I recently very publicly voiced my opinion regarding an article featured on itv's This Morning (Tuesday 22nd January 2013). The article discussed the increasing number of graduates who find it acceptable to refuse full-time work unless it pays an annual salary they feel is worthy of their skills and expertise, and is fitting with their chosen career path.
I'm sure I'm not alone in thinking this attitude is UNBELIEVABLE and miss-represents the thousands of graduates who like myself have worked and will continue to work a number of jobs that amount to a full-time wage just to be employed and provide ones own financial independence. Surely the opportunity to demonstrate a strong WORK ETHIC is of far more value than a few numbers on a piece of paper?
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8cN6jezmzE
The lady featured in the article on This Morning is Lithuanian Natalija Belova who respectfully came into the UK in 2005 to pursue a job offer of which is perfectly acceptable. However after being made redundant and becoming pregnant she was introduced to the governments job-seekers scheme through a friend. Natalija Belova's attitude towards full-time employment quickly changed as a result of this and she now receives in excess of £14,500 per year of tax payers money through state benefits - more than the average graduate receives in their first year of employment. Another very important point to be made here is that all the money received in benefits is completely TAX-FREE!
The number of people unemployed and seeking work is rising everyday - not just through the increasing number of graduates leaving university and being unable to locate work but also as a result of the thousands of redundancies being made by both mainstream and small niche businesses.
Therefore if you are lucky enough to be offered a job, then you should take it... RIGHT.
Many graduates just have themselves to support with few financial worries as parents continue to fund their children's lifestyles up into their late 30's - which brings me to my next point. If a graduate is able to continue with a high-profile social life post university with the help of 'Daddy's' credit card how will they ever understand the values attached to earning a living?
Here i would like to apply a close reference to the fashion industry - as one of the most competitive industries to get into, it is becoming more and more difficult for individuals from a working-class family on an average salary to succeed as the industry requires you to work for FREE. Many companies expect you to complete lengthy unpaid internships and work-placements. Therefore the majority of the industry is being led by the wealthy who are able to commit to the unpaid nature of the role without considering the financial impact - but this is a discussion for those willing to work but can't afford too. It seems the government are willing to support those not willing to work for less than £25,000 a year but those who are willing too work for free to better themselves and their career cannot receive any support at all!
The pride and social stigma attached to earning a living is fast becoming less of an importance in our society and more and more people feel it is OK to live on benefits and in many ways the government is supporting this social change.
Natalija in her interview mentions that job-seekers very much supports her decision to remain on benefits until she is able to earn over £25,000 pounds a year, by discussing how when she is provided with a job offer she would take it to her job-seekers advisor who helps her work out how beneficial this job role would be financially and if it would exceed what she is already receiving through benefits. This is a great example demonstrating that the British welfare system is at fault. As a job-seekers advisor i believe the main purpose of this role would be to encourage employment and to teach the individual of the values attached to earning a living.
In many ways i can sympathize with Natalija and i fully understand the soul-destroying aspect attached to working a job where you are unable to apply your skills and expertise gained within education. Growing up and in later life we all hope to achieve our dream job. This i believe comes solely from working hard, a graduate who is fully able to work SHOULD be at work. When you consider the number of people who aren't in any kind of employment either through redundancy, disability, or as a result of the poor jobs market in the area, it is difficult to sympathize with those you DON'T want to work, when they're so many that DO.
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