YOUR STRONGEST CAREER ALLIES MIGHT BE PEOPLE YOU BARELY KNOW

Let's talk about career mapping. Not the kind where you sit and make a neat little plan, but the real kind. 

The messy, human, "who do I know?" kind. This is where most people say, "But Shub... I don't have a network."

Let me tell you something:

You do. You're just labeling it wrong. 

Most people think "network" = decision makers. Or ex-bosses. Or someone who's working in their dream company.

But here's what most job seekers miss:

Your network is everyone you've crossed professional paths with.

• That old CCA group mate.
• The colleague from five jobs ago.
• Your friend's spouse who works in tech.
• That person you met at a conference once and added on LinkedIn.

All of them count.

Because here's the kicker: your strongest opportunities often come from your weakest ties. Yep. Not the people closest to you. But the people just outside your usual circle.

There's actual research on this - Back in 1973, Stanford sociologist Mark Granovetter found that weak ties were more powerful than strong ones when it comes to job search.

Why? Because your close friends, swim in the same waters as you. You already know who they know. 

But weak ties? They open up entirely new networks. 

I'll give you an example.

A client of mine recently got referred for a role by someone he met for a quick coffee chat. Now, the first person didn't have an opening, but after chatting, they said, "You're not a fit for us right now but I know someone you should speak with."

That second person is now in discussions with my client.

Here's the wild part:

He almost didn't follow up because he thought, "It's just a connection of a connection." But that's exactly where the magic happens.

Because now he's walking into the conversation with two assets:

→ His experience 

→ And the social capital of the person who introduced him

This is what I mean when I say job search isn't about who you know. It's about who they know. And I get it. Reaching out feels awkward at first. Especially if it's someone you haven't spoken to in years.

But if you're thinking:

"I haven't talked to them in ages. Would it be weird to message them now?"

Flip that thought. You're not asking for a favor. You're giving them a chance to help someone they already know. 

That's a gift. Not an inconvenience. 

And here's the best part:

Even if those conversations don't lead directly to a job, they often lead to clarity. Now, if you have exhausted your existing network or feel like your weak ties are too few, don't stop there.

Keep building. Because your next opportunity might just be one weak tie away.

With you in growth,

Shub