it’s what you know *and* who you know

How my connections got me to where I am in my career

I recently came across a TikTok where creator @cocomocoe says, “I don’t think networking matters or is as big of a deal as people make it out to be.” She talks about how she disagrees with the common phrase “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know” and goes on to say that hard work and talent speaks much louder than networking can and that not everyone has the privilege to network – some may not have the time or may have social anxiety that prevents them from doing so. 

In theory, I absolutely agree with what she’s saying. I think hard work and talent should weigh heavier than connections. And I do think it is 100% a privilege to 1.) be comfortable enough to go out and network and 2.) to have the time to do it. In actuality, though, in order for one’s hard work and talent to be recognized, someone else has to recognize it. And that someone else can’t just be anyone – they have to have the authority to make the decision to get that person in the door. 

I know I can only speak to my experience and the industry I work in. I have no idea what it takes to get a job in the medical field or in education (although I do know that a pharmacist friend found her new job from an old classmate and my husband got a position at a school through a co-worker’s recommendation, so knowing the right person surely doesn’t hurt). Personally, my connections were incredibly important – not only in the start of my career, but also the growth of it. While I don’t want to downplay my skills that have helped me find success, it’s important to acknowledge that hard work alone didn’t get me to where I was – it was also with the help of those I was lucky enough to know. 

I often get asked how I got my start in my career and I usually tick off all the places I worked at, but never mention how I got those jobs to begin with. I think it’s important that I share all the ways that who I knew got me to where I am now – to show just how important connections can be, especially in the social media industry.