Would you use your connections to help your child get a job?

pete-20-11

And some of the 26% would be worried about recommending their kids 🤣

(as in some will be lazy, etc etc)

silvercar

tacpot12 said:

The question is somewhat hypothetical, as many children would not be suitable to work in their parent's employer's business, e.g. by reason of not have the necessary qualifications. The 26% who would not may have answered the question as they did because they know that their child is not suitable or qualified to work in a role that they could use their influence to get them OR they could be more moral than the rest of us.  

Using connections means you can ask friends and family to help, it doesn't have to be working in your parent's employer's business.

MalMonroe

No. My daughter wouldn't even contemplate any such a thing. She's brighter than that. Not saying she's brighter than me - but I think she might be. She just graduated with an MA with distinction (I've only got a BA with Hons) at the same time as holding down a part-time highly paid online job for a well-known successful international business. She was struck down by ME/CFS some years ago so I'm doubly proud of her determination and grit. 

I just think if you bring them up right, they'll find their own way. Give them advice and always be there to listen to them when they need you. That's what most children need. Equip them for their own lives. Nobody ever helped me with a job and to be honest I wouldn't have wanted them to. Now I'm retired and also self-employed and have always been self-sufficient, had to be as was left a single parent when my daughter was 9. We've had some incredibly tough times but we've not done too badly. 

MattMattMattUK

MSE_Laura_F said:

Thanks @MattMattMattUK. The article suggests only 74% would, which is why it's interesting to hear people's thoughts!

The thing is that goes against almost all human behaviour and there is also likely an issue with self-reporting as well. The examples of Labour MPs who claim to support additional taxes, or abolition of private schools, but send their own children to them, I suspect that those people may be saying they would not, it makes them feel better about themselves because it aligns with their political views, but the in the real world they would help their child, because to not do so would feel inherently wrong to almost all parents. 

NedFamily

100%! family and friends as well. 

I understand some people may have issues with taking the risk and responsibility with referrals but it's all about growth, I scratch your back you scratch mine. 

A fair amount of my family all work in different fields within the insurance/finance industry, In two of my jobs I've happily worked with my family and they also received a nice referral bonus due to the company not having to go through recruiters.

I think if everyone is professional in a working environment and taking into consideration how tough it is to get on the ladder, why wouldn't you want to help your child? ..... but may vary depending on the field of work.

MSE_Kelvin

MSE_Laura_F said:

According to this article, 74% of Brits would use their connections to help their kids land a job.

👧🏻👦🏿🧒🏼

Is this something you would do, or have done? Or something you'd avoid?

Kinda related - years ago, I was an editor at a content marketing agency, and was 'asked' to take on the nephew of a guy on the board of directors as an intern. Poor kid had no natural aptitude for the job, meaning I spent a bunch of nights working late, rewriting his work because I was scared that if I kept telling him he needed to re-do it, I'd be hearing from his uncle...

Dustyevsky

'A job' is not defined. Years ago, I impersonated the school careers teacher and got my girlfriend a summer job, but that, or a part-time, relatively unskilled job, is quite different from something where a leg-up is likely to lead to a very lucrative career.

Ditzy_Mitzy

My mother gave me hundreds of jobs as a child: clean this, wash that, polish the other and don't forget the washing up!  

In fairness I don't know whether they would have done, on the basis that neither parent has 'connections' in the conventional sense - both were long time public sector workers in a field I have no interest in.