I love getting to know people, but I hate networking. As soon as there are expectations of an exchange measured between what I can supply and what you demand, all life is sucked from the air.
I don’t know how to be a commodity or market myself (despite my communications degree), which makes looking for well-paying jobs that much harder. Meanwhile, the Canadian unemployment rate rose to 6.1 per cent in March this year.
Job hunting is harrowing for me, doing interviews, writing assignments, crafting resumes and cover letters to suit jobs and employers, only to be rejected for months on end. Each job application feels like an audition where you’re not only selling your skills but your very self, to discover that your goods aren’t good enough.
I recall sitting in an interview, my heart pounding as I ironically try to explain how well I manage stress, that I’m quick on my feet and great at communication. Despite my preparation, every answer fell flat under the scrutiny of the interviewer’s gaze – and worse, I keep ending sentences with “if that makes any sense,” and a nervous sip of water. The pressure to present a polished, marketable version of myself left me feeling vulnerable and exposed. It was a stark reminder of how easily the process can make me doubt my own worth.
Ultimately, self-commodification is only a fraction of the answer to your job-finding equation. Securing a position hinges more on who you know and how you fit in with people in the know. Suddenly, it becomes clear getting a job is not just about being competent, it’s about being visible, relatable and marketable. Knowing how to yap, and to yap well.
Success in the job market relies on social and cultural capital.
Sociologist Pierre Bourdieu theorized the concepts of social and cultural capital, which can help us understand the frameworks at play in the job market. Social capital refers to the networks, connections and groups one is a part of and can leverage, while cultural capital includes the skills, knowledge and behaviours that signify social standing and are used to achieve social mobility. In the job market, these forms of capital are commodified. Individuals market themselves to gain favour and opportunities.
Networking is a prime example of social capital in action. Through personal and professional streams, being a part of a network of people and strategically utilizing those connections to create value, your value and the value of those around you, is ideal. The assignment of value brings into question the overlap of commodity and relationships. Thus, it highlights how the people you know can be useful to you and your success in the job market.
On the other hand, cultural capital is about presenting oneself in a way that aligns with the dominant cultural norms of a network. From the way you dress to the way you talk, embodying cultural norms can increase your value in potential networks and, importantly, potential employers.
But these systems are exclusionary. Those who don’t have access to these forms of capital are at a distinct disadvantage. Individuals who can’t pick up on social queues, who struggle with mental health, who speak with a non-Canadian accent, or who can’t afford to dress the part are left in the margins. They must either conform to these expectations or face less access to opportunities and, therefore, less economic capital – money.
In 2019, a national job seeker survey showed that applicants found a job through friends 50 per cent of the time, social media 35 per cent of the time and professional networks 37 per cent of the time.
You must conform to the norm. And if you do not fit, you will find yourself marginalized in these networks. According to the federal government’s high school students with intellectual disabilities integration project, “80 per cent of people with autism or intellectual disabilities are unemployed,” and that’s despite adequate training. Additionally, in 2023 there was a 6.5 per cent gap in employment rates between newcomers and Canadian-born workers. This is reduced from the previous gap of 13.1 per cent in 2010, but remains a significant gap nonetheless.
Through an understanding of social and cultural capital, unemployment rates and the gravity of networks in job acquisition, we can see how issues including ableism, xenophobia, racism and other forms of discrimination are hidden with the idea that people are simply unsuccessfully marketing themselves.
The choices for individuals excluded from the dominant social and cultural norms are stark: work twice as hard to fit in, seek out communities that accept and celebrate you as you are or resist these norms and accept limited access to opportunities. Each of these options comes with their own set of challenges and sacrifices.
Therefore, the “essential art of yapping” is not just a skillset but a reflection of a bigger issue. It highlights how our personal identities are commodified in the pursuit of professional success. By recognizing and addressing these exclusionary practices, we can work toward a more inclusive job market that values diversity and fosters true equity. And hopefully, help people find jobs.
