Increased participation; reduced dissipation

As the previous blog entry outlines, I am currently residing in Buenos Aires with my current status reading: unemployed.  This could change by the end of this week however.  Having sent close to a hundred CVs without reply, aside from a few automatic confirmatory responses acknowledging my application, until the weekend it was appearing as though an unpaid intern-ship in a good company was drifting further and further away.  The possibility of contributing to a Microfinance research firm is still on the cards, however, now approaching the final year of my degree, the pressing need for a telling internship exists more so than ever before.

There exists a burning desire to become part of the labour force which following many unsuccessful applications for a paid internship, (now accepting that an unpaid internship is the most probable way of being employed) is now manifesting itself in frustration.  As most are acutely aware, the importance of contacts in any line of work can never be underestimated as the ability to progress a CV further up the line ultimately differentiates it from the thousands of applicants competing for the same position.  At the lowest rung of the employment ladder, contacts appear ever more pronounced as once part of the labour force doors automatically open as the importance of a university qualification is then surpassed by relevant experience.

Having worked for a number of years in the financial services sector of Ireland it is understandable that people can become disheartened with their work.  It stems from a lack of motivation, opportunities, challenges, pigeonholing and bad management, with the former being the most prevalent.  Given my current predicament it is difficult to acknowledge a lack of motivation as competition for jobs is greater now than I can remember, with rudimentary jobs acquiring vast numbers of over-qualified applicants.  So, those that lack motivation have no excuse considering the pressure being put on by young and eager graduates.  There is another side which shows that the current situation of high demand and short supply is ultimately driving down labour costs for companies as the competition for places increases each year and graduates continuously have to undercut each other to obtain their desired job.

Although, it is not all skewed in favour of the company, with one year of university remaining until I graduate, the opportunity cost of pursuing paid employment now is too great as professional experience at this stage (albeit without charge) will carry far greater weight as I look for employment next year (or, alternatively pursue a Masters…), in the competitive Irish labour market.

Over the past two weeks I became ever more exasperated as the possibility of the necessary work experience (in Argentina) diminished with every passing week.  Until, on Saturday evening my fiancée, having spoken to a good friend of hers, mentioned of a contact which could possibly find an opening in a well respected international financial institution with an office in Buenos Aires.  The position would be unpaid, it will mean living on the bare minimum for a number of months but ultimately it will be worth every second of it.

Should the opportunity arise I will take it!

Lunch decided