Why Career Networking Relationships Are Your Career Safety Net
A few years ago, someone said something to me that stopped me mid-sentence.
They said:” I didn’t get that opportunity because I had the perfect CV. I got it because someone thought of me.”
I remember feeling slightly uncomfortable when I heard that.
Surely careers are built on performance, capability and experience?
They are.
But they’re also built on career networking relationships — whether we acknowledge them or not.
And despite all the talk about talent systems, AI screening and internal marketplaces, relationships remain one of the most undervalued — and misunderstood — career assets we have.
In a world obsessed with structure and process, it’s tempting to believe careers are decided by algorithms and frameworks.
But in reality, careers still move through conversations.
The Hidden Truth About Career Networking Relationships
Whenever the topic of networking comes up, I often see a visible recoil.
People imagine awkward events, forced small talk, or that uneasy sense of “using” people to get ahead. So many capable, thoughtful professionals quietly opt out — not because they don’t value relationships, but because they dislike what networking has come to represent.
Which is unfortunate. Because it’s based on the wrong assumption.
Career networking relationships aren’t ladders to climb.
They’re safety nets.
They’re the people who:
- mention your name when you’re not in the room
- share information before it becomes public
- offer perspective when you’re stuck
- help you see options you hadn’t considered
Most career opportunities – either internal or external to your organisation – don’t start with a job advert.
They start with a conversation.
A Story I’ve Seen Repeated Across Careers
I once worked with someone — let’s call her Sarah — who felt restless in her role.
She wasn’t unhappy.
She wasn’t failing.
She just felt… finished.
Rather than polishing her CV or applying for roles online, she started talking.
She met a former colleague for coffee.
She reconnected with someone she’d mentored years earlier.
She mentioned — almost casually — that she was curious about moving into a different part of the organisation.
One of those conversations led to an introduction.
That introduction led to a short project.
The project became a secondment.
Six months later, she was in a permanent role that didn’t even exist when that first conversation took place.
No job advert.
No competitive interview process.
Just trust, visibility and career networking relationships that already existed.
Why Career Networking Relationships Matter More Than Ever
Today’s world of work is fast, fluid and uncertain.
Roles evolve.
Structures shift.
Skills date quickly.
In that environment, relationships do something systems can’t.
They provide context — what’s really happening beneath the surface.
They offer continuity — people who know you beyond your job title.
And they build confidence — especially when change feels unsettling.
That’s why, in my COMPASS framework, People sits at the centre.
We don’t grow in isolation.
We grow through others.
Mentors, Sponsors and the Relationships That Actually Matter
Not every meaningful career networking relationship looks impressive on LinkedIn.
Some are formal — mentoring relationships where reflection and challenge are intentional.
Others are quieter:
- peers who share what they’re hearing
- managers who advocate discreetly
- colleagues who open doors without making a fuss
What matters isn’t the label.
It’s the quality of the connection.
And crucially, these relationships are built before you need them.
That’s why mentoring works best when it’s about learning, not rescuing.
And why career conversations matter long before someone feels stuck or dissatisfied.
A Gentle Reflection on Your Own Network
A few questions worth sitting with:
Who genuinely knows what you’re curious about right now?
Who do you turn to when you’re uncertain or at a crossroads?
Who might benefit from your experience (even if you don’t see yourself as “senior”)?
Career networking relationships remind us that careers are human.
Not transactional.
Not linear.
And rarely predictable.
One Small Step You Can Take This Week
Reach out to one person.
Not to ask for anything.
Just to reconnect. To listen. Or to share what you’re thinking about.
That single conversation could quietly strengthen your career networking relationships — for you, or for them.
If you’d like to explore how better conversations strengthen careers, you can download my free eBook It’s Good to Talk, which offers practical guidance on meaningful career conversations at work.
Sometimes, the most powerful career move isn’t a big decision.
It’s a simple conversation.