<p>I am very concerned about my future.I am not from a rich or powerful family; I don't have connections to high-level government officials or business tycoons. The road to success seems to be a long way for me. </p>
<p>Some of the people I know got the opportunities to work in political campaign for senators, because their parents know people in the whitehouse, some got to work in famous tv station b/c their relatives work in the industry. Even at my internship place, the other intern got the job b/c her father is my boss' good friend. She did not have to send application and go through interviews like I did, and sometimes she did get more attention from the boss and other colleagues.</p>
<p>I am proud of what I achieved so far, b/c I earned every opportunity by myself. However, as I learn more about the real world, I worry that it may take me years before taking the next leap, and this may just because someone knows more people than I do. </p>
<p>So parents, how long does it take you to your current career position? How did you take your leap?</p>
<p>A lot of people get jobs through connections, but YOU can be one of them by socializing, talking to people, getting to know them; playing tennis (or whatever) together. At school, help others with assignments or projects. Volunteer for committees. Then YOUR kids will be the ones getting the great internships through YOUR friends!!</p>
<p>3.5 years of undergrad, 3 years of law school, 8 to make partner, a few more to make equity partner. I had no family connections, no wealth or status. I made more than my dad my first year out of law school. I am a shy person, so I’m not the best at bringing in business; a competent person with a great personality could certainly be where I am financially by the age of 40.</p>
<p>Connections are extremely important. My D. is finding it out in regard to field of medicine. She has none. She just needs to try much harder, try to be at the top and build ner own network. She is very social and extremely hard working person. I believe that these 2 traits are the most important and a bit of luck. I am not a good example for you, since I came to this country in my 30s without English with my H and S and $400 in our pocket. We are very well now. Both my H and I are professionals with MBAs from american university, all paid by our jobs. We paid for our S’s college out of paychecks and paying for our D now, promised to support and help paying her tuition thru Med. school. We love this country! It does not matter how long as long as you are enjoying the ride!</p>
<p>I came out of high school with no real advantages other than a solid education. I did well in college - but probably my biggest break came when I took a work study job at the career center on campus. Some people treat work study jobs as a means to getting a paycheck. </p>
<p>I took advantage of that job to get to know all of the recruiters that came to campus. I also had a great deal of help in learning how to interview and my resume was as polished as 4 PhD Career Advisors could make it.</p>
<p>As a result, I got a great summer internship both my sophomore and junior summers - and then landed a very solid job which served as the launch pad for my career.</p>
<p>Once in the job market, it was a matter of hard work and smart work. It is not enough to simply accomplish the tasks that are given to you - do other things as well. If there is a special project that needs doing in your work group, take it on. Of course the basic job comes first - do that well - but those special projects are often a good way to get exposure into the rest of the company. For example, I took on organizing the summer picnic along with representatives from other groups. One of those other reps later helped me get my first promotion into their group.</p>
<p>As for a time line, I took 5 years to graduate from undergraduate school, 18 months to first promotion, 3 years to supervisor, and 4 more years to manager of managers (2nd line manager). Along the way I went to grad school at night, graduating in 3 years.</p>
<p>The answer to your question is that it will take years to get to where I am - but then again, having kids that are ready to go to college by definition takes years!!! Remember that it is not about getting to the next job or level - it is much more about enjoying where you are at. My first boss after college was extremely generous with her time and gave me many good pieces of advice - but one that fits this situation is “Don’t worry about getting promoted - worry about finding a job that you enjoy and throwing your heart and soul into it - if you do that, the love of your current job will show through and the promotions will follow naturally.”</p>
<p>4 years undergrad, 4 medical school, 3 (now 4) residency, then private practice. Others will have more time in other fields and/or subspecialties. Connections don’t matter for physicians in finding a job, they may matter as to where you work; and you develop connections on your own merits, not your family (I disagree with post #4-the important connections were probably those created by students, such as getting to know professors through college work/research- the best students will of course do more than just take classes). Where you do your residency has the most influence on where you practice. Success isn’t measured by dollars earned but in what matters to you, there are a lot easier ways to make money.</p>
<p>^ My D is experiencing difficulties in finding internships/positions in med. research lab, getting accepted to some selective programs, even volunteering at med. facility …etc. Some of her friends with less impressive stats do not have to do anything to get all of the above because of connections of their parents. She is far from looking for a job in medical field - she is going to be sophmore in pre-med. Since acceptance to Med. schools is extremely selective, she is trying to be at the top, she understand that she can rely only on herself.
I did not mean to hijack this thread. Just to give an idea that it seems that connections are important everywhere. However, when one starts with none, it builds character.</p>
<p>That doesn’t mean she won’t get into medical school. There are plenty of other research opportunities by the time one is a senior. One gets recommendations from the profs in one’s major, as well as doing research in that dept- not everything for medical school has to be in medical fields. She can show a passion for something in a biology, chemistry, psychology, or whatever field and enjoy her undergraduate education while getting the courses needed for medical school. In fact, doing something outside the usual may set her apart from the applicant crowd.</p>
<p>I was in the workforce for years before it dawned on me that networking is no big mystery; nor is it a tool confined to the rich and powerful. </p>
<p>Networking is simply paying your dues in your profession/industry, being on good terms with your co-workers, never burning bridges, and keeping in touch with people as they move on to new opportunities elsewhere. Tools like LinkedIn and other social & career networking sites make keeping in touch easier than ever before.</p>
<p>I got the inside track on three different jobs because someone I’d worked with before had taken a position at a new place. In each case, I got in the door based on that connection, but winning the job after that was up to me.</p>
<p>The secret to success is not networking, however. The secret to success is doing what you love, giving it your best, and always treating people well along the way–whether they are above you or below you on the career ladder.</p>
<p>^ …if you are given an opportunity to do so. That opportunity goes to others with connections first, and if there are spots left, then to the next best candidates. My D. is learning it hard way, and she is making sure that she is that next best candidate. However, there were times, that it was nothing left after those with connections marched in. It happened couple times, and in both times, those in front of her were less eligible in many aspects. Very sad! However, on a positive note, it made my D. stronger.</p>
<p>There is no question that sometimes connections can help one get a foot it the door, but there are usually plenty of opportunities for the deserving as well. As an architect I’ve picked up and started in new places with few or no connections three times. I graduated in 1982, then had three jobs in three different cities. I took a couple of years off after my first child was born and worked part time in my last job. I set up on my own in 1998 as an architect. I got my first job from a secretary in my previous office, the second from a high school friend, after that it was word of mouth. I get a surprising amount of work from the friends I’ve made in the neighborhood. As someone else said, good service and always being nice go a long way. My practice started off deliberately as very part time and has expanded as my kids have gotten older.</p>
<p>I am going to ask you to design my next house.</p>
<p>I came to US in my mid 20s, barely speaking English then. I am a physician, working hard all the time and doing well. I was an attending physician in a medical school for couple of years, too, and now I am in private practice.</p>
<p>to MiamiDAP: don’t worry about the hospital related ECs now. Medical schools are highly GPA and MCAT oriented. If your D can get 40 or something close on her MCAT, then just don’t worry at all. Students at the level get multiple acceptances.</p>
<p>No connections, no money. Just education and work, bit by bit. Learning special skills in demand. Doing jobs no one likes but important in order to get other things we wanted and want.</p>
<p>I’ve never had any connections and have done quite well. I know plenty of people who have done quite well without using any connections - actually most of them. It would have never occurred to me that I’d need any connections to succeed. </p>
<p>Don’t worry about any of these other people and make sure you don’t wallow in a state of mind that without connections success will be difficult. Take a step at a time and realize you usually need to walk before you run. Taking the steps is what makes you grow and each step is a success in itself.</p>
<p>Connections ARE important, but you can create your own, as described above. My own little example:</p>
<p>I got my first job out of college answering a newspaper ad. I was hired because of the internship/part-time job I had in college. (I was told this later after the fact; when they saw that on the resume they were sure they wanted to hire me.)</p>
<p>I got that internship/part-time job because of a connection I created: I was very interested in a particular topic, so my freshman year I audited a graduate seminar in that topic. The professor liked me and intorduced the opportunity for me.</p>
<p>I haven’t arrived yet. I’m still making progress. I’m 52. (And have had three different happy and successful careers so far, all in different fields, and all requiring me to get additional education at some point)</p>
<p>Success is a destination, not a final journey.</p>
<p>It’s nice to have connections, but if you do not have them there is no sense brooding about them. You will make your own as you move along through life.</p>
I count your examples more as networking rather than as ‘connections’ in the context of the OPs statements. The OP seems to be concerned that it’s familial and close friend connections that are required - i.e. connections not necessarily based on working relationships or exhibited capabilities. The networking you do to build business relationships and leverage your own skills and interpersonal qualities aren’t the same IMO - i.e. you ‘earned’ those positions you gained - you weren’t handed them because you happened to have an uncle who was an executive .</p>
<p>My parents were loners and our family were outliers of sorts, so I was quite used to the situation. I knew some people had networks, family, connections, friends that I did not. It was just a fact of life, just as some have more money, different parents, more amenities, etc. Many have less. Neither my one brother nor I ever felt much of anything about the situation. But my youngest brother really sulked over it.</p>
<p>I suppose I took the disconnected route. My personality and persuasive ability got me into some great jobs during college - like working for daily newspapers even though I wasn’t a journalism major. My college grades, test scores and varied work experience got me into a great law school. My grades, varied work experience and accomplishments during law school landed me a wonderful job straight out of law school. (If you want a number: end to end, beginning of college to my first big job took 9 years.) That led to another job when I wanted a change of pace. None of them involved connections as described by the OP, but I think the fact that I did what I enjoyed was really crucial. My theory is that people like to hire confident, happy people who don’t worry about whether they are at a disadvantage for some reason or another.</p>