Career Gymnastics + The Importance of Networking

Career Gymnastics + The Importance of Relationships

by Vern Schellenger, CEO Contacts Count   3/3/25

Whenever my friend Jeff and I have breakfast we almost always make room to share something about are most recent networking activities.  Most recently, Jeff shared a story about his good friend John.  During the last 2-3 years John has worked at four different companies.  His moves from one company to another took a number of twists and turns.

John had worked with one of the large social media companies for a number of years.  He lost his job as the result of a massive downsizing.  He immediately launched into job search mode and learned about an opportunity via his network with a California based company.  It was a small media company that was looking to increase sales and build it’s brand by expanding its product line.  John had some immediate success and landed a contract with a new type of customer.  As John worked on landing more new clients he began to experience resistance to his efforts.  The culture of this company was deeply embedded in what they had done for the last 20 years

What John experienced during the hiring experience was lots of enthusiasm to build the brand.  Once he was on board and working to make the changes the company said they wanted he realized this was a losing battle.  So after a year of trying John decided he needed to once again start a new job search. 

Using his network he landed a job with one of the world’s largest global media and entertainment companies.  John was on cloud nine – the culture of this company was truly outstanding.  The best he had ever experienced.  The company had lots of great resources. 

In fact, the culture was so good, the vast majority of staff had been in place for a long time.  While John liked everything about his job and the company he began to see the writing on the wall.  He had some specific long-term career goals that he did not believe could be met by staying in his current role.

John had built a broad open network over his career. 

He kept in touch with a female co-worker from his first job straight out of college.  She told him about an opportunity with a major financial services company that was looking for someone with John’s background and experience.  The position was a perfect match for John’s skills and experience.  And the position provided a clear path to John’s long term career goals.

Managing your career takes time and effort.  Building a broad, open network can help you in so many ways:

• You learn and gain greater expertise.
• Can help you solve problems
• Can advance your career
• Alert you jobs that are part of the hidden job market.

And so much more........

 Thoughts, comment, questions – vern@contactscount.

About the Author

Vern Schellenger, President and CEO of Contact Count. 

Contacts Count is the premier coaching and training organization dedicated to helping you use the power of human connection to transform your career, business, and your life.

Vern is dedicated to empowering professionals and entrepreneurs with the strategies, skills and tools to master networking (even if they are introverted and don’t like networking events). His vast experience includes such roles as HR VP and CLO at Dunkin Donuts, VP & Director of Professional Services at Lee Hecht Harrison, and SR VP of Human Resources at American Bankers Association.