Workers Claim Nepo Babies Are Costing Them Jobs, New Survey Shows

Nepotism doesn’t just happen in Hollywood or other high-profile industries. Many people are noticing it in their own workplaces, and say they’ve been affected personally.

In a survey of 1,000 people by Resume.io—an online platform that offers resume services—half of respondents said they’ve lost out on a job opportunity because of a nepo baby colleague.

The majority (72%) said they believe that ‘who you know’ is a key factor in the hiring process, and it’s true that networking has always been a big part of job hunting. But when family ties factor into hiring decisions, things can get complicated.

Prominent examples of nepotism abound in business, politics, entertainment and music, including David Ellison, George W. Bush, Dakota Johnson, Sofia Coppola, and Gracie Abrams, just to name a few. So it’s not hard to understand why people think familial ties influence someone’s professional success.

In the survey, 54% said nepotism had a negative impact on the workplace, affecting productivity, morale, and diversity.

However, more than four in 10 respondents also said they got a job at a company where a relative worked.

People should leverage their connections in the workplace, but they can do so without taking advantage of the situation. According to one career expert, it’s best to use relationships to get a foot in the door, but job candidates also want to make sure they have the skills for the role.

“It’s fine to have a relative pass your application along so it reaches the hiring manager; that’s no different from asking a friend or colleague to do the same,” said Amanda Augustine, a spokesperson for Resume.io, in the release. “But from there, it’s on you to build rapport, show genuine interest, and prove your qualifications.”