<p>Hello.</p>
<p>I am currently an undergraduate senior in Chemical Engineering, and I am graduating this Spring. Unfortunately, I have not been able to find a job for after graduation. One major reason for this is I was not proactive the last few years in gaining work experience. However, I am currently in a voluntary research group for a professor.</p>
<p>I was wondering if it is a good idea to continue my voluntary research and join other research groups in my school to gain the necessary work experience. I can then spend the following months finding a job, which I believe will be made easier due to my additional research experience.</p>
<p>I have already applied to graduate school for a Masters degree and so far have been accepted into UC Irvine, but I decided it might be better to save money and not pay 2 years of tuition, but instead continue with my voluntary research and find an industry job hopefully within 1 year.</p>
<p>I am wondering if employers look down on people who are not doing <em>paid</em> work the months after graduation, and if they look down on people who have trouble finding an industry job after graduation (which will be evident if they see I've been doing voluntary research when no longer a student).</p>
<p>Thank you for your help!</p>