Customer Success Career Coach, Career Tips and Proven Job Interview Strategies For Every Customer Success Manager (CSM)

What if your career gap is not the problem at all, but the way you're talking about it is?
If you've ever frozen when an interviewer asked about time away from work, this episode will show you exactly how to answer with confidence instead of second guessing yourself.
I'll walk you through the five biggest mistakes I see Customer Success professionals make when explaining a career gap, plus what to say instead so hiring managers focus on your value instead of your time away. You'll walk away with a simple framework to own your story, avoid common interview mistakes, and leave a stronger impression. If you want to stop letting your career gap hold you back, hit play and let’s dive in.
And if you're not sure how to talk about your career gap in interviews, apply for coaching HERE and let's build your answers together.
00:44 – The one interview question that trips up even the most experienced CS professionals
02:39 – Why career gaps are not the problem and what hiring managers actually care about
04:29 – The mistake that makes interviewers question your career gap before you even finish answering
06:20 – Why talking about what you're leaving behind can hurt your chances
07:23 – The overlooked advantage hiding inside your career gap
11:03 – The interview habit that makes you sound less confident without realizing it
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/behavioral
CONNECT WITH ME:
❤️ Let's be LinkedIn friends: www.linkedin.com/in/carly-agar/
💭 Got any questions? Send me an email at support@carlyagar.com
HEAD TO THE SHOW NOTES: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/episode130
FOLLOW & 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:
If you want to learn how to land interviews and stand out in a crowded market, join me on Thursday, July 30th, for a free, live masterclass, How to Land Interviews for Competitive Customer Success Jobs: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/landinterviewslive

Are you making one of the biggest salary negotiation mistakes without even realizing it?
In this episode, I’m breaking down the five negotiation mistakes I see Customer Success Managers make over and over, and why they could be costing you thousands of dollars. I’ll share real coaching stories from my clients, the simple questions that can completely change an offer, and how to negotiate with more confidence without feeling pushy or difficult.
You’ll walk away knowing how to approach your next offer strategically so you can maximize your compensation and avoid leaving money on the table. If you want to get paid what you’re worth and negotiate your next offer with confidence, hit play and let’s dive in.
And if you want expert support from resume to negotiation, apply for coaching HERE and let’s build a job search strategy that gets results.
00:45 – Why one word in your job offer could be costing you thousands
03:39 – The salary negotiation shift most Customer Success Managers never think to make
08:34 – The difference between getting a good offer and getting the best possible one
09:04 – Why playing it safe during salary negotiations can cost you more than you think
11:06 – The negotiation mistake that gives away your leverage before the conversation even starts
14:44 – The biggest salary negotiation mistake Customer Success Managers make after getting an offer
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/behavioral
CONNECT WITH ME:
❤️ Let's be LinkedIn friends: www.linkedin.com/in/carly-agar/
💭 Got any questions? Send me an email at support@carlyagar.com
HEAD TO THE SHOW NOTES: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/episode129
FOLLOW & 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:
If you want to learn how to land interviews and stand out in a crowded market, join me on Thursday, July 30th, for a free, live masterclass, How to Land Interviews for Competitive Customer Success Jobs: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/landinterviewslive

What do Customer Success hiring managers actually notice that most candidates never think about?
In this episode, I'm joined by Customer Success hiring manager Eric Clouse to talk through what actually stands out at every stage of the hiring process. We cover recruiter outreach, resumes, and interviews, along with the mistakes that quietly hurt candidates. We also get into how hiring managers are evaluating AI skills today and what the future of Customer Success means for your career.
You'll walk away with a much clearer understanding of what today's CS leaders are looking for and how to approach your job search more strategically. If you want to stop guessing what hiring managers value and start making stronger career moves, hit play and let's dive in.
And if you're ready to build an outreach strategy that helps you stand out with hiring managers, apply for coaching HERE and let's work together.
01:16 – Why hiring managers think differently than most job seekers realize
04:28 – The LinkedIn outreach mistake that could be costing you interviews
07:13 – What hiring managers actually want to see before they ever read your resume
16:08 – Why tailoring your resume to the job description can backfire
22:06 – The interview mistake that quietly reveals you're not thinking like a CSM
25:54 – What hiring managers are really looking for when they ask about AI
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/behavioral
CONNECT WITH ME:
❤️ Let's be LinkedIn friends: www.linkedin.com/in/carly-agar/
💭 Got any questions? Send me an email at support@carlyagar.com
HEAD TO THE SHOW NOTES: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/episode128
FOLLOW & 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!

AI is not coming for your Customer Success job, but it is changing what great CSMs look like.
In this conversation with Dan Ennis, Senior Director of Customer Success at Workato, we unpack what hiring leaders are actually looking for in the age of AI and where most candidates are getting it wrong. You'll hear how AI is raising the bar for interviews, assignments, and day to day customer work, plus the biggest mistakes job seekers and CSMs are making when they rely too heavily on AI. We also get into who thrives in AI companies, who struggles, and why startup experience may matter more than ever.
You'll walk away with a clearer understanding of how to use AI to become more effective without losing the skills that make you valuable. If you are ready to stop worrying about whether AI will replace you and start learning how to stay ahead of the curve, hit play and let's dive in.
And if you feel like the bar keeps moving and you can't keep up with what hiring teams want, apply for coaching HERE and let my team help you land your next role.
00:08 – Why AI is raising the bar for Customer Success professionals
10:00 – What hiring managers can tell about you from the questions you ask
12:37 – Why generic interview assignments are costing candidates opportunities
19:48 – The biggest mistake candidates make when using AI
25:15 – What AI fluency actually looks like for CSMs
30:10 – Why AI customers require a different kind of Customer Success
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/behavioral
CONNECT WITH ME:
❤️ Let's be LinkedIn friends: www.linkedin.com/in/carly-agar/
💭 Got any questions? Send me an email at support@carlyagar.com
HEAD TO THE SHOW NOTES: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/episode127
FOLLOW & 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:
If you want to learn how to land interviews and stand out in a crowded market, join me on Thursday, July 30th, for a free, live masterclass, How to Land Interviews for Competitive Customer Success Jobs: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/landinterviewslive

The interview mistakes costing you offers are probably not the ones you think they are.
In part two of this series, I'm breaking down the final five interview mistakes our coaches see Customer Success candidates make over and over again. I'm sharing why trying to sound polished can actually hurt your performance, the mindset shifts that can help you stop second guessing yourself, and the patterns that make strong candidates come across as less confident than they really are.
You'll walk away with a different perspective on what interviews actually are and how to show up with more confidence, authenticity, and trust in yourself. If you're ready to stop overthinking every interview and start performing like the Customer Success professional you already are, hit play and let's dive in.
And if you're ready to stop talking yourself out of the room before you even walk into it, apply for coaching HERE and let's work through it together.
2:11 – Why ditching the “perfect” script could reveal more authentic interview answers
4:32 – The shift that makes interviews feel much less intimidating
7:31 – How one simple framework can help you stop rambling and keep answers sharp
9:36 – The real reason more prep time might be holding you back instead of helping
11:16 – The mindset switch that could boost your confidence (and results) in interviews
12:53 – How to improve your interview if you’re still feeling stuck
OTHER EPISODES YOU’LL LOVE:
🎙️Episode 125: 9 Reasons You Freeze in CSM Interviews (And How to Fix Each)
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/behavioral
CONNECT WITH ME:
❤️ Let's be LinkedIn friends: www.linkedin.com/in/carly-agar/
💭 Got any questions? Send me an email at support@carlyagar.com
HEAD TO THE SHOW NOTES: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/episode126
FOLLOW & 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:
If you want to learn how to land interviews and stand out in a crowded market, join me on Thursday, July 30th, for a free, live masterclass, How to Land Interviews for Competitive Customer Success Jobs: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/landinterviewslive