decent sentence together

To the OP - You do have good experience and Middlesex is a good college, though not the best. But that is irrelevant now given you have worked 5 years post your MBA. Looks like its more to do with the market condition at the moment so do keep trying!!!

KP

Cheers
KP

[bym007]

Yeah, I have made up my mind about this.

Since,

a. I can not get a half decent job here before my savings will probably run out, and
b. my wife being a qualified doctor herself, can not work in the NHS system,

this is more than enough for us as a couple. I believe that having half decent education and more than half decent experience, we will be able to get a rewarding career started elsewhere. We have decided to immigrate to elsewhere in coming months.

Generally Speaking:

I do believe its true what has been said in the beginning about crappy MBA graduates that are being produced "at most of the schools" these days. However, only a person is a judge of the value of his/her MBA, and I am personally quite satisfied with it. Could have done better? definitely (who could not?), but then one has to play to his strengths so to say...

My father works as Country Manager for a global airline (not in the UK), and has an experience of more than 35 years in the industry. Does he need an MBA to "tell" him what to do? Hell no, instead he could teach me one or two things about management!

I had some crappy colleagues on my MBA programme (as most of us will always have at work, school, family etc etc), but I did not let this ruin my experience. One of my colleague (without taking any names) was picked up my CitiLink as a regional director (on 6 digit salary) almost immediately after the course, whereas some are managing in the NHS. As usualy, its a small group of people, who will want to say otherwise about my MBA.

I know of a lot of people who went to good business schools, and they have actually come out as good or bad as me depending on where you stand. The major difference is that I paid less for "similar" privilige/experience than them.

MBA does not "teach" anything new to us, most of the stuff on MBA is pretty much common sense, however, its finding ways to add value to an existing product/service. It would be hard to explain this to a non-MBA though! No wonder, most of the (good) MBA come out to start new businesses or else join large organisations!

Can I also add, those who can not join a sentence correctly, should be on a language course before an MBA!

Sorry about my rant, but hope this may clarify a few beliefs!

[kenfrapin]

3 cheers to all you have said bym007...

And YES, given the qualification you both have, you guys have a great life back home than struggling and spending your savings in this place.....all the best to you both!!!

Cheers
KP

[renzokuken]

this is more than enough for us as a couple. I believe that having half decent education and more than half decent experience, we will be able to get a rewarding career started elsewhere. We have decided to immigrate to elsewhere in coming months.

Good luck and all the best

[rene]

Keep eye on online offerts, good luck i've keep eye since year without results. Only what i get was low level income and simple,brainless work.

[kenfrapin]

Rene dear - bym007 is far more qualified that you so your experience is something he should not bother considering or even taking as an example!!!