Willing and able - give me a job and watch me grow

By MONIQUE DEVEREUX

Environmental honours graduate Miranda Olliff is a prime example of the well-educated young people ready and willing to use their skills to better New Zealand.

The problem is that she cannot get a job here and may be forced to take her enthusiasm overseas.

"I do not want to leave New Zealand but am beginning to think it is my only option."

Ms Olliff, aged 22, has worked hard to gain a degree in ecology and environmental studies with first class honours.

Working in holidays, at night and weekends meant the Warkworth woman did not have to take out a student loan.

She does not owe one cent to the Government.

But she reckons it's time her hard work was reciprocated with a job - in New Zealand.

After graduating a year ago, Ms Olliff has been mostly unemployed.

She has applied for many jobs but keeps confronting the old Catch-22 - no experience, no job; no job, no experience.

Sacrificing much of her social life and spare time to finish her degree with honours meant she missed out on volunteer work that would have given her valuable experience.

"I am encouraged by the fight of young New Zealanders placing the ads in our newspaper but also very irritated by the continual focus on business and IT careers, and especially those who have already left New Zealand."

She said her passion for the environment was starting to die off due to the lack of encouragement for people with science degrees. Her next move would probably be looking for work as a waitress.

But, she said, a change in attitudes to science by both Government and employers might be a step towards changing New Zealand's doom and gloom outlook - and her job prospects.

She wants to see more funding invested in science institutes and conservation sectors.

"Without scientists and the conservation community, New Zealand won't be clean and green and we will lose the one thing we still had going for this country."

Josh Russell of Papakura is in a similar situation.

The masters graduate in philosophy wrote to the Herald saying he is "at the point where sometimes I wonder why I bothered to get an education at all."

Since graduating he has received 40 job rejections. "Obviously five years of tertiary education is inferior to six months' driving a truck."

Herald Online feature: The jobs challenge

We invite your responses to a series of questions such as: what key policies would make it easier for unemployed people to move into and generate jobs?