Shipbroking and Public School Nepotism (uk)?

I thought I would bump a reply i have made in a thread in answer to a question by a reader asking in essense if Shipbroking was a closed shop open only to rich kids from British Public schools.

A common and reasonable question.

Here is my Answer

Qte

Thank you for the post - and good question.

Here is an open secret. Shipbroking, stockbroking and realestate have since time immemorial been bastions for academically underachieving, gregarious lads from public schools!Also you will note that any profession with average salaries obove USD 85k will have as the majority of its protagonists people from the middle upper classes.

BUT - the good news is this. There are many ways to skin a cat and this was one of the major motivating factors behind the blog and writing 'Inside Shipbroking'. The reason was to dispell some myths, blow open some locked doors and make people realise that as an employment market 'shipping' is a very open propostion.

Also note - that times are changing. 20 years ago the old school tie was hugely important - less so now.

The other thing you need to remember, which I have pointed out in my books, is that you need to play to your stregnths and have a strategy that matches. So if you are from the wrong side of town, smoke illegal cigs and have a tattoo that says 'PAIN' written across your knuckles, then trying to get an internship with a rugby watching/golf club wielding London based Shipbroker may not work (but it might).

May I humbly suggest you check out 'Inside shipbroking' for further clarification..

Thanks again for a good question

YoursVS