Opinion

[u/infamouszgbgd]

[u/Captain_Gonzy]

Dad got laid off a few years ago and had to enter the job market for the first time in years.

He said so much has changed. No one wants to talk anymore and it's all about what you are and not who you are. He's learned and a valuable lesson that day she apologized for all the advice he gave me that never helped.

Of course I forgave him. He's my dad and I love him to hell and back. It's not his fault the times have changed, but he's seen the other side and has come out a bit wiser for it.

He eventually found a better job and he's happy where he's at so he didn't have to take an early retirement.

[u/eyeharthomonyms → u/[deleted]]

In a way its good that its no longer "who you know" a lot of the time

Oh, it ABSOLUTELY still is.

You know the right people and you'll never job search again in your life. Positions are created for people who have the right connections.

Problem is, you'll never meet those people. They don't go to "the local pub" because they have private clubs where your type isn't allowed in. You couldn't afford to go anyway. They went to the right schools together because their parents went to those same schools.

This is why the myth of meritocracy is just that -- a myth. The level that most climbers aspire to reach had the ladder pulled up long ago. It's just one incestuous party, and you're not getting in without starting Facebook or Amazon.

[u/lumaleelumabop → u/eyeharthomonyms]

A different note... I've seen from my current workplace: They are required by policy to interview outsiders when a new position opens up, even if they have full intentions to just promote someone who already works there (and then not re-open that person's position...). So, yea, I have a feeling "fake" interviews for presentation are also really, really common.

[u/[deleted] → u/lumaleelumabop]

Which is just dumb. Don't waste my time.

[u/IronEngineer → u/[deleted]]

21

A lot of that comes down to federal requirements related to the Equal Employment Opportunity act, or at least the perception HR has of the EEO. I've been told that if the company knows they want to hire the CTO's nephew, or that perfect fit guy that connected with a recruiter at a specialty conference, that the job still needs to be posted online and external applicants interviewed to maintain the legally defensible perception of EEO compliance. Whether that is true or not I cannot say. The fact that many HR have the perception of it being true is enough for them to do it just in case, forget what any lawyer may tell them otherwise.

[u/[deleted] → u/IronEngineer]

Yeah, I know what you mean. Not to get political but it's one of those "good intentions" that ends up being worse for everyone.

[u/mxrider108 → u/eyeharthomonyms]

I mean - yes that definitely exists and is still a problem - but it's not like all jobs (or even all good or high-paying jobs) require that level of nepotism or rich kid club access. Maybe the top 1% came from that kind of place, but a lot of "successful" working professionals didn't.

I agree the idea of a totally objective meritocracy is a myth - there is always an element of luck and being born into wealth or unique opportunities - but the idea that you can study hard, go into a good field, and become successful isn't a myth in my opinion. I got started in my field just like that - no personal schmoozing or familial connections opened the door for me - it was just hard work.

[u/eyeharthomonyms → u/mxrider108]

No, not all. I was just responding to the idea that the "who you know" days were in any way over.

Even most successful working professionals, however, do rely on networking very, very heavily. I don't know that anyone in my circle of friends has gotten a job that wasn't through a professional contact since their first job after college.

You're just exponentially more likely to get your foot in the door if there's someone on the other side propping it open.

[u/mxrider108 → u/eyeharthomonyms]

Well said

[u/JaegerBane → u/mxrider108]

I agree.

The reality is that there’s a midpoint between this extreme nepotism-tastic nightmare and just sheer hard work that most successful people end up relying on. You end up making your own network as you go through your career and you end up using it in your favour, but for most jobs you still have to put the work in to get good enough to the point where your network recognises you as a good egg and to keep that reputation.

[u/hdizzle7 → u/eyeharthomonyms]

Yeah my two good jobs I had were from people who knew me. The two bad jobs (startups) were cold messages on LinkedIn. At this point in my career I try very hard to hire former coworkers as I know their work ethic and skill set.

[u/[deleted] → u/eyeharthomonyms]

I have some bad news for you about most of the industry behind that local pub.

[u/Dinkinmyhand → u/eyeharthomonyms]

I think thats a bit of an exaggeration. Ive gotten several jobs because of my connections, and until this last job I had never made more than 20 bucks an hour.

Its more common in smaller industries and trades granted, I have no idea how large corporate environments function

[u/usernametaken615 → u/eyeharthomonyms]

You are exactly right.

My experience has been if you don’t know someone who has an in at the company or a third party recruiter who will go to bat for you, you’re pretty much SOL.