Reedley, Burnley – A 27-year-old woman from Reedley has shared her frustration and quiet disappointment after finding herself overlooked in the job market, despite earning a marketing degree and graduating with high hopes.
She studied marketing at university with ambition and energy, working hard over three years to gain the skills and qualifications she thought would open doors. But while many of her classmates quickly secured roles in agencies and firms after graduation, she was left behind.
“Everyone else was getting interviews, getting picked up by companies even before we graduated,” she recalls. “I kept applying, but no one contacted me. At first, I thought it was just bad luck—but after a while, it felt like I wasn’t even seen.”
She began to question whether her ethnicity was a factor. “I don’t want to believe that I was overlooked for being Asian,” she says quietly, “but it’s hard to ignore when I tick every box, yet still don’t get the same chances.”
Eventually, after months of searching, she accepted a position at a small firm in Blackburn—on an apprentice rate. Despite holding a full marketing degree, she now earns entry-level pay and manages basic social media posts.
“It’s work, and I’m grateful to be employed,” she says. “But this isn’t what I studied for. I feel like my education has been downgraded to an internship that never ends.”
Her story isn’t unique. Many graduates from minority backgrounds report facing invisible hurdles in industries that often pride themselves on diversity, but may lack it in practice.
Still, she remains hopeful. “I’m doing the best I can with what I’ve been given. I just want to get to a place where I’m valued for what I can do, not judged for what I look like.”