Kiwi hits back at critics and lands job

Alex Hazlehurst has copped flak on social media after writing of her struggles in London. Photo / Supplied

Former Hawke's Bay woman Alex Hazlehurst has responded to critics who ridiculed and abused her for writing about her struggles to find work in London.

Ms Hazlehurst's piece, "I'm talented. I'm hard-working. I'm blonde. So why can't I find a job in London?", which was first published in the New Zealand Herald this week, was written as a warning to other Kiwis looking to do an OE in Britain that scoring a job there was not easy.

The 25-year-old, who is the daughter of Hastings District councillor Sandra Hazlehurst, left New Zealand in February, hoping to secure work in the area she had studied here for three years - broadcasting.

She has a degree in broadcast journalism and worked as a producer for television and radio for just over a year.

Many were sympathetic to her plight and, she said, she was inundated with offers of support.

Ms Hazlehurst said her comment about being blonde was meant as a joke. She said there had been job offers, families offering a place to stay in the southwest of England.

Others were not so sympathetic, and she came under fire from many on social media, one labelling her "Generation WHINE!!"

Viral news site Buzzfeed UK seized on the story and in its headline ridiculed her struggles. Its article was headlined: "This 'Hard-Working' Blonde Woman Got Job Offers After Writing About How Tough Her Life Is".

She responded to the criticism in a new blog post of her own. "Never ever did I think, that after an article which intended to help others was published, I would be labelled around the world, as a small-town, entitled, fame-hungry, privileged, arrogant, white, racist, lying, dumb, alcoholic whore.

"I am someone who wrote about my experience. An experience that was, and is, like many other experiences of those who move to London ... But the story ends like this: After five months of fighting off the masses, I'm proud to say I've finally landed a permanent job, at a great company, in the heart of Leicester Square."

Sandra Hazlehurst told Hawke's Bay Today her daughter had "really highlighted what it's like over there. "We still have this image that you won't have trouble getting a job in your profession, and that everyone loves Kiwis," Mrs Hazlehurst said. "But the competition is just vast, and London's a very expensive city.

"[The piece] is very factual from her perspective. It hasn't been easy, but she's now got a wonderful job.

"I'm not interested in any of the negative comments."