The further I get into my university education I realize this quote is so true.

Anyone agree/disagree?

Agree!

Example: Graduate position. If you have good relation with profs, getting recommendation and eventual the position is so much easier. GPA doesn't have as much effect as you think.

Anyone who disagrees with this is completely and utterly delusional and is in for a big surprise.

People like to hire from the "inside." They think that this has less risk of a bad fit because people assume that your friends/acquaintances/etc are similar to yourself (which isn't untrue by any means, obviously there are exceptions and outliars). If you're a good a worker, they'll assume your friend is a good worker too and hire them over an equally qualified stranger.

There's a reason why everyone's jealous of people who have parents/family working at places such as OPG. Those people are set for life.

I came to realize this too and that's why everywhere you go they emphasize "networking."

Originally Posted by PHLN

Example: Graduate position. If you have good relation with profs, getting recommendation and eventual the position is so much easier. GPA doesn't have as much effect as you think.

This is a bit misleading. The reason you'd have a good relation with profs (in this context) is because you've shown yourself to be academically useful, in one sense or another. I mean, for research work, undergraduate GPA doesn't really say much at all besides "I didn't go out on weekends".

Originally Posted by Stock

The further I get into my university education I realize this quote is so true.

Anyone agree/disagree?

I disagree somewhat. I think it might be more accurate to say "It's about what you know, but knowing the right people doesn't hurt".

A majority of people still find employment (assuming this is what you're talking about) through cold contact. Nepotism and favours are special cases, though certainly not uncommon. Knowing someone doesn't necessarily guarantee you a position (of any kind), because the person vouching for you also assumes some responsibility for your performance and quality as a candidate. You might know a professor, or a manager at company Y, but if they think you're going to do a shitty job, they aren't going to hand it to you because it will reflect badly on them.

I'd be more inclined to say that it's not either/or for this situation; you have to know your field and who's in your field. (In terms of graduate school, it's more so getting to know your colleagues and finding a supervisor that is in line with your own research interests; its for finding out who your fellow grasshoppers are and who will be your sensei, in short )

Agree, I know many people who got jobs after they went through a friend or someone they know well. Its sad, and sucks for people that don't have parents and family working in big companies. Especially for many immigrants, that don't have a big family in Canada. I know so many people that got jobs because their parent was a manager in the company. They got picked over someone else mostly due to that connection. I also know someone who is bordering on a crackhead but works for McMaster because they are friends with a manager. I also know of two people with parents working at McMaster and they work at Mac too, and have pretty nice easy jobs that pay very nice. Im not an idiot, the number of people who get jobs at Mac and have parents working here or friends is pretty high. This is a pretty unfair hiring practice. I think it almost requires some kind of investigation considering Mac is a public school with our taxes going into it. Anyone that applies should have a chance to work here if their skills are fit.

Originally Posted by PHLN

Agree!

Example: Graduate position. If you have good relation with profs, getting recommendation and eventual the position is so much easier. GPA doesn't have as much effect as you think.

This is a bit different, building a relationship with a prof isn't easy. It takes work, and most students that build relationships with profs do it because they know it will pay off. Most people that get jobs through parents or friends never had to prove themselves or work as hard.

Depends on your program and what you value.

Originally Posted by RyanC

Depends on your program and what you value.

*cough* typical male engineering student thinking he's an island and doesn't need anyone/to know anyone because mommy never loved him enough, eng phys is hard and whenever he opens his mouth arrogant, asinine and slightly misogynistic bullshit dribbles out *cough*


longest cough ever

Originally Posted by lawleypop

Anyone who disagrees with this is completely and utterly delusional and is in for a big surprise.

People like to hire from the "inside." They think that this has less risk of a bad fit because people assume that your friends/acquaintances/etc are similar to yourself (which isn't untrue by any means, obviously there are exceptions and outliars). If you're a good a worker, they'll assume your friend is a good worker too and hire them over an equally qualified stranger.

There's a reason why everyone's jealous of people who have parents/family working at places such as OPG. Those people are set for life.

agreed, this is why whitey mcwhiterson can be succesful w/o doing jack shit, his parents know people.

Hey, leave McWhiterson alone, he's a nice guy.