Singing the Generation Y Employment Blues

What is wrong with us Gen Y'ers? According to many employers we are lazy, privileged, and overly dependent on technologies. We are too educated, not educated enough, and above all else--we don't have enough experience. Time and time again, myself and my fellow Y'ers are turned down for positions merely because our lack of experience in the workforce. What I do not understand is, how can we possibly get that experience if we are never hired due to our lack of experience? This leaves me at a standstill. This leaves my generation at a standstill.


Throughout my career quest, essentially I did everything right; I went to job fairs, corporate networking sessions, resume and interview shops, and university career counselors while at university. I graduated near the top of my Commerce class with Honours and I kept busy with extracurricular activities. I searched my heart out after I graduated and applied for an average of 15 jobs a week. I went on quite a few interviews and second interviews but always heard the same excuse--"not enough experience". I felt like I had to jump on my first job offer. I had always thought it was unfortunate how very educated individuals had to take customer service horror jobs to pay the bills and there I was, living that exact nightmare.

So here I sit, 2 months unemployed again and realizing that there are many Y'ers just like me. My friend "D" graduated this May with a geography degree and she has resorted to applying to fast food joints only to be turned down because she is "too smart". My friend "B" graduated teachers college this year only to work part-time in retail and has given up on even looking for a teaching job; consequently, she is going to seek employment abroad. Other friends joined temp agencies and get a day's work every month. Most my friends are either unemployed or severely underemployed and it is hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

I was told by a family friend to hold tight because the Baby Boomers will be retiring soon and we will have any job we want. However, with the current economic climate and lack of significant retirement savings for many Boomers, I am not very hopeful; but, I will refuse to lose hope.

It is very simple, I am just waiting for a company to take a chance on me.

To Go Big Or Go Small?

After getting back from a job interview today, I started to wonder why it is always the smaller companies that I gravitate towards. I am aware large companies tend to offer more comprehensive benefits, additional resources, and greater job stability. Further, the majority of my fellow McMaster University graduates had dreams of working for a Fortune 500 company and climbing the corporate ladder to more and more riches throughout their lives. Sure, the perks are great but in some instances they come at a cost.

The company I was introduced to today has a handful of employees who are like a family. Their hiring practice is such that all coworkers have a say in who fits best at the vacant position. To me, this is a sign of good management. Everybody has a voice from top to bottom of the organization. I am aware their marketing budget most likely is minimal and only one employee would handle it; however, I would be that employee. My ideas, my marketing plans would most certainly be heard. This is quite attractive to a recent grad yearning for one thing above all else: Experience.

I cannot help to imagine most lower level corporate employees are known more by number than name. Their ideas may take years of climbing before they are heard. These impersonal management practices can also lay the foundation for mass lay-offs, outsourcing jobs, and pay cuts.

On the other hand, it is important to note that many large corporations are managed well. In fact, I am still willing to "go corporate"; maybe one day a large corporation will prove me wrong?