Originally Posted by Libertine

Take, for example, a close friend of mine, whom I've known for about 15 years.

She's always been intelligent and a decent student, but nothing exceptional. However, in her first year at a local college, despite her mediocre results her networking skills got her the references to get into one of the top 3 universities in the world.

She finished that, though with less-than-stellar grades. Nevertheless, she got several prestigious fellowships, including a recent one at the US Congress. Recently, she got invited to apply for a great political job which she's absolutely unqualified for.

Her entire career is based on exactly three things: she has superior networking skills, she's a good talker, and she goes after what she wants. More intelligent and knowledgeable people with better qualifications don't get the positions she does, simply because they're not as good at building the right connections.

And that's the way it works everywhere: by making sure you get to know the right people you make sure you get the right opportunities. No matter how intelligent and skilled you might be, if you don't get noticed, you don't get asked. Business, dating, politics - whatever you do, making contacts is essential.