Being ambitious when applying for a new Job?

There is nothing wrong with ambition if you can back it up. The world is full of people who lack ambition, have no direction and can't lay out their career ambitions in an interview or who have a view of what they want but zero idea how they plan to get there or why they think they are capable of getting there. It matters little how ambitious you are, it matters greatly how and why you feel you will achieve those ambitions and this would be exposed in an interview. It is a fine line between ambition and unrealistic self elevation, so you need to think about that. Expereince counts for a lot, but if you are up against someone who has 20 years experience and no ambition and you are ambitious with a clear direction and solid common sense that allows you to be developed then that puts you in a stronger position in my book.

University qualifications are what allows an employer to differentiate and categorise, it matters less as you progress and get quantifiable, relevant experience and you need to be careful not to fall for the view that a good university experience and certificate makes you special or that a year internment makes you experienced in work. You need to think about why you are a better prospect than the other 10 people who might have the same qualifications and much more experience as if you can't build that discussion your ambition is worthless as it's hot air and conjecture. Build a picture, lay out your first 90 days and show your knowledge of the company, their culture, their way of working and where you believe you will bring value and you will instantly kill 80% of the other people you are up against.
 
The question in the OP was more referring to as whether in terms of the amount of time I've been in the profession was enough for the sort of roles I've been going for.

My personal opinion is No.

But hey, I might be wrong.... You definitely wont end up in Mcd`s if we are talking serious.

You seem to think too much of your "internship" and "amazing" references, be ready to get met with the question "If you were so amazing, why haven't they offered you a place then?"
 
You quite clearly have no idea what your talking about

Doing an internship is the ONLY way to stand out.

It's a fact that your far more likely to be hired if you have a 2:1 degree and complete an internship and to have a 1st with no experience

Nearly everyone has internship today :confused:

It doesnt make you stand out one bit..... As I said, if you were so awesome and irreplaceable why haven't you been offered a job with them then. The only time Internship even stood out is when applicant said they turned it down for one reason or another, providing proof of job offer... Then yes, it is seen as a massive bonus...

All other cases, its not something that makes you special even in the slightest.
 
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How many years' experience are they asking for?

1 year internship plus a bit of part time work isn't 2+ years no matter how you look at it. You may be able to get some public sector job where they don't really care as long as you're cheap. But in the private sector, you'll be up against people with actual experience with a better degree from a better university. No harm aiming high, but you'll probably find it a bit demoralising.
 
Nearly everyone has internship today :confused:

As incorrect as I believe that statement is, I have nothing to back a counter argument
If people make the most of their placements then it will make them stand out

Internships/placements are seen by employers as year long interviews and you get out what you put in

The OP has clearly been very successful with his placement which puts him in a great position to be applying for the kinds of jobs he is
 
Nothing wrong with being ambitious, but don't just apply for the more senior jobs.

[FnG]magnolia;26198429 said:
Don't be as defensive in any interview you may get as you're appearing in this thread because that will ensure a brief interview.

Best advice here.
 
All I am going to say to OP... Being ambitious is good and of-course apply for those positions, but make sure you dont expect much to come back from it since chances are they will go with more "Experienced" individual for such position.

So apply for more suited jobs and aim for them, if the higher ones work out, then its an amazing bonus....

Just dont apply only for high end jobs and destroy yourself because you are not invited to interviews.
 
1 year internship plus a bit of part time work isn't 2+ years no matter how you look at it. You may be able to get some public sector job where they don't really care as long as you're cheap. But in the private sector, you'll be up against people with actual experience with a better degree from a better university. No harm aiming high, but you'll probably find it a bit demoralising.

If you think that how the Public Sector works, you are sadly mistaken. Sure there maybe some public sector managers that think like that but there are plenty of management jobs in the private sector which focus far more of financial performance than other results too.

I work in the public, and to be a day doesn't go past when we're not told we have to be run like "a business".
 
I work in the public, and to be a day doesn't go past when we're not told we have to be run like "a business".

I am sorry, but I find it hilarious when Public Sector workers claim to be in "same boat" as those in Private....

Have you ever been told that you will be fired if you fail to meet targets? With that being the norm, rather than repeated offender?
 
Although our targets are relatively low, if you are doing a good job you will hit around x2, sometimes less or more, which does result in rather nice bonus :)

I have had 1 retard messing up rather bad, I was out on lunch and the Einstein decided to prove that he knows best, done a deal without my authorization and yeah.... Lost a rather serious lump. I did get some proper serious *******ing for not putting security measures which would stop him bombing such large sum.... I was like an inch from being kicked out.

Needless to say, the sod got fired even before I got called to emergency meeting.
 
If you can demonstrate you're experienced then no, half the reason I shot up in my career is because I built a portfolio of projects and each one more impressive to a potential employer than the last.

Remember job for life culture is dead in the water - you need to build your CV like a consultant in order to go anywhere.
 
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