Once upon a time, in the whirlwind world of career coaching, I sat in my modest office, armed with nothing but a simple desk, a somewhat-familiar keyboard, and a coffee mug that had long crossed the line from ‘charming’ to ‘overly-stained.’ It was here, amidst stacks of career guides and résumés, that the idea for the CNC-Community first sprouted.

You see, I’d spent years as a career coach, guiding and advising with precision, pushing my clients to refine résumés, answer interview questions with the finesse of a diplomat, and ace every conceivable form of career-related stress. But something gnawed at me, like an unfinished draft. As I watched mid to senior professionals—talented, accomplished people—struggle to navigate the often merciless job market, I realized there was something missing in this equation.

And then it hit me: what if these professionals didn’t need another “five-step” plan or “surefire” strategies? What if what they really needed was a break? Not a retreat into isolation but a genuine, judgment-free community where they could find support and camaraderie? I envisioned a place where they could catch their breath, get treated with the dignity they deserved, and find understanding without the constant reminder of every item on their to-do list.

Driven by this thought, I embarked on a journey that, frankly, felt part career mission, part utopian experiment. I wanted to create a community that didn't treat people as ‘job-seekers’ but as people—multi-dimensional, with dreams, fears, and resilience. And I didn’t want them to feel like they were merely cogs in the machine of a LinkedIn-esque network, where every interaction was transactional. No, the CNC-Community would be the antidote to that: a place to laugh, connect, learn, and grow.

So there I was, turning my “CNC-Community” idea into reality. I built it around the philosophy that everyone deserves a space where they’re not defined by their last job or their next interview. They’re defined by who they are, right here and now. And as it turned out, this perspective was, dare I say, revolutionary. Suddenly, people were discovering a newfound energy, rethinking how they approached their careers—not because they had to, but because they wanted to.

The funny thing? I may have set out to give mid to senior professionals a break, but somewhere along the way, they gave me one too. They reminded me why I started coaching in the first place: not just to help people get hired, but to truly see them, to treat them in the most human way possible. The CNC-Community has become more than a career network; it’s a reminder that a little compassion and understanding can go a long way—even when the résumé seems to have taken over the world.

Curt Skene
FOUNDER
Career Network Club