A hot job: video game producers are seen working in office | Wojtek Radwanski/AFP/Getty Images
When it comes to getting certain jobs, it’s all about connections. Having personal relationships or having
a strong ability to network
can get you incredibly far in life, and there are countless examples of
how connections can and will give you a leg up in your job search. As a
business owner, being engaged in the social circles and networks can
secure you big contracts or business deals. As a worker, knowing the
right guy may get you high-paying jobs — jobs you may not be qualified
for.
Or, having the right connections and being the right networks can
simply open doors that would have otherwise remained closed completely.
There are many industries in which it is hard to get an interview, let
alone a job, and it seems as though the only way in is to know the right
people.
It’s similar in other areas of life, too. We all know that family
ties and networks can get you into high-ranking colleges and
universities, for example.
The real problem with this is that it undermines one of the core
principles on which our system is built upon: The idea that you can go
anywhere and do anything, as long as
you’re willing to work for it.
That still holds true, largely. But you can’t deny the influence that
networking and personal connections can have on landing you a good job.
Of course, some of these jobs are harder to get than others.
With
some help from LinkedIn,
we now have a good idea of which specific industries and jobs those
are. Here are seven jobs that are seemingly impossible to get unless you
know the right people.
7. Defense and space
A US Army soldier looks over a Barrett M107A1 rifle | Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images
Though you see a soldier in the photo above, military jobs aren’t
necessarily what we’re talking about. Instead, it’s more along the lines
of the jobs that are designing and creating the weapon in the photo.
Jobs in the defense and space industry — working for companies like
Boeing, McDonnell Douglas, etc. — aren’t easy to come by. If you want to
design missiles or rockets, you’re going to need some connections, or a
beefy resume, to get in the door.
6. Management consulting
Young group of people working on laptops iStock
Some of the world’s most prestigious firms work in the world of
management consulting. You’ve heard some of the names before —
PricewaterhouseCoopers, Deloitte, etc. If you want to work at one of
them, however, you’re in for some stiff competition. These jobs pay well
and look great on a resume, but you’re going to need help to get in.
5. Wireless
People test out smartphones | Lluis Gene/AFP/Getty Images
“Wireless” is a pretty vague term, but as you may have guessed, it
refers to the wireless industry. That’s an industry that has been fueled
by new and innovative technologies over the past two decades, spurring
the creation of smartphones and a number of other things. But getting an
job at Apple or Google working on their wireless products is damn near
impossible for the average Joe, so tap your network before thinking
about applying.
4. Politics
A member of the United States Secret Service stands guard | Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images
If there were ever an obvious profession in which personal
connections helps you get in, it’s politics. Just look at some of the
dynastic names out there: Kennedy, Bush, Clinton. They all come from
lines of political power. It’s not easy to get elected or appointed to a
high-powered position without a solid network.
3. Private equity and venture capital
Money and capital | Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images
Big money requires some big connections. The world of private equity
and venture capital are fairly mysterious to the layman — perhaps only
accessible through Shark Tank for a good percentage of the population.
As for how you actually get into the industry? Have somebody on the
inside. Or at least an awful lot of capital, or an insane track record
making people a lot of money.
2. Computer and network security
A computer keyboard | Loic Venance/AFP/Getty Images
Though it’s definitely a growth industry, it can be hard to get your
foot in the door in the network and computer security industry. It
requires a select set of skills, and the jobs generally pay pretty well.
For that reason, it’s hard to get in. Knowing the right people is your
surest bet.
1. Video games
Star Wars: Battlefront gameplay | EA
Making video games sounds like one of the coolest jobs imaginable.
That means that there are a lot of people trying to break into the
industry, making it incredibly competitive. You can have the skills and
resume, but when decisions need to be made, it’ll probably come down to
networking efforts and personal connections.
If you ever doubted the importance of networking, try getting one of
these jobs without somebody’s help. It’s possible, but considerably more
difficult.
Culled from Money & Career Cheat Sheet
