Pick People

Do you want a new job?

I did, so I reached out to my network.

I called a mentor who has had an incredibly successful career.

Going into the conversation, I expected him to tell me how to make more money.

How to get promoted.

How to climb the corporate ladder faster.

Instead, he gave me a piece of advice that has stuck with me ever since.

He said:

“Don’t pick your job. Pick your boss.”

The more we talked, the more he kept coming back to the same thing.

Pick your people.

Pick your environment.

Pick the people you want to learn from.

Because those things will shape your career far more than a title ever will.

That advice really resonated with me.

I think a lot of people approach finding a new job the wrong way.

They start by scrolling Indeed.

Looking at compensation.

Looking at titles.

Looking at company names.

But maybe we’re asking the wrong question.

Most people ask:

“What should I do next?”

Maybe the better question is:

“Who do I want to learn from?”

Sometimes we think networking is about finding opportunities.

Networking is really about learning.

Learning from people who have done things you haven’t done yet.

Learning from people who have careers you admire.

Learning from people who are willing to share what worked, and share what didn’t.

So if you’re looking for a new job, start with your network.

Reach out to people you look up to.

People working at companies that interest you.

People who are in leadership positions.

People who have careers that make you think:

“I want to learn how they did got there.”

Ask them questions.

What do they like about their job?

What do they dislike?

What’s the best career advice they’ve ever received?

What books have impacted them?

What questions should you ask when interviewing a future boss?

You don’t need to know hundreds of people.

Start with LinkedIn.

Go through your connections.

Call your parents and ask who they know.

Call your friends and ask who they know.

You will be surprised how many people are willing to help.

Then set a goal.

How many people are you going to reach out to this week?

How many coffees or calls are you going to schedule?

How are you going to keep track of what you learn?

Because relationships are one of the most powerful ways to learn something new.

And often, the opportunity you’re looking for doesn’t come from a job board.

It comes from a conversation.

A mentor.

A recommendation.

A person.

My challenge for you is simple if you want a new job.

Reach out to one person this week.

Ask them about their career.

Ask them what they would do differently.

Ask them who they learned from.

You may not leave the conversation with a job.

But you might leave learning something even more valuable.

Xoxo, CAB