Tell us about yourself.
I was trained as an engineer. An aerospace engineer to be exact. When I was little, I liked writing short stories and most of them were science fiction and space-related (Star Wars rocks). I had always been good at math and when I entered secondary school, I found out I was good at physics too. It occurred to me one day that I might actually be able to turn my fascination with space and science fiction into something more substantial and so I started to aim towards becoming an aerospace engineer. I had grand dreams of building the first moon base (complete with in situ propellant) and discovering lightspeed (this was before I learnt about relativity, of course).
I enjoyed my years studying aerospace. Immensely. My interest in the space industry has not dwindled. But alas, the reality is my passport (probably my most prized worldly possession) hails from the wrong side of the world and opportunities to work in space are...well...few and far in between. Not for a lack of trying, mind you. And I don't think I ever will give up sending out my CV to company after company. Who knows? Might not be my time just yet.
After spending two years in graduate school, I decided it was time to gain some work experience. I wanted a non-conventional job which promised a lot of travel. With my engineering qualifications, I landed a field engineer position with an oilfield services company. I was shipped off to China where I went out to oil rigs and drilled for oil. Seriously. It was a fun job. How many jobs do you know allow you to dress up in coveralls and get muddy and greasy all the time? And if you haven't guessed, I'm a girl. So the answer is, not many jobs at all. They also delivered on their promise that I'd get to travel. I finally visited the Middle East, something I had been wanting to do all my life.
While I enjoyed the traveling, the outdoors work, the opportunity to meet people from different backgrounds, there were other sides to the job I did not like. I witnessed firsthand how damaging drilling for oil is to the environment and how it directly affects the rural communities who live in nearby areas. These issues were ones that I could not turn my back on. And while I understand the current need for (it's more of a dependency, though, isn't it) oil, I realised that I could not see myself progressing very far on the career track that I was on. So I packed my bags and left.
I applied for an NGO position not long after, and was rejected due to being overqualified. Whatever that means. So I did some brief volunteer work, then traveled to the Middle East again, then to Egypt, then to New Zealand (where this blog comes in), then to Malaysia, then back to the US.
Oh, by the way, I also have five years journalism experience under the belt. I started stringing for a Malaysian English language newspaper at the age of 16 and stayed on for five years.
What next?
Hopefully, a job.
What kind of position are you looking for?
In ten years time, I would like to be part of a large non-governmental organization, such as UNESCO. I like UNESCO because I cannot stress enough the importance of education in social progress. I strongly believe that education is key and educating is something I can do. Plus, I am scientifically inclined, therefore UNESCO is a natural choice.
With this in mind, I'd like a position that could help me in that direction. Obviously, the number of options are limitless. I have been applying to management consultancy firms, since management skills are extremely essential in being effective in non profit work. Such skills are also highly transferable and would be useful anywhere. I have also been applying to technical positions which involve project management, also transferable and useful skills to have. One position I've applied for which would not require much consideration if offered to me is a marine conservation position. Did I mention that I am a trained scuba diver? Marine conservation with an international organization would be a dream job. Lots of project management, lots of diving, lots of interaction with people and learning new things everyday.
I have also been applying for the more mainstream type engineering jobs. You know the kind, the ones entitled 'Systems Engineer', 'Project Engineer', or 'Senior Plant Engineer', or 'Manufacturing Engineer'. These profiles are beginning to look the same to me. I apply to these jobs mainly because sometimes I wonder if I will ever find a path that would lead me to my ultimate goal and that a job is a job and I need an income for practical reasons, if nothing else. Then again, you never know. Life is so unpredictable who really knows what might lead you when and where. I could be offered a manufacturing position tomorrow and find myself 5 years down the road applying those skills to remote locations in countries which really need them. I'd be closer to my ten-year goal than I would be now, no doubt.
What kind of responses have you had so far?
Not very favourable, I must admit. I have received rejections from all but one management consultancy firm. Fortunately for me, the last one I'm waiting on is the one I am really hoping to get a job with, they do the most work with non-profits and have the best reputation with the social sector. So for now, I am holding on to the 'No news is good news!' idea.
What do you require in a position?
That it be a global one. That it allows for creativity. That it has good prospects for advancement. I'm a highly adaptable and flexible worker, but I'm looking for a career that I can grow with more than into.
What has been your biggest professional achievement thus far?
My last position as a field engineer was not an easy one. When I first arrived in China, I was one of only two international engineers. The others on our team were all local. The language and cultural barriers were difficult to overcome, but I had strong interpersonal skills thanks to my years in journalism. At the time of my departure, despite my decision to resign, I was a valuable member of our engineering team particularly because I had extremely good rapport with everyone. This was something the other international engineers did not share. I was able to interact and work efficiently with all levels of our business segment in a way that no one else could.
What are your strong points?
My communication skills. My self motivation. My creativity and resourcefulness.
What are your weak points?
The need to work in dynamic work environments. When things become routine, I get bored. I'm also an independent worker, which means working under supervision all the time is something I might have to work on.
Any last words?
Employ me :o). Thank you!
I was trained as an engineer. An aerospace engineer to be exact. When I was little, I liked writing short stories and most of them were science fiction and space-related (Star Wars rocks). I had always been good at math and when I entered secondary school, I found out I was good at physics too. It occurred to me one day that I might actually be able to turn my fascination with space and science fiction into something more substantial and so I started to aim towards becoming an aerospace engineer. I had grand dreams of building the first moon base (complete with in situ propellant) and discovering lightspeed (this was before I learnt about relativity, of course).
I enjoyed my years studying aerospace. Immensely. My interest in the space industry has not dwindled. But alas, the reality is my passport (probably my most prized worldly possession) hails from the wrong side of the world and opportunities to work in space are...well...few and far in between. Not for a lack of trying, mind you. And I don't think I ever will give up sending out my CV to company after company. Who knows? Might not be my time just yet.
After spending two years in graduate school, I decided it was time to gain some work experience. I wanted a non-conventional job which promised a lot of travel. With my engineering qualifications, I landed a field engineer position with an oilfield services company. I was shipped off to China where I went out to oil rigs and drilled for oil. Seriously. It was a fun job. How many jobs do you know allow you to dress up in coveralls and get muddy and greasy all the time? And if you haven't guessed, I'm a girl. So the answer is, not many jobs at all. They also delivered on their promise that I'd get to travel. I finally visited the Middle East, something I had been wanting to do all my life.
While I enjoyed the traveling, the outdoors work, the opportunity to meet people from different backgrounds, there were other sides to the job I did not like. I witnessed firsthand how damaging drilling for oil is to the environment and how it directly affects the rural communities who live in nearby areas. These issues were ones that I could not turn my back on. And while I understand the current need for (it's more of a dependency, though, isn't it) oil, I realised that I could not see myself progressing very far on the career track that I was on. So I packed my bags and left.
I applied for an NGO position not long after, and was rejected due to being overqualified. Whatever that means. So I did some brief volunteer work, then traveled to the Middle East again, then to Egypt, then to New Zealand (where this blog comes in), then to Malaysia, then back to the US.
Oh, by the way, I also have five years journalism experience under the belt. I started stringing for a Malaysian English language newspaper at the age of 16 and stayed on for five years.
What next?
Hopefully, a job.
What kind of position are you looking for?
In ten years time, I would like to be part of a large non-governmental organization, such as UNESCO. I like UNESCO because I cannot stress enough the importance of education in social progress. I strongly believe that education is key and educating is something I can do. Plus, I am scientifically inclined, therefore UNESCO is a natural choice.
With this in mind, I'd like a position that could help me in that direction. Obviously, the number of options are limitless. I have been applying to management consultancy firms, since management skills are extremely essential in being effective in non profit work. Such skills are also highly transferable and would be useful anywhere. I have also been applying to technical positions which involve project management, also transferable and useful skills to have. One position I've applied for which would not require much consideration if offered to me is a marine conservation position. Did I mention that I am a trained scuba diver? Marine conservation with an international organization would be a dream job. Lots of project management, lots of diving, lots of interaction with people and learning new things everyday.
I have also been applying for the more mainstream type engineering jobs. You know the kind, the ones entitled 'Systems Engineer', 'Project Engineer', or 'Senior Plant Engineer', or 'Manufacturing Engineer'. These profiles are beginning to look the same to me. I apply to these jobs mainly because sometimes I wonder if I will ever find a path that would lead me to my ultimate goal and that a job is a job and I need an income for practical reasons, if nothing else. Then again, you never know. Life is so unpredictable who really knows what might lead you when and where. I could be offered a manufacturing position tomorrow and find myself 5 years down the road applying those skills to remote locations in countries which really need them. I'd be closer to my ten-year goal than I would be now, no doubt.
What kind of responses have you had so far?
Not very favourable, I must admit. I have received rejections from all but one management consultancy firm. Fortunately for me, the last one I'm waiting on is the one I am really hoping to get a job with, they do the most work with non-profits and have the best reputation with the social sector. So for now, I am holding on to the 'No news is good news!' idea.
What do you require in a position?
That it be a global one. That it allows for creativity. That it has good prospects for advancement. I'm a highly adaptable and flexible worker, but I'm looking for a career that I can grow with more than into.
What has been your biggest professional achievement thus far?
My last position as a field engineer was not an easy one. When I first arrived in China, I was one of only two international engineers. The others on our team were all local. The language and cultural barriers were difficult to overcome, but I had strong interpersonal skills thanks to my years in journalism. At the time of my departure, despite my decision to resign, I was a valuable member of our engineering team particularly because I had extremely good rapport with everyone. This was something the other international engineers did not share. I was able to interact and work efficiently with all levels of our business segment in a way that no one else could.
What are your strong points?
My communication skills. My self motivation. My creativity and resourcefulness.
What are your weak points?
The need to work in dynamic work environments. When things become routine, I get bored. I'm also an independent worker, which means working under supervision all the time is something I might have to work on.
Any last words?
Employ me :o). Thank you!
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