[tomkarlo]

Just because "networks" have value doesn't mean they're in anyway "unfair". It's like saying that having a college degree is "unfair", because it makes you more qualified for a job than someone who doesn't have one.

There are lots of people who make their entire career out of leveraging their personal networks, from salespeople and recruiters to VCs and politicians. It's no coincidence that half that people I work with worked with each other at previous jobs.

Calling it a "network" devalues what it really is: a hard-won portfolio of people who you have relationships with involving trust and credibility. They know who you are and you know who they are, and that gives you both value. In an age of linkedin and networking events part of what's lost is that networking isn't just about knowing someone's email; it's about having a strong enough relationship with them that you can leverage that.