In this worksheet you will discover how best to use the contacts you already have and how to expand your network. A large part is what you know; the other possibly larger part is all about who you know and what you’re doing with this knowledge.

1. Want2get on? is a unique career coaching service that offers 1:1 support for those who want
to draw upon their Christian faith and apply it in a practical way to their job situation.
www.want2geton.co.uk
Tel: 07503 177126
charles@want2geton.co.uk
Nepotism, or is it called networking? Who cares if it works!
cares
In this worksheet you will discover how best to use the contacts you already have and
how to expand your network. A large part is what you know; the other possibly larger
part is all about who you know and what you re doing with this knowledge.
you’re
On the wall behind the reception of a well established family-run business hangs a framed
run
notice, possibly designed to dissuade outsiders from applying for work:
We promote family values here – nearly as much as we promote family members!
e
Nepotism is a bit of a dirty word, especially if you’re applying for a job and you know the
CEO’s nephew is one of those you’re up against! In modern-day terms nepotism refers to
the act of favouring relatives at work in employment or economic terms as op
opposed to them
being judged on ability or merit.
For the most part, it can simply be viewed in terms of people giving somebody a leg
leg-up or
giving them a bit more of the inside track to enable them to get on within an organisation But
organisation.
this doesn’t happen nowadays, surely?!
Well, take a look at the following stats and make your own mind up to see how people are
getting work in the UK:
•
11 million people are either working with a relative who gave them the role, or in a
position which a family member helped them secure
amily
© Copyright Want2geton? Christian Career Coaching UK 2013

2. •
Over a third (34 per cent) dodged the interview process completely after getting a nod
from a friend
I went to an online forum and came across
the following question that summed up the
frustrations of many:
“I'm referring to a major UK PLC, who took a 22
year old with three years experience as a junior
marketing assistant, and employed him as a
£60K Head of Online, despite never having been
a manager before, and never having worked in a
website / ecommerce environment before.”
“It turns out this person is pretty good friends with
the Online Director at said PLC who knew him
from a previous company. I went for this job, and
I'm absolutely furious to discover this - this can't
be right, surely?”
Is this sort of thing legal?
The truth of the matter is that this sort of
practice is not illegal and it is all too
common. There is not a lot you can really
do about it, other than sit back and watch
if 22 year old will crash and burn if he is
incapable of doing the job.
However, be encouraged, you could still
that get that job because more research
shows that there is a 1:10 chance that
those appointed through personal contact
will leave soon after they started amid
bad feeling among other staff!
Making your contacts work for you
If you can’t beat the system, go with the flow and try to work with it.
A study of 3,000 workers by Aldi Graduate Recruitment confirms that the old adage 'it's not
what you know, but who you know' still rings true. Nearly two-thirds of respondents believe
that good contacts are just as important as qualifications when it comes to getting a job.
Richard Holloway, Head of Graduate Recruitment at Aldi, said: ''Recent graduates are having
a tougher time than ever with the job market becoming more and more competitive and
young adults are looking for employment through various means - friends, family and social
networking.”
''Having the right qualifications is what many employers look for in new graduates but it's
better to be a strong all-rounder with extra-curricular activities and interests.”
''In this tough climate it's essential to develop contacts and relationships in your chosen field
whilst also bringing other skills to the work place such as self-motivation, dedication and
leadership qualities.''
It seems graduates are a lot savvier now when it comes to using networking and social skills,
with more than a third of people keep in touch with former bosses or colleagues purely
because they hope they may one day be able to help their career.
Nearly half of those surveyed said they had got a job after staying on good terms with people
they had interned for, done work experience with or met in a business setting.
Networking with all your contacts
It is not just your former colleagues that you can approach. Ask your friends and relatives to
keep a lookout for you in their companies. Networking is one of the most successful ways of
© Copyright Want2geton? Christian Career Coaching UK 2013

3. finding employment and does not necessarily involve asking your friends for a job.
It should form a major part of your job research – who works where, who knows who, who
can tell you what it is like to work for a particular company, who can give you advice about
your career path etc. You will be surprised at how many people you really know!
Think about all the people you know or who you have met, who could help
you find out more.
Who do you know & where?
Current business colleague
Ex business colleague
Ex bosses/employers
Suppliers/reps you have dealt with
Fellow members of trade
associations
Your old clients/customers
Solicitor/bank manager/accountant
Contacts in your church
Family friends
Social friends/neighbours
School, College or University friends
Your partner’s contacts
Others…..
© Copyright Want2geton? Christian Career Coaching UK 2013
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4. Top tips and facts:
•
In the UK 11 million people are either working with a relative who gave them the
role, or in a position which a family member helped them secure
•
Also in the UK, over a third dodged the interview process completely after getting
a nod from a friend
•
There is a 1:10 chance that those appointed through personal contact will leave
soon after they started
•
Good contacts are just as important as qualifications when it comes to getting a
job
•
it's essential to develop contacts and relationships in your chosen field whilst also
bringing other skills to the work place such as self-motivation, dedication and
leadership qualities
•
Many people will get a job after staying on good terms with people they had
interned for, done work experience with or met in a business setting
Want2get on? is a unique career coaching service that offers 1:1 support for those who want
to draw upon their Christian faith and apply it in a practical way to their job situation.
www.want2geton.co.uk
Tel: 07503 177126
charles@want2geton.co.uk
© Copyright Want2geton? Christian Career Coaching UK 2013