English Dictionary

it's not what you know but who you know

ことわざ

For success, and especially to obtain employment, one's knowledge and skills are less useful and less important than one's network of personal contacts.

日本語の意味

成功や就職などにおいて、個人の知識や技術よりも、誰を知っているか、人脈が重要であるという意味。 / 学力や技能よりも、社会的な繋がりや紹介が成否に大きく影響するという考え方。 / 知識だけではなく、誰と知り合いであるか、つまり人脈が成功を左右するということを表す諺。

When applying for jobs, remember: it's not what you know but who you know; networking opens doors that qualifications alone often cannot.

「重要なのは何を知っているかではなく、誰を知っているかだ」という格言どおり、特に就職では知識や技能よりも個人的な人脈が成功の鍵になることが多い。

意味（1）

For success, and especially to obtain employment, one's knowledge and skills are less useful and less important than one's network of personal contacts.

Eighty-four students referred to political influence as a disadvantage of federal employment with such remarks as: There are too many political connections necessary . . . it's not what you know but who you know—in spite of apparent merit systems.