I was chatting with a customer today who mentioned he has hired some temporary staff recently who matriculated last year from a well known local school. When he found out he was a little taken back as he used to go to that same school and never considered of offering these types of jobs to old boys. He said he felt uncomfortable hiring them for these positions as in the past these young men would have had higher aspirations of employment. This kind of sent him a message of how bad things really are and he felt really bad and embarrassed he could not offer them anything better. A good school used to help open doors through the reputation of having high standards and now it makes little difference.
Unemployment is so high in South Africa with a rough estimate at around 60% with the 19-25 year age group the highest hit. An equivalent A Levels student or a graduate with a degree it makes no difference if there are no jobs. These temporary jobs are the bottom of the ladder type jobs, yet it is still a job and may lead to another job if you can show your worth. I would say that is your only way into any job these days by taking what is available and then working your way up from there. This is how it as in the 1960's and it looks as though we have turned full circle.
Rather sad when you think the majority of those school leavers who will be writing their final exams later this year have no hope of employment unless their parents know someone. The children that have jobs have managed to find employment via their parents network and that is the only realistic chance these days. Maybe going to school and learning some real skills like a trade would be more advisable today because at last you have something different to everyone else and could be employable.
I know many parents including myself who have had to change due to the needs of finding employment for your children. A friend of ours had to find room for three of his kids in the family business which at one stage he was going to sell and is no longer an option. The pressure he has now placed himself under is enormous as he is now responsible for his entire family.
Businesses that would in the past have hired graduates are now full of family members and this is a definite change. Nepotism is very much alive and it must suck knowing the bosses are bringing in their kids and as an employee could feel very much threatened. I get that, but do others and would they even care?
I experienced nepotism in the past being in one of the companies when I was benefitting from family connections and why I turned the promotion down as it was not a great look. I explained myself afterwards why I rejected the promotion and they had never even thought about what it would do negatively to others in the company and the impact it would create. I felt uncomfortable and even if I was the right person for that role I would rather let them try someone else instead and at least give someone a chance. I am not a title type person at work and for me they are meaningless, but for others they do mean something.