Tim Perks' Four-Month Path from Nike to DICK'S Sporting Goods

After more than 20 years at Nike, Tim Perks was let go in a major company reorganization. Rather than panic, the 58-year-old used a head start he had given himself: he'd already hired an executive career coach when he sensed his growth at the sportswear giant was stalling. By the time the layoff hit, Perks had a clear understanding of his value, an updated LinkedIn presence, and a relationship map of contacts inside and outside Nike.

Within weeks, a casual coffee conversation with a former colleague who had moved to another brand turned into an interview invitation. That outreach—one of many he initiated—eventually led to an offer for a vice president role at DICK'S Sporting Goods. He also advanced deep into discussions with a second company before accepting. The move meant selling the family's home in Portland and relocating to Pennsylvania, a sacrifice he and his wife decided was worth making for the right opportunity.

Perks did not lower his salary expectations, nor did he let age define his candidacy. He approached the search believing his nearly quarter-century at a global brand was a credential on par with an advanced degree, and that conviction was met with agreement from his new employer.

The Strategy That Turned a Layoff into a Fast Executive Comeback

A network built before it was needed

The centerpiece of Perks' rapid re-employment was a deliberate mapping of his professional relationships. He catalogued former colleagues who had already moved to other brands, then reached out to each with a simple ask: a conversation about the next phase of his career, not a job request. That no-pressure framing opened doors. The contact who ultimately referred him at DICK'S Sporting Goods was someone from his Nike network. The lesson is not just to network, but to treat your existing network as an asset to be maintained before you're in crisis.

Why age was an advantage in this search

Perks chose to view his late 50s as a signal of deep experience rather than a liability. He says that his time at Nike felt like earning a “PhD in working with a brand,” and that confidence came through in interviews. The story challenges the common narrative that older job seekers face insurmountable age bias; in Perks' case, the decades of corporate brand knowledge were precisely what the next employer valued. His experience also meant he could command a compensation jump—moving companies after a long tenure, he says, often unlocks raises that staying put never will.

The role of a career coach in clarifying value

Before the layoff, Perks worked with an executive coach to articulate what he brought to the table and where he wanted to go. That preparation shifted his mindset from one of uncertainty to one of proactive targeting. It also shaped his LinkedIn narrative and interview approach, ensuring that every conversation positioned him as a seasoned leader solving a specific problem. For professionals in their 50s and beyond, this kind of structured self-assessment can be the difference between a long search and a four-month turnaround.

Practical Career Lessons from an Executive Who Landed on His Feet at 58

If you're a seasoned professional facing a career transition, several elements of Perks' approach are worth adapting:

  • Map your network before you need it. Write down former colleagues who have moved to other companies, and reach out with a genuine conversation—not a plea. Perks' network mapping turned a coffee chat into an interview.
  • Frame deep experience as a premium asset. Perks treated his Nike tenure as a peerless brand education. In interviews, articulate how your years of industry knowledge solve a problem the next employer has right now.
  • Consider the salary upside of leaving. Perks learned through coaching that staying in one company often leaves money on the table. His move outside Nike yielded a significant pay increase, a pattern many long-tenured professionals can replicate.
  • Don't wait for a layoff to clarify your value. Perks hired an executive coach while still employed. That early work gave him a ready-made narrative and confidence, shortening his job search dramatically.