I feel like I wasted 2 years — advice from senior engineers appreciated

[Hyde_v]

Hi everyone,


I'm an Electrical & Electronics Engineering graduate (March 2023), and I feel incredibly lost right now. Due to nationality issues, I haven’t been able to start my career properly, and I could really use guidance from those ahead of me.


Right after graduation, I was in Indonesia on a family visa, with an expired Sudanese passport while applying for Indonesian citizenship (my parents are from different countries). Some people said I might be able to work on a family visa, but I wasn’t sure and didn’t want to risk it. What really made me wait was a promise — that once I got my new passport, I’d be connected with someone who could help me get experience (even if unpaid, I was willing to accept just to learn something).


I finally received my passport in September 2024 and reached out. But that turned into, “message me next month,” then “end of the year,” and eventually silence. I realized I was probably naive to think things would just fall into place. In January 2025, I was told to try getting the ASEP certification to improve my chances. I agreed — but then I was also told to look for jobs while doing it. But while job hunting, people said I should first finish the cert. It became a loop that drained my motivation. Eventually, I just gave up for a while.


Now I’m here, feeling like I wasted 2 years. And even though I know nothing can bring those years back, it’s hard not to feel like it’s my fault. The gap makes it harder to apply, and that guilt makes it harder to even try.


So, to anyone who has gone through a messy, slow, or uncertain start — how did you push forward?
How did you deal with feeling left behind?


Any advice or tough truths are welcome. I just want to hear from people who’ve been through setbacks and still made it. Thank you.

 

[mfgenggear]

Hi everyone,


I'm an Electrical & Electronics Engineering graduate (March 2023), and I feel incredibly lost right now. Due to nationality issues, I haven’t been able to start my career properly, and I could really use guidance from those ahead of me.


Right after graduation, I was in Indonesia on a family visa, with an expired Sudanese passport while applying for Indonesian citizenship (my parents are from different countries). Some people said I might be able to work on a family visa, but I wasn’t sure and didn’t want to risk it. What really made me wait was a promise — that once I got my new passport, I’d be connected with someone who could help me get experience (even if unpaid, I was willing to accept just to learn something).


I finally received my passport in September 2024 and reached out. But that turned into, “message me next month,” then “end of the year,” and eventually silence. I realized I was probably naive to think things would just fall into place. In January 2025, I was told to try getting the ASEP certification to improve my chances. I agreed — but then I was also told to look for jobs while doing it. But while job hunting, people said I should first finish the cert. It became a loop that drained my motivation. Eventually, I just gave up for a while.


Now I’m here, feeling like I wasted 2 years. And even though I know nothing can bring those years back, it’s hard not to feel like it’s my fault. The gap makes it harder to apply, and that guilt makes it harder to even try.


So, to anyone who has gone through a messy, slow, or uncertain start — how did you push forward?
How did you deal with feeling left behind?


Any advice or tough truths are welcome. I just want to hear from people who’ve been through setbacks and still made it. Thank you.

a little back ground and my challenges

when i was a out of high school, I went to Jr College I had no idea what I was going to work. my high school counselors said that I was destined to be a construction worker.
so no real guidance.
I was so ill prepared out high school I had
take all the prerequisites all in college.

so I liked working with metal shop. and I liked working with wrenches and metal fabrication.
my first job , I had no skills and had no idea
what I could do. display case of all these fancy components. was mind boggling.
I started in an apprenticeship. I was like a sponge. talking and learning from all the senior experts. boy I was learning a lot.
I humbled my self so l could learn. and that's
my philosophy. I never stop asking questions.
most employers want new employees who
want to learn. no matter the type of work.
even after getting a degree, I push my self
to do hard work, and never stop learning.

now in your case your degree shows prospective employers you took the time and dedication to complete a degree.
I recommend too look for a position in the work you like to do in the shop.
I guarantee managers in engineering will be watching you. and there is a great chance of promotion.
a degree will get you in the door. any time a person starts a new job, your starting from zero. it takes time to get respect and promotions. also how to write a resume
it is important to really investigate who is the managers who do the hiring.
and the details of the product.
or research is important and that Jr position engineering can fall into place.
mean while work in the shop.

 

[Hyde_v]

a little back ground and my challenges

when i was a out of high school, I went to Jr College I had no idea what I was going to work. my high school counselors said that I was destined to be a construction worker.
so no real guidance.
I was so ill prepared out high school I had
take all the prerequisites all in college.

so I liked working with metal shop. and I liked working with wrenches and metal fabrication.
my first job , I had no skills and had no idea
what I could do. display case of all these fancy components. was mind boggling.
I started in an apprenticeship. I was like a sponge. talking and learning from all the senior experts. boy I was learning a lot.
I humbled my self so l could learn. and that's
my philosophy. I never stop asking questions.
most employers want new employees who
want to learn. no matter the type of work.
even after getting a degree, I push my self
to do hard work, and never stop learning.

now in your case your degree shows prospective employers you took the time and dedication to complete a degree.
I recommend too look for a position in the work you like to do in the shop.
I guarantee managers in engineering will be watching you. and there is a great chance of promotion.
a degree will get you in the door. any time a person starts a new job, your starting from zero. it takes time to get respect and promotions. also how to write a resume
it is important to really investigate who is the managers who do the hiring.
and the details of the product.
or research is important and that Jr position engineering can fall into place.
mean while work in the shop.

Thanks for sharing your story.


Can I ask — how did you deal with it mentally?
Like when you felt lost or unsure in the beginning, what helped you keep going?

 

[IRstuff]

• Is it you or your job market? Are others having the same problem getting interviews and jobs?
• Is it your resume? Did you have internships? Does your resume actually address the prospective employers' job requirements?
  • Does your resume clearly show what your accomplishments are, if any? Many people write things like "Worked on project ABC" without clearly indicated what their contributions were and what problems they solved.
  • Have you had 3rd parties critique your resume?
• A certification MIGHT be useful, but usually, it's indicative of a resume, or career, that's lacking any solid accomplishments
• It might not be unusual to have a dozen different configurations of the same basic resume, to specifically highlight the "why me" question that specifically addresses what an individual employer might want or need.