From animation to sociology, graduating students in all programs are feeling the pinch of an economy heading south and the nerves that go with entering the workforce from the relative comfort of the classroom.
Avi Krebs, 25, is a soon-to- be graduate of Carleton University’s sociology program. With the economy in a recession, Krebs has decided to delay his entrance into the workforce and go for a master’s degree in information and library sciences at the University of Toronto.
“It seems that just having an undergraduate degree, it’s not enough. It seems like everyone is trying to get a job,” said Krebs, an Ottawa native. “It just doesn’t seem to be enough nowadays. You have so many people applying for these jobs, you have to stand out a bit. I think the master’s degree will put me in an upper echelon because it will show that I’ve had that extra education.”
Erik Morris, 22, an upcoming graduate of Algonquin College’s three-year animation program, has similar concerns.
“I’m very nervous about it,” said Morris, who grew up in Stittsville. “(Animation) is a small industry. It’s hard to break into. With the recession going on, it’s hard to find any steady, high-paying job. I definitely don’t want to go back to retail.”
It seems for most students, the days of staying at home and finding a job in your hometown are disappearing.
“I’m hoping to get a job here in Ottawa,” said Morris. “I’m even looking outside the country. There are studios in Denmark, Sweden, even England that I’m looking into.”
“I would probably feel more comfortable at home, but the reality nowadays is that you don’t have those options available to you,” said Krebs. “You may have to go overseas to find a job, but if you can find your way back home, more power to you.”
