It's a difficult job market right now. Countless people have lost their jobs due to the pandemic, and there is a surplus of incredibly talented people in the talent pool.

Last month, we introduced our new CSM Referral Program in which we selected 5 Customer Success Manager candidates to highlight, who have all been referred to us by trusted sources. Some come from CS backgrounds, others come from slightly different backgrounds, however they all have the skills necessary to thrive as a CSM.

Here are the results from last month's blog:

• 5 CSMs featured
• 31 companies reached out to them directly (avg. 6 per candidate)
• 9 companies interviewed them, with multiple candidates having multiple interviews within each company (avg. 2 per candidate)
• 2 were hired, with 1 more currently at the final interview stage

We were thrilled to get these results, so we will be continuing to feature new, talented folks every month, and have included this month's 5 below. We suggest reading through their responses to the questions below before going straight to their LinkedIn, so that you can benefit from the additional context before making a decision.

The right person in the right role is what every jobseeker and hiring manager is aiming to achieve, so let's work as a community to make that happen for these 5 and their future companies.

If you're openly searching for a role in CS and would like to be featured on our referral list, apply here.

Candidates

Alan Harnett

Location: San Francisco, CA (or remote)

Last Role: SMB Customer Success Manager @ Garten

Desired Role(s): Customer Success Manager, Strategic Account Manager

Twitter Challenge: Pitch yourself to a prospective hiring manager in 280 characters or less.

Altruistic by nature, CSM by profession. Experienced in developing great client relationships and fostering an effortless client experience. From my startup experience, I’ve developed a solution-oriented mindset. Let’s connect about how I can nurture your client relationships.

What is most important to you in the next company you join?

My ideal company would be centered around a clear vision, a core set of values, and be mission-driven.  The values potentially encompass:

• a collaborative work environment - celebrating wins, and regular all-hands meetings
• customer-centric - an evolving product, a craving for customer feedback, and consistently exceeding customer expectations 
• great employee experience - talents are allowed to flourish, and consistent team events‍
• open communication - feedback is encouraged, visible OKR’s, and transparency

What are you absolutely awesome at?

My best assets are my ability to develop great client relationships and solve problems. A great relationship is built around proactive communication where clients know their voice is heard and their ideas are advocated. The outcome is clients who champion the brand and are willing to form a mutually beneficial relationship. I’m constantly looking at how to improve the work I do, establish a process, or document a routine. I’m known for getting things done.

What are you working on improving at?

I love to master new skills. While working, you’ll see me connecting with other departments to learn what they do and understand how I can help them be successful. Currently, I’ve been focused on taking Salesforce Trailhead courses and certifications. Next, I’d like to take the CCSM Certification.

Why are you passionate about Customer Success?

It’s all about the clients. Throughout my career, I’ve been working with customers and exceeding their expectations. When I can develop a client into being passionate about our brand and ensuring an effortless client experience, I know I’ve fulfilled my purpose.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alanharnett/

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Lemuel H. Thornton III

Location: Philadelphia, PA (or remote)

Last Role: Enterprise Account Manager @ Simplecast

Desired Role(s): Customer Success Manager, Technical Account Manager

Twitter Challenge: Pitch yourself to a prospective hiring manager in 280 characters or less.

I'm a big believer in driving ownership within customers and teams and making their work better. I really thrive in connecting with customers and seeing them grow. Army brat that brings an inclusive perspective to my work. I've held 50 customers, with $2M Revenue and 94% retention.

What is most important to you in the next company you join?

A workplace that wants to see me there as a whole person, that fosters an open and inclusive culture. I want to be able to work closely and collaborate with my colleagues across the organization in the name of success for our customers.

What are you absolutely awesome at?

Doing 'the thing', whatever that may be. Too often people are worried or can over analyze what they have to do. I believe in being open and having the conversation, but sometimes the work needs to get done; a plan needs to be made, a customer called, or a hard conversation needs to be had. I can do that, with humility and as a team player.

What are you working on improving at?

I’m always working toward improving my skills to become a more strategic thinker, helping to look beyond what’s just in front of me and pushing my thought process outside of the box.

Why are you passionate about Customer Success?

I spent a long time watching customers get only halfway there, not fully realizing what they could be doing, maybe not even knowing how. I’ve seen it in my past working with non profit arts organizations looking to foster audiences, small campaigns looking to build their followers, or the latest app wanting to increase its return of mobile users. I see people work really hard and get almost there. Customer Success excites me because it's the opportunity I have to help someone (a business, a point of contact, a service) realize I can help them reach the next level as the expert of the tools at hand. I often tell customers they can imagine me as their “employee on the inside,” and I believe it. I keep it in mind what options are available to them, and how they can make the most out of them.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lemwerks

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Matthew Vadala

Location: Brooklyn, NY (or remote)

Last Role: Customer Success Specialist @ Blackbaud

Desired Role(s): Customer Success Manager

Twitter Challenge: Pitch yourself to a prospective hiring manager in 280 characters or less.

I can help you to unite your internal teams and the teams on the sides of your customer accounts which will yield recurring renewals, and meaningful account growth.

What is most important to you in the next company you join?

I want a collaborative environment that is also eager to learn from the outside. I believe you can never know enough and there is always room for opportunity. It's exciting to learn new things and meet new people.I also hope to have the ability to not only be your next Customer Success asset, but also a valuable boost to your other departments’ capabilities.

What are you absolutely awesome at?

Cross-functional collaboration between technical and non-technical teams. In both my professional and personal life I seek to unify parties with the intent at achieving the greatest goal.

What are you working on improving at?

Negotiation skills. In the past year I have learned a great deal through a global network, taking the time to get certified in Customer Success, and even utilized my time to study with LinkedIn Learning courses on negotiation tactics.

Why are you passionate about Customer Success?

I strive to help others have an "aha!" moment when they learn of a question they hadn't thought of, or when two people are trying to understand one another but just miss the one point that would unite their respective points of view. Once that moment is achieved people can do great things. I want to do great things that will cascade into other greatness in the world.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattvadala/

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Rita Kochubeevskaya

Location: Tel Aviv, Israel (or remote)

Last Role: Head Of Business Development for Central and Eastern Europe @ Payoneer

Desired Role(s): Senior Customer Success Manager

Twitter Challenge: Pitch yourself to a prospective hiring manager in 280 characters or less.

Passionate CSM & business development leader with 8+ years experience in fintech within B2B clients worldwide. Building relationships with clients, setting up CSM teams, processes & required infrastructure - all these while hitting KPIs.

What is most important to you in the next company you join?

First-class product, open company culture & committed and accountable people. I truly believe that a real customer-centric company or a company that is on its way to become customer-centric sees the CSM team as a heart of organization.

What are you absolutely awesome at?

Building teams, internal and external processes and managing complex projects. Also a fluent Russian & Hebrew speaker.

What are you working on improving at?

I’m always working on improving something. Currently learning additional business and CSM methodologies, as well as taking a few courses in valuation & strategy.

Why are you passionate about Customer Success?

I really like the definition that “customer success is the business methodology of ensuring customers achieve their desired outcomes while using your product or service”. Helping customers to get the most of a company's product, helping the company to change the product or twist the offering according to the customers or market needs - this is the best.

‍Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rita-kochubeevskaya/

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Evann Coleman

Location: Castro Valley, CA (or remote)

Last Role: Customer Success/Project Manager @ Allmodular Systems

Desired Role(s): Customer Success Manager

Twitter Challenge: Pitch yourself to a prospective hiring manager in 280 characters or less.

‍I currently hold a B.A. in Business Administration, with a concentration in management. I have been managing client relationships for over 7 years, working with large enterprise companies all over the US. I'm one of the hardest workers you will meet and if given the opportunity to prove this, I won't disappoint you!

What is most important to you in the next company you join?

The opportunity to learn and grow within my career. I've been looking for a company that values employees and offers professional and developmental opportunities.

What are you absolutely awesome at?

I'm a quick thinker and the one to always raise my hand to solve a problem. My analytical skills, as well as my ability to be a trusted advisor to customers has taken me quite far in my career.

What are you working on improving at?

I'd love the opportunity to work more with technology. I have experience with some ERP software tools in the construction industry and looking to digging more into other saas technologies that continue to develop over the years.

Why are you passionate about Customer Success?

The moment I work with a product or service I truly believe in, evangelizing the value to customers comes with ease. I thrive in fast paced environments and developing relationships that will impact the business for the better. I am also driven by the challenge of churn reduction and ensuring my client base maintains satisfaction. My ability to continue to push value proposition with customers has proven to be successful in my past positions.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evann-coleman/

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Interested in being featured in our next CSM list? Click here!