Getting a job is all about who you know, not what you know... (interviewed, application)

[heeha]

Does anyone believe in that statement? I feel that someone with a PhD in 20 different fields who doesn't know anyone is in a worse position than someone with a GED who is a people person and knows a lot of people.

I feel that about 95% of the jobs out there follow the philosophy I mentioned above. Obviously is someone wants to be a doctor, pharmacist, nurse, etc, you have to have knowledge of the medical field or if you want to be a CPA you need to have knowledge of accounting.

[BECLAZONE]

I agree entirely with that statement.
Although if you are comparing jobs that need qualifications with jobs that don’t, there are always more unskilled jobs available, and qualifications are restricting, in that they often tie you to one field.
On the point of people that know lots of people, I know of a large number of people that get jobs from drinking acquaintances, and are never really out of work.

[Opyelie]

Originally Posted by heeha

Does anyone believe in that statement? I feel that someone with a PhD in 20 different fields who doesn't know anyone is in a worse position than someone with a GED who is a people person and knows a lot of people.

I feel that about 95% of the jobs out there follow the philosophy I mentioned above. Obviously is someone wants to be a doctor, pharmacist, nurse, etc, you have to have knowledge of the medical field or if you want to be a CPA you need to have knowledge of accounting.

even in fields that require a high level of education/certification/licensing etc, it can still be a case of who you know that lands you the job you want in the place you want to work.

[Ivorytickler]

Originally Posted by heeha

Does anyone believe in that statement? I feel that someone with a PhD in 20 different fields who doesn't know anyone is in a worse position than someone with a GED who is a people person and knows a lot of people.

I feel that about 95% of the jobs out there follow the philosophy I mentioned above. Obviously is someone wants to be a doctor, pharmacist, nurse, etc, you have to have knowledge of the medical field or if you want to be a CPA you need to have knowledge of accounting.

In this market, I agree with this statement. When hiring managers have hundreds of applications to choose from, they need some way to weed. Picking the people with personal references from people they know is a good start.

[NJBest]

This is always true.

[claud605]

...which is exactly why networking is so important...you can get to 'know' people even if you don't 'know' them...

[manderly6]

This is usually what people who can't fnd jobs like to use as an excuse.

[OHGreat]

And a quite true excuse at that.

[pvande55]

Actually you need both. But they keep talking about networking, so you do need to know someone. And you need to be able to do the job.

[bande1102]

I've seen it happen more times than I can count. I know of a company that had posted a position available and they wanted all sorts of specific things regarding experience and, especially, education. Actually interviewed and then rejected people who had the experience, skills, and education. I just heard they found their person: a friend's niece who has not a single attribute listed in the ad. She's smart and will figure it out---as would any of the other people they rejected.

I know of an owner of a restaurant who desperately needed an assistant manager. Placed an ad in the paper. Wanted experience, a degree, blah, blah, blah. Interviewed a bunch of people and not a single one was "right". Last week he promoted his server...no experience, no degree. So why put all of the other applicants through that whole grueling process to begin with?