Go Where Your Experience Is Valued Like Currency
- Darren Webster
- Jun 17
- 2 min read
Updated: Jul 5
Go Where Your Experience Is Valued Like Currency
Key Takeaways:
The easiest job landings often happen in the ecosystem around your current or former employer.
Companies that partner with, support, or serve your former company see your experience as an asset.
Your network, especially former colleagues now at other companies, is one of your most powerful accelerators.
Don’t waste energy trying to convince a brand-new industry to value what you bring. Start where the value is obvious.
Why This Matters:
Too many job seekers try to reinvent themselves overnight. While there’s nothing wrong with aiming high or exploring new industries, the path of least resistance often runs through companies that already understand and value where you've been. That’s where your insight, standards, and relationships mean something—and can immediately create impact.
Here's the insight:
When you leave a company, especially after several years, your most natural landing spot is often not a competitor, but an adjacent business:
A vendor, partner, distributor, or consultant to your previous company
A customer or client of your previous employer
A company that hires a lot of “alumni” from where you were
A place where your standards, systems, or insider knowledge give you an edge
I spent 15 years at Verizon. Like many long-timers, my network skews heavily Verizon.
Breaking into a brand-new sector is possible, but slower. It often means translating everything you've done into a new language, with new expectations.
But with the right ecosystem? I’ve seen people walk into new roles simply because the hiring manager knew the caliber of people Verizon produces—and they wanted that DNA in their organization.
It's the same reason companies hire a sales leader with key client relationships. Or why former government employees often go straight to defense contractors. It’s not just the title they bring, it’s the access, the playbook, the credibility.
If you're in transition, ask yourself:
Who relies on your former employer?
Who serves them?
Who competes with them, or tries to?
Where have your former coworkers gone?
Start there. These are the companies most likely to say, “You’ve been exactly where we want to go.” or "you have exactly what we need.".
Pro Tips:
Go connect with 5 former colleagues today who now work at other companies.
Arrange a 'catch up'.
Ask good questions.
Let them know what you're exploring and ask for help.
You’ll be amazed at how quickly doors start to open.
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