Networking = Cheating

[SamuelRSmith]

Are you telling me that every single person who's ever had a job, only did so through networking?

Obviously, in the world of politics, who you are is more important than your skillset, but in the real world the balance is far more equal. In my time, I've held 5 jobs. 2 were through "who I know", 3 were through my own graft.

When I applied for my current job (at HSBC), I was also applying for another one at ConocoPhillips (at the time, they were one entity). I got through to the final stage at ConocoPhillips (and met the person who beat me to the job - he was a nice, confident, guy, and clearly far better suited for it than me)... either way, I've had a lot of interviews with major corporations... you know what they were most interested in? My fucking part-time job at McDonald's.

That's right, I got through to the final stage with one major company, and got a job with another... because of my time at McDonald's. They didn't care about who my parents were, what friends I had, which schools I went to... nepotism is mostly a fantasy.

Do some people get jobs because of who they know? Sure. I'd wager dollars to donuts that this is more prevalent in your beloved state, however. Companies don't do grow to billions in revenues because they hire their friends. They're at these sizes because they know how to hire the right people.

If you're undeservered sense of entitlement gets through into your applications and interviews, I wouldn't hire you either.