We are pretty sure that many of our readers have heard of this popular adage: “It’s who you know, not what you know”. In today’s job market, the honest truth is that: You don’t need to have the greatest skills, talents, or brains to get hired. It’s mostly a matter of being in the right place at the right time and saying the right things to the right people.

Every day offers evidence of this thesis and it is one of the hardcore realities of our adult lives. Almost every day, we hear of someone being selected for a job because s/he was recommended by a powerful friend of the boss.

Have you ever asked yourself: why do some people shoot straight up to the top while others instead languish in the unending morass of unemployment or lower management? Well, the real answer lies in the strength of somebody’s networks and connections.

There are plenty of smart people out there, with the abilities necessary to deliver the greatest results in a workplace. But sadly, those things don’t really matter when you’re not well connected. You can get way further with who you know as opposed to what you know.

In these times, job search is one of those real-world concerns of everyday life that no university degree or textbook can prepare you for. Job search and its related unwritten rules should perhaps be added in all programs pursued at institutions of higher learning in Uganda and abroad.

In addition to networks or connections, the following attributes are also vital:

1. Integrity: Employers always aim to hire people with integrity. People with integrity tell the truth, and they keep their word. They take responsibility for past actions, admit mistakes, and fix They know the laws of the country, sector, and company and abide by them. Employers normally rely on reputation and reference checks to confirm a candidate’s integrity.

1. Intellectual curiosity: The test for intelligence does not mean that a person must have read Shakespeare or can solve complex physics problems. The candidate must possess a strong dose of intellectual curiosity, with a breadth of knowledge to work with or lead other smart people in today’s complex business. Lots of people actually confuse education with intelligence but the two are totally different. We have met lots of smart, intelligent people coming from every kind of school and sometimes no school at all. A candidate’s education is only a piece of the picture, especially when it comes to intelligence.

1. Maturity: This is another important ticket into a job. You can be mature at any age, and immature too. Regardless, there are certain traits that seem to indicate a person has grown up: the individual can withstand the heat, handle stress and setbacks.

Advice to job-seekers:

Armed with the above attributes (integrity, Intellectual curiosity and Maturity), as a job-seeker, you need to grow your networks, with people from within and out of your organization, industry and externally. The larger your network, the more access to opportunities you have.

Be part of social events and join social groups such as Old Students’ Associations, Professional Associations or Religious groups. Take advantage of social media (LinkedIn, Twitter, etc.) to engage and connect with individuals that matters. Be result-oriented in whatever you do because the best way to get noticed is with results.

Last one: qualifications and capabilities are great to have – and should be celebrated – but they are not enough to get you a job or promotion. They can get you at the door, but not in the door.

Brian B. Mukalazi – CEO Talis Consults