WASHINGTON: A 30-year-old chemical engineering PhD graduate in the United States has reportedly applied for more than 2,300 jobs without securing employment, highlighting the challenges some highly educated professionals face in the job market.
According to foreign media reports, Dr Jack Weiss, who is from Salt Lake City, Utah, earned his doctorate from Princeton University in 2024.
His research focused on chemical principles and interactions between molecules. His work on the process of ice formation was cited by the Nobel Committee in 2024 as an example of the use of machine learning in scientific research when it announced that year’s Nobel Prize in Physics.
Weiss initially applied for research positions at pharmaceutical companies and prestigious postdoctoral opportunities at national laboratories. However, his efforts did not lead to a job offer.
He later broadened his search beyond his specialised field and local area, applying for a wider range of positions in an effort to secure employment.
Despite submitting thousands of applications, he reportedly received little response, with many employers not even inviting him for interviews.
His experience has drawn attention to the difficulties faced by some doctoral graduates seeking work that matches their qualifications, even after completing advanced studies at a prestigious university.
