It's who you know, not what you know

[mirrormirror5]

Wanted to get peoples thoughts on this.

I was reflecting the other morning on my career path and it saddened me somewhat.

I grew up as an academically gifted working class girl from a single parent household. No dad around whatsoever. I always had the somewhat naive belief that you could be anything you wanted to, if you worked hard and put your mind to it.

Fast forward to my university years, I excelled in a subject that I was very passionate about but I've since learnt is seen as a 'posh persons subject'. Note the very well to do people on my course...
I just didn't understand social hierarchy at that age and always believed I was worthy to be in the room.

I had a PT job all through uni and saved enough so I could do a series of highly coveted (unpaid) internships in London. I've always supported myself financially.

Then it all starts to go a bit tits up.

Great feedback but overlooked for 'friends of a friends' child at every interview opportunity. Applying for advertised roles where they always already had someone in mind, usually an old school friend etc.

It got to a point where the debt from trying was too much and I took a well paid graduate job in a relatively boring industry and left my passion behind. I'm still in that industry years later and I feel a bit sore about the whole thing

I understand that connections are important in all walks of life and at some point, most people benefit from knowing someone and getting a foot in the door. I'm also not deluded to think I would be successful for every interview, but this really was getting ridiculous.

But AIBU to believe that certain opportunities are closed to WC young people, regardless of their abilities and work ethic?

My husband and I are passionate about state schooling for future children but part of me thinks about the opportunities they might get through private education and making 'the right' connections. I guess everyone makes the most of the opportunities they've got.

I agree OP it’s tough. It’s not just about getting a foot in the door it’s also fitting in once you are there.
Im from a working class background and now a professional, as is my sister. Between us we are fairly well connected and my nephew in early twenties has had some bloody good work experience opportunities due to our connections between us. This has obviously given him a boost that we didn’t have.

Maybe have a quick look at the value of the arts to the UK economy. Hint: it's big.

That was to @GRex

There's also abundant evidence that social mobility in the arts is getting worse. Back in the 70s-80s if you were an artsy kid from a WC family you could go to youth clubs to practice, play in your school orchestra, study at uni for free, get benefits during the holidays to tide you over, even live in a squat in London while you got started. Very little of that is available now.

I'm not sure about this one. My background was sink council estate, OK secondary(I passed an 11+ to get into a catholic comp), local poly (cheaper than going away to uni) and I still ended up with a masters from a decent uni and a career Investment banking tech. From what I observed, the Investment Banks grad recruitment schemes didn't favour the privately educated. But they did favour organised, focused, confident DCs who understood that spring weeks lead to internships that lead to grad scheme places.

I understand where you are coming from. I graduated as a primary school teacher in NI many moons ago. Was all over the 6 counties for job interviews, the majority of which had a preferred candidate. Soul destroying. It's very much not what you know but who you know in this wee country and I had no-one in the teaching profession to help me get a job.

You're conflating here. It isn't necesaary to come from the upper echelons to work in a theatre, nor film tech, nor gallery security, nor cinema check-in, nor marketing, nor crafts, nor hundreds of other roles. The roles people are grumbling about here are a very niche set.

@Chattygirl123 I was a school governor and sat on interview panels. I was amazed at the bias within the rest of the set up.
My most memorable example was the candidate who was proper ugly. There is something about her features that is remarkable at first glance but obviously you very quickly get used to it and then it's just a person in your community.
The male head teacher and chair of governors were noticeably swayed by the standard attractiveness of another candidate who ticked the 'Miss Honey' appearance. It was amazing to witness. I used it all the time in training, it really highlights how backwards some organisations unexpectedly are.
They used to scan the application, and make judgements on home address, uni choice, bizarre things. It's often not you, it absolutely is them.

SO interesting thanks for this