C5 of 5 – last one

Connection

Building and maintaining professional relationships at a distance.

Score each statement honestly on a 1 to 5 scale. The anchor under each question ("What a 5 looks like") is the bar – take it as the definition of a 5, not a stretch goal.

Q21

I actively and intentionally maintain relationships at a distance – I reach out to past colleagues, mentors, and peers without waiting for them to need something.

What a 5 looks like: Can name 5 people I've checked in with this quarter for no transactional reason.

Q22

I have an active professional network beyond my immediate team – communities on or offline, peers I trade ideas with.

What a 5 looks like: Belong to 2+ communities where I post regularly and recognise other voices.

Q23

I build relationships in or around target companies before I apply – following their people, engaging with their content, attending their events.

What a 5 looks like: Have had a conversation with someone at a target company before applying.

Q24

I can read emotional subtext in written/async communication – I catch when something's off in a message, when a 'fine' isn't fine.

What a 5 looks like: Specific recent example where I picked up on something colleagues missed.

Q25 ★

I can point to a specific remote-work connection I proactively built that led to a tangible outcome – hire, opportunity, mentor, collaboration, referral.

What a 5 looks like: Specific example, named outcome.