I ran across this story earlier in the day and just wanted to bring this to everyone’s attention.
You should go and read the story in full since it is a powerful tale of the effects of an economic recession made all too real by its impact on the individual.
I do not claim to fully understand how the grading system works in England, but from what information I looked up, it seems as if Vicky Harrison was an average or an above average student. She went to college and it did not work out and then proceeded to actively look for work over the course of 2 years and found nothing. No job would take her after 2 years of searching. The story also mentions that she applied to over 200 positions.
It is sad when an individual who is willing to work cannot find work.
Some people may say that there is always work available for a young woman who is down on her luck, but I do not believe that it is appropriate to second guess Vicky on apparent choice to not pursue professions that are available to all attractive young women. I am of course referring to adult entertainment and escort services where work is always available. That type of employment is frowned upon in most cultures and she may not have wanted to pursue such employment. Again, I do not believe that it is appropriate for anyone to comment on this, so I ask that if you comment on this story, you simply do not comment on this aspect of it.
However, I feel that it is appropriate to comment on the situation of the world as a whole. Experience opens doors and educations gives them a nice shove. That is the way I view the world. An experienced job seeker will generally have no problem finding a job. If you are a proven worker who can make a positive impact from day one, companies will find someone to fire so they can bring you on if needed.
Education helps too, although not as much as the quality of an education is questionable from institution to institution and the actual amount of practical knowledge can vary greatly. So, post-secondary education is a plus, but not always a deal maker.
I have found that overall, it is not your experience or your education that affects your chances for a job. It is your confidence and your ability to carry yourself. I was technically completely unqualified for my current job. But, I talked my way through the interview, the company had a position they needed filled quickly and were willing to give me an opportunity to shine or crash and burn and I made the most it through hard work and determination that no matter how overwhelmed I felt, that I was given a chance and was going to make something of it.
I hope that Vicky had the same attitude and frankly most people do on some level have that same attitude. However, I am appalled at the fact that no one would even hire her to do menial jobs. Frankly, if you have a high school graduate who wants to do menial work because they do not want to accept a government handout, you as an employer should think of it as an opportunity to allocate a miniscule amount of resources and use the opportunity to have that person work in your place of employment and prove themselves worthy of a higher position.
Overall, this story is just sad. Sad for Vicky’s family, sad for her boyfriend and most of all sad for all of society. Here was a woman who wanted to work, was willing to take any job and no one was willing to give her something to do. We should all look at one another a little more closely and see the potential in one another before dismissing people who want to work.
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