to hate people using family/school/university connections to get things others can't

[moikla]

My sister has got my brother an internship with her for the next few weeks as he's on holiday from university. I know its my brother but I hate this sort of thing and this type of priveledge. DH says its the way of the world and that you need to take advantage of whatever connections you've got.

Agree with Evenless. Happens in all parts of society - Saturday jobs go to the friend of a friend on the market stall or friend who works at local pub. You don't sound like you're complaining about that - only the 'posh' ones.

I think you are way overstating it. No country in the world has such rigourous workplace laws, ant-discrimination laws etc etc. The very vast majority of jobs are got through open fair hiring practices. But you can never account for the little things, and it isn't all about nefarious nepotism.
For example, my sister got a temporary job through her college supervisor, who knew she was looking as he also knew her boyfriend and heard through him. However she had to interview against others for the permanent position against others, and got the perm job because she was the most qualified and best for the job. Thats how things happen. And I don't see any problem with that.

YABU to me your sister is helping her brother out which may be very beneficial to him in the future. Your sister will think higher of your brother than a random person so its natural for her. I also think you're complaining because its currency trading and not shopwork or other "lower status" jobs.

If I want the services of a solicitor, an accountant, an architect, any self-employed professional, it will be somebody whom I know and trust personally or somebody recommended to me by somebody whom I know and trust personally - and probably of a similar background to mine. That's not even technically illegal. Not should it be. Live with it.

Oh, for heaven's sake, there's a world of difference between the recommendations of someone's work and pulling strings for a relative.

But sure, if you lot are happy with other people's kids getting a leg-up, at the expense of your own...

? I will give a leg up to people I care about, other people will give a leg up to people they care about. I expect it pretty much evens out......

motherinferior- Why is it different, I'm assuming the sister recomended the brother for the job (I doubt she said he would incapable of doing it). Although there is a conflict of interest that could be said for any occaision where a person reccomends a friend or family member.

Also few people, family or not, will pull strings or recommend someone who wouldn't be good at the job, as it would refelct badly on them.

YANBU I'm surprised at the number of people defending elitist networks

The point is, motherinferior, that in engaging professionals as in giving of internships and the like: the people I don't know and who don't know anyone who knows me may be just as good as the person who gets the inside track; and it's just too bad.

bned - I think people seem to think its ok when it is someone who works in a hairdressers getting thier brother a job sweeping up in the holidays but totally different when it is "elitist". It is no different - people shouldn't have a problem with it - it happens in every level of society and there is nothing wrong with it. People help people they care about - and like other posters say, noone would reccomend someone they thoght wasn't capable.

Life is a network game. What makes it elitist? When someone makes money doing it? I'd like to see you turn it down....

I suppose those so agaisnt it would always turn down "mates rates"?

Iam surprised at the naivete of those of you who think 'oh he must be good at the job anyway otherwise he wouldn't have got it'.

When nepotism is at play, it has very little to do with being good at the job, certainly no better than anyone else applying.

It is indeed the way of the world, there is nothing can be done about it, those without connections often need to be better and more determined than those with.

Well you wouldn't reccomend someone who was going to be BAD at the job or unreliable. That would reflect badly on you. If you didn't think your brother / DC / friend was capable you would try and look sorry and say someone else had got it / it was out of your control.

Yes, that's about the extent of it. The favoured one will probably turn up on time and be ok.

Nepotism means people often don't aim any higher than that.

Uncle Phillip works at UCAS?

YANBU - it makes me sick too, esp. as those who have got where they are through connections are so bloody smug about it - as if they are there on merit.

Sour grapes on your part me thinks

Whats the point of doing well in life if you can't give your children a leg up

Ps I would never put my son up for something if I didn't think he was up to it, it would look bad on me

YANBU - But it's always been 'not necessarily what you know, but who you know'.. It definitely puts those without 'connections' at a disadvantage!