Nepotism, or how people like me are going to struggle to make it

A few days ago, my friends Elen, Suzanne and I were talking about what a great TV show our lives would be if it was one. (Seriously, you have no idea of how much stupid shit happens to us. Quick preview here. by Suzanne). We diverged to insulting Lena Dunham for winning a Golden Globe. And Finally came to that:

Yes, nepotism is a law in that world we are living in. I aspire to a career in the Media industries, which is probably one the sectors where you have the biggest unbalance between talent and connections. Indeed, I spend money and time on my studies, but the truth is, I don’t have half as many chances to make it as someone who didn’t study but has a good contactlist.

This reality is thrown to my face every single day, even when it comes to shitty student jobs. I actually had been looking for a job for months and didn’t get anything while some people I know would get one within a week. Reasons? They either have a good experience OR contacts (or they look really good #Hollister). And very often the combinaison of all is needed, even for a stupid Sales Assistant position at Oliver Bonas. Happens my only experience is in Summer Camp coaching and my more exclusive contact is the president of my Student Union, YAAAAAY.

If looking for a waitressing position is that bad, I can’t even imagine how difficult it is going to be when I will be looking for an actual job.
I have never been one of those people who knows “someone”. If I wanted to work in business, and in France, I could still ask my rich boarding school mates if their parents could give me a hand. But I’m in London, trying to organise gigs. I am one of so many, but I don’t have anything that makes me special. That is pretty terrifying.

Not like the economic crisis and global warming were bad enough, now that’s another thing that my generation will have to go through. There has always been nepotism, favouritism and money flows under the table, but within a context where companies are more reluctant than ever when it comes to employing young graduates, the consequences of such unfair practices must be multiplied by 10.

The job market has become a war field, or, even worse, a Super Smash Bros. field: the field itself is being a bitch to you, everybody has different and sneaky methods, the more you get hit, the more getting hit hurts, and only the last ones standing will be rewarded.

And fact is that the last ones standing are those who have the ultimate weapon: the contactlist.

I, and hundreds of thousands other students, will have to struggle like hell. And working hard will not be it. Because having contacts is THE thing. So we’ll have to make contacts. And I don’t know about most people, but to me, networking takes a lot of guts.
It takes precious acting skills and the ability to handle the fact that people will treat you like less than nothing.

In July 2014, I will graduate. This leaves me about a year to get myself the guts to go out there and trick people into sneaking my name in on the golden lists. And this whole time I’ll have to witness people getting the opportunities I could have had, just by ringing Mommy or Daddy, and just deal with it.

Becoming badass enough to eventually compete with them all? Challenge… accepted?
Did YOU accept it?