"Enchufado" or "enchufe" is a colloquial way of saying that a person got a job because a friend or relative gave it to him, instead of earning it themselves.
I thought about the word "appointed" but that is too formal and I don't think it conveys quite the same meaning (you could be appointed and still have earned the job).
From SpanishDict
enchufe
masculine noun
- (colloquial) (influence)
a. connections
Yo estoy mejor cualificado, pero le dieron el trabajo a ella porque tiene enchufe. — I am more qualified, but she got the job because she has connections.
b. friends in high places (colloquial)
Tengo un enchufe que te puede ayudar a conseguir un aumento. — I have some friends in high places who might help you get you a raise.enchufado
adjective
- (colloquial) (favored)
a. well-connected
Mariano consiguió el puesto de gerente solo porque está enchufado.—Mariano only got the manager position because he's well-connected.
b. no direct translation
¿Sabías que Jaime está enchufado en la empresa de su tío?—Did you know Jaime's got a job in his uncle's company just through his connections?
Esto está lleno de gente enchufada.—This place is full of people who got a job because of their connections.masculine or feminine noun
- (colloquial) (person with connections)
a. well-connected person
En esta empresa solamente los enchufados consiguen un aumento de sueldo.—Only the well-connected people get a raise in this company.
b. person with pull
Le di mi nuevo disco a un enchufado que trabaja en la discográfica.—I gave my new album to a person with pull who works at the record company.
As is often the case, there does not seem to exist a direct translation.
Although connected and well-connected might not necessarily have negative connotations, they can still be perceived negatively under the right context.
Example.
- He's obviously underqualified. I bet he got the job because he's got connections.
Less formally, you could say "know someone" or "hook up":
- He got the job because he knew a guy/someone at the office (on the board, etc).
- I didn't need to apply. My friend hooked me up with the job.
If we are specifically talking about a family member, nepotism is a good word. (It does not apply for friends, however.)
- patronage bestowed or favoritism shown on the basis of family relationship, as in business and politics
The closest I can think of is "Crony", although the term is usually seen as "Cronyism".
And as far as I know, you have to be the Crony of somebody else, you can't just say "a Crony" without some reference as to whose Crony they are.
Example "He's one of Bob's cronies" is OK. But "He's a crony" would need to have been preceded by something to indicate whose crony they are.
See also: Tony's Cronies, and Crony Capitalism.
noun
1. patronage bestowed or favoritism shown on the basis of family relationship, as in business and politics:
She was accused of nepotism when she made her nephew an officer of the firm.
Being fluent in Spanish, there isn't a direct equivalent in English in terms of cadence, register, connotations, and of course meaning.
You would have to find another way to express it. E.g., you could talk about a “job for the lads”, shifting the subject of the sentence.
Concerning the answers above, nepotism is a terrible fit. “Estar enchufado” or “ser un enchufado” means to benefit from some sort of favouritism, whether one is related to the person giving or facilitating the job or just a friend, or even a friend of a friend, or even a simple acquaintance in some cases.
"Old boys club"; "it's who you know"; "friend of the family"; "a legacy" would all be related terms.
How about "Bob's your uncle" being the Nephew of Bob got someone the job he didn't earn
