United Colors Of Benetton Wants To Find The UnEmployee Of The Year

Many 18-30 year-olds have always done everything they've been told to do — stay in school, go to college, take out loans, find jobs, and complete unpaid internships — and find that despite it all, they can't find a job that utilizes their skills, maintains their dignity, and inspires them.

Whether it's an institutional shift in the job market, demographic shifts within the labor force, or a social shift in our global work culture, traditional 9-5s aren't the solution for many young people. For the United Colors of Benetton's latest campaign, the brand sought to address these young people who are seeking to forge their own career paths despite crap pay, long hours, and social stigma.

According to the video: "For the commitment you demonstrated day in and day out. For standing tall in the face of adversity. For the perseverance. And for always going above the call of duty. For the extraordinary achievements in research, arts, and crafts. For delivering under pressure and showing leadership qualities. For making us see that it's not all about how you make money or how you spend it. For telling those who told you "Go get a job," "A job doesn't define me. What I fight for does."

To celebrate these young iconoclasts, Benetton is giving 100 people €5,000 each (about $6,500) to help fund individual projects. Think you qualify? Sign up for a community profile at UnHate Foundation and let 'em know why you think you deserve to be UnEmployee of the Year.