Networking

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It is said that networking is the key to getting ahead in the business and career world.

What does it take to make these network connections? Being a good, hard, dependable worker, or being a fun buddy to hang with?

The fun buddy part. A lot of networking is meeting people who have relationships with your company but don't actually work with you. Those people won't see how hard you work.

Doesn't reputation count for anything?

In theory yes, in practical terms it is only one factor of many. Some jobs, especially within the public sector have formalized promotion processes, but in the most other jobs such processes are less formalized and here other factors are very important. The real reason for a promotion is than often covered in vague terms like "his personality will fit well into the existing management team".

Sadly, being very sociable is an asset, but if you're skilled at maintaining a "professional friendliness", then that is also just fine.

The definition of "sociable, likeable" is different in the working world. If you're getting drunk and slapping people on the back at Wine & Cheeses and Banquets, then it will most certainly turn people off. In cases like this, being somewhat talkative yet reserved in your behaviours is the most appropriate approach.

Yes, but the sad fact is that many managers do not know how (or care enough) to judge you based on your actual performance. They judge using easier metrics like days late, missed days, time you get to work, number of times they get complaints about you, etc.

I thought public sector recruitment was all about nepotism and cronyism.

Those are fair enough measures of one's performance and reliability. Better than personal or any other informal or non-quantifiable judgement calls any day any day.

^^ that one. It's not just about fun though.... having charisma, and people wanting what you have. If you have the right connections, you don't even need to be a good worker.

But you will develop a negative reputation over time if you're too much of a slacker or an incompetent, right?