Knowledge is king. I don't know any actual kings, but if I were a knight I might very well know a king or a queen perhaps. But I don't know any knights either so that's as far as that correlation goes. However, I do know a lot of things as well as places and people. Or do I really know much of anything?
Knowing certain things can play a big part in the jobs we find. Knowing certain people can be even more important in getting a job. Most of the best jobs I've had in my life I had gotten because of somebody whom I knew. Like the saying goes, "It's who we know that counts" and I can vouch for that in my life.
Knoxville is where I got my first job just by applying. I was a student at the University of Tennessee at the time when a summer job ad came up in the newspaper. The position was at a carnival supply company where they were looking for warehouse help. The boss was an old carny named Kermit and once I said I was a student he proclaimed, "Well, a college boy! You're hired! I'm giving the position of assistant manager."
That was pretty fine with me even though my new position also required that I'd be doing the warehouse work labor as my main job. But I also was put in charge of maintaining the showroom and waiting on customers. It was a great summer job that provided lots of overtime hours during the busy time. I enjoyed the work and the people there. I ended up staying there for the next 3 or so years as they were willing to accommodate my school schedule which didn't greatly interfere with the busy summer season when I took off to work.
Eventually I left that job to take a job with a road show. That was a job based on who I knew. I was interested in show business and had some contacts that served me well over the years to keep me employed. Knowing people helped me get jobs I wanted, liked, or needed--or all three.
But just knowing a knight would not likely give me an opportunity to meet a king. Nor would I likely know a knight. Since knights don't go around in shiny armor or any semblance of that attire as a rule, a knight might seem like you or I.
Maybe on some strange night I'll meet a knight who will introduce me to a king. It would all likely be a metaphorical encounter or just an encounter with people with strange names. It all might happen. I doubt it, but you never know.
Who has been the most important contact you've had in your career? How did you get your first job? Did you work your way through college?
I agree with knowing people gets you where you want to go. My first job was at a sandwich shop making Italians because my sister babysat for the lady who owned the shop and my sister wasn't old enough to work. Hence I knew someone. My second job was in a shoe factory because my dad was the packing room foreman, hence I knew someone. Never got the chance to go to college (couldn't afford it and wasn't smart enough to get a scholarship). Knowledge is power.
ReplyDeleteThis is Birgit…in today’s world, most places just want you to send in your resume and a computer chooses the person….that is horrible, in my humble opinion. I believe we need to see the person to truly make a better informed decision. I worked at the family business, a sawmill, and did most of my work in the house, yard, secretarial and, at times, in the sawmill. It helped but I relied on student loans. I ThNk my 2nd boss, Mike Mates, who hired me as a Credit Counselor based on my resume and me. I was a credit counsellor for over 30 years. Due to that job, I got my course for Insolvency Counsellor which is what I do now. I was very lucky. Mike Mates, sadly developed Alzheimer’s when he was in his early 50s and died shortly after turning 60. He was a good egg!
ReplyDeleteI was lucky to get into computers back when there weren't many women. I had no college, it was all OJT (on the job training) through the years. The downside was many times I had to change jobs to get a raise or promotion. I went as high as VP of Client Services, all without a degree.
ReplyDeleteDonna: Click for my 2025 A-Z Blog
Oops, didn't mean to post as Anonymous!
DeleteI definitely agree with the "who you know" when it comes to employment. The job I have now is because of who I knew and I've been here over 20 years. On another note, I really enjoyed your use of so many "k's" in your post. Great job!
ReplyDeleteI guess you could say I'm working my way through college now - at age 66! I will graduate with my AA May 2 and then I will start working on my BA in June and I'm still working full-time . . .so I guess I'm working my way through college :-).