Client Case Study

FROM BUTTONED UP TO AUTHENTIC.

Jessica had done everything right for a year, networking, another program, a grueling two-month recruitment process, and still walked away without an offer. What changed wasn't her effort. It was who showed up in the room.

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The Challenge

A two-month, multi-round recruitment process, including a writing sample and two projects, ended without an offer after nearly a year of networking and program work.

The Shift

A daily gratitude journal and mindset work replaced over-rehearsed, people-pleasing interview habits with authentic conversation.

The Outcome

Jessica landed a Head of Operations role, while continuing to make introductions for others in her network throughout her own search.

Olivia Gamber

A Note From The Founder

Olivia Gamber, CEO

When Jessica came to us, she wasn't short on effort. She had spent a year networking, she had been through another program, and she had just finished a two-month recruitment process, writing sample, two projects, multiple rounds, that ended with no offer. She was frustrated in a way that made complete sense. She had done everything.

What we found underneath the frustration wasn't a strategy problem. It was that Jessica had gotten so focused on being buttoned up, on saying what she thought interviewers wanted to hear, that she had lost some of herself in the process. The work was never going to be about adding more polish. It was about getting her back.

So we started with something simple: a daily gratitude journal. It sounds small next to a job search. It wasn't. It became the thing that let her show up grounded instead of performing, and it changed the conversations she was able to have, in interviews and in her network. She never stopped giving back while she searched, and she landed a Head of Operations role carrying that same practice forward.

A Year Of Doing Everything

Jessica

I had to do a writing sample and two projects, and then I had several other discussions and interview rounds... and not to get the role. I was just mad. Why did you waste my time? That was a two-month recruitment process and I didn't get the role.

Olivia Gamber

So Jessica, I know you were in a really blessed position to get to hold out for what you really wanted and not just take any job. I know when we met you were pretty frustrated, because you were doing all the networking, you're doing everything, you had even done I think another program, and it had been a year of literally doing everything. So when you came into this Career Evolved Method, what shifted for you?

“I was so focused on being buttoned up saying everything they wanted me to say being totally aligned with the role finding my key stories and using that as my elevator pitch but I lost some of me in that process”

The Daily Practice That Changed Everything

Jessica

The mindset work was really critical... I think getting back to who I am, what I love, what I want to do, having really value added conversations to lead to a job. I think it was really important to have that mindset work to have better conversations that could lead to something real.

Jessica

The gratitude journal every day was transformative... it makes you take stock of things, and then all the 50 reasons why, it makes you recognize that there are a lot of things to be appreciative of and there are a lot of ways to look at every day... it just keeps you more optimistic instead of feeling down and pessimistic.

“gratitude journal every day was transformative and it makes you recognize that there are a lot of things to be appreciative of and there are a lot of ways to look at every day”

Giving Back While Still Searching

“the first question anybody should ask when you're networking is how can I help”

A Practice, Not A Phase

Jessica

I'm a firm believer of if you have a network and you want others to help introduce you or be a career promoter for you, you give back... being able to access the... alumni group... one of the most valuable things I think about the program. I also read Phil Terry's book Never Search Alone... the first question anybody should ask when you're networking is how can I help. As I go into a new job I want to continue to have a strong network, because things might come up and I might need to talk about it and problem solve outside of the work bubble.

Olivia Gamber

I saw the role of Head of Operations, that's phenomenal. Thank you again for taking the time to share your story and what you went through. We really appreciate it.

“as I go into a new job I want to continue to have a strong network because things might come up and I might need to talk about it and problem solve outside of the work bubble”

Ready to Stop Applying?

Jessica proved that the missing piece wasn't more effort, it was getting back to herself. If you're exhausted from playing a part in every interview, let's talk about what showing up authentic actually gets you.

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Read the full transcript

Jessica: project writing I had to do a writing sample and two projects and then I had like several other discussions and interview rounds and not to get the role that was that I was just mad like why did you waste my time because that was a two-month recruitment process and I didn't get the role

Olivia: what shifted for you did you go deeper like did you transform did you evolve like what happened that you think really served you through this I think it was the gratitude journal

Jessica: I was so focused on being buttoned up saying everything they wanted me to say being totally aligned with the role finding my you know key stories and using that as my elevator pitch but I lost some of me in that process and I

Jessica: journal every day was transformative and it you know it's a little you know it's very it's it's very much it's a very self-healthy approach but it totally works and it it makes you take stock and things and and then then all the 50 reasons why um it it makes you recognize that there are a lot of things to be appreciative of and there are a lot of

Jessica: getting back to who I am what I love what I want to do having really value-added conversations to lead to a job was I I think it was really important to have those um that you know that mindset work to to have better conversations that could lead to something real I

Jessica: connect with people who are in the same boat and to just continue to to network and um put myself out there and I it just kept me going I

Jessica: being able to to create those connections along the line it is it it it was rewarding being able to access the alumni ce alumni group which I that was the one of the most valuable things I think uh about the program

Jessica: phil terry talks a lot about um people connecting regularly and as support and then also sharing networks because the first question anybody should ask when you're networking is how can I help

Jessica: as I go into a new job I I want to continue to have a strong network because things might come up and I I might need to talk about it and sort of problem solve outside of you know the work bubble

Jessica: what systems are you using in operations what how how how what what tools are you using for AI you know so it's I think it's really important to just continue having those conversations and helping as um you know as I grow as a leader and and talking to people who are you know in other industries at my level