Why middle class kids get the best jobs - BBC Stories

[@rateorhate11]

Well done Elvis.

[@daveys]

I’ve experienced this myself. Qualified Business Analyst, Masters in Project Management (with business thesis of the year prize to boot) and it’s still not really helped me to break into where I want to be. For me, it’s accent. You can talk about business benefits and it gets lost because people are thinking “whippets and coal mines”. That’s not me being paranoid, I’ve heard people talking about it behind my back. I’m not a victim, and I do have a pretty decent job, but I can’t see me breaking into business consultancy anytime soon. I’m glad that Elvis has got himself sorted, fingers crossed for him.

[@rahuldahoob4513]

Very true ☝️ what do you work as now? Although being named Elvis won't hello Jim

[@daveys]

@@rahuldahoob4513 - I’m an IT Project Manager, and where I work you can’t just get promoted for working hard, they make everyone apply for roles as an external candidate, so you’re up against posh sounding people. Irrespective of employer, I think the accent is likely to be an issue in any job with a professional standing.

[@billyli5174]

@@daveys Hi Dave.Thank you for sharing your story. but i am not sure what "whippets and coal mines" means ?

[@daveys]

@@billyli5174 - Stereotypically, Northern English people would work in a coal mine and keep whippets (type of dog) or ferrets (like a weasel) as pets. So they’d do a mock accent and talk about “working down the pit” etc.

[@marigoldbeam5475]

If your accent is really holding you back why don't you take elocution lessons? Consider it just another essential qualification to gain.

[@M_Bamboozled]

At a basic level it helps having middle class parents who teach you how it works, e.g. when I thought about Uni, I had no idea how to apply through UCAS, zero advice on how to choose a subject, an institution, no advice on life as a student. At Uni, I never felt I fitted either. Even before Uni - how advantageous is it to have parents that can actually help with homework questions? It's like having a free tutor. I had to wing it. Even now, I can't 'play the game' at work and I'm aware that I'm different from those with middle class backgrounds. And yes, they tend to overtake quickly in the success stakes. I'm 50 now and I've definitely seen a class divide my whole career. But I'm still more privileged than many and I never regretted pushing for more education. If you're young, want to get an education, have no idea what to do and have parents that can't help, try and get a mentor - someone who knows the system. And be honest - if you need help - ask. It's not your fault you don't know, it's your circumstances. If more education isn't your thing but you still want a leg up in your chosen area - same advice - get a mentor who can fill in for the bits your Mum and/or Dad and/or foster parents and/or care worker didn't know or never told you.

[@Ben-jq5oo]

So well summed up! There is so much human potential lost without the presence of positive role models.

[@missj.d9187]

Mark you are so right! I feel applying for UCAS is a qualification it's self. I grew surrounded 2 of the top London universities which people all over the world knew to apply for and I didn't even know they existed for kids like us. I now have a child and trying to understand UCAS is a minefield and didn't have a clue I should of been directing my child into certain subjects. Thank you for pointing that out!

[@funkg]

Elvis will do well as he is driven and ambitious. He sounds similar to the way I used to speak, and I am certain that in time it will 'flatten out' and become more 'polished'.

[@Nana-nd6to]

The only game you play is the game of networking. Networking is how ppl move from middle class and upper class, once you people with power or money that its. You barely even have to try once you know people like that.

[@homoerectus4923]

No its not lol i know a takeaway manager hes making 6 figures and overall i havent made money by leeching onto them

[@jethroteece4750]

Exactly, the world is about connections

[@Nana-nd6to]

@@homoerectus4923 i have met a couple people through networking and it has made more privilege than the kids in my class they were smarter than me.

[@joycelyn1747]

Yes that's why there's the saying "it's not what you know, it's who you know" sad fact in alot of cases!

[@hajratalib2125]

Yeah but you can know the people or talk to them but it doesnt mean that they will be your friends because what can u give them?

[@Lucarocks92]

Being likeable is key, if the recruiter doesn't think they would like to have a drink with you in the pub you're probably not getting the job. Accents, mannerisms, appearance all play a massive part on their judgement of you.

[@proteasfire7572]

as they say it’s not what you know but who you know

[@palacehaunter5442]

So being a fake smiling middle class person from Clapham Junction who supports extinction rebellion?

[@CharlieX96]

And judging someone based on their accent is classist

[@tatianadekun9087]

Nonetheless, it has always been this way.

[@llabyrinthinessoul]

it sucks... because i come from a background where i speak and have been socialised in a different way so i'm definitely not going to be someone they'd wanna have a drink with lmao

[@assassinskillz123]

If you’re someone the manager/interviewer likes you will get the job regardless of what you really say. And if you are quiet and not really talkative regardless of how much skill you have and great answers you give they still won’t hire you. Shame the world we live in

[@Footballfan-rj1gf]

Yeah it should be all about your organizational skills, I have seen some people being introverts and not so talkatives working in a high position jobs and vise versa, chat lovers being in the lowest. Communication skills are inevitably essential, but it doesn't make sense unless you have a clue what to do and how

[@jammyjam123]

Hence you have to “play the game” and act as how they want you to in order to get the job

[@Arthurjames-mm8lm]

Hight paying jobs doesn't make your financial freedom, it's what you have in your thoughts and ready to take more risky.

[@louranterlius9515]

Education only guide you, but you have to get potential of making money, paycheck can't make you wealthy.

[@alonsohernandez-nb5xq]

​@@louranterlius9515You're absolutely right, to be a successful in life required not only hard work but awareness and sometime opportunity at the moment, investment remains the best way to start.

[@chrisharrison-ir5wb]

​@@louranterlius9515I agree with you. Investment is the key to sustaining your financial longevity. And not just any investment but an investment with guaranteed return.

[@donalderic-zx5jn]

yeah investment is the key to sustaining your financial longevity but venturing into any legit investment or business without a proper guidance of an expert can lead to great loss too.

[@elina6519]

Exactly and many of us don't know where to invest our money so we invest it on wrong place and to the wrong people

[@Xighor]

So lesson here. Next Job Interview speak in a really posh accent and Look at your Fake Rolex and say "Oh Dear it's almost (insert hourly time) time flies, I've got to go Fox Hunting with the Queen in a jiffy"

[@aterry173]

Fake it till you make it.

[@emmafrost13333]

That's not what she meant... They are looking for those who understand what being and looking professional means and can apply it. For example, I'm not sure how the black student presented himself in the interview, but from his speech in this clip it doesn't sound like he has a good enough spoken English. If you want to say that's a posh accent, fine... but it's not. And from his immediate thought that he was not hired due to the interviewers thinking he was not similar enough, he is likely very wrong and shows a bit of immaturity. Interviewers there are professionals with decades both in the industry and of interviewing, and they can spot potential issues (e.g. not facing up to pressures) from the interview. And when competition is fierce, any little mistake will mean no hire. You just have to keep trying until you learn how to present yourself. E.g. we've had hires who were not adequate but were hired for diversity purposes. They ALL performed extremely poorly and ALL failed their exams and were let go.

[@hansonel]

That's going way overboard. That will earn you the ire of hiring managers who think you're an out of touch trust fundie who has never worked a day in their lives. Might work if you're applying for a position at Tatler Magazine, Vouge or something....

[@tm1rt2vv8i]

@@emmafrost13333 his accent is multi-cultural. Unattractive. Not proper English. He is basically a ‘road man’, and will never be hired at a place like Morgan Stanley. I mean, how did he think he was going to go into management consultancy. He is kidding right. That is one of the most rewarding, hard careers to get into.

[@infinityswap5105]

There is nothing unattractive about his accent. Attitudes like yours are the ones that are superficial and "ugly".

[@danh5637]

For a simple reason. Working class kids are not taught these basic premises at school. 1. Financial education. Most people leaving school today have. It a clue how money and capital work, how to make it, invest it, grow it etc. 2. The Pareto distribution It’s not about “hard work” if that were the case every house cleaner and nurse would be a billionaire. It’s about specialised deep knowledge that is both rare and valuable. 3. It’s about who you know and your ability to communicate well. In a meritocracy results matter far more than a degree to an employer. But even in a meritocracy you have an advantage if you know the right people and build a rapport with them. Having a reputation is much better than a first from oxford.

[@chao3414]

good comments

[@eagleaad5183]

Very true indeed

[@jordan6266]

Personally what got me a brilliant job (grad scheme) was more to do with the things I do outside of my degree. Also turning up ready (for interviews), very well prepped.

[@abelcables9568]

Agreed, i find that recruiters are always looking for the "second half" of a CV, it's important to take any opportunity for extra curricular activities @Jordan, I'm wondering how you made sure you were prepared for interviews / assessment centres ?

[@zhihongzhuzi]

I used to study in Southampton, now I'm back living in China. It's astonishing to see two culturally different societies share the exact same problem: class struggle. In China, we always talk about 'connections', but essentially the word refers to 'class'. If you're from the working class family in the suburbs (which is the majority of population) and try to apply for the most mundane simple role at the state-owned firms in the city, it is likely you won't even get a reply. Ascribed status always shuts off the door for achieved status.

[@zhihongzhuzi]

@Anonymous Bosch Household Registration System still applies and plays crucial role in China. Every citizen in China has an ID card, which is essential in every aspect of social activities. An ID card details your place of 'residency', it's a like passport for domestic use. The place of 'residency' determines your social welfare, housing benefits, and where your kids would go to school. Imagine an ID card that literally says you're a 'Citizen of Westminster, Greater London', and you're able to go to the better school in the district, get certain local-only benefits, etc. The only way to become a 'Westminsterer' is either your parents are Westminsterers, or BUY (not rent) a house in that district. You can live in a rented flat in Westminster for 30 years, know the neighbourhood by heart, yet you're still regarded as an 'foreigner' by law if not obtained a local 'residency'. That's why the housing prices in China have gone ridiculously high on the global scale. Everyone wants to obtain the residency identity of prominent cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen.

[@zhihongzhuzi]

and that's how a certain small group of privileged class got immensely rich. Creating the demand for housings, and control the supplies.

[@DeezN1892]

Then how different is the "communist" society of China to western capitalist nations?

[@ButterflyLullabyLtd]

Thank you for sharing. How sad your Country has the same problem. 😪 Education has allowed snobbery and status to stop others from reaching their true potential. I was taught ITA English Twaddle in school. A backward Alien language that made no sense at all. Parents got it banned for good reason. We never get an apology or compensation from Elite Academic mistakes. Things need to change.

[@ariesa9751]

I think that's what alot of people don't realize. How pervasive class can be no matter the country and how the decisions of the people in power affect everything. Usually people are baited to blaming different races and fellow working class people for their grievances, when it's the upper class in power that is causing the instability.

[@kehindeemiabata4032]

England is the most classest society in the world. The term middle class, especially is banded around to loosely. Being Middle class is not just about your level of income, its about much much more .

[@aclark903]

Any evidence at all for that claim?

[@kehindeemiabata4032]

@@aclark903 do your research. Its not my job to educate lasey people.

[@aclark903]

@@kehindeemiabata4032 Mate, every country in the world has a class system. You are talking out of your arse.

[@Baboonfromdatoon]

More 'classest' than INDIA?

[@Sacra898]

@@kehindeemiabata4032 it's just logical to back yourself with evidence if you're going to make a point. that's like writing a paper, someone asks where did you get your information from, and you go "look it up yourself dumbass"

[@callumraza5046]

I left the UK for France where i work as a labourer. I've befriended shopkeepers, teachers, doctors. They never even ask what your job is

[@itscooldawgdonteventrip]

yep very true. I am french. I think people are not their job. Just because you are labourer doesn't mean that I won't listen to what you have to say you can have some wisdom and you can be in a suit and be outrageously stupid. Look at our politicians. So yeah. It's just logical . Thinking otherwise to me is superstitious matter.

[@mikehunt8926]

This girl I know comes from a very middle-class family where everyone owns houses. She works in the property sector and practically get every jobs you apply for. She's definitely well-spoken but not overly posh. I mean if they was to ask about her family background she will get job. There will university educated, property owners and are investors so love passive income. Disclaimer this is wrote buy a lower working class man. Very hard with these toffee-nosed working class people. They actually try to by all passive aggressive. Ain't going to work with someone from the council estate.

[@oimate9796]

Is she white?

[@MissShootingStar5]

The sad reality is that they want posh white men as a preference. It is not so much based on intelligence or ability as it is on whether they see the candidate as someone that would fit in with their social circle.

[@Scarz3ny]

Yep it's like that everywhere I worked with a guy who spent most his days turning up late and half asleep because he'd been on the sniff all night but just one thing mummy and daddy had bought him a 15 grand s15 Japanese import while I turned up on time everyday in my shitty Vauxhall Astra who do you think got given the opportunities??

[@tm1rt2vv8i]

You sound like an imbecile. Really? So a random person will be hired because they ‘posh’ and ‘white’? Because they can automatically do the job without an competency test? Such bull 😂

[@EuropeGilgames]

@@Scarz3ny No offence but u just made that up. City jobs are ruthless, they don't care who u are if u are not hitting your targets on the regular they gonna get rid off u as simple as that.

[@MatthewChapmanYT]

In fact most companies want different people to look good for the media.

[@KINGCABA-if4nk]

@@chrisrickard4962 both actually not forget your white privilege mate. Someone like Jacob Rees-mogg would neither as world egalitarian society. Explain Grenfell tower

[@robertmazurowski5974]

I am working class and all I can say is, Of course, I would rather talk to someone posh if interacting with the company. People don't think about it. It is not a choice. Unfortunately, that is the way it is. You will not change it, it will change with generations passing and new taking over, but right now Culture is stuck in our head that every CEO, Great Scientist, King, Prince, and Politician is Posh. The only way to get into the elite as a working-class person is: Be an Expert in what you doing, which means constantly reading books and learning after University while having a job. If you want a career it is all or nothing. You need to provide value to the elite if you want them to elevate you. It is not fair but this is what it is.

[@CanadianMonarchist]

Thank you! If I’m hiring a lawyer or an investment banker and paying through the nose, I want them to come across as educated.

[@realtalkz3930]

This video could not be more to the point it's WHO you know not what you know a lot of employers will briefly go through your experience and education maybe ask you a few technical questions then it's straight onto figuring out if they like you and if your going to be a good fit for the company a number of times I've been to interviews where I have a strong suspicion that the job has already been reserved for someone internally or someone they have already chosen because by law they have to publicly advertise the job first so they aren't seen as being bias my advice to anyone don't give in no matter how shit it feels keep applying for jobs and when people say "play the game" no one actually explains themselves it's researching job and the company, preparing your interview questions making sure your dressed smartly that your punctual on time and polite also having a good sense of humour is good ice breaker so your interviews flow better and don't feel so awkward and tense good luck !

[@public.public]

pretending there isn't a class system wont make it go away.

[@CanadianMonarchist]

If someone said my accent and mannerisms were holding me back in my chosen career, I would change my accent and mannerisms. I’m happy Elvis was able to find a job; he seems like such a nice guy!

[@evelynbarry5046]

I agree, but there are even Canadian accents that I find are 'unemployable' unfortunately

[@CanadianMonarchist]

@@evelynbarry5046 If someone is from rural Newfoundland or the Western End of PEI, it would probably be a good move to soften his or her accent.

[@evelynbarry5046]

@@CarlyHawthorne-gm2sw of course you can.

[@CanadianMonarchist]

@@CarlyHawthorne-gm2sw Eliza Doolittle did.

[@saraiinez8790]

You can soften it. I had a coworker that was from Essex and he picked up more of a RP accent to adapt to the workplace.

[@marigoldbeam5475]

Years ago I went for an interview with a PR/media company the clients of which included/include the conservative party. It was a pretty low level job, I hadn't even been to university yet. They told me they thought I could do the job with my hands tied behind my back, but it would involve a lot of after hours socializing with clients and they didn't think I would have much in common with the clientele. I come from an upper middle class family and went to the sort of school that provided all of said 'polish', but I am not Caucasian. People exclude others on the basis of all sorts of prejudices, myopic thinking and lack of creativity. Clearly some things have changed somewhat since that experience, but others have remained exactly the same.

[@jamesprivet]

Good comment

[@MarkL-we8uk]

The ability to conform rather than perform is more important in certain circles...

[@SeanSenior-f8b]

A mate of mines son is working class went for a top job. When he was offered the job he ask the reason. They told him that they had checked out were he was from ( North England). The said that he has worked 2 jobs at university and back home when he was on uni break he would work in factory's. That's ambition. Nice one lad proud one for the working class.

[@Flanker-NineZero]

Because there are subcultures within subcultures, and behaviour is usually influenced by culture. One vague but not entirely irrelevant way of defining class, and therefore behaviour, is by the way a person speaks.

[@Themiddleman416]

In layman's terms you have to be fake to be successful. This is why most soaps on TV that involve weath are loaded with drama. They're constantly judging as if they're perfect. I don't care how you talk, dress, what you find interesting, what you spend your time doing. If you're authentic, kind, hard working, and treat others with the same level of respect that you expect, you are a diamond in the rough. You deserve the best.

[@jeffhawkins7848]

The best way to help working class kids.....is to bring back Grammar schools. As a bricklayer I would never have got into one, however, I remember how bright working class kids suffered at ordinary comprehensive

[@madliberal7710]

This is happening in the United States as well.

[@theduke6174]

What we considered a polised candidate in America ? (without their resume) Would An accent give it away?

[@0x404-w5w]

@@theduke6174 If your accent deviates too much from General American English you're going to have a harder time landing a client-facing role in pretty much every industry. So if you have a thick Southern accent or you use African-American vernacular, you're going to have a hard time. Take a look at American news programs. The Anchors (including minority anchors) all have the same accent, even minorities.

[@assassinskillz123]

@@0x404-w5w Yh so true

[@missj.d9187]

I can tell you I come from the absolute roughest part of London and my address never blocked me from walking into any job or situation because of London rents you can't judge. The second I moved out of to other so-called big cities the judgement was off the charts! The amount times I was not even picked up for an interview but met these people socially who would say come and work for us and I would say "I tired to apply" they would always confess it was my address. Apparently my appearance didn't match my address! In London Doctors and Barristers struggle to pay rents or own ex council properties right nextdoor to council tenants which breaks down barriers but outside of London it's an absolute joke. I've been asked "exactly what side of the street do you live on"

[@Anuradha-ov2mr]

I think this is happening everywhere.

[@mikehunt8926]

So sad but exactly what I expected being lower working class myself

[@ButterflyLullabyLtd]

Bravo. Well said ... "Do you really want to live in a Country (UK) that discriminates against the working class and their accent. No!!!! My Aunt said to me, "Sharon, you will never get anywhere in life speaking like that!" I had to change my London accent to make it in London. But how sad. Michael Sheen speaks about Levelling the playing field for the working class children. And mentions how our Banks charge higher interest rates to the working class which gets us in debt. I know this is true because I am in debt because of this corrupt cruel system. Thank you for making this film. ♥️🦋♥️

[@perthpete7906]

Let's take presenter - Claudia Winkelman as an example. I remember she came onto our TV in a travel show. This was the most desirable job imaginable. How did she get the job? Famous wealthy well connected mother - eve pollard. Given an initial opportunity really helps, as one thing leads to the next. Same with singer Ellis-Bextor . Yet these folk all think they have talent and they made it by themselves!!! Sad people!!

[@Footballfan-rj1gf]

So what about me who doesn't have wealthy parents?? What a cruel world like this right? But don't forget if people connect you with hard-working nature, your family background from my point doesn't matter anymore

[@perthpete7906]

@@Footballfan-rj1gf it's a statistical thing. Many kids can climb the social ladder no matter what background. But it is easier to climb if you have a helping hand and given direction .

[@rahuldahoob4513]

Is eve pollard dead

[@perthpete7906]

@@rahuldahoob4513 age 76, a few more years in her I am certain

[@novelist5380]

@@Footballfan-rj1gf shut up

[@proceeding3405]

Is there anywhere I can watch full version of this?

[@onekillerguy]

Try BBC Iplayer

[@prettymofukka761]

I like the topic! Are there similar videos?

[@randomperson2606]

Prettymofukka7 the full episode is available on bbc iPlayer I think

[@phylosofazom2943]

This happens everywhere, but it will disappear. Nowadays money goes to tech positions mostly. If you are smart, good programmer you can get any job anywhere. Those jobs pay a lot. I made more working at a tech startup than a friend working at a so called "Big Bank". I work in a less stressful and more diverse workplace, more money and many more perks. Stop with this myth about city workers and stop glorifying them. Tell kids to study STEM and they will make a lot of money without the need to kiss somebodies bottom part. Also, you can build your own tech startup while in college with your friends. Nowadays, anybody can create anything with very little money. Every time I see a banker dragging himself to the office I laugh.

[@infinityswap5105]

Not true that you can build most start-ups with little money. You'll usually need to raise capital, either from friends and family or VCs.

[@SY-ok2dq]

If you look at the backgrounds of many of the highly successful startup founders in tech (in America anyway), they tend to be from at least solidly middle class, educated backgrounds. Take Mark Zuckerberg. His parents are very educated (dentist) and well-off, enough to send Zuckerberg to the prestigious elite private school Phillips Exeter. And of course, after that he got into Harvard. And at Harvard, he met people who would help co-found Facebook. One of them was Eduardo Saverin, a student from a wealthy South American family. Saverin was an initial private investor, right at the beginning. Saverin's father is in business, and worked in a variety of sectors - so Eduardo has a personal network on which he can draw on for information and help in large businesses. Eduardo's grandfather was the founder of a chain of clothing stores, so that's quite a deep bank of business knowhow to draw on. And Eduardo's mother is very educated - she's a psychologist. Of course, we know that Bill Gates is from a very well-off family, belonging to the social elite, and with a history in law and finance. Gates went to a private prep school, whose Mothers' Club had the foresight and money to buy an early computer terminal and a block of computer time on a GE computer back in the late 60s. What state schools were doing that for their students back then? Naturally this put Gates and his fellow Lakeside prep students Paul Allen (Microsoft co-founder) and Ric Weiland (2nd employee at Microsoft) in a fantastic position to become prominent pioneers in computing. Gates enrolled at Harvard where he met Steve Ballmer, who'd go on to become CEO of Microsoft. Ballmer came from a well-off family, with his father being a manager at Ford - then a top American company - whilst his mother came from a family with a business/entrepreneurial background. Ballmer also attended private prep schools. Sean Parker, of Facebook, Napster and Spotify, was born to very educated and successful parents. His mother was a TV advertising broker, and his father a U.S. government scientist and the chief scientist at NOAA. His father taught Sean how to program at age 7. And importantly, he encouraged Sean to take risks and to follow his entrepreneurial ambitions.

[@Ikaros23]

I`m from the upper middle class, and i would say to the people who want to integrate into this class is to focus on beeing driven but also humble. That is a important value in the upper middle class. Be a " nerd" on your trade. That is if you want to work in finance, then dig deep into the culture of finance. Not just the basics. Read the papers, and chat in the blogs with other investors and get to know the " linga/slang". If you want to start to work in tech/consulting then the same principle. If you want to work in tech, then you also need to be a gamer. And also dress like others do in tech ( That is never where a suite, unless you work in sales. But then only a blazer and jeans) . In finance it`s important to know how to " dress down" the propper way. That is you need to know when to use a tie, and when to not use it. You are not in the royal family, so don`t dress like them. Dress " modern" and " minimalistic". Use colours like dark blue, brown, white, tweed, grey. Always trim your nails, and keep your hair groomed. If you have less hair ( going bald), then shave it all down. Also use as little eau de cologne ( This is also important to you ladies) , as possible. If you need some inspiration of how to dress then see the film ( The Talented Mr Rippley), this type of " Preppy" style. Mixed with a sporty look always show upper middle class attitudes. Don`t buy a more expensive watch than you can afford ( this only screams low status). And if you are a female then use as little makeup as possible, if you want to show some status, then show it in your ability to keep your body in shape. Botox or plastic surgery also screams low confidence ( trust me the best surgery is highly expansive and is done so nobody can see that it is artificial). Also get some interests in subjects that are important to show that you are sofisticated, but without beeing a " bragger". That is interests like sports, hiking in nature, cooking, Pets, travel, The arts. When let`s say you are interested in cooking, don`t be a snob. This sound counterintuitive, but is HIGHLY important. If you love pommes frites ( Fries), then learn how to cook them from scratch. Then serve it simply with fish ( common fish will do, but buy it from a local store that sells fresh fish), and with a good bottle of white whine ( don`t spend more money than you have but learn to spend 20-30% more than the cheapest ones). Less is always more. This class has the taste, but don`t have the " fuck you money". So many can have 1 expensive purse that they have saved money to buy. Or maby they don`t like high spending at all but save all their money and invest it in the stock market or have bought a nice apartment with a good view. If you are going on a vacation, the vacation should also have a cultural element. Just spending money, and bragging about your money only make you seem insecure. People from my class most often has a form of superiority and inferiority complex against " The Rich". That is most pretend that money don`t matter. but reality is that most love money the same way as anybody else ( mabye even more), but we have learnd from we where children to hide this because it is vulgar. When it comes to cultural preferences and travel. Then modern music is fine, but also try to take some interest in classical music, contemporary classical, Jazz. When making food try to learn some food from the bottom ( baking your own bread or croissants), it don`t have to be perfect. But if you can make 3-5 dishes this shows that you are not just eating at Mcdonalds or that you simply just use your nouveau riche money to buy your self class. When going on hollyday to let`s say France then avoid the turists. Book your self in on air bnb and try living as the locals, this is alot cooler. You taking fotos of you drinking coffee with the local French shows you have the " When in Rome do as the Romans attitude). Never lie about your class background. This part is fucking important. But at the same time don`t make a big deal about it. Learn to use humor to default tension. And use Google/youtube to find information. In Japan they have a saying that says " Japanese spirit/culture, western knowledge". This should also do fine for you. That is keep some of your working class style, and in a way stay a " Man/female" of " the people". But at the same time learn the " habitus" of my class. The importance if this last message can`t be understated. This is what they in Italian call "sprezzatura". That is keep the cool things of the working class, but get rid of the rest. Remember that alot of fashion and cool arts come from the working class.

[@garethbuckeridge6910]

I recall being told in the 1980s not to get ideas above my station as the top jobs were for the kids who's parents had the contacts in life. This became very true for me in 1997 when I worked for the University of Oxford and the academics there confirmed this reality because Maggie had already destroyed the mining community in which I had grown up in. You only have to lok at bLiars Islington elite or Cameron's Eton elite to see that this view is a true reality. It's not about diversity and more about class.

[@andrewcliffe4753]

As a poor kid I watched kids with lower marks get to better schools because their parents had contributed more to the school. My best move ever was when at the age of 14 in 1956 my mother managed to emigrate the family to Australia…forever.

[@theunderdogmagazine]

Great stuff

[@hayekianman]

if you sound posh, the conclusion is not that you are clever - but that your high end clients are comfortable speaking with that person. the clever ppl are in the background - doing quant work. why focus only on client facing roles? sales jobs are about making the deal, not being clever

[@heyilikeair8521]

True. And we need to change this. Idc if it takes hundreds of years,many people act as though if something is not murder and takes too long to fix we shouldn't try. We can, we can make state education better and challenge the rich and prejudice, we don't lets be honest but that's despite the point. I know they are powerful but if has been so hard for a wealthy man to now say women should not have the right to vote or lobby for this then why does it seem like a useless action to some people to fight for change and hope our great grandkids feel it. If the same people, brewing the same attitudes are kept at the top, the top won't change for way longer than our great grandkids.

[@HotSauceLeadFree]

Graduated with MSc from London top uni and 550 applications later got a job 🥲🥲🥲

[@aclark903]

Meanwhile the people who can't afford to wait that long get a low level job much sooner.

[@oo--7714]

Jesus

[@ramengurung9913]

It’s also about the work experience you have beforehand

[@odeytayem8902]

Me too

[@ElliotPorter65]

​@@ramengurung9913which you can't get without getting that job

[@letsgoBrandon204]

Not so sure it has anything to do with the perception of intelligence. The company needs to make money and they think they are more likely to make that money with a person that has a more polished accent, appearance, mannerisms, behaviour. The only way to get past that is to take a risk and employ people who don't fit this mould. If it turns out that these qualities are not as useful as the employer thinks they are, they will slowly become less important. You can't force it though

[@nvmcrider8475]

Birds of a feather flock together. People want to hire and work with others that are like them. That’s just human nature. A person without tattoos isn’t likely to hire a person covered in tattoos.

[@jafarsalami8175]

Dagenham stand up!

[@Bonk-A-Lonk]

Well In Elvis. Happy at how this wasn't made so racially charged. I'm "white"working class and these days I feel I get "white privilege" card flung at me and I feel it's causing a huge divide in the working class society

[@MatthewChapmanYT]

White privilege is a myth. Chinese men make way more than the average white English man.. Asians earn more. What about the Jews ??

[@rahuldahoob4513]

Change the record...

[@adeel-eh7xq]

Fair skin does come with privilege. Even in the Asian community. Having a lighter complexion does lead to people treating you better. I can attest to that. Whether people are lining up to give you jobs is another thing. But it definitely does mean that people interact with you differently.

[@slumbiii]

Fk getting a bs job in these horror factory offices. Start a co-op or collective and you get to share in the profits. Or better yet, organise with your workmates and take control of your workplace. For-profit businesses need to learn, the future is worker control, super profits, super wages and wealth inequality are dead ends for humanity.

[@CanadianMonarchist]

That worked out so beautifully for Britain in the 1970s.

[@draveragejoe1525]

Ridiculous, should be always based on how well you would be able to do the job. Nothing else should matter. If we had equal opportunities the world would be a far better place.

[@GenZVibes2000]

I will be looking into summer job temp as a start to see how I adapt to their working lifestyle!

[@wemuk5170]

I used to work as a lawyer in the City & noticed that not just a few came from WC background. All of us came from ‘certain’ schools. If you want to work at the top City firms/merchant banks, you do have to emerge ‘polished’ (not posh) from grammar/independent schools. My peers were from Eton, etc. However, you don’t need to be a broker/banker/analyst/lawyer to succeed. You can be an entrepreneur which is FAR better. No excuse for ‘sour grapes’ from a one-sided BBC ‘coup’ - especially in this digital age. BBC should be ashamed of its propaganda for promoting the ‘victim’ mentality. A dream stealer instead of inspiring hope. Shame on you, BBC.

[@pfdrtom]

Here in Texas (yeah, I know, that has nothing to do with the UK) tradesmen on average make more money than a Uni grad. When people here, and there, earn degrees that mean nothing in real life they will suffer and it's been a waste of money.

[@JimOverbeckgenius]

The larger better part of this film isn't here & I cannot find it anywhere - i.e. - it's too true.

[@chadlangford7793]

Any chance you could put a version of this video up without the subtitles? :-)

[@user-sf1id2br7i]

Elvis has left the building

[@riverraven7359]

All that talk about polish just means "are you one of us?" It's blatant class segregation.

[@migueldecarvalho8012]

If you act like a chav (unlike Elvis), and you go to a place where chavs don't abound, your chav quality is all others will notice about you. I'm a country boy. It's evident. I love being a country boy and I own it. I don't go around whining about my perceived lack of certain qualities. Some qualities are, indeed, missing in me. Other qualities I have to demonstrate them in time. Sometimes you have to work against ignorance. It's no big deal to fight against stereotypes and ignorance. Our ancestors fought much worse enemies and prevailed.

[@heyilikeair8521]

Chav like is how they grew up, the point is that they are qualified. The qualities that they are missing are purely class and race. Your right about saying that you do need to work against ignorance,it doesn't help you to give up. The key thing is you shouldn't have to ,and while racism and classism has roots that we all just 'get',they need to be tackled because they cause unnecessary harm. Even if people can handle it it doesn't mean it should be allowed to keep going unanalysed and people should restrict awareness.

[@migueldecarvalho8012]

@@heyilikeair8521 "The qualities they are missing are purely class and race." Nothing else? That statement reveals a world view in which everyone is pawn in a table of chess; some are white, some are black. And then there are knights and bishops - those bastards! - who can move multiple squares at a time. Unhappy with this, you want to turn the tables and force everyone to play checkers instead. However, the world isn't a game of chess, people aren't pawns, knights, bishops, etc, and people don't like to be forced to play checkers or anything else. How do you know whether they are qualified? Do you place no value in human interactions and the quality of those interactions? You may call me ignorant - I am; of many things. But that adds naught to your own stock of knowledge - you grow nothing because of it. You better be really knowledgeable and wise if you are going around calling people ignorant!

[@edwardboyd4584]

When someone gets turned down from a job, surely they're not the best person to interview on the reasoning why? Think the video would've been better if they included some internal discussion rather than just external by talking to an applicant and a recruiter.

[@danielopolot4198]

'Maybe it's because working class kids don't have a lobby like other minorities do.' The working class has the most powerful lobby in the country - the Labour party. Clue's in the name. Unfortunately the Labour party have become a joke, and are big on rhetoric and little on action. Recently they've been little on rhetoric as well. If the young working class, and the youth in general, got its act together and actually decided to vote, you'd see the entirety of the country shift to accommodate them.

[@seiwarriors]

I don't think he is talking about that, I think he was trying to say that having connection to a company gets you a job easier as their mommy or daddy knows someone there and will recommend the sons or daughter resume in the office meeting. This is what I think he meant by lobbying.

[@paleopotato736]

Young people don't vote because they think none of the parties represent them. To the youth there is no point in voting as the parties mostly focus on the older generation.

[@Ben-jq5oo]

YES. Young voters and those people who say”what’s the point in voting, nothing changes” are doing a great disservice to the country. Perhaps if some of them had got themselves to the booths Jeremy Corbyn might have stood a chance.

[@Gabzerelli5]

"If you sound posh, you must be clever" *cough Jacob Rees-Mogg *cough

[@jayveebloggs9057]

is he not clever then?

[@anwarulhoque7578]

Employers have the right to chose who they feel is right for them, race or colour and class is not main reason. If I was a racist billionaire interviewing someone who speaks like stormzy who has pottential to make me millions even though hypothetically speaking I am a racist I would hire the person regardless of my bigotry.

[@dfsx7934]

i attend so many networking events and nobody looks like me things rlly need to change

[@bobchow178]

Theres also a problem with what they might ask you to do, opportunist moves towards ”simple people.” Its easy to be succesful if you have no conscience.

[@ellismeah5127]

Any job would be better than aspiring to spend your life has a gang member, just have a work ethic ,and always strive to get a better job , that's the way forward , and the right side of the law keeping under the radar

[@rahuldahoob4513]

Fucking naieve

[@pennineflooring7489]

Truck driver top money was in the army you get any job you want if you set your mind to it no matter what back ground you have

[@lamarg3783]

I knew Elvis was from Dagenhammm

[@JorgeBY]

It's because of narrow minded and short sighted people (ignorance)

[@chao3414]

not really. people from working class work hard. but children from rich family work harder and they know how the the society system runs deeply, because their parents tell them more.

[@MissShootingStar5]

@@chao3414 "children from rich family work harder" - not true lol.

[@Scarz3ny]

@@chao3414 I worked with a guy who spent most his days turning up late and half asleep because he'd been on the sniff all night but just one thing mummy and daddy had bought him a 15 grand s15 Japanese import while I turned up on time everyday in my shitty Vauxhall Astra who do you think got given the opportunities?? In England people judge how much respect to give you based on what you can offer them on a personal level I've got massive respect for people who have done well for themselves what I have a problem with people who think there better than everyone else because they have money but forget to mention the reason they have money is because they've been financially propped up by there parents there whole life

[@delooaes]

This is the same going on here in Iceland

[@Basedjeevs]

I WANT TO LIVE IN ICELAND PLEASE I HATE INDIA

[@hansonel]

Really? That's disappointing to hear. I thought Iceland was a mostly egalitarian society that didn't care about class :/

[@delooaes]

@@hansonel My daughter is studying at the University of Iceland. Believe me .. there is the “ HIDDEN” side of Iceland. For propar jobs and government positions. As a foreigner chances are 2% getting into top positions/ employment. Don’t believe everything you guy’s read . We live in Reykjavík..

[@ibrahimm2012]

I would rather start my small business and sell samosas on street . Freedom, no boss , earn enough for a happy life that’s what I want .

[@CanadianMonarchist]

We should always focus on the job that will make us happy. Best wishes with your samosa business!

[@mbb05jb]

they should have just started in the BBC!!!!!!!!!

[@tc5273]

Noooo. Remember, the BBC dictates what everyone else should do and projects their own faux virtuosity on to society. Its still a bastion of white middle class liberals: they will fight to the death to keep that balance.....despite telling everyone else how racist, sexist, homophobic they are. 'Do as I say, not as I do'.

[@ALADDIN22091978]

Disability is not understood, dyspraxia, ADHD and autism not understood .

[@xoieveck9505]

ACCENT???? Y'ALL ARE REALLY WILD WHAT THE HECK. So if you don't have the right accent, they'll pick someone who does, even if their resume is shit???!

[@theedgewater2917]

Thats how it be happened to me before but more of they didn't like the look of me

[@seiwarriors]

This happens in every country now. South Korea, UK, Russia, even in Africa most likely.

[@SY-ok2dq]

Why do you assume that top employers, like a famous investment bank like Morgan Stanley, won't get many applicants for new positions? And that their only choice is between applicants with very good resumes but working class or "ethnic/immigrant" accents; or else applicants with more posh accents but resumes that "are shit"? Employers like that will have a lot of choice. And some of those applicants will have impressive resumes as well as "posh" accents and a manner that indicates a higher social class. A good example would be the former British Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak. He has the posh accent, with parents who are highly educated (doctor & pharmacist), and his schooling completed at the private Winchester College, followed by Oxford. And then, he got an MBA at another prestigious university, Stanford, in America. Oh and he was a Fulbright Scholar - meaning he was selected from a very competitive pool based on academic merit. Is that a shit resume?

[@theedgewater2917]

Grades don't matter anymore its all about if the interviewer likes you really

[@lesleyvivien2876]

I was lucky enough to have Douglas Barnes as my English teacher a lifetime ago, and he spoke clearly and intelligently, but not with the crystal-clear cut-glass received accent; and he said that he had to work harder to get his point across, than people with the received pronunciation. Mr Barnes did, however, understand pronunciation, and would have said university and diversity. Unlike Mr Rajan, he didn't say universi'y and diversi'y. "If you sound posh, you must be clever." Not always, but being posh means you had access to better education, so the odds are that you are clever. "Do you really want to live in a country like that?" Why not? I'm not going anywhere! If you don't like it, nobody's nailing your feet to the floor. You're free to go anywhere that sloppy, careless speech is applauded.

[@seankelly3774]

One solution is to leave the country as I did as most of the world do not have the pathetic class system which holds the country back and is so sad. Wish you well Elvis.

[@realnesx]

Sad thing is its true. I've seem middle class people not be very good at there jobs get promotions when there shit at there job. The system is rigged

[@margieql7198]

I think its everywhere. People with connections or backers are mostly hired.

[@josephinepao9807]

Unfortunately the report is really true. Thanks for endorse with more evidence reporting

[@tombradley8352]

How to break into the elite- cuts to Birmingham😅

[@jayveebloggs9057]

when we know this why do we think that companies should represent the diversity of the local area? If the iwidnrush generation came to be hospital porters or bus mconductors why on earth do we think their offspring will become CEO's... I live in the NE of England and guess what... the leaders of companies or hospitals aren't local geordies...

[@samexelby8715]

as if you want these jobs! are you nuts you work all day and all night and the stress! the money aint worth it

[@hansonel]

Right? There are a lot of toxic narcissists and sociopaths at all levels in many of these high paying professions. The stress and immense pressure are not worth trying to forge a career in them IMO. And then there's the social pressure of not just keep up with the lifestyle of your upper middle class colleagues but trying to also keep up with millionaires too. Nothing wrong with being ambitious and moving up classes but many change industries after realizing this or getting completely burnt out and figuring out money and elite jobs aren't the only thing that matters in life.

[@eletemmorzsaiblog]

Don't forget the fancy private school education, colleges where young people are in process to be the new elite from "old money". If you are not from there forget posh city job as you won't be enough "polished".

[@llabyrinthinessoul]

this is the realest thing ever omg

[@Bloxdio_God]

Very good video. I think I’ll send my youngest son for elocution lessons. You have to play the game and portray an image to succeed.

[@Goths-On-The-Beach]

Becuase daddy recommended them ...

[@chrismaynard6016]

As a 63 year old, It has ALWAYS been the way that working (lower...sorry) class people have found it difficult to get the best jobs. I went to a Secondary Modern school but the ability to express myself VERBALLY due to a MIDDLE CLASS background helped me enormously. The standard of SPOKEN English amongst some of the young people in this programme was appalling. One of them I could barely understand with all the "likes", modern lingo and mumbling. Sorry....I would NOT employ them in any job requiring important client contact where the SPOKEN word is critical. That said I think the standard of education and SPEECH has gone down considerably since I left that Sec Mod (where all the thickos went?) in 1973........like, no wotta' mean....like, innit ? Discuss UK

[@BabsicalsCity]

Very well said Chris

[@Ben-jq5oo]

@@BabsicalsCity Spot On. I wasn’t academic but benefitted from hearing middle class language used at home. Full sentences, explanations etc. Today I barely understand many comments due to the lack of punctuation and missing capitals. It really is like trying to interpret a foreign language at times.

[@michaelhurley3171]

With a name like Elvis why doesn't he try to become a singer?!!!

[@madliberal7710]

Poor kids are Barrow boys/girls for life.

[@HeySHEBITCH]

agreed

[@abderrahman4063]

so cool !

[@jameslooney3577]

It's not Rocket Science, Everbody cant get to the top.There's no shame in opting out of the Rat race .If your happy not chasing a Kadashian lifestyle that's fine.have a nice day folks.

[@gt-lv3zo]

the first thing i would do is call myself something other than Elvis. If I had an Anglo sounding middle name I'd use that. If it was Leroy or Myron I'd use something else. Maybe Cliff or Gene ? 😁

[@CanadianMonarchist]

I love Elvis Presley, so if I were a hiring manager that would be a plus.

[@OkenAndMosh]

The idea that companies are hiring people based off of the way they dress and talk is a load of nonsense. Companies want to make money, and the best way for them to make money is to hire the most competent candidates. Companies hiring using metrics which are poor predictors of competence (i.e. class, race, gender etc) will suffer an economic penalty. Having hired candidates myself, and competed at assessment days for graduate schemes myself, I know the conclusions drawn in this video to be false. The main metrics graduate schemes use to decide who they will interview are grades and relevant experience (normally internships). During interviews candidates will typically be asked questions designed to test competence. Candidates who answer these questions clearly and with confidence stand the best chance of succeeding. I have never met anyone who uses "accent" as a serious metric, they would be laughed out of the building.

[@novelist5380]

How do you think people get internships and good grades in the first place?

[@OkenAndMosh]

@@novelist5380 How are you suggesting students get high grades and work experience?

[@novelist5380]

@@OkenAndMosh Its easier to get high grades when you go to a good school, which most middle class people do, they also have better careers advice services and access to opportunities.

[@OkenAndMosh]

@@novelist5380 I'm not making any claims about the socio-economic inequalities in the education system etc. Neither is is video. That is not what is being commented upon.

[@novelist5380]

@@OkenAndMosh Well it is, my response answers the question proposed in the title of the video, Why do middle class kids get the best jobs?

[@161BMW]

If you talk with Essex accent or Cockney accent it is a bit harder but not impossible.

[@JonModham]

the middle class are working class. publican's -16000 comparable lifestyle publican's+16000. publican's +32000 equality. publican's -16000 universal credit has made a difference. publican's -16000 and in poverty. poverty can kill. welfare publican's -16000 utter lottery. public sector can make anything happen. public sector does anything, public opinion basis, knowledge basis, public consensus basis.

[@marksevel7696]

That guy had no class at the end and is bloody awful

[@kasparovthegodofwar]

Woeking class have no hobbies? Wow

[@kingspunkbubble]

Word of the day: rejoinder.

[@jameswhiteley6843]

Why do schools in London receive more funding than schools elsewhere?

[@chao3414]

because London people earns more and pay more tax. it is not good but not unfair.

[@richimorton]

Because peasants

[@Scarz3ny]

@@chao3414 but if you live down in Sussex we get charged London taxes but don't get London wages because this country revolves around the shite hole

[@seiwarriors]

@@Scarz3ny very true and some of the schools are pretty bad as I from experience went to a school which were nearly insolvent many times when I went there.

[@ablamill8357]

Wealth isn't income / earned.

[@sillylittlemonkey7130]

So we've got to act posh

[@wemuk5170]

Dullbaltic No, not act, speak. Speak well with confidence. Enunciate & use the correct grammar.

[@sillylittlemonkey7130]

@@wemuk5170 So if I speak RP at an interview and then start talking in my Somerset accent when I get it, everything's alright?

[@Scarz3ny]

@@sillylittlemonkey7130 only if you have something that will personally benefit that person

[@binagarten4667]

You need to be asking your masters why is thier 82 Indian women compared to 1 Indian male on the BBC and even woree ration on SKY, ITV, CH4 and CH5? That detective is the right question! He is only used as a stooge when people have raised this issue and is rolled out like Jay Blades for the Black man.

[@homoerectus4923]

Just a sad cruel world, better to work in retail and not go uni or do an apprenticeship, save for a mortgage and get more mortgages.

[@seiwarriors]

Seen it and my friend was working for a long time, still doesn't have a house and she is 27 waring probably around 28k and she is working night shifts. Nah mate that kind of salary is a graduate scheme starting salary.

[@quintonneighbourhoodwatchb7247]

I can't stand Anol Rajan, he gives Indian's a bad name. Just another Martin Bashir. Thinks he's speaking for the minority when he's complete out of touch. He was better when he was apprentice on the wright stuff.

[@josephtio2803]

a bit one sided documentary and there are a lot of jobs waiting if you don't get one in that class

[@assassinskillz123]

I’m never gonna get hired because of this