Graduate bids for a job is first class

A graduate who has failed to find work despite applying for more than 1,000 jobs set up stall outside Bristol Temple Meads railway station in his latest bid to find employment.

Bader Abdel-Razeq, of Hartcliffe, in the city, graduated from the University of Bath last July with a 2:2 degree in mechanical engineering and dreams of working in aviation.

But despite his qualifications and enthusiasm for his subject he has landed just one interview, which proved unsuccessful.

In desperation Mr Abdel-Razeq, 23, decided to stand outside the railway station from 6.30am until 6pm yesterday with a placard bemoaning his situation – hoping commuters may be able to help him find work.

“I had plenty of smiles, people wishing me good luck and a couple of phone numbers to ring but no firm job offers,” said Mr Abdel-Razeq, whose efforts secured an interview for a customer service role.

“I brought down 50 copies of my CV to give out to people who may be interested and gave out about 30.”

Mr Abdel-Razeq said he decided to take action after the routine routes for finding a job bore no fruit.

“I really want to work in aviation but it’s a case of needs must and I will take what is available,” he said. “I have been to companies and recruitment agencies – I have tried everything you can think of to get myself a job.

“I either find myself getting ignored or told I don’t have enough experience. I can only assume it’s down to a combination of the recession and lack of jobs. Now it is a case of desperate measures. Of course I would like a job in engineering but to be honest it has reached the stage where I will have to take what is on offer.

“Like many people I have rent to pay and I have to put food on the table so any job would be good.”

Mr Abdel-Razeq said he has made numerous applications – sometimes submitting 30 or 40 in one day and he searches for work.

He said: “I have applied for roughly 1,000 jobs – sometimes 30 or 40 in one day but failed to find work. I have had just one interview which went well but ultimately I didn’t get the job.

“I believe I have studied hard and have a lot to offer but it’s about being given an opportunity to prove that.”

Mr Abdel-Razeq is from Jordan but moved to the UK in 2005.

He obtained A levels in maths and physics before attending the University of Bath and gaining a degree in mechanical engineering.

On his CV he describes himself as “highly ambitious” with a “passion for engineering that runs deep.”

Trade union Unite yesterday released figures showing long-term unemployment had increased in the last three months, with those out of work for over two years up by 18,000 to 441,000, the worst figure since 1997.

Unite’s general secretary Len McCluskey said: “Tinkering around the edges will not work – a radical Plan B needs to be instituted immediately to break-out of this government-induced recession.”

Source: Southwestbusiness.co.uk, Thursday 19th July 2012