To Think that Grad & Apprenticeships are now only for Diversity Candidates

I work for a big international bank. It’s not my company, so it’s a bit dumb to say I can’t be very good at my job. The point I am making is that we are seeing people who would never be selected if it wasn’t for being a “diversity candidate”. My workplace probably runs one of the more prestigious grad schemes in the country, so yes it’s really obvious that people are getting opportunities they wouldn’t otherwise have had. So yes I very much agree ei the OP here.

people moaning that they're being unfair to white males (when likely their workforce is already primarily made up of them and headed by them)

The workforce in the UK should be majority white. We are a majority white country; 80% of the population is white. Less than that would indicate discrimination against the white population. We are not America - until only 50 years ago there were hardly any ethnic minority people here. The indigenous population is white. A third of the BAME population arrived over just the last 15 years, a significant portion without skills. It is crazy to suggest that there is no preference because the workplace is still majority white.

I work for a big international bank. It’s not my company, so it’s a bit dumb to say I can’t be very good at my job. The point I am making is that we are seeing people who would never be selected if it wasn’t for being a “diversity candidate”. My workplace probably runs one of the more prestigious grad schemes in the country, so yes it’s really obvious that people are getting opportunities they wouldn’t otherwise have had. So yes I very much agree ei the OP here.

I feel your pain. For a very long time a lot of people have been concerned that white men are over represented in all the leading positions of power and wealth in our society. That this one group excercise a disproportionate amount of influence and secures an inequitable proportion of benefits.
For the longest time, no one listened to little old us either when we tentatively suggested that, just maybe, other groups in our society have something to offer too. Because, just maybe, white male people aren't innately 'the best' for every role, so, just maybe, there may be some things stopping other people from enjoying the same success, and making their own contribution. And, maybe, we should consider what the barriers are and try to address them so we benefit from these peoples abilities.
Now some employers are finally catching on to the idea that there's a whole untapped talent pool beyond the white men they typically employ, and they're taking steps to attract that pool.
However, these employers are by no means the majority. There are still plenty out there who will prioritise white men, either consciously or subconsciously, so there will always be plenty of options for white peoples sons.

My son experienced the same. He applied to many highly competitive graduates roles after graduating (from one of the worse unis, ), and did really well getting to the final stage for three roles.

He said that during the interview, the majority of candidates were white males, but when you look at the pictures of the new recruits, they only represent 20%.

You can turn it around as one wished but they are proportionally less likely to be offered the role every else is equal.

Agreed. I find it so saddening that 20 years ago we were crying out to get these amazing opportunities for under represented groups. I can’t imagine how proud I would’ve been to work for an organisation doing this.

20 years later the backlash is coming from the middle aged sharp elbowed and they’re actively stopping progress because their children might not find their lives as easy as it used to be. Because they’re upset that they can no longer smash the exams and get a lifetime of reward.

It’s controversial but I’m of the view that someone has to suffer for us to achieve equality. Because privileged white men have taken what wasn’t theirs, and sharing some of it back means they lose it. That doesn’t mean it was ever legitimately theirs though

It sounds like you're not very good at your job if you're consistently hiring underperformers.

And your workplace sounds awful if people are "always referred to as diversity hires".

In my first job after graduating (I am early 30s, so not that long ago), I was referred to as the "token female hire" by the other (white male) new starters on the same scheme. I outperformed them all in that role and am considerably more senior than they are now. I may well have been hired to meet some sort of gender quota, but I was absolutely deserving of the job.

I agree with you OP. I have a ds currently also searching for summer internships in finance and he has also found loads of internships not open for him to even apply for due them only being opened for diversity. Only today, he sent me an example of a “summer diversity internship”. I am a bit in the fence as I am pro diversity, but I also think its given opportunities to people who might never have walked through the door otherwise and there is a sense of people thinking it’s a “diversity hire”. I
am a hiring manager myself for a big international bank and participate in recruitment for grad internship. I have no doubt that we invite people through the door who would haven’t been through our doors if not from a diverse background. It also doesn’t often work out well as they often underperform when in the job and are always referred to as diversity hire. I should probably put on a hard hat for saying this, but this is my experience.

???🙄

I never imagined big corporations would listen to little old me - not for one single second. I’m just trying to explain why people are becoming increasingly concerned about diversity initiatives.

The thing that always strikes me on these threads is the assumption that the graduate should be able to get a place on a graduate or intern scheme. Presumably for a prestigious employer. These schemes are not the norm for first jobs for graduates. They are the cream of the crop and only a few get them. Lots, lots, more get a basic entry level, admin type office job. And have to try a few things before they get to do the big, grand job they think they're destined for.

“Diversity Candidates”.

🙄

I agree with you OP. I have a ds currently also searching for summer internships in finance and he has also found loads of internships not open for him to even apply for due them only being opened for diversity. Only today, he sent me an example of a “summer diversity internship”. I am a bit in the fence as I am pro diversity, but I also think its given opportunities to people who might never have walked through the door otherwise and there is a sense of people thinking it’s a “diversity hire”. I
am a hiring manager myself for a big international bank and participate in recruitment for grad internship. I have no doubt that we invite people through the door who would haven’t been through our doors if not from a diverse background. It also doesn’t often work out well as they often underperform when in the job and are always referred to as diversity hire. I should probably put on a hard hat for saying this, but this is my experience.

Then you are a terrible hiring manager.

There has been a paid work experience scheme open only to disadvantaged people in every job I have had for the last 10/12 years. With the exception of only one student who went through it, they have been excellent. Of these who went on to work in our industry, many have gone on to do brilliant things.

In contrast, the number of white males I have had to manage (not my hires) who on paper look great (high grades, good unis, interviewed well) who turn out to be mediocre is staggering. They were spoon fed and coddled through their studies so aren’t as smart as they seemed on paper, and have little get up and go. In the last 5 years or so I have noticed that some are so entitled they actually huff and try to get out of doing tasks they consider beneath them.

Then you are a terrible hiring manager.

There has been a paid work experience scheme open only to disadvantaged people in every job I have had for the last 10/12 years. With the exception of only one student who went through it, they have been excellent. Of these who went on to work in our industry, many have gone on to do brilliant things.

In contrast, the number of white males I have had to manage (not my hires) who on paper look great (high grades, good unis, interviewed well) who turn out to be mediocre is staggering. They were spoon fed and coddled through their studies so aren’t as smart as they seemed on paper, and have little get up and go. In the last 5 years or so I have noticed that some are so entitled they actually huff and try to get out of doing tasks they consider beneath them.

Why would you imagine big corporations are going to listen to your 'concerns' about who they hire? If they want a more diverse workforce then provided they go about recruitment legally, people moaning that they're being unfair to white males (when likely their workforce is already primarily made up of them and headed by them) isn't going to be of the slightest importance.

I agree with you OP. I have a ds currently also searching for summer internships in finance and he has also found loads of internships not open for him to even apply for due them only being opened for diversity. Only today, he sent me an example of a “summer diversity internship”. I am a bit in the fence as I am pro diversity, but I also think its given opportunities to people who might never have walked through the door otherwise and there is a sense of people thinking it’s a “diversity hire”. I
am a hiring manager myself for a big international bank and participate in recruitment for grad internship. I have no doubt that we invite people through the door who would haven’t been through our doors if not from a diverse background. It also doesn’t often work out well as they often underperform when in the job and are always referred to as diversity hire. I should probably put on a hard hat for saying this, but this is my experience.

I am good at my job and respected in my workplace but I don't mind people thinking of me as a 'diversity hire', largely because it is true. As a recent graduate, no prospective employer would have chosen to hire me over a similarly, or even slightly less qualified candidate, if they weren't committed to fostering an accessible workplace. In order for me to do my job I require a whole raft of expensive equipment and adjustments which an employee without my level of disability would never need. The grad schemes and early jobs I had were through schemes to encourage more disabled people into the workplace, without them, what financial or business sense would it have made to take on an employee who would come with such extra costs and logistical challenges?
Now I am more senior in my career I may be more likely to be recruited without as much account being paid to my disability, but it's taken years to reach this stage which would have been utterly impossible without the vital foot in the door the graduate scheme gave me.

My son is brown. He got into a grad scheme in finance after over a 100 applications. He has now converted that into a job at a global consultancy for 2026. His grades at A levels were 4 A stars and he got a first in his degree. He is currently doing a masters at Oxbridge.

Do you want to claim my son is a diversity hire?

I agree with you OP. I have a ds currently also searching for summer internships in finance and he has also found loads of internships not open for him to even apply for due them only being opened for diversity. Only today, he sent me an example of a “summer diversity internship”. I am a bit in the fence as I am pro diversity, but I also think its given opportunities to people who might never have walked through the door otherwise and there is a sense of people thinking it’s a “diversity hire”. I
am a hiring manager myself for a big international bank and participate in recruitment for grad internship. I have no doubt that we invite people through the door who would haven’t been through our doors if not from a diverse background. It also doesn’t often work out well as they often underperform when in the job and are always referred to as diversity hire. I should probably put on a hard hat for saying this, but this is my experience.

Thousands IN ONE PLC.

all of those jobs you mention mean the parent has the ability to decode that world for their children. I know nothing about being a dentist, but a dentist can help their child be one.

However without social mobility the children whose parents have low skilled low paid roles won’t be able to access any support in getting into a graduate scheme or apprenticeship into a corporate or professional environment.

anyway I think you’re basically MAGA trolling so you won’t try and understand this point.