Nepotism or Networking?
Some of you are probably wondering what nepotism is. Well
nepotism, according to Webster Online , is an appointment to a
job based on kinship. Networking, for job seekers, on the other
hand is-- an exchange of information among individuals, group
etc. So when one networks in order to find a job, he/she comes
in contact with other individuals that have information that may
lead to a position within a company for which, most frequently,
their contact is already employed. This is generally a fair
practice and is encouraged as a way for individuals to find
employment, especially since the jobseeker usually posses the
skills to employ in that position. With nepotism, one candidate
has an unfair advantage over the other based on their relation
to an already employed individual not necessarily on their
skills or ability to perform effectively on the job. What's so
wrong with this you ask? Well for one thing, in this writer's
opinion, it is an unethical practice. Something akin to an
individual not being able to enter a sweepstakes or contest if a
family member works for the sweepstakes sponsor or company. Yes,
it is unfair and presents a conflict of interest. This is the
reason why you cannot enter a contest for Publishers Clearing
House if you're related to Ed McMahon. The unfortunate thing is
many companies still practice it as a form of networking.
Companies that practice nepotism tend to have an unusually high
turnover rates, and or unsatisfied employees. This is simply
because employees may feel cheated or overlooked within the
organization and this may lead to low morale and less
productivity overall. Of course there are some exceptions such
as family owned businesses, large or small that run very
successfully, but the point of this article is to make you
aware. Sometimes Uncle Sam is not the best candidate.