In obtaining a job, is it more important who you know than what you know?

Question

To me it seems that way, at least the places I have looked. What do you think?

Answer 1

who you know may get you in the door.

what you know will help you keep your job.

Answer 2

That can be true, but I think that is probably over-simplifying things a bit. It is not very often that a company will hire someone who is a total loser just because s/he knows someone while a very qualified person gets blown off. Does it happen? Yes, but not often.

More often than not, who you know is a good tie breaker. And why shouldn't it be? Hiring someone takes time and energy and someone you know (or you think you know) probably makes the hiring manager feel like the decision is a bit lower risk.

The solution to this is building a good network. Most good jobs are not had by replying to an ad or cold calling- they come by getting experience in the right places (not sure what you do?) and then getting to know other people in that field.

Frankly, it is often very hard to know who is really the more skilled or qualified person when interviewing. How can you really tell? Your best bet is to find out what matters to potential employers and play that up in the interview. A lot of times people play up what they think is important but it's not what the employer sees as important - or important enough to give you the edge.

And sometimes you are not going to get the job anyway- because they wanted someone taller, shorter, who went to a different school. And in those cases you can't win- but then it's their loss.

Answer 3

Don't let anybody full you into actually believing that. You see you can know all the right people, but if you haven't got what it takes in your mind, then I wouldn't want you. Sure some people use who they know because they just don't have the guts to get out there and get it the way the rest of us have to. I have always gotten work by being honest. I'm good with my hands and I got a good mind. No experience! I say if you give me a chance and I can't show you in 2 wks. I can do it and become one of the best, then fire me. No one ever regretted giving me that break. I ended up acquiring over 15 years experience in 1 yrs. Wrote the companies Health and Safety Manuel for a well known Commercial and Government Electronics Corporation in California. Forget what they can do, Be the best at what you yourself achieve rather it be easy or the hard way.

Answer 4

Unless you have some unbelievable skill set (and one that comes across in a resume/interview at that) - then it is almost always who you know.

Resumes / Interviews are BS sessions. Personal references or known associates go much further when it comes to knowing what kind of worker you will be when you stop trying to get the job and have the job.

There is also the problem that the getting to the right person (one who would truly be able to get you the job you seek) is very difficult in larger companies, where you first must get past the personnel department. By having an inside track to the person you will be working under - many of the preliminary steps can be avoided.

Answer 5

Depends on your age, depends on the job.
Teenagers can use all the help they can get and usually you don't need to have alot of skill for jobs at that age.
If you wish to have a career, then it will not matter who you know but what you know. You will have to show that you are up to the responsibilities that go with whatever you have chosen to do.
Also, always be careful when leaving a job as since they know you and the work you can do you certainly don't want to burn any bridges. These are the ones that can make or break you....
Example,,, getting fired because you failed a drug test or refused one. That will forever be questionable on your record. Being late or just not showing up, show lack of responsiblity... I can go on but I am sure you get the idea... good luck

Answer 6

It depends alot on what type of field you are in too. I would say the experience that you have in whatever field you are in is the most important aspect. If you can prove yourself to be a valuable asset, then finding a job should be easier. Maybe not necessarily in your top choice place, but somewhere.

Answer 7

I am lookign for a job I think most good ones are done by referals. I have a professional resume and all I get are offers to sell insurance or cars or other sales jobs by people who say they read my resume but i know thye don't because nowhere is there any sales background!!! Hey i just got an offer to cash checks for some swedish compnay and send them MY money! LOLL Another scam!!! It never ends, Thank goodness for Unemployment! Good luck in your job search!

Answer 8

Yes, you may have a better chance getting an interview if you know someone, but to keep your self employed it definitely depends on what you know. Noone is willing to jeapordize thier buisiness for a friend if hes not knowledable.

Answer 9

Honestly, yes, I would have to agree. The best place to get a job is somewhere where someone you know is already established.

Answer 10

It depends on the job. For some jobs, who you know is the main element of what you know.

Answer 11

I think the "what" you know helps screen out obvious people who couldn't cut it, but the "who" is often a determining factor. Along with timing, which, as they say, is everything.