Phycological effects from AA/BEE

[orin76]

This is my experience. Most white people I know have really decent jobs. Anyway, if one can't find a job, *make* a job - that's what entrepreneurship is about.

I see the same thing. I know job reservation is occurring on a large scale, but I still don't see unemployed, skilled and educated whites in Johannesburg. At least not under the age of 50. My anecdotal experience suggests that skills and education still guarantee employment for blacks and whites alike. Of course, I'm not counting government institutions or parastatals.

 

[capd]

Lately, I'm hearing a lot of grunts and moans from my collegues and friends about being rejected for jobs/promotions due to their skin colour. I know the positions and vacancies applied are challenging and requires high calibre individuals with extraordinary skills and talent, also this is a recessionary period so the market is more competitive.

My contract will be ending soon and if I stay in SA, I can't help but think if my race will have anything to do with my job application being rejected. The mere existence of affirmative action laws automatically triggers the thought lingering in the back of my mind even though logic tells me my competitors may be more qualified and experienced.

It doesn't help when one of my medicore black female co-workers walked into one of the big 4 banks last December despite only having an undergraduate degree whereas most of us have professional qualification in addition post grad degrees.

Anyone have similar thoughts?

Ever pondered about the saying "thoughts become things"? I know it is fairy dust sort of stuff and probably wouldn't affect AA/BEE policy being carried out, but maybe if you surrounded yourself with more positivity (e.g. among many, appreciation of everything that is awesome about SA and taking advantage of them; things that we take for granted) and less negativity (i.e. grunts and moans in the Current Affairs section) then you would start slowly seeing an improvement in your life? Your posts indicate that you are very negative and seemingly bitter, with a strong conviction of how SA's future is going to be.

 

[noxibox]

If you're male plan to face affirmative action in numerous other countries.

 

[I am Penguin]

... at least in my world.

Hmm, that says it all!

 

[noxibox]

I see the same thing. I know job reservation is occurring on a large scale, but I still don't see unemployed, skilled and educated whites in Johannesburg. At least not under the age of 50. My anecdotal experience suggests that skills and education still guarantee employment for blacks and whites alike. Of course, I'm not counting government institutions or parastatals.

That is pretty much what I have seen. Once you're in your 50s you face something different, ageism. I know extremely well qualified, highly experienced people who simply cannot get employment purely because they're in their 50s and companies still have a weird attitude about it. It made some sense back when companies offered guaranteed pensions and such, but these days it is merely lingering prejudice.

 

[krycor]

My anecdotal experience suggests that skills and education still guarantee employment for blacks and whites alike.

Depends on sector.. the recession has a lot of graduates sitting around from what i've seen esp here in cpt but then everyone wants to be here and companies in jhb don't even bother when you from cpt i noticed

 

[KillerX]

I have never been affected by BEE or AA. Most interviews I have been to, I have been told that, obviously black candidates would be preferred, but they simply cannot find them.

From my experience, there aren't many capable senior black software developers . Dont ask my why that is, maybe they have no interest in the area, or they aren't good at it. Same goes for very technical positions, such as electrical engineers etc.

However, if you are in something like sales or marketing or law, youre pretty much screwed if youre white. You are last in line.