The week reminded me: Job Search isn’t about being busy – it’s about being brave with people.

Some weeks have a theme whether you plan one or not. This one landed squarely on humaning properly - not just talking to people, but actually asking for what you need.

Here’s what that looked like in practice.

Restart conversations are harder than starting from scratch

A lot of my work this week was outplacement, supporting people who’ve lost roles and are finding their feet again. A couple of conversations were what I’d call restart conversations.

People who didn’t stop their job search because they gave up… but because life happened. Bills. Confidence knocks. Needing a break. Needing to feel useful again.

One person told me they’d been “networking quite a bit”. When I gently dug into what that meant, it turned out they were having lovely conversations.

Catching up. Talking about kids. Comparing notes on the last five years.

What they weren’t doing? Asking for anything.

And that’s the bit most people struggle with - especially senior people. Moving from pleasant to purposeful. From “nice chat” to “here’s how you could help me”.

The difference between being memorable and being forgettable in a job search is often one sentence you didn’t say.

We think that people will join the dots for us, so we don't have to ask - but they are busy too. Make it easy for them. Make the ask!

The Sprint in all its weird and wonderful glory

I welcomed a couple of new people into the Sprint this week, a CEO and a project manager — which pretty much sums up the range we get.

Charity. Investment banking. Tech. People who’ve led teams of thousands and people who’ve quietly kept entire organisations afloat.

That mix matters. It reminds everyone that job search problems aren’t about intelligence or experience. They’re about confidence, visibility, and knowing how the market actually works now - not how it worked five or ten years ago.

I also spoke to a few people who’d come along to recent events and wanted to understand whether the Sprint was right for them. Most of them had already clocked something important:

“I can’t job search in the same way I used to.”

They’re right. And pretending otherwise is exhausting.

Humans need other humans (especially when job hunting)

We ran a few sessions last week:

• LinkedIn Job Magnet — turning conversations into opportunities

• An open networking event — mainly job seekers, plus a few curious lurkers

• A LinkedIn Live on why your CV isn’t the problem

What stood out wasn’t the content (though it was good 😉). It was the relief people felt just being in a room with other humans.

Job searching alone at home messes with your head. Even confident, senior people start to doubt themselves when there’s no external feedback loop.

Sometimes the most valuable thing isn’t a tactic - it’s realising you’re not broken.

(All of those Thursday sessions are available to watch back, by the way. Worth it if you’ve got an hour.)

When interview prep saves you from a bad decision

One of the most interesting bits of work this week was interview prep for a role at Johnson & Johnson.

On paper, it looked fine. In reality, it raised some flags.

The job title was very Americanised. The level wasn’t clear. Salary hadn’t been discussed. The interviewer was based in Prague. The people doing the interview were likely mid-20s.

The person I was supporting is senior, seasoned, and currently employed. A year ago, they’d have taken the interview without question. But desperation leaves a hangover.

When you’ve been out of work, there’s a lingering feeling that you should take every opportunity. Even when you don’t need to anymore.

We paused. Looked properly. Asked better questions.

The outcome? Probably not the right role - and that’s OK.

More importantly, it saved them half a day of travel and a lot of emotional energy. Sometimes “good prep” isn’t about nailing answers. It’s about deciding not to bother.

A reminder to practise what I preach

On a personal note, I took Friday off.

After weeks of building the Sprint into a more accessible, on-demand format (so people can get help without waiting for me to be free), I needed to stop.

I had brunch with a friend. Did very little. Felt human again.

I also managed two 5km runs and a weights session last week - not because I’m virtuous, but because if I don’t protect those things, everything else slips.

The irony isn’t lost on me that I spend my life telling people to organise their job search… and realised this week I need to systemise more of my own work too.

We are all a work in progress.

The thread that tied it all together

If I had to sum the week up, it would be this:

• Talk to people properly

• Be clearer about what you’re asking for

• Stop mistaking activity for progress

• And remember you’re allowed to be discerning

Whether it’s networking, interviews, or deciding what support you need - the shift happens when you move from hoping to choosing.

And if you’re mid to senior level, earning £70k–£200k, feeling like the old rules don’t apply anymore - you’re not wrong.

You don’t need to try harder. You need a different approach.

If you want to talk about that - take a look at the new offerings over here.