OUR VIEW: Not always what you know, but who you know

It definitely isn’t about what you know, but who you know.
   We are all going to school and pulling the late nights to get the good grades. Some of us may hope the one C+ we pulled in the hardest class of our college career won’t make the difference between getting the job. But are these grades really going to matter? Aren’t the connections we make going to get us farther in our career pursuits?
    We have all heard talk of how a strong network among a variety of individuals is more important than many may realize. A lot of people may not like it because it feels fake. Talking to people and doing a little brown-nosing may not seem like the right thing to do. For some, the idea of interaction among people with higher authority may sound scary or nerve-racking, but one needs to keep in mind there are so many benefits that come from networking, and there are numerous ways to build one.
    Networking can give both you and your business credibility. If people know you, trust you and are aware of your accomplishments and successes, they are more willing to bend over backwards to help you out. They also provide a priceless reference to place on resumes and job applications.
   Networking provides social contact and stimulation. This means you must get out there and make yourself known. No sitting back and hoping the contacts come to you. Go out, research, learn about companies and what they have to offer. They may be that golden contact you need later down the road.
    But, if getting out and meeting people sounds draining, a recent study at the University of California-Berkeley, found that in society, the constant communication that social networking provides is encouraging useful skills. The study looked at more than 5,000 hours of online observation and found that the digital world is creating new opportunities for people. The social networking sites such as Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, LinkedIn can each be beneficial and not just a waste of time.
    So don’t panic when that test score isn’t what you hoped it would be. Get out and meet people. Socialize, get acquainted with networking websites that may be what helps you find that dream job and not an A on your transcript.