This is an anonymous post from an Elpha member.

After searching 18mo., I still can't get a stream of continuous interviews

Posted in:Vents

Hello All,

I hope everyone is enjoying your summer!

Some advice is needed.

I've been applying, and networking over the last 18mos with a handful of interviews. Edited, revamped resumes, profiles with minimal positive results (on/off LinkedIn green banner). Attended job fairs and connected w/recruiters, hiring managers with no success, including bridge jobs.

A bit of background:

My current situation stemmed from a rescinded job offer in 2023 eliminating the role, dept. and eventually, the company went out of business.

Your suggestions are welcome for this business professional with a decade of experience seeking a Customer Success Manager position. I'm open to tangential remote roles that advise and guide clients to users. i.e., Account Manager, Client Engagement and Partner Consultant etc.

To all who respond, thank you for the suggestions. All who read this thread, I hope it helps and know you're not alone in this challenging job market.

teresaman·Jul 21

Sounds like it's been a very long journey, and first props for still getting yourself out there as that could be exhausting at times. Curious if you've gotten any feedback from your handful of interviews on why they haven't continued with the process? Sometimes that gives good insights into what you could improve upon. And of course, other times there might be circumstances out of your control.

Earnestine69·Jul 22

Last month, the feedback although, I stated the role was w/in my range. I am prepared from understanding to the organization, under 2min responses w/metrics, prepared questions aligned w/the interviewer, etc. I always request feedback which is seldom provided.

Iynna·Jul 21

From reading your post, you're doing all the 'right' things so go you! I would say, keep going, it takes a lot of work, patience, and effort. On top of Teresa's recommendations on asking for feedback (especially for those with whom you've been in process with), you could consider casting a wide net. You're exploring tangential roles which is great IMO! What have you done in the past 10 years? Were you always a CSM or are you now doing a shift? It might be worth looking at what you did for 10 years and from there do the shift.All in all, keep at it, you're going to get there!

Earnestine69·Jul 22

The shift to a CSM title is recent, w/in the last three years. However, my roles have always had advisory and consultative functions. From demos to presentations to onboarding etc. Most of the roles are finance-based and heavy on analytics, translating those metrics into palpable, informed decisions for stakeholders. I've expanded into pursuing other roles: Acc't Manager, Client Engagement or Partner Executive (if less heavy on Sales) etc. and industries external to my core competencies of Pharma, Finance, AdTech. I'm adaptable to shifting into another role.

kaitlingraham·Jul 22

I'm sorry you're going through this. Know that it's not your fault and the hiring system is flawed. I would recommend reaching out to past coworkers, classmates, etc, if you haven't already, to see if they have anything they can refer you to.

Earnestine69·Jul 23

I appreciate the encouragement and support. Referrals from prior contact from school or roles resulted in rejections or polite interviews of going threw the motions. Often they already they had a candidate in mind.

Nevada151·Jul 23

What you are describing is a consistent experience amongst many job seekers including myself. I've taken on bridge work to pay my bills, but at this point, I'm approaching a year since I was laid off. The interviews I get are generally one level lower than what I've had for the past 7 years, the pay is up to 30% less, and the companies are working with shoestring budgets and staff. When I'm rejected I get the feedback that is equivalent to "You are stellar. We are choosing someone else." Of course, this is no help at all. Despite Lenny reporting in his newsletter today that PM hiring in the largest companies has stablized, my personal experience is that most of us in tech who have been laid off in the last 24 months are struggling to find something reasonable.Many people I speak to have done what I have done. They've taken any work they can land - part-time, contract, outside their normal field, levels below where they were, etc. Many people are under-employed right now and not publicizing it. It's a hit to the ego and the pocketbook, but it's a solid safety net while we wait for the economy to improve. Keep your head up! You are not alone.

Earnestine69·Jul 24

I'm glad that you secured a bridge job. It is a great idea to pay bills or even a better opportunity. However, my inability to land interviews includes this type of employment and contract roles. I appreciate the input and suggestionsI'm glad that you secured a bridge job. It is a great idea to pay bills or even a better opportunity. However, my inability to land interviews includes this type of employment and contract roles.

kateshastakova·Jul 25

Depending on how desperate your situation is you can try to apply to a lower level titles like Senior Customer Success representative (I am not sure how it’s called exactly) or Customer Success team lead. During the interview you should mention that the goal for you to be promoted to a manager eventually and (for example) you can ask if it’s possible to accomplish within 1-2 years

prerna·Jul 24

I can relate to your situation, as I've been facing similar challenges in my job search. Although I'm at the beginning of my career, I have been actively applying and networking over the past year, but my lack of experience and a gap year have made it difficult to secure a position. It sounds like you've been doing all the right things by revamping your resume, attending job fairs, and connecting with recruiters.Given your experience and the broad range of roles you're open to, you might consider expanding your search to include companies that are growing in sectors aligned with your skills. Also, leveraging your network for informational interviews could provide insights and potential leads.I wish you the best of luck in your search, and hope you find the right opportunity soon!

katiecoulter·Jul 25

Major kudos to you for reaching out to the community (recognizing that for what it is -- engaging your network!). I know how exhausting of a process it all can be, and the motivation to keep applying, attending events, networking, contacting connections, etc. comes in waves as energy ebbs and flows. Quick context: I quit my biotech job in summer '23 and have been searching intensely for ~7 months.My thoughts:1] Remember that remote jobs = more competition.2] Remember that not all job titles are created equally. Comb through your LinkedIn networks like a research project. Find folks whose profiles speak to you and check out their titles. Maybe there are some other ways of phrasing what you love that you haven't yet considered? (This proved true for me)My suggestions:1] Tap into a community. I joined the Never Search Alone community in winter and have generally found it useful, even if some assignments forced me to confront my introverted tendencies. I'm someone who needs external accountability to maintain motivation. The NSA world includes a book, heavily used Slack workspace, dedicated team of fellow job-seekers (my crew is 3/4 employed now!), social accountability, introspective assignments, and more.2] Keep learning. Another way to stay engaged is to continue developing your skills. This can take the shape of online courses (aim for those that grant a certificate of sorts - Coursera, for one, is ~$50/mo for certain programs), volunteer or freelance work, or even reading & sharing your thoughts/expertise/recommendations on visible platforms like LinkedIn.3] Speaking of... LinkedIn is your friend! Being active on a weekly basis can keep up engagement and bring more eyes to your profile. I know that can feel awk to lean into social media tactics, but if it could result in a job, it's worth a shot.4] If you're analytically minded, track your progress! I created a Notion database (free) for myself to track all of my job applications. I include the role title, company name, location, application date, status, and other tags, AND -- most helpful -- copy & paste the entire job description into each database page for later reference. Happy to walk you through this if you're interested in having your own. I find it's helpful to see the entirety of my application efforts, and it seriously helps me stay organized/feel prepared when there is an interview (sometimes they take down the job posting after enough candidates).

kateshastakova·Jul 25

If you want you can also use a free tool called tealhq.com, it helps to track what you are tracking, it saves a job description as well and also help to get a matching score comparing to a job description

Earnestine69·Jul 27

Thank you for the suggestion & offer. I had the paid Teal subscription for several months and found it helpful although time consuming. For a while, I used the free version.

cgbl·Jul 29

hello @Earnestine69,I posted this article last year, but it is still useful:https://elpha.com/posts/9gjqlqd/were-you-laid-off-are-you-looking-for-a-job-i-want-to-help I hope you find a job soon. Good luck!

Earnestine69·Jul 31

Thank you