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To think being prejudiced against the privately educated is OK

936 replies

EastLondonObserver · 02/11/2022 13:39

I have spent 25 years working in the advertising industry at some of the most highly regarded agencies in the world. Most of these have been dominated (in certain roles, at least) by the privately educated who gained their entry to the industry through having personal/family contacts in it, were subbed by rich parents while working in low-paid or free internships to gain experience and had that empty confidence private schools instil.

Perfectly capable graduates educated comprehensive schools didn't get much of a look in. However a few managed to break through, including myself.

Consequently, throughout my career I have actively rejected almost all privately educated graduates applying for entry level positions. This runs into hundreds of applicants. I have managed to do this without being called out. Sometimes I have rejected them even when they clearly would have done a better job than a comprehensive school educated alternative. These were corporate companies - it made no meaningful difference to me if they were mildly less successful as a consequence. The only exception was one graduate educated at Harrow and Bristol. I gave him the job as an experiment. He was average at best.

I did this in the name of social justice: re-distributing opportunities away from those with unearned privilege.

Have I been unreasonable? Has anyone else done the same?

OP posts:
ouch321 · 02/11/2022 14:41

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

EastLondonObserver · 02/11/2022 14:41

OldReliable · 02/11/2022 14:32

I like your style op.

People who have the benefit of private school don't need yet another legup. Whether they are there on a scholarship, they've still got the benefits over state educated children. You're just redressing the balance.

And you're getting all the responses you are because a lot of people on Mumsnet privately educate their kids. But they somehow think they're not actually one of the ones who are giving their kids a legup over other children who languish in state schools... When of course they are. But they don't want you to point it out.

Thanks! I couldn't agree more.

OP posts:
Jaxhog · 02/11/2022 14:42

YABVVVVVVU
Rejecting anyone for their background is ALWAYS wrong.

bonzaitree · 02/11/2022 14:42

TedMullins · 02/11/2022 13:47

Blind hiring is a good solution to this. No names or education listed on job applications, so everyone applying gets a fair shot. More places are starting to do it.

Came on here to say the same thing.

Suggest to HR that all CVS have names and schools/ universities removed before being reviewed. That way there is no prejudice either way

Juneyblue · 02/11/2022 14:43

Fuck me there is some horrible people out there.

You would prefer to hire some one less capable than some one who is because of their schooling. This is Labour eh…

Franca123 · 02/11/2022 14:43

Do you Google the school to find out if it were fee paying at the time the applicant attended? This is bonkers. What other rules do you make up for yourself when hiring? You sound really unpleasant with a huge chip on your shoulder. I look at the merits of the person or CV in front of me whilst challenging myself continually on any prejudices I might be bringing to the process. I alway act within the law.

Arghh1234 · 02/11/2022 14:45

I think your company should hide which school/uni someone went to, then you could actually interview the individual to see who is the BEST for the job.

ChicaneOvenchips · 02/11/2022 14:45

How depressing, that my child who attends a small independent school as the last option due to her chronic anxiety and depression will be discriminated against in the future.

The people who love her would be immensely proud she'd summoned up the courage to apply for the job in the first place.

Terrible to think her application would go in the bin due to such ignorance and assumptions.

TheaBrandt · 02/11/2022 14:46

As someone whose state school was openly scoffed at to my face at an interview in the City I can’t get worked up about this tiny redressing of the balance! State school graduates been discriminated against for years. Pretty much everyone on my team was public school / Oxbridge / Harvard. Hope that’s changed it was a while ago

tiggergoesbounce · 02/11/2022 14:47

I absolutely understand your frustration and disgust at how the privileged get on, but you really have to choose the best person for the job.

I would look beyond universities to determine privileged and level pegging, yes i gave to the one from the less privileged backgrounds.

EastLondonObserver · 02/11/2022 14:48

mathanxiety · 02/11/2022 14:34

And FWIW, professionalism consists of understanding your role and governing yourself accordingly.

It's as simple as that.

You do not understand your role and because of this serious limitation on your part you believe you are justified in conducting a personal and political vendetta, potentially to the detriment of your employer.

By your very flawed reasoning here, someone in a position like yours could decide that women or BAME or graduates of non RG universities don't deserve consideration for jobs, and would be completely justified in binning their CVs.

There's a good argument I am being more "professional" than my colleagues who mostly hire privately educated candidates. Most advertising is aimed at selling fairly everyday products to 'ordinary' people. It's rather bizarre privately educated graduates from the bubble of wealthy backgrounds are drawn to it so much (probably so they can tell chums there are doing something 'creative'). They often have little understanding of, contact with or empathy with the people the ad needs to work with.

But they get jobs because the know someone or have that private school confidence that means they can take a client out for a lunch and order a good wine.

OP posts:
NC12345665 · 02/11/2022 14:48

Do you, aye?

tonystarksrighthand · 02/11/2022 14:50

EastLondonObserver · 02/11/2022 13:39

I have spent 25 years working in the advertising industry at some of the most highly regarded agencies in the world. Most of these have been dominated (in certain roles, at least) by the privately educated who gained their entry to the industry through having personal/family contacts in it, were subbed by rich parents while working in low-paid or free internships to gain experience and had that empty confidence private schools instil.

Perfectly capable graduates educated comprehensive schools didn't get much of a look in. However a few managed to break through, including myself.

Consequently, throughout my career I have actively rejected almost all privately educated graduates applying for entry level positions. This runs into hundreds of applicants. I have managed to do this without being called out. Sometimes I have rejected them even when they clearly would have done a better job than a comprehensive school educated alternative. These were corporate companies - it made no meaningful difference to me if they were mildly less successful as a consequence. The only exception was one graduate educated at Harrow and Bristol. I gave him the job as an experiment. He was average at best.

I did this in the name of social justice: re-distributing opportunities away from those with unearned privilege.

Have I been unreasonable? Has anyone else done the same?

I did the opposite. HTH.

londongals · 02/11/2022 14:52

Each to their own most of my employees are from private school and quite a few from Oxford or Cambridge

Tiredofthis2022 · 02/11/2022 14:53

ChicaneOvenchips · 02/11/2022 14:45

How depressing, that my child who attends a small independent school as the last option due to her chronic anxiety and depression will be discriminated against in the future.

The people who love her would be immensely proud she'd summoned up the courage to apply for the job in the first place.

Terrible to think her application would go in the bin due to such ignorance and assumptions.

Yes

FletchingStraight · 02/11/2022 14:55

I echo @ChicaneOvenchips sentiment. We took the decision to send our DD to private because she has a rare & complex health condition that the state sector cannot (be arsed to) manage & keep her safe. She also has a vastly reduced attendance atm so this is managing to keep her education ticking along as they will send home work, help her catch up & make some allowances as needed - with me supporting with home schooling...still! If we left her in the state system she'd be lucky to pass any GCSEs from what little support would be available in our area.

So do you think that it is fair for her to be additionally discriminated against for having a private education because she is disabled?

Grow up, lose your prejudice & base your recruitment decisions on competence as you should be doing

Dassams · 02/11/2022 14:56

I have managed to do this without being called out. Sometimes I have rejected them even when they clearly would have done a better job

Do you still work as a hiring manager?

orangeisthenewpuce · 02/11/2022 14:57

YABVVVU. Best person for the job no matter where they live or where they went to school. You sound like a really horrible person who doesn't know a lot about private schools.

Dassams · 02/11/2022 14:58

I actually think this is a wind up Hmm

No hiring manager would act so unprofessionally.

ihavespoken · 02/11/2022 14:58

YANBU

stayathomer · 02/11/2022 14:58

My niece went to an extremely posh school in Ireland funded by her 3 uncles. She went because she wanted a career that was reliant on an extra subject in that particular school. She has worked her everything off and is now in a really good college and on the way to her dream . Can you not see how horrendous that someone like you would come along and discount her hard work because of a prejudice against a name?

WhiteRabbitCandy · 02/11/2022 14:59

I think this is very unreasonable - particularly in the situation you describe where the privately educated candidate was better. It's just a different type of discrimination. I say this a state educated person with DC in state school

IDontLikeMondays88 · 02/11/2022 15:00

YANBU - well done OP

Autumflower · 02/11/2022 15:01

You gave people a chance who would otherwise not of stood a chance
well done

Herejustforthisone · 02/11/2022 15:01

TedMullins · 02/11/2022 13:42

You’re gonna get a pasting here but yes, when I was hiring I did the same. Oxbridge CVs went straight in the bin.

What about those who went to Oxbridge and been state educated? Did you just see Oxford/Cambridge and assume wealth and privilege?