h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Yarreau! You weren't supposed to tell!

All right. Mum's the word. Get it? Get it?

Next she'll be trotting out baby photos

But there has indeed been another development here

An appointment with the Queen?

I would, but unfortunately, baby photos of me are pretty much non-existent.

The word "trotting", however, got my full attention...

Here's hoping Mala

btw, few of us end up actually doing a job in the field we studied for. I originally studied Chemistry but finished up as a Technical Author...

...via Analytical research, Optical instrument manufacture, Software development and Project management.

*Keep moving sideways, keep moving sideways...*

Not in Germany, H5. The decision you make at 15 carves out the rest of your life. No qualifications, no job. Very few people manage to break out of the hamster wheel and do a job that's different from what they were trained for. University education and apprenticeships are very long and exacting, so Mala will certainly look for something that suits her qualifications in the end. She also has the added advantage that architecture is something she is good at and passionate about.

Having said that, so many jobs these days (yes, even in Germany, as global companies buy up small and middle-sized ones, and have a strong influence on those they can't get their fingers on) ... so many jobs these days don't fit into the German professional boxes. This has led to total chaos and rampant mismanagement, the downfall of the German economy and the dissatisfaction of the German workforce (a large chunk of which isn't even German and pays heavy taxes, e.g. me)

None of which has anything to do with Mala, architecture, the National Trust or the lovely Sussex countryside. Sorry. Just a private rant.

If Germany is in chaos there is no hope for any of us!

I heard the German economy is rising again, which is good for us since Germany is Denmarks biggest customer

Well, that is certainly not true for academics in Germany. Many of us work in fields that are comletely different from what we studied (me and mine included). The important thing is that you have a degree at all, the rest is rather flexible, especially in the software industry.

As for specialisation in other jobs - I would indeed not consult a blacksmith if I want my hair cut. But I still know plenty of people who switch fields when they switch jobs. And our economy isn't all that bad right now. The main problem still appears to be the massive outsourcing of jobs to East Asia.

I'm sure you'll make the right decision, Mala.

Will you be able to use your expertise in the job, and will it give you opportunities to learn new things? Most of all, would you enjoy coming in to work every day?

Icy

Icy, as ever, you have cut to the chase!

Academia has tried to envelop us in a straight-jacket. Why should we continue along a road we chose at the age of 18? Is that the best decision we ever made? Did we know what we wanted out of life and had completed a detailed analysis of our strengths and weaknesses? Pulleaze!

Now wait a minute... This is all very inspirational, and I realise I don't have to stay in the same field forever. I'd like a chance to try it out before I decide not to stick with it, though!

TC has probably found, like me, that when she goes for a job that didn't exactly match the last one that German employers are reluctant because her qualifications are foreign and for that particular job.

Which has happened to me so often ("oh, you're trained as a spy? well this is a sales office, don't let the door hit you on the backside on the way out" is a common theme with me) that I only apply to foreign or multinationals with a much better success rate.

ooohhh sorry
what I meant to say was: any news Mala??

Didn't get the job, letter just came

But I've got that interview next week to go to - and am currently applying for a really one here in NI. Playground designer!

>>Didn't get the job, letter just came<<

Booh

>>But I've got that interview next week to go to - and am currently applying for a really cool one here in NI.<<

Aaah

Sorry about that, Mala. Better luck next time.

Boooo and YAY! accordingly. Did you ask why you didn't get it, by the way? It can always be useful then refining your interview technique.