Coaching Chronicles: SWE Gets Proactive

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Note: First, bear with me the next couple days (and possibly weeks). I have a couple of newsletters that were already mostly written in my drafts but things may slow down a bit as I had a pretty bad injury over the weekend. A couple of my coaching calls had to be rescheduled, but I am still taking on new calls, it’s just that everything will be pushed back a week or so.

Why Networking with Former Colleagues is Your Secret Weapon

When it comes to job searching, we tend to focus on the obvious strategies: tweaking our resumes, crafting the perfect LinkedIn profile, and applying to every position that remotely fits.

I bet you hear and see this advice from recruiters and career coaches 50x a day until your eyes bleed.

But what if I told you that the single most effective job search strategy isn’t found in the latest resume hack or an ATS optimization tool?

It’s in the people you already know.

Your coworkers—past and present—are more than just the people you shared Slack channels and lunch breaks with. They’re part of your career ecosystem. And when tapped into, this ecosystem can help you uncover opportunities that no job board ever will.

Here’s why this works:

• Trust is built in. Your former coworkers already know your work ethic and skills.

• Insider access. They know about roles before they’re posted online.

• Referrals make hiring easier. Hiring managers are 4x more likely to consider a referral over a cold applicant.

Simply put: a referral gives you more credibility - and the perception of having less risk - when someone on the team with a little bit of clout can back up your application.

But here’s the problem: many people are too embarrassed or prideful to reach out. They think asking for help makes them look desperate.

That couldn’t be further from the truth. And today, I want to share a story that proves it.

Gary’s Story: From Stuck to Secure

For anon reasons, let’s call this guy Gary.

A few months ago, Gary, a mid-level software engineer, reached out to me.

Gary’s specialties? React.js, Node.js, and TypeScript—skills that are in high demand. But there was one issue: Gary had been laid off, and after months of applying to roles, his inbox remained silent.

Minimal callbacks. Minimal interviews. Barely any progress.

He was frustrated and confused. “How is it this hard to find a job when I have the skills companies are asking for?” he asked me.

I asked him one question: “What’s your job application strategy?”

“I apply online with my resume?”

Smh Gary! Have you seen all the headlines? We are in an employer’s market. You’re going up against the most - and the best - competition you’ve ever went against in your career.

Simply applying will not work because the hiring process is broken.

You have to tap into your network, and your network is bigger than you think.

Here’s what we did:

1. Identified his network. We made a list of his former colleagues from previous jobs, internships, and projects.

2. Created a simple outreach plan. He sent personalized messages to each person—nothing salesy, just a genuine update about his situation and a polite ask: “Do you know of any roles where I’d be a good fit?”

3. Followed up. Networking isn’t a one-and-done effort. Gary stayed in touch with people who responded.

What Happened Next Will Inspire You

One of Gary’s old teammates responded: “Hey, actually, we’re hiring for a role that matches your skill set. Let me introduce you to my manager.”

That one introduction led to a conversation.

The conversation led to an interview.

And two weeks later, Gary had a job offer in hand.

Had Gary never tapped into his old network, he’d probably still be cold applying to 20 jobs a day with no results.

Why This Matters for You

Gary’s story isn’t unique. In fact, over 30-50% of jobs (according to chatgpt) are filled through referrals, connections, and word-of-mouth.

Here’s the takeaway:

• Your network is your most underrated asset.

• Reaching out doesn’t make you desperate—it makes you strategic.

• People want to help—they just need to know you’re looking.

So if you’re stuck in your job search, don’t just tweak your resume for the 50th time. Take a page from Gary’s book.

Your Challenge This Week

If you’re actively looking for a job—or even thinking about it—here’s what I want you to do:

1. Open LinkedIn and review your connections.

2. Make a list of 5 former coworkers you respect and trust.

3. Reach out to them with a message like this:

4. Follow up if you don’t hear back in a week.

This might feel uncomfortable at first, but remember: the worst they can say is “no,” and the best outcome could be life-changing.

The Bottom Line

Your next opportunity isn’t hiding in the depths of a job board. It’s already within reach—it’s in your network.

Gary trusted the process, took action, and landed a job. You can, too.

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If you’re looking for some help on tapping into your network, or any other career coaching advice, feel free to book a call here.

And as always, would appreciate if you liked, comment, and shared this post with someone who you think might find it valuable.