So, here's what equal opportunity is like in UK in the company I worked. Before I start, I will introduce some characters to my story:
Manager 1 - Manager of my manager (Qualified actuary)
Manager 2 - My manager (Qualified actuary, I think)
Intern - Failed 2010 Assessment Centre for Actuarial Graduate Scheme and was brought into the team as an intern in 2011 by Manager 1 so that he can automatically be absorbed into the 2011 Actuarial Graduate Scheme.
At one point in time, during a certain valuation period:
Manager 1: Manager 2, you did not include this £100 million reserve.
Manager 2: *lying* That's because we just received the figure.
Manager 1: Oh, alright then. You can include it now.
Me: *thinking to myself* That's a lie! We received the figure so long ago!
Some months later, I applied for 2011 Actuarial Graduate Scheme myself while interning in the company and was given this feedback:
Manager 1: We are not going to proceed with your application because we feel that you make many mistakes in your work.
Me: What mistakes?
Manager 1: *short pause* I am not sure. You need to ask Manager 2.
Later on, meeting with Manager 2:
Me: Manager 1 told me that he will not proceed with my Graduate application because I make mistakes and he cannot point out what mistakes these are and told me to ask you. So, what are the mistakes he is referring to?
Manager 2: *throws hands into air and puts them behind head to buy time* I don't know. There just are mistakes.
Me: ...
At one point, I talk to the intern:
Me: So, why did you join the internship?
Intern: Oh, that's because I applied for the assessment centre and failed it and Manager 1 decided to bring me in as an intern so that I can automatically be absorbed into the graduate programme this year.
Me: ... *thinking to myself again* So, they lie to me that I make mistakes to use it as an excuse no to hire me, a perfectly eligible candidate for the role, and they decide to hire someone who has already FAILED the assessment centre. Fairness.
What happened here is that the company decided to hire someone who failed an assessment centre and also to keep on Manager 2 who made a mistake of missing out a reserve of £100 million. They couldn't offer me a permanent role because... I made a bigger mistake than Manager 2? I miscalculated a reserve of £100 billion?
So, the equal opportunity this company practices (or should I say UK?) is to PRETEND to treat everyone equally. They pretend that you are not qualified for the job. In truth, they've bent the facts and lied to you right in your face! That was not the first time I experienced a similar situation. In another post, I will give two more examples of the so called Equal Opportunity UK presents to all, as they claim.
I am okay with UK trying to protect it's citizens, but why do you have to lie about it? Can't you just say, "You are qualified for the job, definitely, but I have to apologize because I will not be able to hire you as we have had 50 UK applicants for this job and we have to give them priority. We will write you an excellent recommendation letter if you need one."
Just speak the truth! UK can publish everywhere that it practices Equal Opportunity, but it is not fooling anyone! And once again, you succeed not because of what you know (knowledge), but because of who you know and what you are. Typical in life, isn't it?
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