Not every family can afford to pay for the so-called education of life and the work experience placements that label graduates as unpaid interns for months and potentially years.

However, there is a backhand approach that almost all parents can afford to do, and it is something that most will want to do in order to help their darling offspring.

This is the world of connections: not connections that the young person has made for him or herself, but rather the connections that parents have made and maintained.

From the joiner who works for the local council and who ensures his son a place on the apprenticeship programme, to the doctor who has his daughter shadowing the best surgeon, no student is going to pass up an opportunity to further themselves when it is offered by the hand that feeds.

But the question that throws up is whether or not this is fair? Of course, "It's not what you know, it's who you know" is no new trend phrase on Twitter. It has been around for a while and I expect to be reading this phrase several times over as I trudge through the Jane Austen classics that are staring at me from the bookshelf.

The end products of the knowing-the-right-people process are Britain's political party leaders. When I watch the news and I see David Cameron arguing in Parliament, I wonder whether handing a young person their future will ever really allow them to grow up and fulfil an adult role in society.

Those who lead a life established on connections are like an overindulged child at Christmas and birthdays.

Imagine two girls talking: one brings out Shop Assistant Barbie,  well dressed, even if  her limited wardrobe was bought with the money the girl earned through hard work.

However, she will immediately be outclassed when Doctor Barbie is brought out, complete with a range of minuscule accessories, classy car, and townhouse, all given to her when Daddy brought them home one day.

Or, if Barbie dolls aren't your thing, we can turn to Top Trump cards as an example. One boy's hand of cards will have been well shuffled with additional winning cards inserted by his parents. So no matter how his friend plays, the privileged or connected boy will always win hands down.

What's the solution? Should parents think twice before paving the way for their children? Should we encourage pride in young people for achieving things on their own without relying heavily on their family?

I think that the human resources department in companies ought to stand up a little more and look past the surname at the top of the CV. Even if you get to the interview room with a little help from your well connected family or friends, you should have to prove that you are capable of a job or a work placement.

Stamping feet and demanding the latest job or Barbie may work for parents, but it should not work with bosses of companies. The representative from the HR department should not be intimidated by the potential outcome of turning down a well-connected young person who knows their boss.

After all, we don't want too many James Murdochs in the world.