According to a survey conducted by careers experts StandOut CV, employees are concerned about the so-called “Nepo babies”.
What really matters when it comes to landing a new job is what you know or who you are connected with? Nepotism has become a hot-button topic in recent years, and it is easy to dismiss it as affecting only celebrities and super rich people. This is not true. Nepotism is increasing at work.
StandOut CV’s latest survey has revealed the extent of nepotism in the workplace. Is it a good idea to use nepotism in order to help a relative or friend get ahead, or is it a hindrance for the future?
In the survey, residents from Australia, the U.S. and U.K. were asked about their opinions on nepotism, as well as how they have experienced it. The survey asked residents of the U.S., Australia and U.K. about their opinions and experiences with nepotism.
The survey examines the differences in experiences between different groups of people based on their age, industry and income.
70.2% have received a call, an interview or a position via a personal contact
In a recent study, we found that only 2% out of all candidates selected for an interview actually attend one. A personal connection could help you to stand out in a large pool of applicants.
Over 70.2% of respondents said that they were given an interview, a job, or a connection via a personal relationship.
Most people who have received a job through their network tend to get two jobs in their lifetime (29.7%). Only 1.6% of those who have been helped by a friend or family member never land a job.
91.3% of respondents said they would accept a job offer if it was made to them directly, without an interview, CV, or application.
Of the 91.3% who responded, 60% said that they would not feel guilty if they used nepotism as a way to advance, while the remaining 31,3% said that yes, but felt uncomfortable.
A little help from friends
What are the most effective contacts for job seekers? When networking for a new job, those who used social media to find work were more likely than others to contact friends (62.1%) rather than relatives (37.9%).
Accordingly, more people (38.1%) said they learned about an opportunity at their company from a friend than a relative (18.9%). People were more likely to have been hired directly by a family member (26.4%) than a friend (19.3%). According to respondents’ moral standards, nepotism (resulting in an immediate hire without interviewing or screening) is more likely when family ties are involved.
One third of those hired through nepotism (33,1%) feel they are not qualified for their jobs
You may have been hired because of nepotism, but how does that affect your day-to-day job satisfaction? A little over a third of respondents (35.9%), said that they were given preferential treatment in comparison to their colleagues. Another third (33.1%) felt they were underqualified for the position, and 28.4% felt they were put on edge by colleagues who suspected or knew they had been hired through a personal relationship.
71.6% of those who helped a friend get a new job said that it complicated their relationships
How far would you go to ensure the success of your loved ones? Can it be done at a price? Nearly every respondent (87.3%) said that they helped a friend or family member get a job. Of those, 27.4% said they hired someone without interviewing them.
People are less hesitant to favour personal connections over being favoured, according to the research. Only 6% of respondents said that they would not tolerate any form or nepotism if they owned their own business. However, 36.2% responded they would hire someone who was recommended by a relative, friend, or other person.
Could this be at a cost to your personal life, rather than just your professional one? 71.6 percent of those who helped a friend or relative get a new job said that it had complicated their friendship or relationship.
Nepotism is seen to be a positive because it gives insight into the company culture.
The survey asked people to share their experiences with nepotism. In the second half, respondents were asked to consider the ethical implications of the issue and its impact on society.
Even though 91.3% said they would use nepotism in order to get their dream job, 90.6% of respondents agreed that being given a job right away is unethical.
There is a big difference between what we think of as right and wrong and the decisions we make in response to opportunities.
Most people believe that nepotism has become more common. However, 66.9% of respondents also think it is on the rise. Results show that most people think nepotism has become a widespread and significant behaviour. But what is the ethical perspective of these people?
The respondents were asked to identify the positives and negatives of nepotism. People cited that the most common benefit of nepotism was that individuals have more insight into company culture before they join (41.1%), and that it keeps a community feeling (38.1%).
The most common negative effects of nepotism are that it causes tension and resentment amongst colleagues (46.4%) and that people who are underqualified work in roles that they’re not qualified for (43.7%). Three quarters of respondents (74%) also believe that those hired through nepotism are given preferential treatment.
There’s a huge difference between hiring someone without asking any questions and giving them a useful email address. Below are the answers to a question about what level of nepotism is acceptable.
| Is it okay to be a nepotist? | |
| Response | Percentage of respondents |
| I don’t mind if someone just gives me a contact | 47% |
| All forms of nepotism is wrong | 22.3% |
| If someone only gets a contact or an interview, it’s fine. | 21.3% |
| It is okay to use all forms of nepotism, even if you are given the opportunity/job outright. | 9.4% |
What level of nepotism is acceptable? Only 9.4% of respondents believe it is acceptable to give someone a job without interviewing or screening them. Moreover, three quarters (76.6%) of respondents believe there should be stricter rules and regulations regarding nepotistic behavior.
The majority of people believe that it is more important to know who you are than what you know (53,6%)
When asked if it was more important to find a job based on who you know or what you already know, 53.6% of respondents said that it is.
People without formal education (70%) or unemployed (73.5%) were the most likely to select ‘who you are’. The correlation between the age of people and their value for personal connections was also clear. Only 37.5% believed that ‘who you are’ is more important, and this number rose to 70% for those over 70.
Many people believe that who you know is as important as what you know.
When it comes to finding a new job, most people believe that who you know is more important than what you know (53.6%).
Nepotism, it is clear to see, is a practice that’s widespread and not confined to a niche. Nearly everyone (87.7%) believed that nepotism is common or very prevalent in their field.
| In which industry did workers tend to believe that it is more important who you know than what you know? | ||
| Rank | Industry | Percentage of respondents |
| 1 | Law | 85.7% |
| 2 | Academia | 80% |
| 3 | Sport | 76.5% |
| 4 | Journalism and media | 75% |
| 5 | Hospitality | 72.7% |
| 6 | Enjoy the Entertainment | 71.4% |
| 7 | Real estate | 66.7% |
| 8 | Buy it Now | 65.7% |
| 9 | Food | 62.9% |
| 10 | Agriculture | 61.5% |
Additional Study Findings
- Men are more likely than women to believe that nepotism is a positive influence on society (55,3%)
- Eight out of ten (77.3%) know what a “nepo-baby” is, and 72.3% believe that “nepo-babies” are scrutinized too much.
- If they could afford it, 82.5% of parents would send their kids to private schools so that they have better networking opportunities.
- Seventy-four percent of respondents (73.4%) believe that people with private education or affluent backgrounds have an advantage when it comes time to network.
- 66.9% actively attend professional and social gatherings with the intention of establishing business contacts.
- Seven out of ten (70.2%) believe that they hired colleagues through a personal relationship.
The first time HR News published the article Nepotism in the workplace: 91.3% of employees would use their networks to get their dream job.
