Tales from the Temps: Of course you're hired, as long as we're related!
Posted on 04/21/2006 by the cynic
Viewed: 632 times
Before getting my current, permanent job, I temped at a major investment bank here in NYC because I was unemployed and jumped on the first job that came my way.
I'm thankful for the job because it got me transitioned into banking. I'm not thankful for its politics.
Temps at that company were hired on a 10-month basis only. You used to be able to "permatemp," until some guy sued because he was held there for years as an employee but because he was "temp," he got no benefits. Go him! So what does the company do? Rather than HIRE their temps, which was the point of the law suit, they kick you out after 10 months using some lame excuse.
For instance:
I don't have a finance degree, and neither did 90% of the employees in that office. I have a psych degree. Half of them didn't even graduate college. I was told that I was a great worker and that "if they only could" and "if the big guys would let us," and "if only you had the right degree," they'd hire me.
I questioned why the others were hired and had no finance degree, and was told that they were grandparented in because the degree policy only came into effect in 2003. Okay, I can accept that.
Until the day when the Managing Director's daughter, psych major and socialite who spent more time socializing than working, got the job. She'd been interning there (with no finance major--which you supposedly need to get the internship from the get-go) for a year and was a shoe-in for the position. Weeks later, the head of IT's daughter, an English major, got the job too, and me and the other temp were excused because the slots were filled and "our terms were ending."
What sense does this make? I don't have an ego, but they did come right out and say that I was a very good worker who deserved the job. And to tell me "no psych majors allowed" and then hire another one right under my nose just because of who daddy is? Pleh.
Don't you hate it when places hire because of who you are, not what you can do? Especially when "who you are" is rich and privileged enough not to ACTUALLY need the skills to get hired?
I know, I know, it's "how the world works." Ergo, I hate the world. :P
Frmr NYC Temp (05/25/2006)
Enjoyed your story. Thanks. Years ago I temped at First Boston (NYC) for over a year. I was not hired on but... it was funny. I had a cousin in the co., a "big wig" if you will, (major jerk) with whom I've never had any signficant contact. However, I casually mentioned to a co-worker one day that I had a cousin who worked for the co. too. "What dept?" When I named his position, I found I was treated differently, even in my humble millieu. It was absolutely ridiculous, but I seemed to have accidentally incurred job security before I quit when I was ready to move on. The moral of the story may be: invent a relative, especially at these huge, inhuman, monolithic corporations. It is a terrible work world, that's for sure. We have to protect ourselves as best we can. I recommend a cell phone camera and tiny digital recorder ($57 at Radio Shack). You never know! Best of luck in your future employment adventures.
C - - (05/25/2006)
Great Idea, former! Better have a back-up relative/old friend of the family, in case you lose one. - I saw one of my bosses change from friendly to extremely nasty towards a nice co-worker, after said co-worker's father died. Unfortunately she quit soon after, sad she was a joy to work with.
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