Do Services like LinkedIn Prove the Adage: 'it's Not What You Know but Who You Know' Thats Gets You Ahead in Your Career, in Life?

I am a subscriber at, LinkedIn, which is self described on their website as; '...an online network of more than 16 million experienced professionals from around the world, representing 150 industries.'

The excerpts below are answers to just one of the many questions I have asked of my group of contacts.

Sheilah Etheridge

Owner, SME Management: Management and Accounting Consultant

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This was selected as Best Answer

I think life in general proves it, but yes linkedin does also. Many people have gained opportunities through this site that never would have been possible without the right connections.

Sheilah
Eileen Bonfiglio

IT Professional, CQM, CQE, SCM & Owner of Web Development Firm

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Hi John,

I am not so certain, I can say that the opportunity to learn from those we meet on here may significantly contribute to getting ahead just as much or possibly more so than who you know. It may be how much you make of what and who you know :)

Eileen
Chris Carpinello

Optimizing Security and Network Operations

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It's not who you know or what you know, but who knows what you know. Considering a very small portion (10%) of positions are filled by the resume hunt and peck game, it's important to use LinkedIn and other social networks to passively brand and promote yourself. While your strong ties may not be directly responsible for your next position, there's a good chance your weak ties (friends of friends) will be. Not having a branded presence on LinkedIn is a huge disadvantage compared to those that do.

I recommend reading the three books listed below. The Virtual Handshake is about connecting online. Brag! is about personal branding. I'm on Linked In -- Now What puts both of them in perspective specific to LinkedIn.
Olga Kellen

Research Professional, Translator, Citizen of the World

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...in the Ottawa Business Journal: "In the old days, it was what you knew. Then it was who you knew. Now, it is who knows you".

Building LinkedIn network just fits exactly this "who knows you" idea, right?

http://how-i-started-on-linkedin.blogspot.com/2007/09/who-knows-you-on-linkedin.html Links:

• http://how-i-started-on-linkedin.blogspot.com/2007/09/who-knows-you-on-link...

Chris [LION 1600+] Lawson

Oracle Performance Consultant. Author: "Snappy Interviews" & "The Art & Science of Oracle Performance Tuning."

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I think professional networking is critical. Until recently, I didn't really understand its importance.

Consider reviewing the article below. Although targeted at IT consultants, I bet you would find it helpful. Would you let me know if it was useful to you?

Best of luck in your career,
Chris Lawson Links:

• http://oraclemagician.com/white_papers/prof_net.pdf

Rajesh Mehta

Vice President -Marketing at Emami Limited.

Hi John,

In today's world it's important that people know you , may be through services like LinkedIn... but that is not to take away from the fact, that eventually `What' you know will only count....

Also, it is infact services like Linkedin that's bringing so many professionals together, allowing exchange of ideas, letting people connect and evaluate possibilities of working for or working together...

Mike Huffaker

Technical Director at S3 Group Inc

Its a little of both, in my opinion. Meeting the right people is important to open up doors and opportunity. But you still have to know your stuff, especially in the technical field. For instance, it doesn't matter if you know the CEO of every company in the world. If you can't code Java you won't be able to hold down a Java programming job. If you can't fix a car, you won't be able to work at a car dealer. Its a combination of the two - hard work and networking. And as a counterpoint, I'd like to say that sometimes the opposite is true. Good work, a good reputation, and what you know as an expert can sometimes put you in touch with more people, and people start to seek out your services.

Joseph C. Gioconda

Partner at DLA Piper

I agree with the general consensus, i.e., that it is critical that others know how good you are.

Destroy either half of this equation, and your business will fail.

I also want to point out that "how good you are" doesn't just mean how competent you are at a given task. The importance of personal and professional integrity cannot be overstated. People don't just refer work to a competent professional, they refer work to a "good [lawyer, doctor, etc.]."

I like how the movie V for Vendetta said it: "Our integrity sells for so little, but it's all that we really have."

Erika Muller

Litigation Support Supervisor at Linklaters

You can't get to show what you know if no one knows you.

In my opinion it starts with the 'what you know' and the 'who you know' comes second.
Both in business as in life you have to have some of both. Good opportunities can come from LinkedIn and other sites but the starting point is who you know already and you expand your network from there.

Ofcourse there are the connection-hunters that have 600+ connections but i doubt that they will have full benefit of this other than that they show up in more queries etc

You can't meet people sitting at home has allways been the wisdom, but ofcourse nowadays you can through LinkedIn etcetera find new people. It is no substitute however for doing your thing and doing it well...
You have to let people know that you are good.

: Marc van Maanen
Internet Marketing Manager,
Marketing Platform / Pensioen Platform
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/1/B19/3A6 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

With LinkedIn's service I have reconnected and kept in touch with old colleagues, met potential employers, learned from many combined years of professional service, and used my network as a sounding board for my own questions and ideals.