“A degree isn’t enough” – M’sian Engineering Grad Turns to Food Delivery After 2-Year Struggle to Land Dream Career

Securing a stable job after university is a major goal for many fresh graduates. However, having impressive academic results does not always guarantee a smooth transition into the workforce.

A local mechanical engineering graduate, known online as @shnxjrx, recently took to Threads to share his reality of spending nearly two years working as a delivery rider despite graduating with an above-average CGPA and holding an official Graduate Engineer certificate.

“A degree certificate and an above-average CGPA turn out to be insufficient to guarantee a dream career. After two years of being a registered Graduate Engineer, hundreds of applications and interviews just ended in rejection, forcing me to drive my motorcycle to make a living,” the user wrote in his post.

Hundreds of applications end in rejection despite strong qualifications

In his post, the user shared a picture of his registered Graduate Engineer certificate from the Board of Engineers Malaysia alongside his motorcycle equipped with a food delivery bag. He explained that despite sending out hundreds of job applications and attending numerous interviews over the past two years, he was repeatedly met with rejections.

He emphasised to WORLD OF BUZZ that this difficult job search journey made him realise that the working world values real-world interpersonal abilities far beyond what is printed on academic transcripts.

“This experience taught me that the working world is not just on paper, but assesses our ability to interact and communicate with others,” he added.

He then went on to sat that he continues to actively submit five to ten job applications daily that align with his career expectations.

Despite the physical toll of riding daily, he remains grateful for his time in the gig economy, noting that working nearly two years as a food delivery rider has been a humbling and transformative journey that positively shaped his character and outlook on life.

“It’s tiring, but I can’t deny it gives a meaningful impact for my life to be a better person for society and myself,” he expressed.

Crucial advice for university students and introverts

Reflecting on his university years, the user admitted that he tended to isolate himself during his studies, a habit that subsequently affected his confidence and communication skills during job interviews after graduation.

He strongly urged current students, especially those who identify as introverts, to actively step out of their comfort zones and sharpen their interpersonal skills before entering the job market.

“For students out there, polish your communication skills and build connections before you graduate, because these two things are your main weapons in the real world,” he advised in his post.

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Offering encouragement to those facing similar struggles, he urged introverted students to start small by finding comfortable spaces to practice everyday conversations, as that will be a key point where they can communicate casually with everyone after they finish their academic journeys.

What are your thoughts on his story and advice for fresh graduates? Share your views in the comments section below!

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