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http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/C/CLASS_OF_2012_THE_RIGHT_CONNECTION?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-09-24-07-38-21
Maria Adele Carrai of Italy poses in Central, Hong Kong, Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012. Maria Adele Carrai has two master degrees from Italian universities in economics and Asian languages and is now earning her PhD in international law in Hong Kong. Her linguist credentials are formidable: besides native Italian, they include nearly flawless English, a rarity in Italy; French, Arabic, Japanese and now Mandarin. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
ROME (AP) -- Maria Adele Carrai has two master's degrees from Italian universities in economics and Asian languages and is now earning her Ph.D. in international law in Hong Kong. Her linguistic credentials are formidable: Besides native Italian, she has nearly flawless English, a rarity in Italy, as well as French, Arabic, Japanese and Mandarin.
But the 26-year-old from a family of physicians in a small town near the Adriatic Sea, lacks an increasingly crucial key to unlocking the door to work in Italy: a "raccomandazione." It's Italian for the right word from the right person to get you hired, even if you might not be the best one for the job.
As Europe's economic crisis darkens the future of millions of youth, the culture of connections that has lain at the heart of hiring practices in much of the continent is becoming ever more entrenched, even as it harms prospects of recovery. It is blocking young talent or driving it overseas, and contributing to a vicious circle of stagnation that threatens to leave Europe behind in the game of globalization.
Maria Adele Carrai of Italy poses in Central, Hong Kong, Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012. Maria Adele Carrai has two master degrees from Italian universities in economics and Asian languages and is now earning her PhD in international law in Hong Kong. Her linguist credentials are formidable: besides native Italian, they include nearly flawless English, a rarity in Italy; French, Arabic, Japanese and now Mandarin. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
ROME (AP) -- Maria Adele Carrai has two master's degrees from Italian universities in economics and Asian languages and is now earning her Ph.D. in international law in Hong Kong. Her linguistic credentials are formidable: Besides native Italian, she has nearly flawless English, a rarity in Italy, as well as French, Arabic, Japanese and Mandarin.
But the 26-year-old from a family of physicians in a small town near the Adriatic Sea, lacks an increasingly crucial key to unlocking the door to work in Italy: a "raccomandazione." It's Italian for the right word from the right person to get you hired, even if you might not be the best one for the job.
As Europe's economic crisis darkens the future of millions of youth, the culture of connections that has lain at the heart of hiring practices in much of the continent is becoming ever more entrenched, even as it harms prospects of recovery. It is blocking young talent or driving it overseas, and contributing to a vicious circle of stagnation that threatens to leave Europe behind in the game of globalization.
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