“Theorizing Success in an Unfair Job Market”
Abstract: “In Kampala, Uganda, skilled applicants far outnumber vacancies, and employers hire through connections rather than open competition. Faced with these conditions, what can new entrants do to get ahead? Following a cohort of 60 recent graduates for two years, I find that while most feel shut out of an unfair system, they pursue divergent strategies. Some cultivate contacts, viewing a nepotistic system as something they can master. Others seek a foothold, taking unpaid or low‑quality jobs as stepping stones to better positions. Still others play the numbers, submitting as many applications as possible to maximize the chance of an interview. I examine how these competing theories of success shape employment trajectories over time and document when people revise or commit to their strategies as they make their way through this system.”
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