Customer Success Career Coach, Career Tips and Proven Job Interview Strategies For Every Customer Success Manager (CSM)

Carly Agar | Customer Success Career Coach

Details

Customer Success Career Coach is the must-listen podcast for current and aspiring Customer Success pros. Join us as we spill the secret strategies and tips for building your Customer Success career. This isn't your typical snooze-fest – we're diving deep into the world of Customer Success careers. Whether you're starting from scratch (hey career transitioners!) or eyeing that next big promotion, we've got the playbook for you. I'm Carly Agar, your trusty 10+ year CS veteran and award-winning CS career coach, and I'm here to turn your career dreams into reality. Every Wednesday, join me and some amazing guests as we dish out practical advice and real-life steps you can actually use. No fluff, just stuff you can apply ASAP to score that dream job, snag that promotion, or become the team rockstar. What's on the Menu? 🔥 Pro Tips: Learn the tricks of the trade from seasoned pros. 🚀 Career Growth Hacks: Elevate your game, one episode at a time. 🔄 Unexpected Paths: Hear stories that'll make you rethink your career's GPS. Follow Carly on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/carly-agar/. For free job search tools, go to www.carlyagar.com/freebies. To work with Carly, go to https://www.carlyagar.com/apply Popular Episode Topics Include: Customer Success Career Tips for a CSM, Proven Job Interview Strategies and Professional Growth as a Customer Success Manager, SaaS Customer Success Career Tips for a CSM, Preparing for Your Next Customer Success Interview, Mastering Common CSM Interview Questions, Building a Standout Customer Success Resume, Landing Customer Success Jobs, Customer Success Skills Every CSM Needs to Grow

Recent Episodes

OCT 28, 2026
144. 6 Skills That Keep CSMs Relevant as AI Changes Customer Success (What CS Leaders Said)
If you're worried about AI taking over your CSM job, I have some good news for you. I just got back from Moment 2026, where pretty much every conversation was about AI. But here's what surprised me. Almost every CS leader I heard from ended up saying the exact same thing. In this episode, I'm breaking down the six skills CS leaders say are becoming more and more important, what you should be showcasing in interviews, and three new job titles that might not even be on your radar right now. If you want to keep your job, get hired, or figure out where the CSM role is headed, hit play and let’s dive in. And if you're getting interviews but struggling to land an offer, apply for 1:1 coaching HERE and let's work on showcasing the skills and judgment hiring managers are actually looking for. 1:10 – What CS Leaders Are Really Saying About AI Taking Over CSM Jobs 2:30 – How Customer Success Teams Are Actually Using AI Right Now 6:30 – Why Saving Time With AI Isn't Enough to Keep Your Job 9:45 – The One Skill AI Can't Replace and Why It Matters 12:05 – How to Showcase Your Judgment in Customer Success Interviews 14:00 – The 6 Skills CS Leaders Say Every CSM Needs 20:20 – Three Emerging Customer Success Roles You Should Know About 22:30 – Why the CSM Role Is Heading in Two Different Directions 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 [email protected] HEAD TO THE SHOW NOTES: [insert trackable link here] 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 Apple Podcasts or let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment over on Spotify! This helps me reach more customer success pros who need these insights. Thanks for tuning in to the Customer Success Career Coach podcast! I'll catch you next week. New episodes drop every Wednesday!
25 MIN
OCT 21, 2026
143. 4 Reasons Hiring Managers Skip Your CSM Resume (And How to Fix Them)
Your CSM resume could be getting rejected in seconds, even when you're perfectly qualified for the job. After reviewing over 1,400 Customer Success resumes and working directly with hiring managers, I've seen the same four mistakes costing qualified candidates interviews. In this episode, I'm breaking down what recruiters actually look for, why your experience and results might not be standing out, and four specific changes you can make to your resume to stop blending in with hundreds of other applicants. If you want to turn your CSM resume into one that grabs a hiring manager's attention, shows exactly what makes you different, and helps you land more interviews, hit play and let’s dive in. And if you're ready to actually make these changes to your resume, join me for my FREE live CSM Resume Working Session on October 27th, where we'll make all four edits together so you can stop getting overlooked and start landing more interviews. Save your spot HERE! 0:40 – Why Qualified CSMs Get Rejected Before Getting an Interview 4:36 – Four Resume Edits That Can Help You Land More Interviews 6:05 – The Missing Information That Gets Your Resume Overlooked 9:26 – How to Stand Out When Other Candidates Have Similar Experience 10:01 – Why Your CSM Resume Needs Numbers to Prove Your Impact 12:12 – What to Do When You Don't Have Access to Your Metrics 14:20 – Why Your Best Results Might Not Impress Hiring Managers 16:10 – The Biggest Mistake Making Your Resume Sound Like Everyone Else's 19:13 – How to Show What Makes You Different From Other CSMs 24:10 – Why It's So Hard to Communicate Your Own Value on a Resume 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 [email protected] HEAD TO THE SHOW NOTES: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/episode143 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 Apple Podcasts or let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment over on Spotify! This helps me reach more customer success pros who need these insights. Thanks for tuning in to the Customer Success Career Coach podcast! I'll catch you next week. New episodes drop every Wednesday!
27 MIN
OCT 14, 2026
142. Overqualified for Some CSM Jobs, Underqualified for Others? How to Decide Which Roles to Apply For
Are you applying for CSM roles feeling either overqualified or underqualified and wondering where you actually fit? In this episode, I’m breaking down how to decide which roles are actually worth your time, why job titles matter way less than you think, and the three things I want you looking at before you apply. I’ll also walk you through when being overqualified is totally fine and how to tell when an underqualified role is still within reach. You’ll walk away knowing where to focus your job search instead of wasting time on roles that aren’t the right fit. If you want to apply more strategically and feel confident about the roles you’re targeting, hit play and let’s get into it. And if you’re tired of second guessing which CSM roles are actually worth your time, apply for coaching HERE and let’s build a job search strategy around the right roles for you. 0:57 – Why CSM Job Titles Matter Less Than You Think 4:23 – How to Know If You Should Apply When You’re Overqualified 6:01 – Why Your Current Life Phase Should Shape Your Job Search 10:55 – How to Know When Being Underqualified Is Too Much of a Stretch 12:17 – Why Enterprise Experience Does Not Automatically Qualify You for Scaled Roles 14:06 – Which Experience Gaps Are Actually Worth Stretching For 17:38 – The Simple Two Out of Three Rule for Choosing CSM Roles 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 [email protected] HEAD TO THE SHOW NOTES: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/episode142 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 Apple Podcasts or let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment over on Spotify! This helps me reach more customer success pros who need these insights. Thanks for tuning in to the Customer Success Career Coach podcast! I'll catch you next week. New episodes drop every Wednesday!
22 MIN
OCT 7, 2026
141. 3 CSM Interview Presentation Mistakes That Get You Cut in the Final Round
What if the thing costing you the job in your final round interview presentation is something you don’t even realize you’re doing? I reviewed around 60 coaching calls with Customer Success job seekers preparing for final round presentations and the same three mistakes kept showing up. In this episode, I’m breaking down exactly what they are, how to show the hiring team how you actually think and make decisions, and the subtle difference between presenting to a panel and showing them what you’d be like in front of a real customer. Plus, I’m also sharing two bonus tips that can instantly make your presentation stronger and help you catch the small details that are incredibly easy to miss. If you want to walk into your next final round presentation knowing exactly how to stand out and prove you can do the job, hit play and let’s dive in. And if you have a final round interview coming up and want a coach in your corner to review your deck, perfect your talk track, and help you stand out, apply for coaching HERE. 0:45 – The 3 Final Round Presentation Mistakes CSMs Keep Making 1:45 – Why Giving Options Without Taking a Clear Stance Can Hurt Your Presentation 7:58 – Why Your Talk Track Matters More Than the Perfect Slide Deck 11:55 – The Difference Between Presenting and Running a Customer Meeting 17:35 – How to Sound More Confident by Talking Like You Already Have the Job 19:35 – Why You Should Treat the Interview Prompt Like a Grading Rubric OTHER EPISODES YOU’LL LOVE: 🎙️Episode 127: AI Won't Replace You as a CSM (But It Does Raise the Bar) with Dan Ennis 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 [email protected] HEAD TO THE SHOW NOTES: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/episode141 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 Apple Podcasts or let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment over on Spotify! This helps me reach more customer success pros who need these insights. Thanks for tuning in to the Customer Success Career Coach podcast! I'll catch you next week. New episodes drop every Wednesday!
21 MIN
SEP 30, 2026
140. First 90 Days as a CSM: 5 Things That Make Your Manager Think "Good Hire"
Landing the job is one thing. Proving they made the right decision hiring you is another. In this episode, I’m breaking down five things every CSM should do in their first 90 days to make a really good impression and set themselves up for success in the long run. I’m sharing how to figure out what you’re actually measured on, get up to speed faster, build relationships before you need them, use being new to your advantage, and start tracking the work that could help you land future promotions and raises. If you want to crush your first 90 days without constantly wondering whether you’re doing enough, hit play and get these five things done. 0:44 – Why Landing the Job Is Only the Beginning 2:04 – How to Know What You’re Actually Measured On 3:04 – The One Question to Ask in Your First Week 5:02 – How to Learn the Product Faster Than Anyone Else 12:36 – How to Use Being New to Your Advantage 14:43 – Why Asking Questions Actually Builds Customer Trust 17:43 – The Career Habit You Should Start on Day One 19:10 – How Tracking Your Wins Can Help You Get Promoted 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 [email protected] HEAD TO THE SHOW NOTES: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/episode140 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 Apple Podcasts or let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment over on Spotify! This helps me reach more customer success pros who need these insights. Thanks for tuning in to the Customer Success Career Coach podcast! I'll catch you next week. New episodes drop every Wednesday!
21 MIN