The Wasted Resources of Society

“You don’t have enough experience”, the companies tell me.

It makes me wonder. To me the definition of experience is narrow. As my consultant at the jobcentre (person supposed to support me in finding a job) says I do have experience.

I have experience from 12 years of volunteer work.

I have experience from an internship.

I have experience as a freelance writer.

I have experience as a research assistant.

I have experience as a consultant.

When companies tell me “you don’t have enough experience”, what they mean is that I don’t have enough experience from the tasks they want me to do. When companies say “you don’t have enough experience”, what they mean is that I don’t have enough experience from a similar position.

In reality it is both the companies and my loss. In our world and society we depend on each other. Right now so many talented people do not have a place to use their competencies.

The paradox of having to have experience to gain experience has been talked about many times before. My hope is that our organisation LONA can change that paradox. We need to create a society where learning as we go becomes normal. A society where one does not have to know everything to get an invitation to join the labour market. 

Exclusion benefits no one. Inclusion benefits everyone.

Let us create a world where resources are used instead of wasted.