Finding work not easy for COVID-era college grads, Sault woman says

Competition is tough, employers who are cynical doubt if a graduate has what it takes to transition from the classroom into ‘the real world,’ people also having often graduated in the middle of economic downturns.

But the Sault’s Kristen Auer, like thousands of other post-secondary students across Canada set to graduate this spring, will be looking for a job in the COVID-19 pandemic, which has thrown the economy into a state of permanent job loss for many or, for many others, on again off again employment as the Sault has already gone through two lockdowns.

Auer worked for Hollywood Limousine & Airport Express, then, in her late 40s, decided to go back to school full time, enrolling in Sault College’s Social Service Worker - Indigenous Specialization program in 2019.

She will be graduating in April.

“I have a job. I’m employed (officially, part time, as a driver) by Hollywood Limousine & Airport Express but I haven’t worked since January because travel and tourism has been hit huge by this pandemic. People aren't flying in (via the Sault Ste. Marie Airport) for business, there are no conferences, people aren’t travelling for pleasure anymore. I did airport runs and shuttled people for conferences when they came to town, but there’s none of that now,” Auer said, speaking to SooToday.

“I haven’t been able to work. My concern is I’m graduating and I’m going to continue my education (anticipating being accepted into Laurentian University’s Bachelor’s of Indigenous Social Work program in the fall), but in the interim, this summer, I’m concerned about finances.”

Having been eligible for federal government COVID relief funding last summer because she worked full time before going back to college as a full time student, Auer would like to have a full time summer job to save up money for when she (most likely) starts her BISW program in Sudbury.

She’ll be studying remotely from the Sault, but that still costs money.

“What’s it going to look like for me? I would like to find a job in my field (for the summer), because I’ll have my (Sault College) diploma, but it’s going to be hard,” Auer said.

“My goal is to get accepted to Laurentian, continue my studies, make ends meet during this summer in the interim, find a full time job for the summer which could turn into a part time job so I can work a few hours a week to make ends meet when I’m doing my Laurentian program.”

Actively looking for work, Auer, in a cautiously optimistic manner, said “I have a couple of things in the works right now which will hopefully pan out.”

As for being a COVID-era student, learning from home, Auer said she and her classmates are studying amid “a feeling of entering uncharted territory in an unprecedented time. Everything the world has encountered over the past year is brand new, every single day. Everything’s changing. Lockdowns are changing. There’s a lot of uncertainty.” 

“It’s three times as much stress...my classmates are anxious and unable to focus sometimes because of all the stress we’re under. It’s not just school anymore. We’re dealing with a global pandemic. And, I have family in the United States (Auer is a Rochester, New York native who moved to the Sault to be with her Canadian partner in 2007). They were bringing in refrigerator trucks for bodies where my parents are (Auer’s parents are in their 80s).”

“I think in my heart I’ll be okay, but for now, my anxiety’s through the roof. There’s so much uncertainty in the world, I’m hammering out this last month of my studies at Sault College, applying to Laurentian and there’s money, money, money. I’ve got to live (and make ends meet),” Auer said. 

She said her employer at Hollywood Limousine & Airport Express would be willing, under normal circumstances, to employ her full time this summer but cannot due to COVID’s battering of the airport/travel and tourism industries.   

Not totally depressed amid all that change, Auer is upbeat and commended Sault College faculty for rapidly adapting to accommodate the need for its students to study remotely.

“They’ve done a really, really good job. These professors had everything all set and all of a sudden the world turned upside down.”

She added, with a chuckle, that she’s still been able to enjoy coffee breaks with her fellow students “outside, while we freeze.”

“I’m hoping it works out okay for everyone,” Auer said, referring to herself, her classmates and all post-secondary grads.