Cultural models of self and social class disparities at organizational gateways and pathways.

•Middle-class contexts and professional organizations espouse independent models of self.•Working-class contexts foster interdependent models of self.•The resulting mismatch in models disadvantages working-class employees/applicants.•Mismatches, and disadvantages, occur at organizational gateways and pathways.•Despite equal qualifications, social class disparities in career outcomes exist.