8 Traps to Avoid and Secure Your Next Customer Success Job

The landscape of hiring for Customer Success Managers (CSMs) has seen a significant shift in recent years, leaving job seekers and employers dealing with seemingly insurmountable challenges.

What was once a promising career path with ample opportunities has now turned into a chaotic and frustrating journey.

This edition explores various facets of this disrupted hiring process, shedding light on the difficulties faced by both CSM candidates and hiring managers.

1. The Flood of Applicants

One prominent issue in CSM hiring is the overwhelming number of applicants for each open position.

Job openings, even those on platforms like LinkedIn, are now inundated with thousands of resumes, making it laborious to sift through qualified candidates.

This flood comprises both qualified and unqualified individuals, further complicating the selection process.

2. The Rise of Misleading Career Coaches

A contributing factor to this applicant overload is the emergence of career coaches who overly glorify the CSM field.

These coaches, often found on social media, encourage individuals to pursue CSM careers without adequately preparing them for the realities of the role.

Consequently, many unqualified candidates flock to CSM positions, overwhelming the job market.

3. The Pressure for Six-Figure Salaries

Social media, with its constant stream of success stories, has placed immense pressure on newcomers in the field to expect six-figure salaries right from the start.

This unrealistic expectation further fuels the influx of applicants, with many pursuing high-paying roles they are ill-prepared for.

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4. The Role of Referrals in Hiring

In the midst of this chaos, referrals from internal employees once considered a valuable asset in job hunting, have lost their effectiveness.

Internal recruiters are swamped with numerous requisitions, making it challenging to respond promptly.

Consequently, qualified candidates are left in the dark, while hiring managers grapple with the overwhelming number of applications.

5. External Recruiters and Unrealistic Expectations

External recruiters often find themselves in a difficult position.

They understand the scarcity of qualified candidates but are frequently tasked with finding "unicorns" who meet exceedingly high expectations.

Unfortunately, many clients insist on offering below-market compensation for roles that are high-stress and retention-based.

6. The Shrinking Pay Scales

Companies that were once open to investing in experienced and expert CSMs are now reluctant to provide deserved compensation.

Despite requiring years of experience and expertise, they offer salaries well below market rates. This pay discrepancy drives away talented individuals, especially those living in high-cost-of-living areas like California.

7. The Pain of Wasted Time

For job seekers, the frustration of an apparently endless interview process is compounded by instances where they invest significant time only to find that the company is not willing to accommodate their location.

The result?

Valuable hours are wasted on both sides, with no tangible outcome.

8. The Puzzling Persistence of Fake or Unfunded Roles

Another puzzling phenomenon is the persistence of seemingly fake or unfunded job postings.

Positions that remain unfilled for months are repeatedly reposted, raising questions about the intentions behind these listings.

Are they merely collecting resumes to inflate applicant numbers?

At TopCSjobs, we understand the challenges you face in navigating these uncertain job markets.

We carefully curate and verify customer success job listings from reputable companies, ensuring a scam-free experience.

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And That’s It

The hiring process for Customer Success Managers is undeniably flawed, causing frustration for both job seekers and employers.

In this challenging landscape, perseverance and adaptability are key.

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