"Networking involves deliberately building contacts and reputation to 'get the success you want by tapping into the people you know'.1 "This reminds me of the saying, "It's not what you know, it's who you know." However, according to Moran (2006), that phrase has a negative connotation.2 The phrase insinuates that knowledge is not as important as your network, so he changed the phrase to make it more accurate: "It isn’t who you know, but who knows you and knows what you know."
I always took the "original" statement to be true without much thought because so many adults, specifically professors and other professionals, have engraved this idea into our minds to seem important and true. However, Moran's updates and revisions to the popular adage make a lot of sense. I am shocked that I have not realized before that knowledge was left out of the original phrase, "It's not what you know, it's who you know." I mean what's the point of getting an education if all that matters is who you know?
That being said, I would also like to consider adding expertise to the equation. Knowledge is important, however it is a broad term that does not imply any sort of direction. Expertise, on the other hand, focuses employers' attention to a more concentrated kind of knowledge that you have encompassed. In my opinion, the whole point of a college major is to become an expert in the field you want to start your career. Furthermore, in order to become an expert in your expected career, you should become knowledgeable of a wide range of skills that are required and/or expected by employers.
According to Nardi, Whittaker & Schwarz (2000), the idea of networking can be dated back to the 1940s, but they argue that the difference is the current "intensity and absolute necessity of networking for practically everyone.3 " So, why is networking so important? While considering this question the term social capital comes to mind. Social capital refers to the connections within and between networks4 and the resources that we can access through our contacts.5
In other words, who you have in your network should be people that have something to offer you (i.e., the potential to help further your career). For instance, my mother tried to add me to her LinkedIn network, but her career has nothing to offer in furthering mine, so I politely and respectfully declined her as part of my LinkedIn network and instead added her to my Facebook network because I perceive Facebook to be more of a social network than professional network. In addition to being able to receive something from your networks, you should also give back. Reciprocate; offer your knowledge and who you know to others, so your relationships are not one-sided.
[1] Inkson, K. (2007). Understanding careers the metaphors of working lives.
(1 ed., Vol. 1, p. 118). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, Inc.
[2] Moran, M. (2006, July 21). Professional networking made easy:priming the pump.
[3] Nardi, B. A., Whittaker, S., & Schwarz, H. "It's not what you know it's who you know"
First Monday [Online], Volume 5 Number 5 (1 May 2000)
[4] "Social Capital ." Wikipedia. (2011): n. page. Web. 4 Oct. 2011.
[5] Inkson, K. (2007). Understanding careers the metaphors of working lives.
Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, Inc.
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