Is my diploma worthless?

Q: Dear Dr R,
I recently graduated with a diploma in information studies from Temasek Polytechnic. I currently have a temporary job as a customer service officer. I have applied for many jobs related to my diploma, such as information profiler and research associate, but to no avail. Since my first year at the polytechnic, I have wanted to be part of the National Library Board (NLB). But due to the bad economy, the board does not want to recruit information studies graduates. Could it be that my diploma is useless because I have no experience in IT? - Disappointed


A: Dear Disappointed,

Getting a head start in the company of your dreams does not always happen. However, you can give it a kick-start by looking at other alternatives besides the NLB. Many local and private schools and institutions have libraries. Explore possible employment opportunities with them.

You may also want to explore other avenues. Try getting employment in a government body, for instance. You will enjoy job stability and get the opportunity to strengthen your professional skills. This will increase your chances of getting your dream job.

Do not feel discouraged because you have not yet found a job in the field you were trained for. There are many related fields you can go into. One of the areas in demand now is customer relationship management (CRM). Going for higher studies is also a good option. There are many distance courses from foreign universities that you can pursue from here.

Dr R this week is Sukhvinder Kaur, marketing communications specialist at Business Trends, a global staffing company.


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This article first appeared in ST Recruit on 15 Dec 2002