Case Studies
Ali Sadir
Ali Sadir, 47, came to the UK from Iraq to claim asylum. He arrived with his wife and two children in the summer of 2002. Mr. Sadir, a qualified doctor, had worked as a University Lecturer at a medical college in Baghdad.
"I had a good job, but I couldn't stay in my country. I thought that I could put my professional qualifications and experience to good use in the UK and continue my career here. I'd even read that the NHS were recruiting doctors from overseas to fill a staff shortage."
After being granted refugee status, Mr. Sadir contacted various hospitals to enquire about work, but he was told to follow application processes that he had no knowledge about or experience of. He did not find the HR personnel he spoke with particularly helpful or positive about his career prospects.
"I felt dismayed. I'm a professional person and being out of work was not a position I'd ever expected to find myself in. Doors were being closed in my face and no one seemed to want to help me. Applying for jobs in the UK was a process that was completely alien to me and I was struggling to get a handle on what was expected."
After weeks making speculative enquires to GP surgeries, universities and hospitals, Mr. Sadir accepted a job as a cleaner for a Rail Network that he found in a local Jobs Centre. He was unhappy that his skills and experience were not being utilised in a relevant role.
"I was still determined to find a job that befitted my skills and it was while using the internet in a local library that I saw a poster about the Ethnic Jobsite. I felt that my refugee status and my background were factors that were holding me back in my job search and I was curious to see if there was help for someone in my position. I visited the Careers Centre at the site and found that there were Recruitment Fairs covering jobs in the medical and teaching professions the following month. I decided to attend both fairs and talk to the people there about my chances of finding relevant work."
Mr. Sadir found the fairs helpful and began to realise that there was more support for refugees and people belonging to Ethnic Minority groups than he had first thought. At both fairs he was advised to take some vocational training to refresh his skills and was given more information on recruitment initiatives and support for people in his position.
"When I came to the UK it was a very difficult time and I felt very isolated. The pressure of being in a low-paid job and not being able to use my skills added to the problem. The Ethnic Jobsite set me back on track and my confidence started to build. I realised that I could resume my career in the UK and felt I had the confidence to do so."
In late 2003, Mr. Sadir applied for a post-doctoral research position at a University - a position he found via the Ethnic Jobsite. His application was successful and he moves to a new home and his new post in 2004.
"It's a very interesting position which will combine my medical knowledge and my research experience. It will be wonderful to be based in a University again. I had started to lose faith in ever finding a suitable job. I feel like my new life in the UK will now be productive and I look forward to the benefits of an interesting and worthwhile job with good pay."
