In Spain, coffee with the boss counts for more than your CV
Anecdotes and analysis: in Spain, a bonus for having coffee with the boss and schools chosen through contacts show that sociability outweighs competence.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
In Spain, coffee with the boss counts for more than your CV
A blunt claim: in the Spanish job market, technical competence is mere decoration if you lack contacts or the gift of the gab. It is not that social skills do not matter — of course they do — but in Spain, according to numerous testimonies, they have become virtually the only requirement for getting ahead, above any professional ability.
One anecdote sums it up: an employee was awarded a point on her bonus for going for coffee with the head of sales. Not for closing a deal, but for pure sociability. Another professional admits he enrols his children in the most expensive school not for the quality of education, but for the network of contacts they will gain. The general perception is that brown-nosing — the systematic flattery of superiors — and belonging to informal networks matter more than technical merit.
With incentives like these, it is no surprise that the most productive workers end up demotivated. Meritocracy, that Nordic myth, collides head-on with the reality of connections and coffee. As long as companies fail to align rewards with actual performance, it will remain more profitable to be a great public relations person than an excellent worker.
A blunt claim: in the Spanish job market, technical competence is mere decoration if you lack contacts or the gift of the gab. It is not that social skills do not matter — of course they do — but in Spain, according to numerous testimonies, they have become virtually the only requirement for getting ahead, above any professional ability.
One anecdote sums it up: an employee was awarded a point on her bonus for going for coffee with the head of sales. Not for closing a deal, but for pure sociability. Another professional admits he enrols his children in the most expensive school not for the quality of education, but for the network of contacts they will gain. The general perception is that brown-nosing — the systematic flattery of superiors — and belonging to informal networks matter more than technical merit.
With incentives like these, it is no surprise that the most productive workers end up demotivated. Meritocracy, that Nordic myth, collides head-on with the reality of connections and coffee. As long as companies fail to align rewards with actual performance, it will remain more profitable to be a great public relations person than an excellent worker.
Also available in: Deutsch
Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (32 replies).
More summaries
-
Spanish Working Class: Wages Fail to Accelerate, Even During Economic Boom
Neither in crisis nor boom does the Spanish working class see their salaries improve, as housing costs consume any wage gains.
-
Spain and the Middle East: economic ties that outweigh Europe's
Spain has deep economic and historical ties with the Middle East. Trade, energy and its Roman legacy weigh more than the pro-European narrative admits.
-
Barajas Immigration and the Crisis of Precarious Labor
While Ceuta captures headlines, migration through Barajas involves millions of people and pressures wages—the debate VOX avoids.
-
Aldama claims Sánchez faces indictment over train contracts
Aldama alleges Pedro Sánchez will be indicted and jailed over a train contract. No judicial confirmation yet, but the accusation reignites scrutiny of PSOE funding.
-
Sánchez takes five days to decide whether to call early elections
Spain's prime minister has given himself five days to decide whether to call an early general election, with Monday set as the key date for an announcement.
-
Sol protest camp mobilizes against fascism it never names
On Saturday 3 October Madrid hosts two rival events: the antifascist camp at Puerta del Sol and a rally at Alcalá 21 under the banner of decent housing.