Director of Customer Success
Ben built an extensive career in sales, account management and customer service at a SaaS tech company. He led high performing teams that consistently exceeded goals. He loved his experience there, but was ready for a new challenge.
When Ben joined our program, he wrote down his top priorities for his next career move: he wanted to lead a customer success team, work at a company who shared his core values and work remotely so he could move his family to the beach. Ben achieved all of his goals by applying the job search strategies from the program and thinking outside of the box.
Q&A with Ben
Q: Why did you decide to invest in the program?
A: When I started applying for jobs, I soon learned the harsh reality of my resume going into a black hole — even for the roles that were a perfect match to my experience. I knew the job search would be an uphill battle, especially when I had a very specific goal and mission in mind.
I was confident in my ability to find a job, but not the ideal job I had in mind. I knew I needed help and decided to make the investment.
Q: What was it like working with us?
A: It was great! Everything was efficient, personal, and helpful. I appreciated working with my coach to lay the foundation — defining what was most important to me in a role and company as well as identifying my strengths and areas of expertise. I also saw an immediate impact from my revamped resume and LinkedIn profile. It was easier for people to understand my experience, skills and accomplishments.
Q: What did you find most valuable?
A: Working with my coach on my resume not only produced a better product, but also helped me clearly articulate my story in an authentic way. The entire process helped boost my confidence. The networking strategies were also valuable. My 1st and 2nd degree connections were instrumental in getting referrals and introductions to key people.
Q: How did you feel throughout the process?
A: Overall, I felt very good. I had some quick wins in terms of networking success. This kept me motivated throughout the program. I also committed to following the entire process down to every step. And when I felt stuck, I worked with my coach. I didn’t overthink things — I just focused on moving forward.
Q: How did you land your new job?
A: I sent a LinkedIn message to the CEO of the company based in another state — his profile said he was hiring for a Customer Success leadership role. I did some high level research on the company, reached out to him and let him know that I liked what they were doing and would love to learn more. This led to several phone conversations with him and the other leaders. I was invited to an onsite interview where I gave a presentation to the leadership team. In the end they filled the role with local talent, but created a position for me based on what we both thought was a better fit.
The confidence I built through this program made me more willing to reach out to him. And the time I spent on practicing interviewing paid off. I was able to tell my story, showcase my work and demonstrate how I could help grow their business. All of this contributed to making a great impression — from the first phone call through the onsite interviews.
Q: Did it align to your goals?
A: Yes, I had very specific goals and my new job met all of them. It enabled me to work remotely and move my family to the beach. It was a cross-functional leadership role where I could make an impact and help the business grow. It also met all of my compensation requirements.
Q: What surprised you by the results?
A: Yes, by how ideal the role and company turned out to be.
Q: What are you loving about your role?
A: I love the freedom of the position. I love that the company is growing and I’m a big part of the growth. And I love the collaboration and the work that we create — it’s truly what I had been hoping to do for the last few years.
Q: What advice do you have for other job seekers?
A: Join LinkedIn groups. I joined a few, including a Customer Success one. I participated in some group discussions and then connected directly to some of the members, who identified some interesting companies and made introductions. I continue to stay active in them — there are some great conversations and interesting people to connect with.
Most importantly, raise your expectations and find out what it will actually take to meet those expectations. Have a professional help you surface your true potential. They’ll either reaffirm or raise your expectations or show you what might be a better fit.
Are you ready to uplevel your career? And get a job where you’ll feel fulfilled, realize your potential and get the salary you deserve?
If so, then watch our video and book a session with one of our job strategists. We’re excited to talk about your career goals!
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