What are your feelings on nepotism in the workplace?

Anonymous

September 6,2023 at 7:42PM UTC

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What are your feelings on nepotism in the workplace? When working for both a regional firm and national firm, I have encountered much of the same business practices, where family and friends were given preferential treatment in hiring and even have positions created for them.

In my current situation, I was hired to fill a managerial need and to be groomed towards a sales position with a book of business attached to further my career. Since these conversations occurred last year, I have been continually sold blue sky about all the opportunity in the firm outside of the deal that was broken between myself and the retiring salesperson. At the same time my career is unraveling, I am watching a son of a higher up person, straight out of college without any credentials get handed an associate sales role with little to no experience. I have 20 years of client relationship experience and business productivity knowledge, and the opportunity that I am perfectly qualified for and would be my entry point to career success, is just given away to someone's son.

When will things change? Does this make anyone else feel like women with merit will be forever passed over for the sake of favors? Feeling dejected.

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Grisel Scarantino, Career and Work-Life Fulfillment CoachSeptember 7,2023 at 3:39PM UTC
I’m sorry. This sounds like an incredibly frustrating situation. Did they say anything to you about this or how they plan to follow through with the conversations that were had with you?
Unfortunately, sometimes it’s “who you know” that helps people get ahead. Knowing that, take this as a lesson learned. Network, network, network. Keep your relationships warm and keep your feelers out there if you’re looking for new opportunities. Keep track of your measurable successes and make sure they appear both on your resume, LinkedIn, and performance reviews. This doesn’t have to be the end of your professional story. It could just be a sign that your talents are better deserved somewhere else. Wishing you the very best and if you need someone to support your career progression, please don’t hesitate to reach out here on FGB or on LinkedIn.
Christi LopezSeptember 8,2023 at 6:14PM UTC
"...and performance reviews." Yes! In our review system, there are spots for employees to leave comments. I make sure I put down the concrete data to back up the ratings I give myself. I want it on record that I've attended xx number of professional learning opportunities, that I'm solely responsible for the design and branding of a year-long webinar series, etc. Gather that data and include it in your reviews. It also makes it easier to go back and look at what's changed from year to year. Sometimes jobs slowly creep outside of their position description and this type of data will help with a reclassification request, raise request, etc.
AnonymousSeptember 8,2023 at 1:05PM UTC
It's called networking, and women do it too. There's not exclusive targeting against one group. So many jobs are never public, never advertised and shared through a closed network just like this. It might not appear fair that a younger person got the job, but it's "who he knows." Who do you know? Build your own strong connections so people think of you when hiring needs come up.
AnonymousSeptember 8,2023 at 1:29PM UTC
I worked for 25 years for the PA Legislature, where nepotism ruled. Sometimes some of the jobs seemed like "legacy" positions, with three generations holding a position. But I learned how to "make friends and influence people". Some would call that "butt kissing".....oh, well.
AnonymousSeptember 8,2023 at 5:41PM UTC
Nepotism exists, clearly if you earned it and they gave it to someone lesser its time to look for a company where your expertise and revenue driving skills will be revered. Start looking now!
misskelleypSeptember 10,2023 at 1:02AM UTC
<sigh> that's just the way of the world....