Client Case Study

FROM STALLED TO SOUGHT AFTER.

Twelve years without an interview and a role quietly downgraded into obscurity. Then a recruiter called out of nowhere, and Matthew was ready.

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Matthew Pointer, Career Evolved client

Watch Matthew's story

The Challenge

Matthew's role had been downgraded during the pandemic, stalling his career for five years. He had not interviewed for a job in 12 years.

The Shift

Corrected his own pay rate from $45/hr to $55/hr, a 50% raise, in the first salary negotiation he had ever advocated for himself in.

The Outcome

Landed a six-month-to-permanent contract role with Boeing Satellite, sourced by an unsolicited recruiter outreach, at the highest pay of his career.

Olivia Gamber

A Note From The Founder

Olivia Gamber, CEO

Matthew came to us with a phrase that stuck: he had the most boring job in human history. Not because the work itself was dull, but because it had been hollowed out. His role was downgraded during the pandemic, he had worked from home for five years, and his career had simply stalled in place.

He had not interviewed for a job in over a decade. He had never once negotiated for himself. He told us plainly: what got me here isn't going to get me there. That admission, more than any resume edit, is what opened the door to real work.

What follows is not a story about a desperate job search. It is a story about a man who relearned how to be interviewed, how to diagnose instead of pitch, and how to say no, that isn't right, for the first time in his career.

TWELVE YEARS RUSTY

Matthew

My position was essentially downgraded and while I was lucky to remain employed, it really just stalled out my career as a whole... I've been working from home for the last five years as a result of the pandemic.

It's been 12 years since for a job, I've been with the current company... it definitely was a little rusty. So it was using the tools that I learned... it's been a while since I interviewed. What got me here isn't going to get me there. And how do I get there?

“What got me here isn't going to get me there. And how do I get there?”

DIAGNOSING INSTEAD OF PITCHING

Matthew

I was in the right mindset to speak to myself and my capabilities without selling. I was doing the doctor framework as much as I could... I was asking the important questions. And part of that is what led me to figure out what they were really looking for.

I was really able to zero in on what they were really looking for and being able to course correct in the middle of the interview or the second one after getting more information here and there.

Matthew

I would say within it probably took me about six months before I realized I felt like I really had it... feeling comfortable with it enough to practice the doctor framework and stepping away from that need to prove it, that took a while.

“I was really able to zero in on what they were really looking for and being able to course correct in the middle of the interview.”

FIFTY REASONS WHY

Olivia Gamber

Well, I mean, I know you got a huge breakthrough at the end, so it was all worth it. So tell us about the outcome.

Matthew

So I got a job with the through a recruiting agency, but it's a six month contract to permanent with Boeing satellite... this is the most money I've ever made in my life. And I gave myself a 50% raise.

The recruiter called me back later that day, they said you got the job, by the way, there was a mistake with some of the information. And this job actually pays $55 an hour instead of $45. But then the next week they send me all the paperwork and it was still at the old rate of $45. And there was a part of me that wasn't going to say anything... and then I had, no, I have 50 reasons why I should.

It really was honestly the first time I had ever advocated for myself for a raise for a salary negotiation. I always just taken what they offered and been happy with it.

I wouldn't have had the confidence to say, wait, no, this isn't right. We talked about something else... and I wouldn't have done it without this program. That's 100% because of the program.

“I have 50 reasons why I should.”

“This is the most money I've ever made in my life.”

Ready to Stop Applying?

Matthew went twelve years without an interview and still landed a Boeing Satellite role he never applied for, then negotiated his own raise. Your next move starts with a conversation.

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Read the full transcript

[Question shown on screen]: And walk us through it what were your biggest takeaways?

Matthew: know, it's been 12 years, you know, since, you know, for a job, you know, I've been with the current company, the company I'm with, um, uh, for, for a little, it's nice to know the skill didn't completely fail me, but, um, it definitely was a little rusty.

[Question shown on screen]: So, tell us about the outcome.

Matthew: my position was essentially downgraded and while I was lucky to remain employed, it, it really just, um, stalled out my career as a whole.

Matthew: always just taken what I, you know, what they offered and been happy with it.

Matthew: what got me here. isn't going to get me there. And how, and, you know, how do I, how do I get there? Um,

Matthew: so it was like, uh, the realization of, I, I need assistance. I need to learn how to do this in this different,

Matthew: I was really able to zero in on what they were really looking for and, um, being able to course correct in the, either in the middle of the interview or, um, you know, the second one after getting more information here and there. And then being able to,

Matthew: I have 50 reasons why I should.

Matthew: I got a job with the, um, through, um, you know, through, through a recruiting team, you know, agency, uh, but it's a six month, uh, uh, contract to permanent with Boeing satellite.

Matthew: this is the most money I've made ever made in my life.

Matthew: And I wouldn't have done it. I wouldn't have done it without this program. I would, I, there's no way I know that I would not have, I wouldn't have had the confidence to say, wait, no, this isn't right. We talked about something else because like, oh, well, no, no, the, the other rate is good too. I don't want to rock the boat. I don't want to be seen as pushy. I, you know, maybe this was the test and, and I'm failing it, but no, it was like, no, you guys said this, let's get back to that. And so now, you know, it's a significant increase than, than what, what it would have been. And, and, uh, again, that's 100% because of the program.

Matthew: this job actually pays, uh, 55 an hour instead of 45.

Matthew: all the paperwork and it was still at the old rate of 45.

Matthew: and I was in the right mindset to, to speak to, you know, myself and my capabilities without selling, you know, was doing the doctor framework as much as I could. And

Matthew: I was asking the, the important questions. And part of that is what led me to figure out what they were really looking for.

Matthew: and you were able to really hone in on that without us telling you that because, you know, the, you know, they don't want us giving notes and, and helping, but wow. You know, you were able to see that and you were able to tease out what they were really looking for.

[Question shown on screen]: So how long do you think it took you to get comfortable with that piece knowing the facts that you're doing energy and value exchange rather than trying to convince?

Matthew: I, I would say within, um, it probably took me, uh, about six months before I realized I felt like I really had it.

Matthew: Biggest takeaways is really the mindset work that was the most important factor for me.

Matthew: And that comes from, you know, having done the 50 reasons why having done the, and, and, and, you know, stopping the self doubts and, you know, doing the, uh, the, the mindset work.

Matthew: it really was honestly the first time I had ever advocated for myself, you know, for a raise for a, you know, a salary negotiation of

Matthew: this is absolutely what this, but this role deserves. And this is, this is definitely what, you know, Boeing wants to put you at.