The part played by social networks in the status attainment process is investigated. It is generally assumed that a person with more social capital (derived from his social network & the resources that can be mobilized through his direct contacts) will acquire better living conditions, including a job with higher social prestige. However, research in the Netherlands is described which indicates that making use of informal contacts does not in itself lead to jobs of higher prestige; rather, the contacts result from the job. Persons who have a best friend or father-in-law in a high level job, however, are more successful in getting a higher prestige job themselves; & contact persons with higher prestige jobs help one a little in moving up the social ladder. These findings are compared with the situation in the US & West Germany. 6 Tables, 1 Figure, 27 References. Modified HA
