- Mar 3, 2001
- 8,859
- 4
- 0
I used to think the "who you know" didn't used to be as important as "what you know" but I think everyone eventually realizes that is bullshit. However, I have lived both instances of it, and we will soon find out which turns out to be better.
First IT job: Didn't know anyone at the company. I started in IT making $8 doing BS jobs, building and imaging computers, moved up to repairs, then field repairs, field networking, and eventually contracted out to a law firm to take care of their day to day issues such as imaging, backups, networking VoIP, everything. My commute was 1 hour each way, and I recently had a kid, so I started looking for a job closer to home. At this point I think I was making $14 an hour.
I applied at a manufacturing company closer to home that was hiring for an IT position doing similar things to what I was doing at the law firm. I knew someone who worked there, but not in the IT department, and he couldn't vouch for my skills but ended up talking to the IT manager anyway. Two interviews later I had the job with a moderate pay increase.
At this job they were big on certifications so I finished up my MCSE and MCSA and randomly added those credentials to my resume on monster and careerbuilder, which resulted in my being constantly called by recruiters. over the course of 3 months I had 3 recruiters call me about a specific position that was a 1.5 hour drive away and I kept telling them no, I didn't want to commute that long nor did I want to move. Finally a recruiter called about the position and I said "if you can promise me $X (where $X was a 60% pay increase) then i'll do a phone interview." Lo and behold, they promised $X, I went to some interviews, got the job, and moved. I didn't know a SINGLE person that worked at this new place, so there was no "who you know" factor involved.
Since being here I joined a local chapter involved in IT and met a lot of cool folks. I really have no desire to leave this job, but someone from another company emailed me and said they had a position opening soon and wondered if I would be interested. I wouldn't have even known about the opening, nor applied if I hadn't been contacted directly. I told him to show me the money, and he sent me some scales for Intermediate and Senior
I did the phone interview a week or so ago and now have a personal interview this afternoon. If I get mid-range intermediate it would be a 8% pay raise, but high-range intermediate would be a 29% pay raise. If I get mid-range senior it would be a 23% pay raise, high-range senior would be a 41% pay increase. Not only that, but he is emailing me tips on what to wear, how to act, and what types of questions they will be interviewing me with.
This is obviously a case of "who you know" but I wouldn't be interacting with this person, nor would he even consider me for the position if it wasn't for "what I know"
is IT different than say sales? I mean, a salesman is a salesman and can be taught to sell anything at any company, which leans more towards a "who you know" aspect, but a specialized IT person with specific certs and experience with specific systems seems to definitely be a "what you know" first, then a "who you know" second.
So, is "what you know" vs "who you know" more dependent on the job type or does it all eventually boil down to "who you know" ??
First IT job: Didn't know anyone at the company. I started in IT making $8 doing BS jobs, building and imaging computers, moved up to repairs, then field repairs, field networking, and eventually contracted out to a law firm to take care of their day to day issues such as imaging, backups, networking VoIP, everything. My commute was 1 hour each way, and I recently had a kid, so I started looking for a job closer to home. At this point I think I was making $14 an hour.
I applied at a manufacturing company closer to home that was hiring for an IT position doing similar things to what I was doing at the law firm. I knew someone who worked there, but not in the IT department, and he couldn't vouch for my skills but ended up talking to the IT manager anyway. Two interviews later I had the job with a moderate pay increase.
At this job they were big on certifications so I finished up my MCSE and MCSA and randomly added those credentials to my resume on monster and careerbuilder, which resulted in my being constantly called by recruiters. over the course of 3 months I had 3 recruiters call me about a specific position that was a 1.5 hour drive away and I kept telling them no, I didn't want to commute that long nor did I want to move. Finally a recruiter called about the position and I said "if you can promise me $X (where $X was a 60% pay increase) then i'll do a phone interview." Lo and behold, they promised $X, I went to some interviews, got the job, and moved. I didn't know a SINGLE person that worked at this new place, so there was no "who you know" factor involved.
Since being here I joined a local chapter involved in IT and met a lot of cool folks. I really have no desire to leave this job, but someone from another company emailed me and said they had a position opening soon and wondered if I would be interested. I wouldn't have even known about the opening, nor applied if I hadn't been contacted directly. I told him to show me the money, and he sent me some scales for Intermediate and Senior
I did the phone interview a week or so ago and now have a personal interview this afternoon. If I get mid-range intermediate it would be a 8% pay raise, but high-range intermediate would be a 29% pay raise. If I get mid-range senior it would be a 23% pay raise, high-range senior would be a 41% pay increase. Not only that, but he is emailing me tips on what to wear, how to act, and what types of questions they will be interviewing me with.
This is obviously a case of "who you know" but I wouldn't be interacting with this person, nor would he even consider me for the position if it wasn't for "what I know"
is IT different than say sales? I mean, a salesman is a salesman and can be taught to sell anything at any company, which leans more towards a "who you know" aspect, but a specialized IT person with specific certs and experience with specific systems seems to definitely be a "what you know" first, then a "who you know" second.
So, is "what you know" vs "who you know" more dependent on the job type or does it all eventually boil down to "who you know" ??
Facebook
Twitter