NB needs more entry level positions if they want to keep their youth around

I have just come back from a job fair that was held at the Delta Fredericton. I walked around all the booths, spoke to a good amount of greeters, and even ventured into the "Career Resources" room. (Actually, all the Career Resources room contained was different universities, colleges, and programs to facilitate more students.) I only have one piece of advice for those students that are considering going to the NB Job and Career Fair.

Don't bother.

Normally, students all leave high school encouraged to pursue some form of secondary training. This lands almost all of students into an average debt of $40,000. So graduates scramble to find jobs in an economy that quite frankly, appears to be going nowhere. This leads to obtaining fast food jobs as a way to pay the bills. But guess who else is scrambling to find entry level jobs? The students still in the province.

I have been online. I have been all over Fredericton. I have sent my resume in to any place hiring in the past week that I could think of, including positions I was almost positive I wouldn't even be looked at twice for, just in case. So far, I have only had one job interview, and I was turned down for the job shortly afterwards.

Now, I am a hard worker. I have an amazing work ethic, and I don't normally let obstacles trouble me. But I have been looking for a job since the beginning of March and as of yet I have had no luck. I'm not alone, either. The unemployment rate in NB rose to 10.5% in April. 

This only makes me think how my fellow students are doing searching for jobs.

I saw 7 current Journalism students at the job fair today. The Journalism program, at STU, in case you're wondering, only accepts a maximum of 30 students a year, and has in recent years, included almost a 50% dropout rate. It's a tough program, requiring motivated and excellent individuals. I wouldn't hesitate to agree that all of the individuals I saw at the job fair today are the epitome of what the program strives for.

So why isn't anyone hiring us?

There was only one entry level booth available, and that was Costco, which had dozens of people milling around it, filling out forms. The other obvious booth was the Canadian Forces booth, which requires you to go online.

Guess where I am right now?

I'm angry, and disappointed, and frustrated with living in New Brunswick right now. If the government really wants to keep their youth in the province, maybe they should think about working to keep us here.