Podcast
Customer Success Career Coach, Career Tips and Proven Job Interview Strategies For Every Customer Success Manager
Hosted by Carly Agar | Customer Success Career Coach · EN
Customer Success Career Coach is the must-listen podcast for current and aspiring Customer Success pros. Join us as we spill the secret strategies and tips for building your Customer Success career. This isn't your typical snooze-fest – we're diving deep into the world of Customer Success careers. Whether you're starting from scratch (hey career transitioners!) or eyeing that next big promotion, we've got the playbook for you.
I'm Carly Agar, your trusty 10+ year CS veteran and award-winning CS career coach, and I'm here to turn your career dreams into reality. Every Wednesday, join me and some amazing guests as we dish out practical advice and real-life steps you can actually use. No fluff, just stuff you can apply ASAP to score that dream job, snag that promotion, or become the team rockstar.
What's on the Menu?
🔥 Pro Tips: Learn the tricks of the trade from seasoned pros.
🚀 Career Growth Hacks: Elevate your game, one episode at a time.
🔄 Unexpected Paths: Hear stories that'll make you rethink your career's GPS.
Follow Carly on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/carly-agar/. For free job search tools, go to www.carlyagar.com/freebies. To work with Carly, go to https://www.carlyagar.com/apply
Popular Episode Topics Include: Customer Success Career Tips for a CSM, Proven Job Interview Strategies and Professional Growth as a Customer Success Manager, SaaS Customer Success Career Tips for a CSM, Preparing for Your Next Customer Success Interview, Mastering Common CSM Interview Questions, Building a Standout Customer Success Resume, Landing Customer Success Jobs, Customer Success Skills Every CSM Needs to Grow
29episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
120. He Applied to 1,000 CS Jobs and Got 0 Interviews. Here's What Finally Worked
4d ago00:34:16Tap to summarizeYou’re not getting rejected because you are unqualified. You’re getting rejected because you are playing the job search game the same way everyone else is.In this episode, I’m sitting down with Michael, who applied to nearly 1,000 Customer Success jobs without landing a single interview. We unpack the exact shifts that finally changed everything, from the networking strategy that started getting hiring managers to respond to the mindset changes that helped him stop “pre-failing” before interviews even started. Within six months, he landed not one but two CS jobs using a completely different approach.You’ll walk away with a clearer understanding of what is actually working in today’s CS job market and how to stop wasting time on strategies that are keeping you stuck. If you are ready to finally start getting interviews and feel confident in your job search again, hit play and let’s dive in.And if you’re exhausted from applying to jobs and getting ghosted, apply for 1:1 coaching HERE and let’s change the way you approach your job search.2:12 – Why applying to a thousand jobs got zero interviews and led to burnout7:22 – What made investing in coaching the turning point for building confidence and community9:41 – How shifting from resume tweaks to direct networking created instant momentum13:17 – Why modern job search networking is smarter than awkward meetups18:31 – How applying to fewer jobs but following up strategically leads to better results22:14 – Landing two customer success jobs in under 45 days using the networking-first strategyFREEBIES & RESOURCES:🛎️ Actively looking for a job in Customer Success or plan to in the near future? Apply for 1:1 Coaching with me HERE🛎️ Optimize your resume for Customer Success jobs to land consistent interviews with my FREE Training: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/resume🛎️ Learn how to sell yourself as the best candidate & walk into your next Customer Success job interview with confidence with my FREE Training: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/sellyourself🛎️ Learn how to Master Behavioral Interviews with my FREE Training: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/behavioralCONNECT WITH ME:❤️ Let's be LinkedIn friends: www.linkedin.com/in/carly-agar/💭 Got any questions? Send me an email at support@carlyagar.comHEAD TO THE SHOW NOTES: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/episode120FOLLOW & REVIEW:Are you loving the podcast? I'd appreciate it if you could take a few seconds to do these two things:👉🏻 Hit the FOLLOW button so you don't miss out on any new episodes when they drop👉🏻 And either leave a review on Apple Podcasts or let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment over on Spotify!This helps me reach more customer success pros who need these insights.Thanks for tuning in to the Customer Success Career Coach podcast! I'll catch you next week.New episodes drop every Wednesday!Mentioned in this episode:We analyzed 1,474 CSM conversations to uncover why they’re leaving and what actually keeps them in 2026. Grab the free Talent Report here: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/report
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119. 4 Steps to Build a Business Case for Your Own Promotion in Customer Success
2w ago00:23:04Tap to summarizeWhat if the reason you’re not getting promoted has nothing to do with your performance and everything to do with how you are positioning it?In this episode, I’m walking you through a simple four-step framework to build a business case that actually makes it hard for your company to say no. I dive into how to connect your work to what leadership cares about, how to prove your impact with real numbers, and how to think about your promotion like a strategic decision, not a hope. I also get into what most people miss when it comes to stakeholder buy-in and skill growth.You’ll walk away knowing exactly how to position yourself as the obvious next choice. If you’re ready to stop waiting and start making your promotion inevitable, hit play and let’s dive in.And if you are tired of waiting to get promoted and want a clear strategy to position yourself as the obvious next choice, apply for 1:1 coaching HERE and let’s build your business case together.01:52 – Why waiting for your promotion usually doesn’t work04:13 – How business impact wins over personal goals every time06:36 – Proving your value with numbers even without perfect data09:43 – Mapping key stakeholders to get your promotion approved12:39 – Building your growth playbook before you ask for a raise17:24 – Using this framework to land higher roles in interviewsFREEBIES & RESOURCES:🛎️ Actively looking for a job in Customer Success or plan to in the near future? Apply for 1:1 Coaching with me HERE🛎️ Optimize your resume for Customer Success jobs to land consistent interviews with my FREE Training: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/resume🛎️ Learn how to sell yourself as the best candidate & walk into your next Customer Success job interview with confidence with my FREE Training: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/sellyourself🛎️ Learn how to Master Behavioral Interviews with my FREE Training: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/behavioralCONNECT WITH ME:❤️ Let's be LinkedIn friends: www.linkedin.com/in/carly-agar/💭 Got any questions? Send me an email at support@carlyagar.comHEAD TO THE SHOW NOTES: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/episode119FOLLOW & REVIEW:Are you loving the podcast? I'd appreciate it if you could take a few seconds to do these two things:👉🏻 Hit the FOLLOW button so you don't miss out on any new episodes when they drop👉🏻 And either leave a review on Apple Podcasts or let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment over on Spotify!This helps me reach more customer success pros who need these insights.Thanks for tuning in to the Customer Success Career Coach podcast! I'll catch you next week.New episodes drop every Wednesday!Mentioned in this episode:We analyzed 1,474 CSM conversations to uncover why they’re leaving and what actually keeps them in 2026. Grab the free Talent Report here: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/report
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118. 7 Mistakes That Are Making Your CSM Interview Stories Land Flat
3w ago00:23:16Tap to summarizeWhy do you walk out of interviews thinking you nailed your answers… but still don’t get the offer?In this episode, I’m breaking down the seven mistakes I see candidates make when answering tell me about a time questions and why their stories just aren’t landing the way they think they are. I’ll show you what’s actually going wrong inside your answers, what hiring managers are really paying attention to, and how to fix your stories so they feel clear, structured, and impactful without overthinking every word. These are the exact shifts I teach my clients to help them stand out in a crowded interview process.You’ll leave knowing how to turn your experience into answers that feel confident and convincing instead of scattered or forgettable. If you want to walk into your next interview knowing exactly how to answer any question with confidence, hit play and let’s dive in.And if you’re tired of your interview answers falling flat and costing you offers, apply for coaching HERE and let’s turn your stories into answers that actually get you hired.2:22 – Why leaving out numbers in your interview stories causes interviewers to underestimate your impact6:21 – How jumping straight into tactics without sharing what’s at stake makes your story less compelling8:38 – When you spend too much time on context, you risk losing the interviewer before you get to your actions10:48 – Why giving a general approach instead of a specific example makes it seem like you’re not listening12:42 – The habit of saying “we” instead of “I” in your stories causes interviewers to question your ownership14:25 – When your interview answers go over two minutes, you lose attention and risk not being put in front of customersFREEBIES & RESOURCES:🛎️ Actively looking for a job in Customer Success or plan to in the near future? Apply for 1:1 Coaching with me HERE🛎️ Optimize your resume for Customer Success jobs to land consistent interviews with my FREE Training: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/resume🛎️ Learn how to sell yourself as the best candidate & walk into your next Customer Success job interview with confidence with my FREE Training: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/sellyourself🛎️ Learn how to Master Behavioral Interviews with my FREE Training: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/behavioralCONNECT WITH ME:❤️ Let's be LinkedIn friends: www.linkedin.com/in/carly-agar/💭 Got any questions? Send me an email at support@carlyagar.comHEAD TO THE SHOW NOTES: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/episode118FOLLOW & REVIEW:Are you loving the podcast? I'd appreciate it if you could take a few seconds to do these two things:👉🏻 Hit the FOLLOW button so you don't miss out on any new episodes when they drop👉🏻 And either leave a review on Apple Podcasts or let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment over on Spotify!This helps me reach more customer success pros who need these insights.Thanks for tuning in to the Customer Success Career Coach podcast! I'll catch you next week.New episodes drop every Wednesday!Mentioned in this episode:We analyzed 1,474 CSM conversations to uncover why they’re leaving and what actually keeps them in 2026. Grab the free Talent Report here: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/report
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117. From Laid Off to Director of CS in 60 Days (the 2 Moves That Made it Happen)
4w ago00:17:30Tap to summarizeWhat if one message could instantly get you into a final round interview?In this episode, I’m breaking down the real story of how one senior CS leader went from getting rejected in final rounds to landing a Director role in under 60 days. I’ll show you the exact move that got her into a final round interview when she was completely overlooked, and the subtle shift that helped her turn objections into a yes. This is not about working harder, it is about thinking differently.If you want to stop getting passed over and finally start landing offers, hit play and let’s dive in.And if you’re done getting so close to offers but still missing out, apply for 1:1 coaching HERE and let’s fix what’s actually holding you back.00:43 – The one thing that changed everything for Kelly’s job search as a senior CS leader04:53 – Why strategic outreach matters way more than resume tweaks in landing interviews06:47 – How a simple outreach message made Kelly the third candidate in a final round, even after the role seemed closed09:14 – Identifying and crushing objections before they become reasons not to hire you in senior-level interviews11:26 – The difference between just acknowledging a skill gap and actually showing how you’ll close it for the hiring manager15:08 – The two learnable skills that turn job searches aroundFREEBIES & RESOURCES:🛎️ Actively looking for a job in Customer Success or plan to in the near future? Apply for 1:1 Coaching with me HERE🛎️ Optimize your resume for Customer Success jobs to land consistent interviews with my FREE Training: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/resume🛎️ Learn how to sell yourself as the best candidate & walk into your next Customer Success job interview with confidence with my FREE Training: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/sellyourself🛎️ Learn how to Master Behavioral Interviews with my FREE Training: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/behavioralCONNECT WITH ME:❤️ Let's be LinkedIn friends: www.linkedin.com/in/carly-agar/💭 Got any questions? Send me an email at support@carlyagar.comHEAD TO THE SHOW NOTES: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/episode117FOLLOW & REVIEW:Are you loving the podcast? I'd appreciate it if you could take a few seconds to do these two things:👉🏻 Hit the FOLLOW button so you don't miss out on any new episodes when they drop👉🏻 And either leave a review on Apple Podcasts or let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment over on Spotify!This helps me reach more customer success pros who need these insights.Thanks for tuning in to the Customer Success Career Coach podcast! I'll catch you next week.New episodes drop every Wednesday!Mentioned in this episode:We analyzed 1,474 CSM conversations to uncover why they’re leaving and what actually keeps them in 2026. Grab the free Talent Report here: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/report
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116. 8 Negotiation Mistakes CS Job Seekers Make (That Cost Them Money)
Apr 1500:21:57Tap to summarizeWhat if the only thing standing between you and a higher offer is how you negotiate it?In this episode, I’m breaking down the 8 negotiation mistakes I see customer success job seekers make that quietly cost them thousands. We’re getting into when to actually negotiate, how to handle that first salary question without boxing yourself in, and the overlooked levers you can pull beyond base salary that most people miss.If you want to approach your next offer with confidence, use real leverage, and stop leaving money on the table, hit play, because one of these mistakes? You’re probably making it without even realizing.04:09 – When to negotiate that will give you the most leverage05:22 – How to answer phone screen salary questions10:50 – What else you can negotiate besides your salary16:14 – Why respectful negotiation won’t cost you the offer and exposes red-flag companies18:31 – Why you shouldn’t skip applying for jobs with low posted salary ranges (even though they are negotiable)FREEBIES & RESOURCES:🛎️ Actively looking for a job in Customer Success or plan to in the near future? Apply for 1:1 Coaching with me HERE🛎️ Optimize your resume for Customer Success jobs to land consistent interviews with my FREE Training: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/resume🛎️ Learn how to sell yourself as the best candidate & walk into your next Customer Success job interview with confidence with my FREE Training: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/sellyourself🛎️ Learn how to Master Behavioral Interviews with my FREE Training: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/behavioralCONNECT WITH ME:❤️ Let's be LinkedIn friends: www.linkedin.com/in/carly-agar/💭 Got any questions? Send me an email at support@carlyagar.comHEAD TO THE SHOW NOTES: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/episode116FOLLOW & REVIEW:Are you loving the podcast? I'd appreciate it if you could take a few seconds to do these two things:👉🏻 Hit the FOLLOW button so you don't miss out on any new episodes when they drop👉🏻 And either leave a review on Apple Podcasts or let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment over on Spotify!This helps me reach more customer success pros who need these insights.Thanks for tuning in to the Customer Success Career Coach podcast! I'll catch you next week.New episodes drop every Wednesday!Mentioned in this episode:We analyzed 1,474 CSM conversations to uncover why they’re leaving and what actually keeps them in 2026. Grab the free Talent Report here: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/report
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115. The Passive Job Search Is Dead (And Hiring a Recruiter Won't Save You)
Apr 800:17:03Tap to summarizeWhat if the reason you’re stuck in your job search… is because you’re not actually searching at all?In this episode, I’m breaking down why “passively looking” isn’t a strategy (it’s a comfort zone), why handing your resume to a recruiter won’t magically land you opportunities, and the subtle mindset shift that’s keeping you stuck way longer than you need to be. I’ll walk you through what an actual job search looks like and why it’s probably a lot simpler (and more doable) than you think.By the end, you’ll see exactly where you’ve been spinning your wheels and what to do instead to start creating real momentum. If you want to stop “passively looking” and start landing real opportunities that actually move your career forward, hit play and let’s dive in.And if you’re ready to stop “passively looking” and start running a job search that actually gets results, apply for coaching HERE and let’s build a strategy that moves you forward.02:49 – Why Being “Open to Opportunities” Isn’t a Real Strategy03:42 – Passive Job Searching as a Coping Mechanism (and Why It Keeps You Stuck)05:47 – The Critical Flaw in Thinking Being Selective Means You Should Be Passive08:03 – Why Relying on Recruiters Won’t Land You Your Next Role10:18 – What an Active Job Search Actually Looks Like (And Why It Doesn’t Have to Be Exhausting)11:28 – How to Be Selective AND Strategic: The Three-Ingredient Formula14:23 – Why the “Passive” Job Search Is Dead and What to Do Instead15:36 – What It’s Costing You to Stay Passive in Your Job SearchFREEBIES & RESOURCES:🛎️ Actively looking for a job in Customer Success or plan to in the near future? Apply for 1:1 Coaching with me HERE🛎️ Optimize your resume for Customer Success jobs to land consistent interviews with my FREE Training: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/resume🛎️ Learn how to sell yourself as the best candidate & walk into your next Customer Success job interview with confidence with my FREE Training: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/sellyourself🛎️ Learn how to Master Behavioral Interviews with my FREE Training: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/behavioralCONNECT WITH ME:❤️ Let's be LinkedIn friends: www.linkedin.com/in/carly-agar/💭 Got any questions? Send me an email at support@carlyagar.comHEAD TO THE SHOW NOTES: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/episode115FOLLOW & REVIEW:Are you loving the podcast? I'd appreciate it if you could take a few seconds to do these two things:👉🏻 Hit the FOLLOW button so you don't miss out on any new episodes when they drop👉🏻 And either leave a review on Apple Podcasts or let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment over on Spotify!This helps me reach more customer success pros who need these insights.Thanks for tuning in to the Customer Success Career Coach podcast! I'll catch you next week.New episodes drop every Wednesday!Mentioned in this episode:We analyzed 1,474 CSM conversations to uncover why they’re leaving and what actually keeps them in 2026. Grab the free Talent Report here: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/report
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114. From Senior CSM to People Leader: How to Bridge the Experience Gap
Apr 100:20:55Tap to summarizeWhat actually separates a great Senior CSM from someone who’s ready to lead a team, and why does that jump feel so much harder than it should?In this episode, I’m breaking down the real gap no one talks about when stepping into people leadership and why being exceptional at your role isn’t the same as being ready to manage others. I’ll walk you through the mindset shifts, skill gaps, and behind-the-scenes expectations that quietly determine whether you get promoted or passed over.If you’re ready to stop feeling overlooked and start positioning yourself like a future leader, this will show you what to focus on next. Hit play and let’s dive in.And if you’re ready to bridge the gap and position yourself as the obvious next leader, apply for coaching HERE and let’s map out your next move together.01:33 – Why Moving from Senior IC to Leadership Feels Impossible and Why It Isn’t Your Fault03:16 – Why Waiting For An Internal Promotion Can Keep You Stuck05:16 – How Targeting Early-Stage Or Founding CSM Roles At Startups Can Be Your Ticket To Player-Coach and Leadership Positions (If You Find The Right Fit)07:41 – How to Identify Real Player-Coach Opportunities (and Avoid the Trap Roles)14:37 – The Must-Have Experiences to Compete for Startup CS Leadership Roles17:19 – How to Position Yourself as the Solution Startups Are Actually Searching ForFREEBIES & RESOURCES:🛎️ Actively looking for a job in Customer Success or plan to in the near future? Apply for 1:1 Coaching with me HERE🛎️ Optimize your resume for Customer Success jobs to land consistent interviews with my FREE Training: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/resume🛎️ Learn how to sell yourself as the best candidate & walk into your next Customer Success job interview with confidence with my FREE Training: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/sellyourself🛎️ Learn how to Master Behavioral Interviews with my FREE Training: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/behavioralCONNECT WITH ME:❤️ Let's be LinkedIn friends: www.linkedin.com/in/carly-agar/💭 Got any questions? Send me an email at support@carlyagar.comHEAD TO THE SHOW NOTES: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/episode114FOLLOW & REVIEW:Are you loving the podcast? I'd appreciate it if you could take a few seconds to do these two things:👉🏻 Hit the FOLLOW button so you don't miss out on any new episodes when they drop👉🏻 And either leave a review on Apple Podcasts or let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment over on Spotify!This helps me reach more customer success pros who need these insights.Thanks for tuning in to the Customer Success Career Coach podcast! I'll catch you next week.New episodes drop every Wednesday!Mentioned in this episode:We analyzed 1,474 CSM conversations to uncover why they’re leaving and what actually keeps them in 2026. Grab the free Talent Report here: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/report
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113. Mass Applying to CS Jobs Is Seriously A Horrible Idea. I’ll Explain Why
Mar 2500:23:26Tap to summarizeMass applying to jobs might feel productive, but what if it’s actually the exact reason you’re not getting hired? Because after a year of digging into the data, talking to recruiters, and studying how these systems really work, I can tell you, this strategy is doing more harm than you think.In this episode, I’m breaking down what actually happens when you use mass apply tools and why they can get your resume filtered out before a human even sees it.I’ll walk you through how this approach makes you look to hiring managers, the hidden ways it’s hurting your positioning, and the long-term career damage most people never even consider. And more importantly, I’ll show you what’s actually working right now, backed by real client data.If you’re tired of hearing crickets after hitting submit, this will completely reframe your approach. Hit play because the fix might be simpler (and more strategic) than you think.And if you’re stuck in the apply-and-hear-nothing cycle, apply for coaching HERE and let’s build a strategic job search that actually gets you interviews and results.00:44 – Why Mass Applying to Jobs Is Sabotaging Your Career (and Not Solving Your Job Search)02:25 – How Targeted, Quality Applications Lead to Faster Hires and Promotions06:31 – Why Recruiters Filter Out Mass Applicants (and How to Avoid the “Lazy Candidate” Label)11:28 – The Cost of Landing the Wrong Job: Why Shortcuts Lead to Short Tenures18:38 – Are Job Search Services Actually Helping or Just Getting You Flagged?21:01 – Your Next Job Is the Next Chapter. Here’s How to Make It CountFREEBIES & RESOURCES:🛎️ Actively looking for a job in Customer Success or plan to in the near future? Apply for 1:1 Coaching with me HERE🛎️ Optimize your resume for Customer Success jobs to land consistent interviews with my FREE Training: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/resume🛎️ Learn how to sell yourself as the best candidate & walk into your next Customer Success job interview with confidence with my FREE Training: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/sellyourself🛎️ Learn how to Master Behavioral Interviews with my FREE Training: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/behavioralCONNECT WITH ME:❤️ Let's be LinkedIn friends: www.linkedin.com/in/carly-agar/💭 Got any questions? Send me an email at support@carlyagar.comHEAD TO THE SHOW NOTES: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/episode113FOLLOW & REVIEW:Are you loving the podcast? I'd appreciate it if you could take a few seconds to do these two things:👉🏻 Hit the FOLLOW button so you don't miss out on any new episodes when they drop👉🏻 And either leave a review on Apple Podcasts or let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment over on Spotify!This helps me reach more customer success pros who need these insights.Thanks for tuning in to the Customer Success Career Coach podcast! I'll catch you next week.New episodes drop every Wednesday!Mentioned in this episode:We analyzed 1,474 CSM conversations to uncover why they’re leaving and what actually keeps them in 2026. Grab the free Talent Report here: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/report
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112. He Spent 2.5 Years Applying to Jobs the Wrong Way. Here's What Finally Worked | Client Spotlight
Mar 1800:29:06Tap to summarizeWhat if the reason you’re not landing interviews isn’t your experience, but your strategy? In today’s episode, I’m sharing the story of Junior, a Customer Success Manager who applied to over 1,000 jobs across 2.5 years and had almost nothing to show for it except a handful of interviews.In this client spotlight episode, we unpack exactly what changed when he stopped using the “spray and pray” approach and started approaching his job search with a completely different strategy. We talk about the mindset shifts that helped him move past anger and rejection, the resume changes that suddenly unlocked interviews, and the outreach strategy that helped him connect directly with hiring managers instead of getting lost in the applicant pool.The result? He went from averaging one interview a month to multiple interviews in just a few weeks and signed a job offer in about 90 days.If you're ready to stop sending out endless job applications and finally understand what actually gets results in a competitive job market, hit play to hear the strategy shift that made all the difference.And if you’re tired of applying to jobs and hearing nothing back, apply for coaching HERE and let’s fix your strategy together.00:28 – Why "Spraying and Praying" Your Resume Leads to Burnout, Not Results02:54 – The Emotional Toll of Layoffs and Why Mindset Shifts Are Critical for Job Search Success05:16 – How Applying to Over 1,000 Jobs Led to Only 20 Interviews (and What Had to Change)11:02 – The Game-Changing Impact of a Professionally Written, Targeted Resume12:35 – Why Targeted Outreach (Not Just More Applications) Opened New Doors for Junior15:15 – What Most Job Seekers Get Wrong When Messaging Recruiters on LinkedIn17:08 – How Consistent Interview Practice (and Feedback) Turned Rejection Into Confidence18:55 – Why Overpreparation for Interviews Is About Confidence, Not Sounding Rehearsed24:17 – The Mindset and Community Support That Helped Junior Land a Role in Just 90 DaysEPISODE LINKS:Connect with Junior on LinkedInFREEBIES & RESOURCES:🛎️ Actively looking for a job in Customer Success or plan to in the near future? Apply for 1:1 Coaching with me HERE🛎️ Optimize your resume for Customer Success jobs to land consistent interviews with my FREE Training: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/resume🛎️ Learn how to sell yourself as the best candidate & walk into your next Customer Success job interview with confidence with my FREE Training: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/sellyourself🛎️ Learn how to Master Behavioral Interviews with my FREE Training: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/behavioralCONNECT WITH ME:❤️ Let's be LinkedIn friends: www.linkedin.com/in/carly-agar/💭 Got any questions? Send me an email at support@carlyagar.comHEAD TO THE SHOW NOTES: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/episode112FOLLOW & REVIEW:Are you loving the podcast? I'd appreciate it if you could take a few seconds to do these two things:👉🏻 Hit the FOLLOW button so you don't miss out on any new episodes when they drop👉🏻 And either leave a review on Apple Podcasts or let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment over on Spotify!This helps me reach more customer success pros who need these insights.Thanks for tuning in to the Customer Success Career Coach podcast! I'll catch you next week.New episodes drop every Wednesday!Mentioned in this episode:We analyzed 1,474 CSM conversations to uncover why they’re leaving and what actually keeps them in 2026. Grab the free Talent Report here: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/report
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111. The Expansion Playbook for CSMs Who Hate Selling
Mar 1100:23:56Tap to summarizeWhat if the thing standing between you and your next promotion as a CSM isn’t working harder but learning how to spot expansion opportunities without ever feeling like a salesperson?In this episode, I’m breaking down two ridiculously simple approaches to expansion that you can start using immediately, even on your very next customer call. We’ll walk through the quick “inside-out” method to uncover low-hanging opportunities in your existing accounts, plus the more strategic “outside-in” approach that helps you think like a trusted advisor and connect your customer’s business goals to real revenue opportunities.By the end of this episode, you’ll start seeing expansion differently… not as selling, but as understanding your customer’s business and connecting the dots in a way that naturally creates growth. If you’ve ever felt uncomfortable with upselling or worried it’s not “your job” as a CSM, this might completely change how you think about your role and your earning potential. Hit play and let’s talk about the playbook most CSMs were never taught.02:09 – Why Getting Comfortable With Selling is Key for CSM Career Growth04:01 – The Fastest “Inside-Out” Way to Find Expansion Opportunities07:59 – Three Natural Questions to Uncover Expansion on Customer Calls12:47 – The Strategic Power of the “Outside-In” Approach (and Goal Trees)22:03 – How Treating Expansion as Problem-Solving (Not Selling) Gets You PromotedFREEBIES & RESOURCES:🛎️ Actively looking for a job in Customer Success or plan to in the near future? Apply for 1:1 Coaching with me HERE🛎️ Optimize your resume for Customer Success jobs to land consistent interviews with my FREE Training: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/resume🛎️ Learn how to sell yourself as the best candidate & walk into your next Customer Success job interview with confidence with my FREE Training: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/sellyourself🛎️ Learn how to Master Behavioral Interviews with my FREE Training: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/behavioralCONNECT WITH ME:❤️ Let's be LinkedIn friends: www.linkedin.com/in/carly-agar/💭 Got any questions? Send me an email at support@carlyagar.comHEAD TO THE SHOW NOTES: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/episode111FOLLOW & REVIEW:Are you loving the podcast? I'd appreciate it if you could take a few seconds to do these two things:👉🏻 Hit the FOLLOW button so you don't miss out on any new episodes when they drop👉🏻 And either leave a review on Apple Podcasts or let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment over on Spotify!This helps me reach more customer success pros who need these insights.Thanks for tuning in to the Customer Success Career Coach podcast! I'll catch you next week.New episodes drop every Wednesday!Mentioned in this episode:We analyzed 1,474 CSM conversations to uncover why they’re leaving and what actually keeps them in 2026. Grab the free Talent Report here: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/report
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