"To get the job, it's who you know. To stay in the job, it's what you know"

In a way,it is true.some people get hired because of their family or friends who work in the company they applied for.for others who'd like to work there,it is much tougher because you have to compete with other applicants in terms of knowledge,skills, and work experience.of course,when you land that dream job,you'll be eager to learn more knowledge and skills.I think that a person who stays in the job the longest is someone who really loves what he or she is doing.he/she will not feel like she's working because he's/she's doing something he/she loves,therefore staying in the company longer.

This reads like a chicken soup for the soul story (that is not a compliment). It's completely backward and wrong. Getting the job is in fact about what you know. Your resume has to sell you. Keeping the job is about who you know. I can't even begin to tell you how many incompetent morons I have seen keep their job because they are related to, or a close friend of someone in a high position. No matter how qualified you are, you have to know the right people. It's really easy to lay off a "number".

No I have no similar experiences but your boss gave you a gem of an advise. It does require to know the right people in the right areas to get a good job but after that you have to have your own skills to survive. However, another thing I have noted is even in the workplace, it makes good sense to be close or at least friendly with the right people...your skills maynot always save you!

Hi jimnemesis! I do agree with your statement, and that statement also has a downside, it can also be "To get the job, it's what you know. To stay in the job, it's who you know" There are some companies, wherein the work environment is more on how the people are connected somehow, and once a person comes in who may be a threat to any one of them, the objective later on would be on how to ease that person out. I had that experience, that I was taken in because of my qualifications, but given the challenge to change our current setup, I gave some suggestions and of course, would be a bit hard to implement at first, but once it is already set up if would be smooth sailing later. The person affected have a good connection with my boss, thus airing her complaint to her. One time I was even given a comment that I was a hard person to deal with, because of those recommendations. Worse part of it, the person affected rebelled thus making the process fail, and aired out that the cause of the failure was using the recommendation in the first place!!! They were already okay on the old procedure, so why bother on the new one? And my boss agreed with it! In this situation, the staying power was not held by the person who had skill but with the connection! I have been in my profession for more than 10 years and has already worked with 5 companies. One memorable statement that I kept with me from an HR person "You are hired not only because of your qualifications, but more because of your attitude" Whether you move on because of better opportunities or because of unmemorable events, it is still key that other than improving yourself, you should always be positive, and always show a good attitude on anything!!! Cheers!

In my 2nd job and i work for them for 10 years, its a bank here in the philippines. After i get in, they decided that the only employee they will accept is coming from those university that only rich kids can afford to study. Its true, for you to get in the company, it will easier to know someone, but once your there, its what you know. In most cases it true, unless your from the school that i mention.

i think it definately depends on what kind of job it is, and who is in charge. I'm still in college and am already stressing about if i will have a job after graduation. I'm trying to make connections to people in the social work field (where i would like to work) hoping that will give me some edge over others however like i mentioned earlier I dont think every decision is made just on who you know. I'd like to think that it can be a fair way and the most qualified individual will receive the position- it could just be that the more people you know, the more experience and knowledge you have about the topic or job you are trying to receive!

What you quoted was right. Hired people are usually referred through connections. There are also times when people easily get the job because they know someone on the company. Another matter is when you're already on the job. How do you stay with it? People who have the skills and enjoy their job stay. Some unhappy people with their work just look for other job they enjoy unless they really need their current job and find it hard to get another one.

I remember to go to an interview and there were many people over there,my turn came, he told me bluntly that my qualification is better than the job I am searching for and later I came to know that he has simply taken someone else as the person was in very good turn with the boss, I was furious and wanted to rebel on this frustrating issue but I couldnot and things were taken back to as if very normal,I hate those people who disqualify you just because they have to take someone on recommendation.

I think it varies, my husband recently got a new job and it had nothing to do with who he knew, it was all skill, all his knowledge and what he has gained in the past years in his career. I have to say that I was given an opportunity many years ago as a result of both skill, knowledge and who I knew. I had worked with the gentlemen that hired me for five years in at a previous company. He left to move back north when the company we were at was undergoing some disturbing changes. He knew I would not want to stay. He called three months after he left and offered me a job I could not turn down. He knew I had the knowledge to do the job, he gave me a great opportunity which I jumped on. If it were not for my track record at the previous job and the fact that he knew my work ethic and that I could od the job I would not have gotten the job. So it was both, I knew him, but he knew me, he knew what I could do, he knew I could be trusted.