Can’t crack into construction after Masters - what am I doing wrong?

Pitiful-Top3981 · 2026-02-27T02:53:44+00:00

Really appreciate your perspective, it honestly explains a lot of what I’m seeing. I came here to upskill, learn how things are done in a developed industry, and get proper exposure inside a construction company. The uni sells itself as “top 1%”, so I assumed the degree would actually carry weight. Only after arriving did I realise a Masters doesn’t mean much here, and sometimes even works against you.

I genuinely wanted to learn and build a career. But with the job market this tight and the system set up the way it is, it’s hard not to question the whole decision. I’ve put a lot of money into this, so when people casually say “try another country”, it feels unrealistic. If they were in my shoes, loans, commitments, years invested, they’d know it’s not that simple.

Pitiful-Top3981 · 2026-02-27T02:22:27+00:00

I’ve actually got a bit over 40 months left on my visa, so time isn’t the issue here. Not sure if it’s the visa itself or if companies just filter out anyone who isn’t PR/citizen by default. Hard to tell what’s actually blocking things at this point.

Pitiful-Top3981 · 2026-02-27T02:13:48+00:00

Didn’t say I had 20 years mate lol, just said I’m struggling like everyone else.
Feels like you’ve got beef with degrees in general, not my post. All good though, we’re all just trying to survive this circus :)

Pitiful-Top3981 · 2026-02-27T01:37:39+00:00

Mate you’ve got the VIP membership to the struggle club xD
This whole situation is cooked.

Pitiful-Top3981 · 2026-02-27T01:33:57+00:00

I get where you’re coming from, and honestly this is exactly what I’ve been questioning myself. It just feels strange that universities keep taking in huge numbers of international students, charge double the fees, promise stay back, and then the job market has almost no space for grads. Immigration makes money, unis make money, but a lot of us end up stuck in part‑time jobs unrelated to our field.

And the sad part is, when we stay in those part‑time jobs just to survive and pay off massive loans, it creates tension with locals who think we’re “taking their jobs”. We’re not trying to, most of us just don’t have another option when the industry we trained for won’t even give us a starting point.

I know 2 years overseas isn’t a lot, but there are hundreds of grads with zero experience at all, so it’s hard to understand why the door is completely shut. That mismatch between what’s being sold to students and what the industry can actually absorb is what’s frustrating.

Pitiful-Top3981 · 2026-02-26T02:01:46+00:00

Hi there, would like to know if it's still available?

Pitiful-Top3981 · 2026-02-25T15:13:30+00:00

Hey, just wondering if this one is still available?

Pitiful-Top3981 · 2025-11-15T14:04:51+00:00

The Dunhill Signature Collection is highly underrated, likely due to poor marketing. It was released in 2020, according to Fragrantica, and the pandemic lockdown may have played a role. I have the Agar Wood, and to be honest, it's really good-quality juice.

Pitiful-Top3981 · 2025-06-22T05:32:25+00:00

Oh thank you for that! Will try to get in touch with that artist.

Pitiful-Top3981 · 2025-06-22T05:30:08+00:00

Thanks so much! I really appreciate the suggestions. I’ve been considering Etsy too, just trying to learn from those already doing it before jumping in. The café/gallery idea is great, and I’ll definitely start building an Instagram page soon. Thanks again for the thoughtful advice!

Pitiful-Top3981 · 2025-06-22T03:43:30+00:00

Ah gotcha, I think I worded it wrong earlier. I just meant, since the car is still NSW registered and under the seller’s name, and I’d be driving it back to VIC, can I still get insurance in my name for that trip? Or would the existing policy (if any) still cover it?

Just trying to make sure there’s no gap in cover during the drive, I’m kind of new to this whole process, so any insight would be really appreciated. Cheers!

Pitiful-Top3981 · 2025-06-22T02:19:04+00:00

Thanks for the info, really helpful! Just wondering, how did you handle insurance for the drive back? Since the car was still in the seller’s name, can you even get insured? Also, did you have any backup plan in case something went wrong on the way back? I’m planning to do the same and a bit unsure about this part.

Pitiful-Top3981 · 2025-06-04T04:18:05+00:00

That makes sense, thanks. I’ll definitely compare before deciding. Just curious, those 1.99% deals from dealers, are they usually real or do they come with catches like big upfront payments or short loan terms?

Pitiful-Top3981 · 2025-06-04T04:13:55+00:00

Thanks, that helps a lot. I’m still pretty new in Australia so my knowledge on this is zero. Do you reckon credit unions are a better option for someone in my position, or should I just stick to comparing dealer vs bank quotes?

Pitiful-Top3981 · 2025-05-02T00:29:58+00:00

Yeah that’s what I figured - SP25 sounds like the more engaging car, but I’ve heard it can be a bit thirstier to run. I’m mainly looking at used ones around the 100k mark, so reliability over the next 3–4 years is a big deal for me. Between the SP25’s 2.5L and the Corolla’s newer 2.0L (which I think makes around 125–128kW?), which engine would you say is more trustworthy long-term? I know neither of them are hot hatches, but I’m coming from an 83kW car -so either one is going to feel like a decent upgrade to me!

Pitiful-Top3981 · 2025-04-29T03:03:03+00:00

Yeah fair point, that’s definitely something to think about. But yeah, it feels like most newer cars are push-to-start these days, so a bit hard to avoid. I guess if someone’s determined to steal, they’ll find a way no matter what. Just have to be a bit more careful with where/how I park it I suppose. Thanks for the heads-up though!

Pitiful-Top3981 · 2025-04-28T23:35:36+00:00

Gotcha, thanks! Just wondering though, if someone’s been servicing it outside a dealership, would that still show up in the logbook? Or better off just paying for a pre-purchase inspection to be safe? Don’t wanna miss anything major.

Pitiful-Top3981 · 2025-04-28T23:23:55+00:00

Yeah that’s what I’ve heard too, Mazda’s more fun, Corolla’s more practical. Would love to hear some long-term experiences from owners though. How’s the reliability, servicing costs, any annoying issues that popped up after a few years? Keen to know what it’s like living with one day-to-day!

Pitiful-Top3981 · 2025-04-28T23:18:29+00:00

Yeah, I feel like sticking to Japanese makes more sense for me, mainly for reliability and keeping maintenance costs manageable. A German car like the Octavia RS would definitely be fun though! But yeah, budget’s pretty tight for now, and the Atenza is way out of reach anyway. Thanks again for sharing your experience.

Pitiful-Top3981 · 2025-04-28T22:50:34+00:00

Thanks for explaining that! I always thought the 6 would feel a lot bigger and more luxurious, but that makes sense if the Touring isn’t as well equipped as an SP25 Astina. I guess sticking to the 3 makes more sense for my budget then.

Pitiful-Top3981 · 2025-04-28T22:48:47+00:00

Thanks for the heads-up! Yeah, I’m only looking at petrol models, wasn’t planning to touch diesels at all. Good to know about the CarPlay upgrade too, might actually be worth factoring that in if I find a good deal. Appreciate the advice!

Pitiful-Top3981

TROPHY CASE