The Harvard University Brand - Is It in Play?


 

The existing blacklist against Harvard students supporting Hamas could mutate into an overall bias about hiring any graduate of that elite institution. The "Harvard-Educated" brand could lose plenty of its equity and that could be long term.

Employer hesitation about making offers to graduates of top universities is not new. When I was employed at a Fortune 50 the head of media assessed those as "feeling entitled." He tossed their resumes. And get this, when I assisted a president of a top university with a speech, we played with the idea that such as credential could be a liability. I had told him how having been admitted to Harvard Law sucked away some of my working-class hustle.

What is new is the extent of the power directed against almost everything elite universities represent. Harvard is just one. The result could be sizing up all recent graduates as lacking what employers need and want. The workplace is not a forum for the exchange of opinions. Bring us a kid from a state school or even a community college.

Davis Polk's withdrawing job offers from students at Harvard and Columbia law schools could just be the beginning. And not only of other large law firms such as Kirkland & Ellis, Cravath and Paul Weiss possibly snatching back offers. There could also be a retreat from recruiting primarily at the top law schools. A movement could harden against that and there could be a formulation of fresh criteria on how to evaluate applicants.

As the market for plum jobs in professional services keeps drying up right now the gallows humor could be: Hire me, I didn't go to Harvard. 

In most cases you have only one shot in communications. Jane Genova is a communications coach and content-creator. Complimentary consultation (please text 203-468-8579 or email janegenova374@gmail.com)

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