I’ve been searching non-stop for employment since convocation in April. I have had a few interviews and spoke with several employers, but pretty much all positions posted online require minimum 3 years’ experience. There are repeat job listings rewritten with “This is not an entry-level position” included in the job description.
Examples:
Junior/Intermediate Drafting Technologist
MPE Engineering Ltd. Lethbridge AB “Technologist to work with our Municipal Infrastructure Group in our Lethbridge Office. The successful candidate should have the following qualifications:. A two-year drafting diploma from a…” www.mpe.ca 4 days ago Email (Been here for several months. Still sorting through their applicants? Revolving door company? No idea.)
Project Manager, Infrastructure
WSP Canada Inc. Read Review Lethbridge AB “technologist with the appropriate experience will also be considered;. Minimum of 5 years’ experience with a mix of design and construction experience;. Verbal and written communication abilities are…” www.wsp.com 7 days ago Email (Not an entry-level position.)
The list goes on.
With the downturn in oil & gas in Alberta, all these people with experience in various positions in various places around Alberta are now in the job market. People without experience, right out of college, are not being hired.
But this is only partially true. About half of the people I know from class are now hired, and the other half working in other jobs, volunteering in their field, or unemployed.
I’ll keep searching and talking with companies. In the mean time, I’m working on my projects as practise in Revit, AutoCAD, Inventor, SketchUp, and Civil3D.