Career Briefs: Your Network is the Answer to Everything

LinkedIn dropped a very Spotify Wrapped–esque Year in Review this week, spotlighting things like your network reach and engagement over the past year.

It also resurfaced a fun fact: the very first person you ever connected with on LinkedIn. For me, that takes us all the way back to 2007.

My first connection? My friend Michelle Pyne—who has absolutely no idea that her face is being reintroduced to the internet via my newsletter today.

Michelle encouraged me—18 years ago—to join LinkedIn. At the time, I had no idea how many doors that single decision would eventually open for me.

Michelle is someone I deeply adore, but life has taken us in different directions. We haven’t talked on the phone in years. And yet, I’m confident that if I called her tomorrow, she’d pick up. That kind of connection doesn’t disappear just because time passes.

I’m sharing this because some of you reading this are feeling stuck. You’re thinking, I need to make a move—but I’m not a great networker.

Here’s the reframe: networking isn’t about constantly meeting new people or forcing awkward coffee chats. Often, it’s about revisiting the relationships you already have—especially the older ones. The people who knew you before the title, before the pivot, before the polish. Those connections are often warmer, more generous, and more willing to help than you expect.

Before you dismiss your network as “cold” or “outdated,” scroll back. Think about the Michelles in your life. The former colleagues, classmates, managers, or friends you haven’t spoken to in years—but could.

Sometimes the next door doesn’t open because you met someone new. It opens because you remembered someone old.

Rooting for you,

Top Job Search Newsletters for Career Growth in 2026

As career decisions become more complex and the job market more selective, reliable guidance matters more than ever. I put together a list of the top job search newsletters to help leaders and job seekers cut through the noise and focus on career guidance that earns its place in the inbox. Too many newsletters promise insight and deliver promotion but the ones I’ve highlighted in this article are different. They are written by recruiters, coaches, and operators who work directly with executives and candidates and see how hiring decisions are actually made. 

For C-suite leaders and senior executives, these newsletters offer grounded perspectives on executive positioning, labor market shifts, and career risk management. For job seekers, the value is practical and immediate, with clear advice on resumes, interviews, and recruiter behavior.

The goal is fewer subscriptions, better information, and a smarter approach to managing your career in 2026 and beyond.

Read more here: Top Job Search Newsletters for Career Growth in 2026.

Podcast: The race to build an uncontrollable AI

“We didn’t consent to having six people make that decision on behalf of 8 billion people.”

If you’re familiar with the Diary of a CEO podcast, you know it’s consistently high-quality. This episode is hands-down one of the most eye-opening. It’s not just another “AI is going to change the way we work” podcast—Tristan Harris, the social ethicist behind The Social Dilemma, offers a thought-provoking vision for the future of society. 

This interview explores the incentives driving AI, what happens if it becomes unchecked, and what happens if you choose not to use it. 

I think about AI every day because I talk to job seekers whose careers have been—or soon will be—disrupted by this technology. As a parent, I also believe it’s important to start having conversations with our kids about thoughtfully choosing careers that won’t be automated and building the skills that will be essential in the future of work.

Listen to it here: AI Expert: We Have 2 Years Before Everything Changes! We Need To Start Protesting!

Don’t Cling to Your Old Job When Promoted

Many of you readers are being tapped to take on additional responsibilities at work in the new year. Letting go of a previous job can be especially challenging if a successor hasn’t been hired or needs time to ramp up on culture and business priorities. But having a defined transition date is essential to prevent you from drifting between roles and continuing to handle work that no longer belongs to you. This excellent article by Marlo Lyons discusses how to clarify your new scope, set a target transition date and redirect inquiries.

Read more here: Don’t Cling to Your Old Job After Being Promoted.

No One Succeeds Alone: Relationships Shape Your Career

Most careers reach a point where your effort alone is not enough. Progress starts to depend on who you know, who trusts you, and who is willing to pick up the phone when you are stuck. A strong network is less about collecting contacts and more about building real working relationships over time.

• You save time by asking the right person instead of figuring everything out alone.

• You learn faster by tapping into experiences you do not have.

• You make better decisions when you hear views that challenge your own.

• You earn goodwill by helping others without expecting anything back.

• You stay relevant as roles change and responsibilities grow.

The most effective networks are quiet and steady. They are built through shared work, follow-ups, and small acts of help that add up. When pressure hits or stakes rise, those relationships become the difference between struggling alone and moving forward (and upward) with support.

Read more here: Why Your Network Is the Answer to Everything.

Stop Asking Employers to Find a Role for You

Many job searches break down because candidates lead with credentials and leave the hard thinking to the employer. Nick Corcodilos, a veteran headhunter, argues that broad introduction emails asking someone to “figure out what to do with me” are a fast way to get ignored. 

From the hiring side, those messages feel detached from the actual work. Managers are under pressure to solve specific business problems, not sort through generic backgrounds. Listing experience without tying it to a company’s needs often comes across as unfocused, even when the résumé is strong. 

Corcodilos frames effective job hunting as a form of consultative selling. Candidates need to study the business, understand where it struggles, and explain how they would help improve results. That approach takes more time and discipline, but it aligns with how hiring decisions are really made. People who do this stand out because they show intent, preparation, and respect for the company and the potential role.

Read more here: Can you figure out what to do with me? 

"Slop" Has Been Crowned as Merriam-Webster's 2025 Word of the Year

Artificial intelligence has made it easier than ever to produce content at scale, but as we all know, that ease is starting to show. The term “slop” was named word of the year after low-quality, AI-generated material flooded search results, social feeds, ads, and even customer support.

Although he didn’t coin the term “AI slop,” independent AI researcher Simon Willison helped document its rise in May 2024 when he wrote on his blog comparing it to how “spam” had previously become the word for unwanted email.

Read more here: Slop is the word of the year — nice going, AI.

Warm Holiday Wishes From Me to You

If I don’t speak with you before 2026, I want to wish you a Merry Christmas and a joyful holiday season. I hope you’re able to close your laptop for a few days and savor some truly restorative rest, delicious food, and the company of people who make you smile.

Cheers to a great 2026!