"It’s not what you know, but who you know that counts."
This oversimplified statement often angers those who believe that all it takes to get ahead is hard-work. However, you can’t ignore that there is some truth in the statement when it comes to looking for a job.
In fact, the U.S. Department of Labor estimates that 48 percent of all job opportunities are made through personal networking. So the real question for job seekers is how to take advantage of this phenomenon.
Positioning yourself to take the advantage of the benefits of networking is not that difficult. It only requires participation in social and business events, particularly those that relate to your professional objectives. It’s a three-step process: first, choosing a promising event to attend; second, once there, making sure you get your massage out; and third, sending a resume after a positive conversation.
The ready-made social situations created by professional associations are obvious places to network. Almost every professional association portrays itself as a networking vehicle for matching jobs with prospective candidates. If you do not belong to a professional group, the act of joining one will get you in the door. Once inside, you have the opportunity to meet many influential people.
Beyond the social and business gatherings, networking has recently taken a turn toward our electronic future. The Internet is becoming a networking medium for communication about job opportunities and job seekers.

The author of this passage encourages readers to ______.

A．take advantage of personal networking
B．ignore the phenomenon of networking
C．get ahead through their hard work
D．replace social gatherings with the Internet