By Joe Paraide

Job opportunities are limited and more graduates from universities and colleges are unemployed despite good grades and qualification.

This is a story about the five-year hardship and experience that Anthony Midir Jr went through in search of a job.

His peers, friends and people in the community named him as a “university drop out” and “envelope mangi” mocking his struggles looking for work.

He successfully completed Social and Religious Study at Divine Word University and started his job search in mid 2015.

He launched his first ever application and was accepted to work with Family Life at the Catholic Diocese of Rabaul. However, he later received a letter that the position was anonymously occupied.

“From there, I applied for some vacancies that matched my education background but still there was no response.”

Most vacancies that he applied for, matched his qualification and few were outside his area of knowledge. Nevertheless, he did not get a job from the countless applications he submitted between 2015 and 2016.

“In 2017, I was accepted to work for an agency in Goroka but I did not receive a ticket to travel there. I later received an email that the position has been secured,” he added.

At that point he lost his faith in himself; he was hopeless, hurt, worried and tired. He often cries and asks why life was cruel to him.

Another year came and he keeps dropping his applications in town and via email but he did not get any feedback.

“I started joining peer groups where we brewed homebrews and drink it. I went to the extent of taking drugs once or twice. I felt that my life was over and that I wasted my time in school. The knowledge I have was a waste.’’

Afterwards he gave up applying with the thought that he would never find a job.
Then with little hope he applied one last time in mid 2020 and he was recruited as a cadet officer for the Department of Community Development, East New Britain Provincial Administration.

Today he is the Social Development and Welfare Officer of Sinivit LLG in Pomio District.
“Never give up; God has a plan for us. Most of all stay positive,” Mr Midir said.