James Compton’s Post

The secret to landing a $200K-500K role? Network like you don’t need one. Credits to Reno Perry. Follow them for valuable insights. Original post below: ====== After coaching 100s of professionals into jobs they love, one thing stands out: The best networkers don’t wait until they need something. They build relationships year-round. Here’s what they do differently: 1. Target Their Weak Ties ↳ Opportunities often come from people you don’t know very well. 2. Ask for Advice, Not Jobs ↳ Curiosity builds trust faster than a request for help. 3. Lead with Your Value ↳ Start with what you can offer, not what you need. 4. Give Before You Get ↳ Small, thoughtful gestures pay big dividends later. 5. Build When You Don’t Need To ↳ Nurture connections when things are going well. 6. Master the Coffee Chat ↳ Focus on their story. Listen more than you talk. 7. Use the Double Opt-In ↳ Make it effortless for others to introduce you. 8. Stay Top of Mind ↳ Celebrate their wins. Share useful opportunities. 9. Create Your Board of Directors ↳ A small circle of trusted voices guiding your career. 10. Track Everything ↳ Remembering details makes every follow-up easier. Most people only network when they’re desperate. And it shows. Build when you’re content. Stay visible when you’re happy. Give without keeping score. Because the best time to network is right now. ====== ♻️ Repost if this resonated with you! 🔖 Follow Soft Skills Spark for more.

Tips don’t build trust. Stories do. And that’s where most consultants are leaving money (and influence) on the table. This coach (that I consulted) had an amazing journey: 📌 5 years in investment banking at a global firm 📌 Realized chasing salaries was leading to burnout 📌 Pivoted into coaching to help young professionals build careers with purpose But here’s the thing: None of that showed up in their LinkedIn content. Instead, their posts were generic tips and motivational one-liners. Good advice, yes — but forgettable. So we reframed their content around storytelling: • Their own career pivot → banker → purpose-driven mentor • Client transformations → “Confused graduate → landed dream job in 60 days” • Myth-busting → “Why chasing scope kills passion” And suddenly, their content didn’t just inform. It resonated. Because people don’t follow information. They follow transformation. Takeaway: 👉 Your story is the bridge between your expertise and your audience’s struggles. 👉 If you don’t share it, you leave trust on the table. What’s one turning point in your own journey that your audience doesn’t know yet?

Two Years Fixing First Impression - Do's and Don'ts for New Job Success Credit to Will McTighe. Follow for more insightful content. ------ Original post below 👇🏼 I spent 2 years fixing a first impression. In my next job, I got it right. Here’s how you can too: ⭐ Whether you like it or not, first impressions count. Research from Virginia Tech shows that managers over-rely on first impressions and only gradually revise their beliefs about an employee's performance. That is the sad reality. Start a new job off with quick wins by following these do’s and don’ts 10 Do’s in a New Job 1/ Be positive 2/ Build bonds 3/ Learn like crazy 4/ Work really hard 5/ Be the note-taker 6/ Ask for feedback 7/ Offer to help others 8/ Send a Friday update 9/ Become a culture carrier 10/ Volunteer for new projects 10 Don’ts in a New Job 1/ Don’t gossip 2/ Don’t be late 3/ Don’t overpromise 4/ Avoid office politics 5/ Don’t resist change 6/ Don’t criticize publicly 7/ Don’t compare openly 8/ Don’t ignore company events 9/ Don’t use your phone too much 10/ Don’t shy away from asking questions Put these simple principles into practice to elevate yourself and other new joiners. --- ♻️ Repost this to help your network level up their career. 📌 Want a high-resolution PDF of this? 1. Just follow me Will McTighe 2. Sign up for my free Level Up Community at https://lnkd.in/gKzZUq-b DM for credit or removal request - no copyright intended. All rights and credits reserved to the respective owner. Follow The CTO Journal for top content on Business, Leadership, Management, and Self-improvement.

Hard truth: 𝗠𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺. I’ve seen brilliant developers, designers, and professionals get overlooked, not because they weren’t good enough, but because no one knew they existed. In today’s world, 𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲. If you’re not visible, you’re invisible. And being invisible in your career means: • 𝙍𝙚𝙘𝙧𝙪𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙘𝙖𝙣’𝙩 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪. • 𝙊𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙥𝙖𝙨𝙨 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙗𝙮. • 𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙫𝙖𝙡𝙪𝙚 𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙨 𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙. This is why I started posting consistently on LinkedIn. Not because I had “all the answers,” but because I realized: if I don’t tell my story, nobody else will. It’s uncomfortable at first. You worry about judgment, low likes, or saying the wrong thing. But think about this: the very people you look up to didn’t wait until they were perfect before sharing, they built visibility along the way. Takeaways ➡️ Skills matter, but visibility amplifies them. ➡️ Consistency in showing up creates trust and recall. ➡️ If you don’t control your narrative, someone else will. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘂𝗽 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝘆, 𝗳𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗷𝘂𝗱𝗴𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁, 𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 “𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆”?

💡 What I Wish I Knew Starting Out When I first started out, I thought technical skills were everything. If I mastered the spreadsheets, the systems, and the reports — success would follow. But here’s what I’ve learned: technical skills open the door, but it’s communication, empathy, and alignment with people that keep the door open. Whether working with clients, partners, or team members — the real magic happens when people feel heard, understood, and supported. That’s when numbers turn into impact. 👉 If I could go back and tell my younger self one thing, it would be: “Yes, learn the skills. But don’t forget to invest in the relationships.” What’s one lesson you wish you had known earlier in your career?

SecTor Tip of the Day Heading to SecTor? Remember, the best connections come when you listen more than you talk. Ask thoughtful questions, show genuine interest, and look for ways to create win-win relationships. Don’t push, pitch, or come across as desperate, instead, go with the flow of the conversation and the mood. Stay curious, stay open, and most importantly, have fun. The best opportunities often come from the most natural chats.

When you look at someone’s experience on LinkedIn, read it with understanding. If their background clearly shows skill and value, don’t insult their experience with low-paying offers. Respect people’s work, effort, and time — professionals deserve opportunities that match their worth. I’m open to meaningful conversations — not random opportunities. Please review my experience before reaching out. If it’s not a genuine match, don’t waste my time or yours. I’m not just a number or a quota to meet. I’m an experienced professional with proven qualities, depth, and value. Real conversations reveal that. So don’t waste my time with low-paying roles or surface-level evaluations. The economy is too high, and my experience is too strong for that. I expect respect — and a fair, genuine evaluation of my background.

We often talk about being resourceful, but few of us take the time to ask: What are the resources I actually need to be successful right now? Resources aren’t just money or tools. They’re people, access, and insights—the support systems that propel you forward. Early in my career, I realized my network was limited to one industry. It wasn’t until I reached out beyond that circle that new opportunities began to appear. The same principle applies inside organizations: the more intentionally you connect across teams, departments, and even hierarchies, the faster you understand how things really work. Success rarely happens in isolation. It’s the product of cultivating relationships that stretch beyond what (and who) you already know. So ask yourself: Where are you relying on familiarity instead of expanding your reach? Who could help you see new possibilities if only you invited them into the conversation? The path forward may not require more resources, but rather a new way of accessing the ones already around you. Join my newsletter at https://lnkd.in/eZ2Ut-YZ to discover more of your own resources

Fast Track Your Career Whether you work for yourself or in the for-profit or nonprofit sector, delivering a high return on your organization's investment is the key to building a high-value career. Each of us has to wake up in the morning and give people a return on their time, energy, and money. This is the secret of growing a successful career. In a competitive environment, every organization is looking for a team member who is a good economic investment. Let's look at skill sets that will enhance your value in the marketplace. Characteristics Needed To Build a High-Value Career * Strong character is the starting point. * Study business and how it works. * Produce positive results and go the extra mile. * Having strong communication skills. * Preparation leads to winning results. * Building a brand that attracts good people. * Having a positive attitude. * Model the legends. Basics Team Principles and Actions * Learn and practice things that matter. * Never promise more than you can deliver. * Write down what you value. * Your happiness depends on you. * Develop a strong daily method of operation. - Join us on the Basics Team - Bill Roth Founder, Basics Team

Two equally talented professionals. Same résumé. Same degree. Same skills. But one has a personal brand, a visible reputation built on their ideas, values, and track record, and the other doesn’t. Guess who gets the callback? Guess who lands the interview? Guess who attracts clients, speaking opportunities, or partnerships, without chasing them? It’s not always the most talented person who gets chosen. It’s the most visible. I’m a firm believer that if you’re not building a personal brand, you’re making career growth 10x harder than it needs to be. Why? Because in today’s market: – A polished résumé alone can’t cut through 1,000 applications. – Networking events happen 2x a month, but LinkedIn is live 24/7. – The people you want to notice you, hiring managers, recruiters, clients, mentors, don’t have time to guess your value. They want to see it consistently. That’s what a personal brand does. It becomes your reputation at scale. Your ideas, your values, your story, all reaching the people who can change the trajectory of your career. I’ve seen careers stall because brilliant people stayed invisible. And I’ve seen careers accelerate because someone dared to show up, imperfectly, until their visibility compounded into credibility. If you’re serious about your career, stop making it harder than it needs to be. Start showing up. Start sharing. Start building the brand that puts you in the room, even when you’re not.