Pedigree: How Elite Students Get Elite Jobs

A thought-provoking, well-researched analysis of the entry-level hiring process at the most elite employers in finance, law and business consulting -- one might even call them "the gatekeepers of the 1%." My husband and I are both part of the world described here (he in consulting and me in law), as we both managed to gate-crash our way in from non-elite family backgrounds. Having done our share of hiring committee work, we can vouch for a lot of the picture painted here.* However, the book's value derives not from the care taken in accurately describing the hiring process, but from the new light the author throws on the subject, even for those already familiar with this world.Rivera has done society a service by illuminating the unspoken norms against which all applicants to these top employers are judged. These norms, like the need to show participation in a team sport (or similar significant time commitment in a familiar group activity), or the ability to seize and hold the floor in a conversation about serious subjects, are unremarkable features of upper class life. However, they are not the natural outcomes of being raised in a poor family, and outside of attending a boarding school on a scholarship, there is nowhere you can go to learn them. So, although none of these norms overtly discriminate against applicants who are not rich, white Anglo-Saxons (though there are incidents of blatantly illegal discriminatory acts in the book too), their net effect is to largely screen out people whose lives do not resemble those of the wealthy. The book is worth reading in order to see this process in action, or for would-be applicants, even to structure your college years and take other non-obvious steps in preparation.*In terms of the particulars, in my experience, the picture for applicants from non-elite law schools is not as dire as described here. At both of the white-shoe firms where I worked, new associates were from a range of law schools in the top 50, plus local ones (though you still had to be in the top of your class outside of the elite schools). Of course, this was in Atlanta, not in NYC, so it is possible that the top dog firms in NYC only look at a few law schools.

It's too late for me, but not too late for my son. Helpful to learn what I basically already knew -- the game is so biased from the start. Key takeaway: do one extracurricular to the highest level rather than a bunch to middling achievement. Ideally, that should be a high-class/expensive/rare sport, but other things are fine too. Perfect social skills are a must, especially if you aren't a generic white dude. And go to the branded top university. Are you middle class or working class? Oh Well!!

I'm not sure what to make of "Pedigree"'s marketing campaign. The book certainly has received a lot of hype, most provocatively in the Economist (headline: "How to join the 1%"). I'm baffled, however, that Amazon is promoting "Pedigree" as "vocational guidance.""Pedigree" is not a "how-to" guide for joining elite firms. (Again, I'm not exactly sure why it's being promoted as such.) Rather, the book is an easy-to-read text that details/gives an overview of Rivera's research on hiring practices at a few investment banking, consulting and law firms. The insight the book offers is certainly not new for anyone familiar with these industries, but Rivera (heavily influenced by Bourdieu) offers a succinct, beautifully written sociological analysis of a world that is foreign to many -- and one that has not received much attention from academics.I found the book a pleasure to read, though I found Rivera's analysis slightly repetitive and her presentation of nontraditional candidates who succeeded in accepting offers (chapter 10) lacking. I do look forward, however, to following her work in the future, and I am impressed by her life story (from a single-parent home in L.A. to Yale to Northwestern's Kellogg). Overall, this is a great read for scholars/professionals/laypeople who are interested in exploring the state of our "meritocracy" and are excited by the growing publication of "popular" books about American educational inequality ("Our Kids;" "Privilege;" etc).

Don't listen to anyone who says this book isn't a how-to guide or a vocational book. Rivera does something better than just tell you what to do in order to get an elite job. She describes the thought process, backgrounds and actual behind the scenes conversations of interviewers who are the gate keepers for consulting, banking, and law firms. Anyone who shrugs off this book or believes that it just is telling everyone something about 'elites' that they already know hasn't read it very closely or even finished the book. Rivera explains how the college you attend, your socioeconomic background, race, ethnicity, gender, and even hobbies or interests impact the way an interviewer may perceive you. This is so important especially if you have absolutely nothing in common with the people who are going to interview you. As a 1st generation underrepresented minority from an improvised background who did not attend an ivy league school - I learned from this very book - how to land a highly coveted investment banking internship. This book actually shaped the way I interviewed at firms. I wish I could personally thank the writer herself!

In this well-researched book, Lauren Riviera looks at the extent to which "cultural fit" affects hiring decisions for elite jobs, and at how cultural fit itself is a proxy of a person's childhood socioeconomic status.Not only is it interesting to know how those in power select for others like themselves (at a perhaps subconscious level) -- it also may be of practical value if you come from a disadvantaged background and are wondering how to approach interviews at elite firms.10/10

Un excellent ouvrage accessible qui s'interroge sur les processus de recrutement. L'auteur, sociologue reconnue a étudié pendant plusieurs années les processus de recrutement de plusieurs grandes entreprises américaines mondialisées. Elle raconte s'être faite embauchée comme stagiaire dans l'une de ses firmes au service RH et en tire un matériau complété par d'autres de ses enquêtes de terrain sur les processus de recrutement. On y apprend le déroulement des processus de recrutement dans leur intégralité, déroulements qu'elle analyse avec distance.Elle en conclut que l'ensemble du système de recrutement aboutit à la situation où les "étudiants d'élite obtiennent les postes d'élite" dans la majorité des cas. Elle déconstruit ainsi le discours méritocratique en analysant les trajectoires individuelles et collectives et la manière avec laquelle ce type d'entreprises recrutent (cabinet juridique, cabinet de conseil, banque d'investissement).Passionnant, je recommande pour toutes celles et ceux qui veulent hacker le système (et se faire embaucher) ou comprendre ce que sont les processus de recrutement de ce types de compagnies.

Content that is really common sense but society does not seem to recognize this trend. Although North America is a land of opportunity we should and need to recognize and be aware that some have better opportunities or experiences or training than others. But this should not discourage anyone to strive for opportunities and to make the effort to succeed. No one said it would be easy or that we would all start from the same place.

I enjoyed reading this book. It shines a light on the sometimes murky world of hiring.It is well written and researched.I would recommend this to everyone.