Networking or Hook Up, What Is The Difference?

Over half of all jobs do not make it to employment sites because positions are filled from networking. Some advantages to networking are less competition for positions and job referrals which makes interviewing more comfortable.

Is there a difference between networking and the hook up? If a person has training, experience, or education in an area and is seeking connections to get a job or move ahead in their career that is networking. If a person has no experience in an area and is seeking employment and their connections get them a position that is a Hook Up. Did you get your job from Networking? Did you get a Hook Up? Is the term networking being misused?

Have you noticed that when trying to take care of business matters you speak to people who have no idea what is going on in their jobs or place of employment. Do you work with people or hear about people who have no clue about the positions they hold? They do not know what they are doing, they are just drawing a paycheck. There was a time when people could help you get a position but once in the position it was up to you to swim or sink. You had to be careful who you recommended for a position because it was a reflection on you.


If a person gets their job from the hook up, that could be okay provided they step up to the plate and learn the job. Take some classes or find another way and take the time to get training for that position. Getting the hook up does not have to be a negative, it could be an opportunity to get a great career or a good employee. But once you are hooked up, you have a responsibility to learn as much as you can as quickly as you can in order to be proficient in the position that you hold. Not just because of the person who recommended you for the position but because of all of the people who are depending on you in that position, like the customers or your co workers. I am annoyed when I call ahead for information and then arrive at the destination only to find that the person I spoke to did not know what they were talking about or failed to give me additional information that I would need.

An advantage to networking or the hook up is that you are helping someone by providing them with an opportunity. They in return should provide someone with an opportunity. No one can make it by themselves, and everyone needs some help sometimes. But once you receive your help from networking or the hook up, step up to the plate and take advantage of the opportunity your connections have provided.

What do you think?