These international students are trying to find jobs. But a tight job market leaves them with few options

Shivani Trivedi had hopes of staying in Canada after graduating with a master's in medical biotechnology from the University of Windsor in the spring — but if she doesn't find a full-time job in her field within a year, she says she'll go back to India.

"Shattered" by the lack of jobs, Trivedi said she was "not expecting this."

"I made hundreds of applications per day, but still I didn't find any [jobs]," she said. 

Luckily, through some networking, she found a survival job at a fast food restaurant but her search for a full-time job in her field is ongoing — and she is not alone.

"In my cohort of 130 [students], only five or 10 are in the medical field or working in laboratories or working in the pharmaceutical industry," she said.

"The rest of them are doing odd jobs like me ... I will truly say it's depressing because I'm trying my best. I search regularly but it's tough."

Windsor-Essex, Ont., has long had Canada's highest jobless rate. The University of Windsor says it takes steps to help their students find jobs — but it doesn't guarantee employment outcomes. 

Having spent tens of thousands of dollars on tuition, Trivedi called for the government to take steps to ensure students like her aren't left "overwhelmed" by the job market.

"I have invested $40,000 and if I won't get anything in return, then there is no point in living here," she said. 

Trivedi said she was an assistant professor in India and already had a masters degree but came to Canada for what she thought were better opportunities.

"Some days I just sit in my bed and I'll just cry ... Other days I'm hopeful that I will get a job one day but that hope sometimes doesn't work," said the 25-year-old, holding back tears.

"People hate us ... They feel like we are snatching their jobs, but there are no jobs to snatch."

Trivedi said she will gamble with the job market for a year and will move back if she can't land a job.

Billboards from the University of Windsor and St. Clair College suggest the future for their students will be bright, Trivedi said, but in her experience, it's the opposite.