Ever heard the saying, “It’s not what you know, but who you know?” Of course you have. This statement, however, is premature to me. The truth is, “It’s not who you know, but who knows what you know.” Knowing people of influence is nothing. Having people of influence know your unique abilities? Now that’s something. 

I’m sure you can probably think of examples that prove me wrong. Yes, people get ahead all the time simply because of their connections, and not as a result of their merits. Frankly, I feel bad for those people.  A great network can get you through the door, but your qualifications allow you to stay past the introduction.

Once others are aware of your specific skill sets and can vouch for them, you are positioned to thrive. I’ll never forget meeting one of my graduate school peers for the first time at a happy hour. We discussed our professional ambitions, but not once did I think, “What could this person do for me?” I was content with purely getting to know the individual. I ran into her months later and surprisingly she exclaimed, “I was just talking to my boss about you! With your interests, you would be an ideal candidate for this job opening we have.” After a cover letter, resume, two hour-long interviews, a writing sample and a few recommendation letters, I got the job. You know what happened after that? I had to prove myself on that job.

You can argue that she ‘got me the job’ if you really want to. But it wasn’t because she thought I was a nice person alone. The impression I was able to make on her, the one time we ever spoke, resonated enough that she was able to recall my proficiency at a later time. That is key. It doesn’t hurt to have strong networks. Just ensure that the people in your networks are able to recall your distinctive qualities when potential opportunities arise.

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