[Articles] Is it who you know, or what you know?

[Brad]

This statement has always been in the front of my mind every time I look for jobs when I am bored...

Is it who you know, or what you know?

To give you a back story, I was raised in a family that pushed for the fact that it's what you know that will get you far in life, so my mentality in what I did at school was that if I was going to make it in life I needed to to know a lot of things.

When it got into the real world, working and even just searching for a job it was a struggle. I could not find a job and it forced me into getting jobs that I either did not like, or was not in my field of work. I began to realize that a lot of people that I worked with had the mentality of the fact it's who you know that will get you far.

So I ask you; Is it who you know, or what you know? How were you raised? Are you still living that same mentality?

[Matt]

If you know stuff to begin with, you may be more desirable and find it easier to 'get your foot in the door' when it comes to working.

Once you are in, I then think it turns to who you know rather than what you know. Of course if you do a lot of training and maybe go back to studying you'll show that you are capable and fairly knowledgeable in that area (and prepared to go that extra mile). If someone else is good mates with the boss and they have a good relationship together, then aren't they more likely to get picked as they can trust them and know they work well as a team together? If you lack social skills and find it hard to maintain friendships and relationships with others, you are at a disadvantage as I'd say that's quite important in the workplace today. Those social skills can help you work your way up the ladder, and the 'what you know' component can compliment that greatly.

I think, to some extent, they can work hand-in-hand together. It depends on the situation though.

My mum's line manager at work knows nothing about what my mum does, the only reason she got there is because she is good friends with the person in charge. My mum has to teach her line manager how to do things!

that's just my opinion, idk if that sounds really contradictory either lmao

[Zak]

It depends how much you know. If you're an expert in your field and know it like the back of your hand - it's likely you will prevail over others. If you are OK in your field, chances are if you know the right people you will get somewhere. Ultimately I think it's a combination of the two. If you know people and are an expert - you'll go really far.

Here's how I see it

Stupid -> Don't know people = Hard to find job
Reasonable -> Don't know people = Will get there in the end, may take some time
Expert -> Don't know people = Will go far, may take longer
Stupid -> Know People = Only get you so far
Reasonable -> Know People = Standard good job
Expert -> Know People = Really go far

[Empired]

Myth of meritocracy! (@Sharon; hehehe) Basically just the idea that meritocracy doesn't exist. Meritocracy being that education offers everyone, no matter what background they come back, an equal opportunity to achieve because education is free for everyone.
But some people disagree by saying that the richer classes can afford to live in better areas with better schools and can afford extra tuition or extra books to help with their child's learning. The middle classes are also more likely to teach their children the behaviour that is valued at school (punctuality, a neat appearance, a "good" accent, etc.) whilst even typically "bright" behaviour from working class students is overlooked because they don't have that same attitude going.

I think this can be extended to the idea of who/what you know as well. If you have middle class parents who are in a professional line of work, they're likely to know people who can help you get started on the career you're interested. If you want to get into a medical degree, who's more likely to be able to help you: your dad as a surgeon or your dad as a football coach?
Obviously there are people from working class backgrounds who do really well for themselves because they've worked so hard, but I think the odds are more against them than they would be for the middle classes.

[Jazz]

On the island its more who you know, everyone goes to friends or family before opening public applications to everyone else and its something that I've been offered multiple times. I once got a job as a trainee cobbler even because my auntie owned the shop and my dad suggested me rather than people who could have actually been helpful

Big companies and chain shops don't tend to apply in this but theres so many local businesses

[dbgtz]

I'd say it's more important who knows you.

[-:Undertaker:-]

An interesting subject but I would sayyy it's how you present yourself really from stories I have heard.

Obviously knowing people helps. What you know seems to count the least.

[onceawinner]

Great thread O.P

Sadly (or not) depending how you see it - it's "who you know" though a bit of "what you know" helps, but knowing people helps to pull in favours etc and get you career further no doubts I'm sure of!