新奇事件簿 棕色鞋子或许会导致面试失败

University graduates hoping to get a job as an investment banker in London could be disappointed if they wear brown shoes to their job interview. A new report highlights how the investment banking¹ industry in the UK follows centuries-old, unwritten rules about how bankers should conduct themselves. The study was undertaken by the British government's Social Mobility² Commission. Researchers looked at how the industry selected people in job interviews. They found that the industry was governed by "relatively³ opaque⁴" codes of conduct. They wrote: "For men, the wearing of brown shoes with a business suit is generally considered unacceptable…within investment banking."

希望在伦敦应聘投资银行家的大学毕业生如果穿棕色鞋子的话可能会失望。一份新的报告强调了英国投资银行行业坚持了几个世纪之久的银行家应该遵守的不成文规定。研究由英国政府社会流动性委员会进行。研究人员披露了该行业在应聘中如何挑选人员。他们发现，该行业由“相对不透明的”行为准则管理。他们写道：“男子在投资银行内穿棕色鞋子搭配西装是不可接受的。”

The survey suggested that people from working class backgrounds had to change their behaviour to fit in with bankers who were from middle and upper classes. One newly-appointed banker said: "I felt like my accent was a bit out of place, so I changed it." The study also said the industry discriminated⁵ against those who did not go to elite⁶ universities. The Commission's chairman said: "Bright, working-class kids are being systematically⁷ locked out of top jobs in investment banking because they did not attend a small handful of elite universities." He added: "It is shocking…that some investment bank managers still judge candidates on whether they wear brown shoes with a suit, rather than on their skills and potential."

这项调查认为，来自工薪阶层的人们必须改变自己的行为来适应来自中等和高等阶层的银行家。一位最新任命的银行家表示：“我觉得我的口音有点不恰当，所以我改变了。”这项调查还发现，投资银行业歧视没有就读精英大学的人。该委员会主席表示：“机灵的工薪阶层的毕业生被蓄意排挤在高等职位以外，因为他们没有就读屈指可数的几所精英大学。”他补充说：“有人评判应聘者仍然以他们是否穿棕色鞋子搭配西装，而不是根据他们的技能或潜力来判断。”

1 banking   

n.银行业，银行学，金融业

参考例句：

• John is launching his son on a career in banking.约翰打算让儿子在银行界谋一个新职位。
• He possesses an extensive knowledge of banking.他具有广博的银行业务知识。

2 mobility   

n.可动性，变动性，情感不定

参考例句：

• The difference in regional house prices acts as an obstacle to mobility of labour.不同地区房价的差异阻碍了劳动力的流动。
• Mobility is very important in guerrilla warfare.机动性在游击战中至关重要。

3 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

4 opaque   

adj.不透光的；不反光的，不传导的；晦涩的

参考例句：

• The windows are of opaque glass.这些窗户装着不透明玻璃。
• Their intentions remained opaque.他们的意图仍然令人费解。

5 discriminated   

分别，辨别，区分( discriminate的过去式和过去分词 )； 歧视，有差别地对待

参考例句：

• His great size discriminated him from his followers. 他的宽广身材使他不同于他的部下。
• Should be a person that has second liver virus discriminated against? 一个患有乙肝病毒的人是不是就应该被人歧视？

6 elite   

n.精英阶层；实力集团；adj.杰出的，卓越的

参考例句：

• The power elite inside the government is controlling foreign policy.政府内部的一群握有实权的精英控制着对外政策。
• We have a political elite in this country.我们国家有一群政治精英。

7 systematically   

adv.有系统地

参考例句：

• This government has systematically run down public services since it took office.这一屆政府自上台以来系统地削减了公共服务。
• The rainforest is being systematically destroyed.雨林正被系统地毀灭。