jobs for the boys
Patronage for allies
Jobs for the boys is the practice of giving positions or contracts to friends, allies, or political supporters rather than qualified candidates.
The phrase implies patronage and cronyism, suggesting that merit matters less than connections: The new appointments look like jobs for the boys.
Chiefly British.
- sinecurePaid position requiring nothing
- gravy trainEffortless source of income
- nepotismPreferring kin in hiring
- cronyismFavoring friends in appointments
- patronageSupporter's financial backing
favoritism · old boy network · appointments · spoils system · inside job · office · positions · closed shop · kinship ties · hiring · greasy pole · oligarchy · nod · partiality · networking · revolving door · wink · rubber stamp
jobs for the boysmeritocracy
Advancement through demonstrated ability
merit-based hiring · open competition · fair hiring · civil service examination · competitive examination
jobs for the boysequal opportunity
Unbiased chance for all
diversity hiring · affirmative action · positive discrimination · equal access · open access