1.
hiring through personal connections; recruitment by referral
Employing someone on the strength of a family tie or personal introduction rather than an open selection process. The word is broadly neutral in business usage but often carries a critical edge.
縁故 means a personal or family connection; 採用 means hiring. Small firms often use the practice openly, while at large companies and public bodies the word implies unfairness.
Common collocations
- 縁故採用で入社する: to join a company through connections
- 縁故採用を廃止する: to abolish hiring by connection
- 縁故採用が疑われる: to be suspected of nepotistic hiring