The state of affairs for Millennials
As a fellow Millennial, I’ve noticed that we’ve been in the news a lot lately. There have been numerous stories on how we’re demanding, entitled, would rather rent than buy, and will forgo a job opportunity if it doesn’t pertain to something we’re passionate about. By no means would I pass up a potential career opportunity as I’m in favor of having food and shelter, but I am fortunate and happy to have a career that centers on writing and communications, which I love.
Unemployment statistics show that, passionate or not, there are huge numbers of jobless Millennials, as well as people from other generations, that can’t catch a break in the iffy job market. But international clothing retailer Benetton is attempting to soothe that pain with its recent campaign launch that may provide a reprieve for the “jobless youth.”
Benetton’s Unemployee of the Month contest
Launched this week and running until the 14th of October, Benetton is accepting submissions to its “Unemployee of the Year” contest. 100 winners will receive 5,000 euros (just under $6,500) to fund a project they believe will make a difference in their community. Contest requirements state contestants must be unemployed and a natural person aged between 18 and 30, and submissions will be voted upon by registered visitors to the UNHATE Foundation website where the contest is being hosted.
In years past, Benetton has received flack for its talk of social issues without offering solutions for how to fix them. With this campaign, Alessandro Benetton acknowledges that the company “needs to have a practical response to the problems we’re raising.”
So for all of the non-managers and non-lawyer Millenials that have a dream but are unemployed with no funds to take it from concept to fruition, this is a chance to get that idea in front of the world and receive funding to get things off of the ground. This contest is designed to assist 100 of the nearly 100 million people under age 30 in search of a job, so put together a quality project, and let the voters decide.
