Don't wear white shirts or brown shoes if you want City job

Graduates who wear brown shoes and white shirts are missing out on top jobs at investment banks in the City, new research has found.

            A new study by the government’s social mobility watchdog found that employers are still using unspoken dress codes to weed out the wrong sort of person in City job interviews. Bright working class candidates are often rejected for jobs as they are unaware of the "opaque" dress codes that richer children grow up with, experts found.

            Firms also often select recruits who display “polish” and place as much importance on a person’s speech, accent, dress, behaviour and skills as on their skills and qualifications, researchers said.

            "Relatively opaque codes of conduct also extend to dress,” the report said. "To provide one example, for men, the wearing of brown shoes with a business suit is generally, though not always, considered unacceptable by and for British bankers within the investment banking, corporate finance division."

            A candidate from a non-privileged background was told at one bank that while he was “clearly quite sharp”, he was “not quite the right fit” and that his tie was “too loud”.

            One anonymous banker admitted that such discrimination was commonplace: “In corporate finance, if you've got the wrong cut of suit, if you are wearing the wrong shoes, or tie, or you look awkward in a suit, you're done before you start."

            The report also found that banks mostly hire from a handful of universities including Oxbridge and the London School of Economics (LSE)

            Alan Milburn, the Commission's chairman, said: "Bright working-class kids are being systematically locked out of top jobs in investment banking because they may not attend a small handful of elite universities or understand arcane culture rules. While there are some banks doing excellent work in reducing these barriers, there are still too many that need to wake-up and realise that it makes sound business sense to recruit people from all backgrounds.

Question 1 (2 points) Indicate whether the following statements are true or false and write down which part of the text justifies your answer.

a. Candidates are aware of the best way to dress to be recruited.

b. The more qualifications you have, the better to get a job in the City.

c. This way to choose a candidate is widely accepted among employers.

d. This way of recruiting employess is starting to change.

Question 2 (2 points) Answer the following question in your own words.

a. What aspects do companies take into consideration when recruiting?

b. Why was a candidate discriminated for a post in a bank?

Question 3 (1.5 points) Find words or phrases in the text that correspond in meaning to the words and definitions given.

a. hidden (par.2) b. enigmatic (par.4)  c. ordinary (par.6) d. smart (par.8)  e. a few (par.8)

Question 4 (1.5 points) Complete the following sentences without changing the meaning.

a.  Graduates who wear brown shoes and white shirts are missing out on top jobs at investment banks in the City.

            If graduates...

b.  Bright working-class kids are being systematically locked out of top jobs.

            Employers are...

c.  “There are some banks doing excellent work in reducing these barriers, there are still too many that need to wake-up”, he said.

            He said that...

Question 5 (3 points) Write a short essay (120-150 words) on the following topic:

Appearance is highly considered these days. What do you think?