Sunday, August 09, 2009

I Am Educated Therefore I Deserve A Job!

I remember graduating from high school and applying to the university of Alberta. I was one of very few from my graduating class to get accepted. Most girls were more interested in marrying a farmer and having kids. Funny how I look back now and realize that I was more suited to be a farmer than anything else. In my first year of university my English professor recommended me for honours English. I was flattered but could see no future in an English degree.

So, when I read about this poor university student who can't get a job, I had to shake my head. She EXPECTS to get a job because she graduated from university.

Young and out of work

Eric Lam, Financial Post

Andrea Hoang, fresh out of university, has no idea if she is ever going to find work. And considering the July employment data released Friday from Statistics Canada, she has good reason to worry.

"I don't think people care about young people. Young people are really undervalued," Ms. Hoang said.


...."What am I going to do tomorrow?" she said. The Ryerson journalism graduate completed a month-long internship at a major cable news channel, then went to Quebec to learn French. But she did not earn a cent from any of these stints.

Now back in Toronto, she's joined the growing army of unemployed or underemployed young Canadians. The effects may show up in more than the job numbers.

"I feel I've done enough unpaid work. I can't afford to intern anymore," she said. "A lot of people have a defeated attitude. It's hard when you're poor and bored -- you don't feel like a valuable member of society."


Poor and BORED?? She expected to be in demand because she is ...well she just is!

Ms. Hoang used to think getting a university degree should get someone a decent job, but does not feel that way anymore. She's thought about going back to school to ride out the recession, but is pessimistic about that as well.

"A lot of people are doing master's programs, teaching abroad, doing a fifth year. What about in two years, when all of those people come out? Won't I have to compete with all of those people too?" she said. "What if waiting around [for a recovery] doesn't help either?"


Now here is the true heart of the problem, she will have to compete with others. The poor thing has never had to compete before and has no idea how to do it now. Our sissy elementary teachers, don't want kids to feel inferior because they might compete and fail. Gone is track and field, that is harmful to those who compete and lose. Gone is football, soccer and baseball, those are all competitive sports, that can not be allowed, they harm a poor babies self image.

Give me a break! She took journalism, an artsy degree. Did she really think she was going to instantly get a job? Is her writing so inspiring she stands out in a crowd of thousands just like her? Obviously not. That is not my problem, nor yours. As for the $20,000 in debt? Maybe she should have worked over the summers, I did and left university with my degree, and no debt.

It is not being young that is the problem, it is taking a useless degree that is the problem. A person taking history has very few employment options. The universities will not tell you that, but if you are smart enough to go to university, you should be smart enough to figure that out.

I am educated therefore I deserve a job....hey, every company needs a journalist grad right? I see ads for journalists everyday. HA!

8 comments:

cantuc said...

I remember guys showing up to work on different drilling rigs I was working on . A lot of them were fresh out of university with a degree n music or art or who knows what ? I quit asking , after a fella named Armand something lost a finger one night . He had a music degree and was actually a damned nice guy and one hell of a guitar player . The man was damn good . The last I saw of him he was running down the highway screaming , holding his hand , as high up in the air as he could pumping blood all over Wheatland County (Strathmore , Alberta ) This fellow should not have been allowed anywhere near that rig . All the education in the world is not going to replace common sense . I lost about 35 friends that were working on the rigs over the 15 years I worked on them . Many of them were going to and from work . The thing is , they should have caught some sleep after working a week of 12 hour night shifts before heading home .Education only goes so far .

dupmar said...

Now of course I'll take a differing view. I did my graduate studies in History, in French, at Laval, some graduate studies in Economics at McGill, an MBA, courses in both French and English at Ottawa, studies in German at the university in Heidelberg. Artsy stuff for the most part, agreed, and not directly related to the job market, but people do find their way and their niche. It also dosn't hurt to have some notion of the world, find places on a map and know something of their culture and history, read and write properly and so forth.

In my case, my language proficiency found me employment.
But I'm not one to suggest to a young person, forget the arts, forego the arts, be a plumber, you'll be happier. Not necessarily true. People should persevere in their area of aptitude, talents, interests. I have a sister who's an artist, a brother who's an engineer, another who's an auto mechanic. It didn't all come easy.
My brother who's an engineer had to relocate to BC, and work for a while in odd jobs like bartender before things fell into place.

I do agree that many young people have expectations too high, or are not prepared for the difficulties and obstacles ahead before they find their place in the world. For the young lady in question, I might suggest spending a bit more time learning French in Quebec. There is plenty of work in the Toronto region for those with ability in both languages.

Alberta Girl said...

Interestingly, our small town paper is constantly advertising for reporters (if she feel strongly, she can call herself a "journalist" if it makes her feel more important)

Somehow, I don't think young Andrea would find small town Alberta to be hip or happening enough.

Typical of so many young people today, complain they can't get a job in their narrow and limited urban neighbourhoods.

Young Andrea could have a job tomorrow if she were willing to expand her horizons, somehow I don't think she will be capable of doing that.

Dave Hodson said...

She "has no idea if she is EVER going to find work"? Right, because she hasn't been handed what she wants in her desired time frame, she'll probably NEVER find a job. Ever! You have to love how people like Andrea exaggerate and think the world is ending. Did she really think she would land a dream job instantly--that's not the way it works; in any economy? Learn a little thing called paitence.

And that bit about "I don't think people care about young people. Young people are really undervalued". Andrea, you're not undervalued, you just overvalued in your own mind. To be valuable to employers, you need build some work experience to add to your education. Until then, you're just another graduating student, who looks exactly the same on a resume as every other new graduating student applying for the same job. Find a way to make yourself stand out. Nobody is going to hand you anything. Once you start to build experience, you'll begin to realize how much there is that you still don't know--the sooner you figure that out; the better.

I do hope she doesn't bring this attitude to a job interview. Employers are looking for confidence, but not arrogance or desperation.

One day, after she is experienced and more stable in life, she may look back on these words and have a good laugh.

maryT said...

What a waste of an education. Now she thinks the university will pay her enough money to live forever without working. If she was any good, her interm work would have led to a full time job offer.
How many jobs has she applied for.

Kunoichi said...

Lets see if I understand this correctly. She's finished university with a degree. Doesn't have a job, therefore, no income. She owes $20K in student loans. She can't find a job, so...

... she's thinking of going back to school to ride out the recession? How is she planning to pay for this? Who's paying her bills now?

I've told my kids that if they want to go to college or university, great, but they're paying for it themselves. We'll help as much as we can, but we're not paying their way. They've both rejected the idea of student loans on their own, and both swear they will never take on debt. Not anything we went out of our way to teach them, but they've got their eyes open and can see what debt does to people. They're planning their futures accordingly.

Oh, and they're only 13 and 16.

maryT said...

My son used to publish a small town paper. He received 5 applications for a reporters job. He was so excited until he read the resumes. Can you believe all 5 of them graduated from the same university, same class, same year, and all were first in their class. Didn't hire one of them. The school was in the USA, and all applicants were cdn students from small town AB and were anxious to work in small town AB.

Anonymous said...

MaryT - you made a very valid point. Many companies use the internship to test out the candidate. More often than not, the company will offer an entry level position to an intern who shows promise. Dollars to donuts, this young lady showed no promise and probably complained or balked at doing "manual" work.