to think a working class person can be successful in a corporate environment?

[CoolLikeOvie]

I am in my mid-20s, and am undeniably working class. None of my wider family have been to college, let alone university, and have very little regard for people who have. Outside of work, only a couple of people I know have been to uni. I've had a rough life; was homeless as a teenager, I'm a single mum, my DDs dad is in prison. I'm definitely not the kind of person who an academic type would usually choose to associate with.

But, I was classed as gifted/ talented by my school since reception (in other words, I was 'a bit strange', if you ask my family). I went off the rails for a bit, but sorted myself out once I had my DD, and got a degree and a good job.

I start my masters in a couple of weeks. It's mainly distance learning, but I have to spend a number of weekends with my cohort. I just read the forum where everybody is introducing themselves. And I am terrified.

90% of them seem to already have careers I can only dream about. I am so out of my depth. And I'm realising that I have the most severe 'imposter syndrome' - I don't feel like I deserve a place on a course with such successful people.

Objectively - I've got good grades, and a good, relevant job. I can see that a few others are single mums (though alongside this, they are also consultants for international businesses). I have a WC accent, though I'm trying my best to remember to pronounce my Ts and not describe theories or ideas as 'sick'

Just after some success stories really - are you WC, and successful in corporate business? I'm so excited to meet and learn from such successful people, but I really feel like they'll hear me speak and think 'how the hell did she get on this course'?!

I would never employ someone with a WC accent in a client facing role. Sorry but I think that’s the brutal truth

I'd be fascinated to know in which kind of client facing corporate environment you work?

Its not the case in mine.

Diversity is really valued and that means background, gender, ethnic, etc. We absolutely do not want one 'type' because group think is not good for business

This is true in my ("Big" Consulting) organisation as well. We need to reflect our clients and show diversity of thinking.

That said - in every organisation there is a "game" you need to learn and in many its a game which the stereotyped public school boys learn at school.

Observe the game, learn it, then work out which bits you want to play and how to do it without changing what you are. There will be a way but focusing on building the relationships and assertiveness and self belief wlll get you there.

Myself and my husband are both working class and are successful.
I have a high profile professional job which I went to university to qualify for.

My husband had an horrendous childhood, abusive alcoholic parents, homeless at 12, battered and beaten. He was kept away from school and has no qualifications. Lots of family in prison / known criminals in our home town. He could quite easily still be playing the woe is me card. He door knocked an industrial estate at 15 and someone took a chance and gave him a job. He made it his business to become an expert in that field and now he is very successful. He’s the salt of the earth and common as muck. People still associate him with his background but it’s like water off a ducks back for him.

Hard graft and dedication will get you everywhere. Regardless of your social background, if you don’t give it your all you’ll get found out.

Be absolutely confident in who you are and don’t worry what people think.

Just rereading the posts. So much useful information and tips. I'm screenshotting replies so I can refer back.
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@ImGoingToBangYourHeadsTogether* thank you so much for sharing that article! I can identify with a lot of it. I too was the youngest, and only girl, in my YMCA hostel at 16.

I watched a little of How To Break The Elite, but I think DD woke up or something and I got distracted. Going to watch the rest now.

I worked in the city for years and a huge proportion of people came straight from school, no higher education and all in from Essex so not the RP accent and they seemed to do fine

Maybe 2 I can think of. I would never employ someone with a WC accent in a client facing role. Sorry but I think that’s the brutal truth.

SNOB.

For your information my DM , working class, got into grammar school and after some years bringing me up ended up as Executive Ad Director on Country Living and then Homes and Gardens . Put that in your stuck up pipe ! Can't abide people like you.

Well Done OP

You fought some odds there to get where you are . Onwards and upwards for you .

I just wanted to say you absolutely can do this. My sister in law (and obviously husband) come from a very working class family, she was the first to go to uni ect and has an amazing career. She is only 28 and has recently been head hunted. We are originally from norfolk as well so a terrible accent. Good luck x

I manage OK. I have a Master's and a PhD, along with a strong scouse accent. I've had the snobbery but once they see I am good at my job, nothing else is relevant. I went to scummy comp schools and I'm the first person in my family to get any A Levels.

You'll be fine, OP.

Completely agree with you demelza82. My mother went to grammar school after doing well in her 11 plus. She didn't go to uni until her late 20's, but said she could leave a job on the Friday and start a new one on Monday, with no problems. And this isn't just cleaning jobs, these were dental assistant, clerk/admin jobs etc. I on the other hand, got a degree and a masters of science straight after school, did unpaid internships (through which my work was published, and I still didn't get paid?!) , and ended up only able to get a minimum wage job as a care worker. The opportunities for working class women, have definitely narrowed.

Op I glad you liked it. I think I'm from lower class background (which I am, lower) and then I come across someone like that and start counting my many blessings again. It's humbling/ inspiring.

It is harder to get work now for everyone, especially work that pays. The whole economy is shrinking, whatever bullshit stats the government comes out with. Britain has been increasingly in the hands of those who are the most vocal and pushy, usually the middle classes acting on behalf of their own children, and less powerful groups, especially those combining a couple such as working class and female, get pushed out. Some days though, I think it's about to turn. I hope so anyway, we can't go much further down this road without serious unrest, especially with Brexit kicking off.

I’ve always been privileged, so my experience comes from the other side. It isn’t your accent or phrasing that matters, it’s the content and intelligence/ knowledge.

If you’re talking bollocks, it doesn’t matter whether you’re hawing away or speaking in broad dialect. And vice versa, if you’re capable it doesn’t matter either.

Realistically prejudice does exist, but it’s more prevalent amongst those that are putting on an act themselves. Of course not the majority, but I’d certainly say those only first or second generation away from working class backgrounds or from lower middle class backgrounds are more judgemental than those that genuinely were born to it.

So to an extent it depends on how dominated your area & company are by the bourgeois try hards. Which is generally the case in any situation.