Essay Writing Task

TASK:
You have recently had a class debate in which students discussed whether knowledge or social connections were more useful in achieving success. Your teacher has asked you to write an essay giving your opinion on the following statement:

« It’s not what you know, but who you know that counts »

Write your essay in 220-260 words

What you know or who you know?

I strongly believe that having the right skills and qualifications is essential in order to get a good job and succeed in life. However, with the large numbers of people competing for jobs nowadays, aren’t social connections equally important?

Some parents encourage their sons and daughters to keep up with the academic work in order to acquire the necessary knowledge to get into college and obtain a well-paid job one day. These young people do their best to be the first student in the class, they qui ttheir social life and have very few friends. But then when they finish their studies, despite their impressive marks, they struggle to find a job.

On the other hand we can find a group of people who were not necessarily brilliant at college but who have the right connections. They are the ones who get a good place in a company because they know the right people. Having knowledge is undoubtedly important but I think we all need a little push from others to succeed in today´s society.

Nevertheless I want to make it clear that I believe that getting a job only because you have connections is not fair and people should not be given a job if they do not have the right qualifications. The way I see it both, knowledge and connections, are equally important.