Why are young Albertans struggling to find jobs? U of A Student Success shares tips to land one

Blessie Mathew from Student Success at the University of Alberta shares tips to help youth through the application process when seeking jobs.

According to Stats Canada, Alberta’s youth unemployment rate is the highest in the country. The job market in Alberta is extremely competitive, especially for those between 15 and 24 years old. Blessie Mathew, an assistant dean for Student Success at the University of Alberta, joined CTV Morning Live Edmonton for tips on how to help young people land a job.

This transcript has been edited for length and clarity.

Kent Morrison: What’s the biggest mistake youth are making right now when looking for a job?

Blessie Mathew: I think one of the mistakes that youth are making is a scattershot approach with applications. They’re taking that same application and putting it in with multiple different employers. What that leads to is a lack of targeting to that employer, which then doesn’t always land well with an employer who might be getting a lot of interest. The more targeted your application is, the more you can show you know about that employer, about the job, what they need and better your chances.

Kent: What are the key things to do in the application process to try to get your name to the top of the pile?

Blessie: There are very few organizations that don’t have a website or some kind of online presence, so the first thing a young person should do is think about where they want to work and what they want to do. Look at those organizations, see what’s happening on their social media. What are the most pressing challenges, issues for that employer? What’s their approach to customer service? Who are their clients? All of those are really easy things that a student or a young person can learn online and then fit those things into the application. Cover letters are really critical because that’s where you can introduce yourself to an employer and show your alignment on what they do.

Kent: What are your tips to make sure you’re prepared for an interview and can perform in that interview?

Blessie: Anticipating what is of interest to this employer. Who do they typically hire? What kinds of skill sets are they looking for? So if it’s customer service for example, how do you then give examples and articulate? It’s not just saying, “I’m really great at customer service,” but what are the examples you can use to show that you have actually done that? Even not necessarily in a paid position, but have you volunteered? Have you played sports? Have you worked on a team? All of that matters.

Kent: Is there a way to prepare a question or two for the employer to really put yourself above?

Blessie: The internet’s a great tool to look for some of these questions. What’s important about asking those questions is asking things that are beyond what you could have easily found online and showing curiosity about what that organization actually does, or what the job is actually like. A lot of people ask questions about the work environment because you also want, as a job seeker, to know that you’re walking into an environment where you can thrive and contribute as well. There’s a lot of things you can ask about. We typically say not to ask about salary and the compensation package at that point in the process, but really focus on the job and organization.