It’s extremely difficult for one to be anyway optimistic about job prospects in the aftermath of my four years of college. When I started college back in 2008, I guess I was somewhat naive about what lay ahead of me – I was of the belief of taking each day as it came, and that I’d have a job following my graduation. But how wrong was I.
Now I’m facing into the grim likelihood of unemployment after college, a thought that is constantly playing on my mind. It’s nothing short of disheartening. To know that you worked hard for four years in university and to be rewarded with unemployment is simply frustrating. And who do we have to blame? Our pathetic attempt of a government, that’s who. What have they done? In simplistic terms, they have screwed every Irish citizen over, in the space of a couple of years.
I stupidly tried to convince myself earlier this year that the financial situation would have improved somewhat when I graduate next August, but I was foolish to waste my time in doing so. It’s almost certain that our current economic climate will be close to the same as what it is now – in complete disarray. The hot topic at the moment is the fact that it is rumoured that the post-graduate grants will now be demolished, yet another disastrous decision from our shambolic government.
Throughout my college years, up to the last few months, the thought of applying for a post-graduate course was the last thing to enter my mind. Now, it’s becoming more and more likely, but if the grant is affected, then I’m afraid that it won’t be an option. How are the government not realising the financial stress that every family is suffering as a result of giving their children an opportunity of enhancing their futures by studying for a degree? But then again, when have our government showed any sign of compassion.
The prospect of forking out thousands of euro for a post-graduate course and to not be somewhat guaranteed a job is daunting, and indeed risky. Already, my parents have had to cope with the costs of putting myself and my twin brother through college, so how can I turn around and suggest the possibility of pursuing my studies even further? Don’t get me wrong, I know that my parents would be fully supportive of my decision, but I wouldn’t help but feel guilty, knowing how much further expense it would bring.
I’m a journalism student, and we’ve already been reminded on countless occasions that the employment prospects for us after college are slim to none – how kind of our government to let such a thing become a possibility. Some would say that it’s unfair to point the blame at the men in shiny suits that are usually to be found in the Dail, but who else can honestly be blamed for this? Look at how much they have ruined our country in the last few years...with the upcoming Budget next week, people are anxiously awaiting what’s to come. Being realistic, it’s not going to be pretty.
Speculation is rife that child benefit and dole allowances are to be reduced by €10 and €8 respectively, another shocking decision by the government. Why pick on those who are already suffering the consequences already? Yet again, this will become another unanswered question, primarily due to the government’s sheer inability to answer the most important questions.
Naturally enough, Fianna Fail seemed to suffer the brunt of Irish anger in recent times, and their party took a huge hit in the general elections last year. Somewhat justified, don’t you think? However, I don’t fully think that it was solely their fault that the country is now in huge financial difficulty. But something needs to be done, and it needs to be done rapidly; otherwise, this country will suffer even more. Look at how many young people are emigrating after college – if one was to speculate a few years ago, in the height of the boom that this would happen, a chorus of giggles and smart comments would ensue. Now fast forward to late 2011, and sadly it is quite realistic that I may have to take the same route.
So many friends from my hometown and indeed all over the country have emigrated in the last year or so, and are now enjoying full-time employment in countries like Australia and Canada, to name but a few. Let’s be realistic – how can that not be tempting to someone? The fact that if one was willing to emigrate, that employment would be so much easier to secure than in this country? It’s hugely upsetting that people now have to go to these lengths in order to secure employment. Sadly though, this is what our government has forced us to do, and the upcoming Budget is going to do us no favours, with the wrong groups of people again rumoured to suffer.
Emigration isn’t the most daunting thought for me, as I spent five months on Erasmus in Prague this year. Erasmus was probably one of the best things that I could have done, as it gave me the opportunity to “fend for my own”, so to speak, and almost gave me a taste of what life after college could really be like. For countries like the Czech Republic, it would be somewhat easy for a college graduate to gain employment, if they were willing to teach English as a foreign language, for example.
People in this profession in Prague were very positive about the whole situation – they choose their own hours, relax at the weekends, and the pay is good. It’s always something that has stayed in my mind since I studied in Prague, and I do think that it can indeed be an option. But how depressing is it that it’s almost inevitable that emigration will be my only way to secure full-time employment?
To sum it up, it’s so difficult to stay positive in terms of employment after college, and we all know who is to blame. Thanks to the Government for that, I really owe ye one.
