Step 5.3: Tell Your Friends, Family + Followers
Your friends, family and followers are going to be your hype squad, source of positive vibes and way to amplify your search as you go through the peaks and valleys of it. But you need to tell them what you’re doing and how they can help.
Your climb to the Next Level isn't a solo mission. It's a movement. And every movement needs helpers, amplifiers and supporters.
Let's get real: Looking for your next big move can feel like you're screaming into the void. The job boards are black holes. The recruiting portals are where resumes go to die. And LinkedIn? It's becoming an endless scroll of humble brags and AI-generated inspiration porn.
This is where your real network comes in – not your "professional network," but your actual humans. Your ride-or-dies. Your day ones. The people who've seen you at your worst and still bet on your best.
Early in my career, I was trying to get into a specific company for an interview. I did all the “correct” things - sent a resume with a cover letter to the right people and sat back and waited. And waited. And heard nothing back. It wasn’t until a friend of mine mentioned what I was doing to a friend of theirs who worked at that company that things started to move. One night, we all happened to be in the same restaurant and introductions were made, and the friend of a friend told me they’d go speak with the right people and make sure my resume got seen asap. This is what got me the interview (and ultimately, the job). The kindness of strangers is one of the biggest unexpected ways that makes things happen.
Your friends, family, and followers aren't just moral support. They're your personal marketing department, your intelligence network, and your serendipity engine all rolled into one.
Most people make two catastrophic mistakes: They keep their search secret (because ego) or make vague announcements (because fear).
Start by writing a simple announcement like this (in your voice): "Hey everyone – I'm looking for my next challenge. I'm targeting [specific role] in [specific industry] where I can [specific impact]. If you know anyone in [specific companies], I'd love an intro. Here's my story in one line: [your North Star]. Full details in my profile/portfolio: [link]"
Then, keep them invested. Share your wins – they'll celebrate with you. Share your learnings – they'll grow with you. Share your setbacks – they'll rally around you. Share your progress – they'll stay invested in your journey.
The network math is simple: If you know 500 people, and they each know 500 people, that's 250,000 potential connections. But they're worthless if they don't know what you're looking for.
Remember: Your network isn't just who you know. It's who knows what you're looking for.
Stop treating your career move like a secret mission. Start treating it like a community project.
Because the truth is, no one succeeds alone. The question is: Are you brave enough to let people help you win?
Time to rally your squad. The movement starts now.
Your Playbook:
Write your announcement - follow the example above
Get it out to your friends, family & followers. Use email, text, social media - whatever works best for you
If you want to keep your search on a need to know basis, tell people that it’s on the DL