106. Treat Your Job Search Like a Customer Success Role (Here's How) with Zach Sanford
Wed Feb 04 2026
What if the reason your job search isn’t working has nothing to do with your experience and everything to do with how you’re showing up? In this episode, I sit back down with Zach Sanford to unpack a powerful shift most Customer Success professionals completely overlook… treating your job search like a CS role.
We break down exactly how to demonstrate your CSM skills at every stage of the process—from discovery-driven interviews and stakeholder management, to value-based storytelling, strategic outreach, and even negotiation. You’ll hear tangible examples of what “walking the walk” actually sounds like in interviews, how to tier your job search like a book of business, and why small moments of delight (like thank-you notes) can make or break an offer. This is less about saying you’re a great CSM and more about proving it in real time.
By the end, you’ll walk away with a clearer strategy, more confidence, and a completely different way to approach your job search—one that de-risks you as a candidate and positions you as the safest hire in the room. If you’re ready to stop applying harder and start showing up smarter, hit play and let’s dive in.
0:46 – Why Customer Success Skills Give You a Unique Edge in the Job Search
2:26 – How “Being a CSM” During Your Job Search Proves You Can Do the Job
3:21 – Demonstrating (Not Just Talking About) Your CS Skills in Interviews
5:26 – What “De-risking” Yourself for Hiring Managers Looks Like
8:08 – Managing Your Job Search Like a CSM Manages a Book of Business
13:01 – Leveling Up Your Interview Game with Context, Curiosity, and Tying Insights Together
20:55 – Why Deep Research and Tailored Outreach Set CSMs Apart
21:47 – The Power of Negotiation and Value Selling in CS Job Offers
27:16 – How Small Gestures (Like Thank You Notes) Can Get You Hired
30:21 – Why Being Intentional Wins In CS Job Search
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/episode106
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What if the reason your job search isn’t working has nothing to do with your experience and everything to do with how you’re showing up? In this episode, I sit back down with Zach Sanford to unpack a powerful shift most Customer Success professionals completely overlook… treating your job search like a CS role. We break down exactly how to demonstrate your CSM skills at every stage of the process—from discovery-driven interviews and stakeholder management, to value-based storytelling, strategic outreach, and even negotiation. You’ll hear tangible examples of what “walking the walk” actually sounds like in interviews, how to tier your job search like a book of business, and why small moments of delight (like thank-you notes) can make or break an offer. This is less about saying you’re a great CSM and more about proving it in real time. By the end, you’ll walk away with a clearer strategy, more confidence, and a completely different way to approach your job search—one that de-risks you as a candidate and positions you as the safest hire in the room. If you’re ready to stop applying harder and start showing up smarter, hit play and let’s dive in. 0:46 – Why Customer Success Skills Give You a Unique Edge in the Job Search 2:26 – How “Being a CSM” During Your Job Search Proves You Can Do the Job 3:21 – Demonstrating (Not Just Talking About) Your CS Skills in Interviews 5:26 – What “De-risking” Yourself for Hiring Managers Looks Like 8:08 – Managing Your Job Search Like a CSM Manages a Book of Business 13:01 – Leveling Up Your Interview Game with Context, Curiosity, and Tying Insights Together 20:55 – Why Deep Research and Tailored Outreach Set CSMs Apart 21:47 – The Power of Negotiation and Value Selling in CS Job Offers 27:16 – How Small Gestures (Like Thank You Notes) Can Get You Hired 30:21 – Why Being Intentional Wins In CS Job Search 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/episode106 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 a...