House identification after Hogwarts (or, Slytherins need not apply)

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 125760


--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "pookasmorning"
<margotcragg at h...> wrote:
> 
> 
> .... What happens to House identification post-Hogwarts? 
> 
> The children at Hogwarts spend seven ...years having their 
> respective house loyalties ....  And these aren't simply baseless
> stereotypes; ... we ... assume ... at least some basis for ... their
> House. It doesn't seem logical that students would simply forget 
> that Hufflepuffs = Duffers upon receiving their diplomas. ...
> 
> So how would they affect things like, say, employment opportunities? 
> If a Hufflepuff were being interviewed for a job requiring swift 
> mental reflexes, would he or she automatically lose out to a 
> Ravenclaw? Would a Gryffindor hire a Slytherin for a job requiring 
> teamwork? More importantly, would a Gryffindor vote for a Slytherin 
> (if there is voting)? Would they let their daughter bring one home 
> for dinner?
> 
> In short, what are the long-term societal effects of Sorting?
> 
> - Pooka

bboyminn:

Let's not forget that this very same thing occurs in the real world.
If a company executive went to Harvard then he probably will favor
someone from Harvard over Yale (big rivals). Also, he may favor
someone who belonged to the same fraternity, or same social club, or
any same church/religion, or anyone of many other things. But in the
end, it is whether the person can do the job that is the determining
factor, being from Harvard rather than Yale, might be a factor, and
might give a job candidate an edge, but more important factors are
going to be the key to deciding.

So, yes, House loyalties, rather than prejudices, carry over into life
after Hogwarts, but also, as you grow up, you realize that the things
that were of such terrible importance, like who beat who in Quidditch,
when you were young, don't really carry that much weight for adults.
In fact, by the time most kids have reached college, they are able to
look back on their high school priorities and laugh at how lame they were.

Further, all Houses have their advantages, and those advantages have a
broad cross section of application. A Hufflepuff, by nature of their
hard work and perseverance, could make just as good a business person
as a Slytherin. We see in Cedric Diggory that Hufflepufffs are not
just mindless drones and workers. Cedric is smart, intelligent, hard
working, loyal, honest, noble, and has many other positive traits. He
certainly could have done well in any aspect of life he chose to
persue, and equally, I think anyone from any other house who knew
Cedric would have no problem hiring him, or for that matter, working
for him.

So, on one hand, to some extent, House loyalties, and even prejudices,
do come into play just as they do in the real world, but ultimately,
you can't chose a person by their House if it will be to the detriment
of your business. First and foremost, you hire or associate with the
person that has the highest capability to get the job done.

Just a thought.
Steve/bboyminn