Job Hiring » Is This Fair?

[brandon184]

There's a definitive trend within a local corporation with employees getting their family members & friends "in the door" for positions within the company. Someone with no qualifications, very little prior experience, etc. can get a good paying ($18/hr.) job in their local call centre. If someone with equal or even slightly greater qualifications applies - the chances of getting a call back for an interview are slim, from what I've seen.

A friend of mine has a relative that works in this company... Recently, she was able to secure herself a job there. This was a position that they wanted to fill, but she was able to interview for it and secure it before they even started accepting resumes for it. While I'm not one to discourage my friends from getting decent jobs - I really didn't think it was all that fair for the other people who could have used it a lot more than she did.

Is this commonplace within a lot of corporations? Any company that I've worked for where I would have been in a position to notice that sort of thing - I haven't noticed it. And if I did notice it, I'd have a problem with it.

Thoughts?

Brandon

[SiliconJon]

It's quite common from what I've seen.

"It's know what you know, it's who you know"

[mazdarx7-64]

18 bucks for a call center job, dang that is good pay. The best call centers here pay 10 if your lucky. I do agree that it is unfair, but I have seen it happen many times.

[brandon184]

I know lots of people. I've never gotten a job from it.

[Mike]

Yes, it is quite common. Sad to say (unless you're the one getting the job), it is part of business. Some fields, journalism for example, have scenarios that sometimes happen just like you described.

[Whir]

That's how everyone got hired at the last place I worked. I only got in because my buddy knew someone there.

[brandon184]

18 bucks for a call center job, dang that is good pay. The best call centers here pay 10 if your lucky. I do agree that it is unfair, but I have seen it happen many times.

They pay their call center employees amazing sums to sit around do jack, and then I guess they would pass those costs along to the customer. It's a local telecom with a strong monopoly over the regional market.

[BBA]

The benefit of getting people you know of...you know how they will work.

The problem of it is people abuse it and get their slacker friends in.

It's give and take and sometimes it works out better for all, sometimes it aggravates everyone.

One thing is for sure, if you always do a good job, do more than is asked and keep a good attitude, you will eventually end up getting a good job. Just dont get frustrated when someone gets a good deal and you dont...it will show immaturity and no one wants to hire immature people.

[brandon184]

It has little... no, wait... nothing to do with maturity. I'm not interested in the job, but I know of other people who are both more deserving and more qualified to have it.

Brandon

[Patrick]

There is an old saying that in a family business, everything is relative. In non-family businesses, relatives and friends can certainly give you a boost. Since they're more visible, it's seen best in government. If you're related to either a politican or a union boss you've got a great job and you don't even have to show up.

It's amazing how many children of successful attorneys, or successful actors, or successful politicians turn out to be just as successful in the same field.

There are other unfair factors. If you want to teach at many universities you better have your politics on your resume.

These are just some of the factors that make life unfair.

There are also ways around it. Meet people. Volunteer. Get an intern position. Marry the boss's daughter.

[implexant]

Life ain't fair

-Chris

[Knothead]

I know lots of people. I've never gotten a job from it.

Not the right ones, apparently.

[M_Six]

If you want to teach at many universities you better have your politics on your resume.

Are you referring to Mexican universities? Or are you speaking figuratively? In the US university system it's not legal for employers to ask about religious or political affiliations or even if you're married. Of course that doesn't stop a search committee from reading between the lines of a resume or CV.

Brandon, the scenario you refer to is all too common. But unfair? I don't see it. If it's a family business that they've busted their butts to build up and run, who has the right to tell them whom to hire?

[brandon184]

It isn't a family business, M_Six.

It's what is referred to here as a "crown corporation" - a company founded and overseen by the provincial government. It is not privately owned. So, to answer your question - I believe it is my right to tell them who they can and cannot hire. I'm a taxpayer, aren't I?

Brandon

[Chuckiechan]

I don't know about Canada, but in the USA any government position is required to do "flip flops" (tired of that word yet?) to be fair.

The hiring process is done in as close as a vacuum as possible to prevent favoritism and eliminate charges of racism, sexism, and non job related "opinions". Interviewers are "encourged" to hire "diversity" over qualifications.

[brandon184]

The only thing like that which I know of here is that government-owned entities are forced to allocate a certain number of positions to people of "aboriginal" ancestry.

In that event, like you said... It's diversity over qualifications. If a white guy and an aboriginal both apply and the white guy is overwhelmingly more qualified, the aboriginal guy may very well have a better chance of landing the position.

Brandon

[M_Six]

It isn't a family business, M_Six.

It's what is referred to here as a "crown corporation" - a company founded and overseen by the provincial government. It is not privately owned. So, to answer your question - I believe it is my right to tell them who they can and cannot hire. I'm a taxpayer, aren't I?

Brandon

In that case, I agree you have a right to be peeved. We just had to take an ethics course here and one of the issues specifically covered was hiring practices and how you are not allowed to hire someone who is related to you. If the position needs to be filled and the best candidate is a relative, you're supposed to remove yourself from the search process.

[willy_ph]

I actually scored my summer job by who I know, not what I know. It pays well (20+ dollars an hour). Is it right? No. But sometimes that's the nature of the beast.

[RayH]

Fair has nothing to do with IS IT LEGAL?

[Gutter Ball]

Ah, nepotism at it's finest. Pretty prevalent at the Big 3 (one of the points is "Do you have a family member working here?")

I've learned it's rarely what you know anymore...it's who you know. So it's not fair, but ah well.