This article analyzes factors that influence the attainment of organizational rank in Swedish manufacturing industry. It is argued that competition for promotions is highly localized and largely restricted to the insiders of organizations. As a consequence, the attainment process is likely to be idiosyncratic and strongly influenced by the particularities of each place of employment. In the empirical analysis, particular attention is given to how an individual's likelihood of attaining a sought-after job is influenced by the educational levels of fellow employees. These analyses reveal substantial contextual effects, thus supporting the idea that the attainment process is deeply embedded in the local employment context.
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