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When Nepotism Hurts You
When I decided to study psychology, a number of people said that I wouldn’t be able to get work. I was very fortunate to actually have gotten a job, but in a way, I wasn’t.
The person who hired me was awesome and someone I admire to this day, but hiring me seemed like they were doing me a favour as a friend of my family and not because I was particularly qualified for the position. Nevertheless, I took the job in gratitude as I had been unemployed for several months.
I think a lot of us can relate to being given a position that you don’t really want but because it gives you money, you take it. You say to yourself that you want to use it as a springboard to go do what you really want to do. Maybe you want to start a business or go back to school.
But a very curious thing happens instead. You get comfortable. So comfortable, in fact, that leaving seems threatening to your livelihood.
I was a researcher and the job paid well. I thought I was so lucky. However, the climate of the job was difficult for those around me. Certain red tape and political decisions really frustrated the people who wanted to be there while I was relatively calm. It didn’t matter as much to me. Unfortunately, this would come to bite me in the ass later.
