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I think there are two main elements to being hired.
1. Who you know, meaning networking.
2. Timing, meaning being there when the person you know has a job
opening.
I believe a degree opens doors and helps with networking. I believe
skill, training, and experience are all door-openers. However, without
networking and timing, you are just an obscure face in a large crowd
looking for a job that is already filled.
Please note I am not commenting on how things ought to work in Utopia
and, might add, that I have had little opportunity to hire personnel
but, when I have, I have never hired someone I met previously--thus the
exception proving my rule ;?). My hires have also worked out pretty
well.
Sean
sean -at- quodata -dot- com
> In response to Garret Romaine's remark that he hires only those he
> networks
> with, it would delight me to see that thread flamed so thoroughly that
> people think twice about the whole situation. Do we want to see formation
> of an old-boys network impossible for newcomers and solitary talents to
> break into, or do we want to see an equitable, worth-is-measured and
> quality-is-rewarded system of hiring? Sheesh!
P.S. No flames needed and, I assume, old-boy network is NOT gender
specific.
