Our Generation's Great Catch 22

"If I had a dollar every time I saw a job post asking for a graduate or entry level employee, I would have a self-loathing, momentary happiness, resulting from the fact that I'd have enough for a small cup of tea... But, in other words, I wouldn't have many dollars."


For any young student or graduate, employment is harrowing and can seem damn near impossible to gain. I know myself how utterly depressing and terrifying the condition of "unemployment" can be. Trust me folks, it is not a condition you want to be in, but like chicken pox, it appears to be a rite of passage for all of us. When it hits and how long of a passage it turns out to be is different for everyone, but I think it could really cut down on its number of sharp turns and dead ends for all of us. Regardless of its soul-sucking nature, we keep to course, keep hunting, and hope that our parents don't kick us out of the house or stop giving us that extra "just in case you need it" cash.

What can be the worst part about unemployment is the fact that your potential employers are looking for skilled, experienced, employees. Many current job offers state that applicants must have 3-5 years of experience. How can we get this experience if not hired in the first place? Don't get me wrong, I can understand the perspective of the employer. It is a "tough economy" as they say and businesses are struggling. They want to save time and resources on training and supervising and they want to limit their liabilities. But Canada's unemployment rate just seems too high for businesses to be picky. If we only hired people with experience and never let new entries into organizations, we would have a slowly dwindling number of people employed and shrinking organizations. But wait a minute! This is already happening isn't it? My god, by the time I'm fifty organizations will each have one decrepit "keeper of the knowledge". Be prepared to protect these people. For they alone will hold the keys to the great experience.    
I think it's time businesses took "experience" off its pedestal and put some faith in Generation Y. They shouldn't fear the inexperienced, but accept them, teach them, and help them support their businesses into the future.