Sunday 18 April 2010

guanxi

西方媒體近年來越來越多直接引用"guanxi"這個詞。
依我這種常年宅在家中的外國人來看,西人似乎也沒少玩這"guanxi"。

最明顯地,在大學剛畢業找工作的時候,你一定聽過那句話,"it's not what you know but who you know that matters."
我們這種不善交際,又沒有複雜關係網的,自然是要吃虧一點。
偏偏簡歷上第一行的名字,已經把自己外國人的身份出賣。
立刻,人事部就把閣下的簡歷扔進了垃圾桶。
最惡劣地,莫過於某些企業,網上申請工作的時候,有一頁,專門問你有無該國居留權,有無該國國籍。
如果閣下連續選擇兩個不,那麼恭喜您——「您,落選了!」
當然系統不會做得這麼明顯,它只是自動把你屏蔽出去了而已。
這些都算了,最讓我不能忍受的是在該頁最下面,有一行字,聲稱他們支持平等就業機會
真把虛偽演繹得淋漓盡致。

話說星兒的同學c,去年參加了電視模特選秀大賽。
明年畢業之後,打算休息一年,去紐約。
聽說已經簽約next,打算邊玩邊賺些零花錢,好過讀大學。

「什麼樣的家長會不讓自己的小孩升學而去做模特兒呢?」
「她媽媽是牛津大學經濟系的博士生,她曾外祖父是本國某著名律師樓的創始人。」
「那不是更加奇怪?」
「她媽媽在倫敦念書的時候,也被星探發覺過,可惜她外祖父不允,於是特別後悔,現在想女兒來實現自己未完成的夢。」
「哈,原來古今中外的家長全都一樣!」
「不過其實也沒關係了,她有這麼龐大的人際網絡,根本不愁將來。即便是一事無成,以後照樣可以過得舒舒服服,富足充裕。」
「嗯,你看,還是那句老話,你知道什麽不重要,你認識誰才是重要。」
「對,我們學校的孩子都是這樣,學不學到東西根本無所謂,有人際網絡在,一輩子無憂。」

其實,我聽到星兒說出這樣的話時,知道她內心的幽怨。
她太早知道了世界的殘酷和現實,並清楚認識到自己的無能為力。
那是一種無形的壓力,叫人喘不過氣。
但一切都會好的,我們都是這樣磕磕絆絆地長大的。

6 comments:

RandomCoil said...

Without 'guanxi'... you would feel better if you succeed.

c.r said...

agreed!
i'm proud of that too.

JLS said...

"It's not who you know that matters, it's who knows you that matters"

My family knows a lot of local super-rich and high profile people, but the fact is knowing people doesn't mean they know you well enough to give you opportunities.

But as I said before, once your moment comes, nothing (not even connections) matter.

c.r said...

JLS: hmm, now i'm scared. you know all the big shots in town!!! :D

g said...

recently came across an article by 呂大樂. He noted more (middle-class) parents are sending their children to overseas universities. So networking shifts from 3 big local uni to overseas uni. (oh, that means i will lose out in this game..)

i think guanxi is overated. That fact is, if your 人緣/personality/ability is good enough, u are able to build your own network, irrespective of your background. And somehow, now that everyone can become a blogger, i find it is easier to hv your talent spotted anyway.

c.r said...

i think traditional things don't just die out easily. they still exist for a reason.

but you're right. we're in an era which talented people are more easily discovered through various channels.