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.

Frankly, I think a lot of them are a waste of time. I'd rather interview someone (we are currently recruiting) who had worked in an old people's home or at MaccyD's, than someone who had ponced from one useless internship to another, and hadn't done any more than a bit of filing, some phone calls and taking the odd note at a meeting, but thought we would be impressed by the name of the organisation on his/her cv. I interviewed one chap last year who had done an internship at the European Commission. I asked him how he had got it, and he said "Daddy pulled strings for me."

My cousin got his lad a job in a friends business where over 250 kids applied he's no interest in it but the money & prospects are good. Just wrong!

Actually, I have a policy of not interviewing anyone who has done more than one internship. I've had CVs where people have spent three years doing internships. That says to me that they haven't managed, in that time, to get a proper job.

"I agree that some poeple do spend too much time complaining about how unfair the world is, instead of looking at ways to improve their lives."

The most sensible thing ever written on Mumsnet.

Jobs for the boys

It will never change

You don't need a rich mummy and daddy to sponge off while you do an internship, some of us have done them as a struggling mature student with several children, by saving hard and making sacrifices.

But don't let that get in the way of your stereotyping and cliched generalisations.

I think that it can be easy to attribute too much to the right 'school/university/family' connections, when perhaps it is more about skills that are learnt.

My dd2 is a natural at getting on with people, making links, making friends. She has landed herself some great jobs (despite my tendancies to be agorophobic, shy and awkward). She has an ability to meet people and connect with them and most people would say that she is lucky or lands on her feet (it helps that she is diligent, conciencious and hardworking once she gets a job).

If I were looking from the outside, I'd possibly say that she'd only got these jobs because of where she went to school / who her parents were etc, but that is far from reality, and dd1 is in an entirely different position.

Apologies, Siamo, but I have never met a "grown up" who has been an intern. Out of interest, did it help your career?

I don't know yet. But I think it will.

You sound jealous, your sister is a currency trader and your brother sounds as though he is on the way to a good career, are you worried that they will both outperform you? I can't think why your sister helping your brother make a good life for himself would bother you otherwise

Networking and making connections is a huge part of many many business people's life. There are whole events based around that very thing.

Connections are what will get most people that leg up, given half a chance.

YANBU its pure elitism, he has only got this internship because of his sister