“The team asked me to share my experience. I wasn’t looking to make a move for more money. Compensation was fine. What I needed was better balance and a role that fit where I am in life, having grown out of 60-hour work weeks.
I hadn’t had to apply for a role in over 15 years. Last time I made a move, it happened through my network. But this time, I wanted options outside my immediate circle, and I wanted to do it quietly. At my level, word travels fast, and I wasn’t interested in my board or my peers knowing I was considering a change until the time was right.
For me, the investment was about buying back my time and protecting my confidentiality. My network is strong but it always loops back to the same industries and people. I wanted to see what else was out there without broadcasting that I was looking. I’ll admit, I was concerned they might not have contacts at my level, but they were very clear in how they would approach my case.
I was also extremely busy during this process. My schedule isn’t exactly flexible, and they worked around me, which I appreciated. It did take a while, probably mostly on me, but I ended up with strong options that made sense for where I wanted to go, and I transitioned into a better role that gives me the balance I was after.
For me, the value was clear. It saved me months I didn’t have, and let me move on my own terms.”
“Buckle in boys, this one’s a story!
Every morning I had a routine. Wake up, make coffee, open the laptop, fire off another round of resumes (résumés when I felt fancy) into the great black hole of the internet. Scroll LinkedIn. Scroll through job boards pretending to be optimistic. Cry a little. By lunch, I’d convince myself today was the day. Send more resumes. Tell myself I’m not crying. (I definitely cried.)
After a while I started treating it like exercise. ‘Alright, 20 applications today, let’s get these reps in.’ But the only thing getting stronger was my ability to handle disappointment.
So I see their ads. At first, I’m skeptical because, real talk, I’ve thrown money at enough stuff that didn’t actually work to fill a cemetery. (Which, very unironically, is where my career felt was at the time.)
But I was desperate enough to try. They tell me about their referral system. Basically: ‘We’re gonna stop letting you bang your head against a wall and actually put you in front of people who are hiring.’ I’m like, hecks yeah, sign me up! Can’t be worse than the black hole I’m living in.
So I paid. And it was kinda expensive so I definitely cried a little more. But then I sighed one of those deep sighs because I did not have to submit resume number 832 into the ATS graveyard so that was an immediate win.
Fast forward a few weeks and I’m actually being introduced. To real people. Saying my name to decision makers. You have no idea what that does to your sanity after months of ghost town job boards. It’s like waiting outside the club forever and suddenly someone pulls back the rope like, ‘Hey buddy, you’re on the list!' and you just kinda look around like...me? That's where I was.
The first couple intros, I was so used to rejection I didn’t even believe it. I was so disenchanted I’m amazed my energy didn’t scare them away. I thought, there’s no way these people actually want to talk to me. But then they did. Then one turned into a real interview. Then another. At one point I actually had to choose which interviews to prep for. Me! The guy who was crying into his coffee seven weeks earlier.
Okay now for the piece de resistance: I am in a new role making.... drumroll.....🥁🥁🥁🥁
$72,000 more!! Like what?? I can actually afford to buy ground beef again. Maybe even a steak if I’m feeling fancy. And I’m always feeling fancy these days. 🎩
So, I’m gonna let you figure out if I recommend. I hope I don’t need this again… but if I do, I’ll certaintly be back”
“I don’t think I really realized just how much of this whole job search thing is about who you know until this. I used to just be able to apply and get interviews but not anymore. It wasn’t anything fancy, but intros really made all the difference. I’m glad I stopped wasting time and actually got in front of the right people. I'm super grateful and really just appreciaate all the support I got. Def. recommend.”
“The coaching I received was both challenging and incredibly effective. My coach didn’t sugarcoat things, but that’s exactly what I needed. By the time I went into the real interview, I was prepared, confident, and focused. I can honestly say the feedback made all the difference.””
“I had been ghosted 100 times before this. Jacob & Dana sent outreach on my behalf, next thing I know I’m on a Zoom call with the hiring manager. crazy”
“Picture a VP of Ops at 2am, cereal bowl in hand, refreshing LinkedIn for the 80th time. That was me. Three months later, picture the same guy fielding two offers in a week.”
“This is weird to say but I actually had fun working with them. Who says that about a job hunt? It didn’t feel corporate. It was like having friends in my corner who just happened to be experts.”
“I was getting callbacks but Every time the layoff came up, I’d feel the energy shift. It was super frustrting because, it wasn’t even about my performance the whole division got cut when the company lost a major contract. But somehow, when I said that in interviews, it felt like people stopped listening after the word ‘layoff.’
Katherine worked with me on how to frame it without sounding defensive or bitter. She gave me a way to acknowledge it, move past it, and redirect to my wins. Next interview, they asked the dreaded question right off the bat. Instead of spiraling, I delivered the line we practiced and just kept going. The interviewer nodded, almost like ‘ok, that makes sense,’ and we were back to talking about my leadership experience instead of my baggage. That one minute piece was everythign for me”
“My coach told me, "If you don’t tell them the story, they’ll make one up about you." - I had to write this on a post-it and stick it on my monitor. Listen sometimes in interviews we have a tendency to avoid but in absense of fact they will make stuff up - you really do have to address the elephant head on.”
“not even gonna lie i thought this was a scam because I never by stuff like this, nothing happened week two nothing either then week three suddenly i had 2 interviews lined up so yeah i was wrong”
