Former refugee's gutsy bid for finding work goes viral

If perseverance is a key to success, one 22-year-old refugee with a degree in rocket science should be a captain of industry in no time.

Mohamed Elbarkey, a graduate of Britain's Southampton University who is now finishing a masters in aerospace engineering at University College London, showed plenty of that quality after failing to land a single job interview despite sending out more than 70 applications. 

Taking a cue from a young software developer's successful job-seeking stunt in California, Elbarkey "mustered up the courage" to stand outside London's bustling Canary Wharf subway station for the morning rush hour with his own appeal for employment, he told CBS MoneyWatch by email. 

Making clear his desire to work in business and dressed for the job in a suit and tie, he held a sign stating: "Came as a refugee, just graduated from UCL in rocket science. Looking for a career in finance. Ask for CV."

"Ten minutes in I was stopped by security, who was so nice but he couldn't let me stand there with my sign," wrote Elbarkey, who immigrated to the U.K. with his parents from Libya when he was three. But "In those 10 minutes, I already met three business leaders, so I thought this was too good to pass up."

Determined to get permission to display his sign but unable to get a reply from London's transit agency, Elbarkey called the group that oversees management of the station, speaking initially to a receptionist. 

"She was really confused about what I was doing," said Elbarkey, who eventually found himself explaining his plight to Canary Wharf's head of security. "He asked what was on the sign, and when he found out there was nothing wrong, he told me, 'Look, if you do it again, we won't stop you'."

Then came the hard part. "Even though I finally got permission to do it after calling one person and then the next, it was difficult to muster the courage again," he said. "Then I decided it was important I got over the fear. Even if I went home without a single business card, I would be proud of myself."

After standing outside the Canary Wharf stop with his sign for several hours earlier this month, Elbarkey thought, "OK, it's been an amazing day. Come again tomorrow and we do the exact same thing again."

That's when the internet intervened. After Mary Engleheart, who works for the International Rescue Committee, posted a photograph of Elbarkey on Twitter, her post was retweeted thousands of times. Elbarkey quickly got roughly 100 emails requesting his resume -- that led to more than 20 job interviews in little more than a week. 

Engleheart's appeal even drew the attention and support of billionaire entrepreneur Richard Branson, the founder of Virgin Group, who encouraged Elbarkey to look at his company's career page.

"I studied engineering because I was good at it, and it didn't limit me in the future on what I could do," said Elbarkey, who has always seen himself as entrepreneurial and has already lined up a short-term stint with a venture capital firm starting in September. "I want to learn everything about how to start a business, learn what makes a business valuable and eventually start my own."

Still, the experience wasn't entirely positive. "Some people have just left nasty messages saying, 'Well done, but now you can go back to where you came from,' or nastier stuff I wouldn't want to repeat," he said.

But Elbarkey is undeterred. "All I want to do is give back to the country that gave me so much. The vast majority have been so loving and encouraging. I am truly moved by the support."

In:
• Refugee
• Richard Branson