I am willing to relocate for the right job (I don't have a family or any bindings to relocate so I got that dice on my side). I heard that BC is growing in the IT sector but didn't know about the energy sector. Can you please let me know a bit more about it? I will PM you shortly.

It is hard to judge whether I am over-qualified for a job (I lack that judgement); I always apply to position that needs an university degree and I can justify more than 80% of the requirements with my prior experience. NGOs and think-tanks mostly look for very experienced professionals and hence I haven't been able to submit my resume to any. It's getting quite frustrating due to the fact that I cannot even score an interview! :(

It is a terribly hard thing: either you are not qualified enough or you are over qualified. Sighs :( Hard to judge by looking at the job postings.

Yah I am seeing a bit more postings related to oil and gas but the problem is they are always looking for highly experienced individuals and I cannot justify most of the requirements.

I am not aware of union works. Can you please tell me a bit about it?

I do agree with you, oil companies have always been volatile and their future is unpredictable too. I am even ready to work for something that is not directly related to my field (I go by the motto of "love what you do") but even that is hard to get.

Yah I have been targeting EPCM companies but it is hard to get response from them unless you know someone. I emailed someone and he enthusiastically asked me for my resume within 2 hours of the email but haven't heard back from him ever since. I have tried following up with him but he seemed to ignore my email so I stopped bothering him. I will PM you more details about my thesis.

I will PM you.

After a few hundred failed attempts at getting a job in anything 'business' with a BComm I went back to school and took a pre-apprenticeship Carpentry course. Now I'm a Red Seal and have little to no problem finding well paying work cutting boards and hammering nails out in the rain and mud. I believe that I could have found work relevant to my university education but it would have required moving to a smaller less-desireable town further north. Go back to school, relocate or perhaps start your own business if you're the entrepreneurial type. Thats all I've got.

Have you tried electrical contractor companies such as PCL Intracon or Chemco? They hire electrical engineers and techs and are always expanding. They pay very well but keep in mind that they want people who are willing to spend a lot of time in the field and sitting in the office estimating doesn't earn you nearly as much money.

I used to teach kids how to find jobs, and now do hiring myself for my own company. One thing I can tell you that I've learned, is when you apply for a job - don't apply as a representation of yourself, but what you bring to the table for that specific company.

I'm not educated on your field of work, but I'll give another example.

Say you want a job building decks, and you're a trained carpenter. You apply for a job with a resume that reflects that you have built 20 decks, how you built them, whom you built them for, how long they took you, and why you enjoyed doing it. Then list off why you would be an asset at building decks for this company.

Maybe do some research into a company before applying.

I see Mr. Decks'R'Us, that you have built a deck that surrounds a koi pond. (Rad, right?) I keep koi fish, and that sounds like a project that I would of enjoyed working on. I have a lot of experience with birch, pine and staining applications, and am interested in seeing what next project you do. Let me explain to you in person why I would be fit for making the next deck with you.

The job market is a tough down hill battle, and people really need to stand out from the crowd now-a-days. Maybe even get a Linkedin page with your work outlined, and branch out from there. I have found that taking a more proactive approach will allow you to stick out from the rest.

All the best in your search!

Thanks for sharing your experience. Unfortunately, going back to school is not an option right now; even if I have to go back, I will do my phd in USA since phd holds a lot of value over there. Starting a business is also out of reach right now; relocation is a possibility.

I haven't found a suitable opening at pcl yet and never heard of chemco (goggled them and their website is down). I don't have any problem working outside (I have prior experience with field projects) but it is hard to get the chance to prove it :(

Thanks for all the information and suggestions. I do have an updated linkedin page. While doing an application, I always try to learn about the company first, write a brand new cover letter (well not always) and reshape the resume to apply. You are right, an application has to stand out but when the recruiter doesn't even bother looking at the resume (I heard back from a recruiter that they didn't even consider my resume since they got someone). It is frustrating when you are not getting calls for interview but its even more frustrating knowing that most of your applications are probably being ignored :cry: