How Lou Landed His Dream Job with a 47% Salary Increase

Breaking into the next level as an SE can feel impossible, especially when you're being told you're “not technical enough,” and you can’t even get into first-round interviews.

Meet Lou

Lou was a Presales Solution Consultant ready for a bigger challenge, a stronger earning path, and meaningful career growth.

As he put it:

“I’m looking for something bigger and bolder.”

He wanted a real jump from a $128K OTE to $180K–$220K OTE and a clear path to eventually reach his long-term goals:

He just didn’t know how to create a plan that matched those ambitions.

The Crossroads Moment

Lou knew he couldn’t keep doing what he was doing.

He felt stuck, unsure of the right path, and frustrated with never making it past the application stage.He said it plainly:

“I usually do extremely well once I get to the interview phase… but I can’t get interviews.”

His current company wasn’t offering the growth he wanted.His next move needed to count.

He researched every coaching option, made a pros and cons list.

Skeptical but hopeful, he took what he called an “educated, slightly risky leap” and joined Better Career.

Building a Smarter Game Plan

From day one, Lou noticed a shift.

“I was greeted with open arms. The professionalism, the mannerisms, the timeliness… it was exactly what I was expecting, and only got better over time.”

We worked together to rebuild every part of his search:

• Strengthened his positioning so hiring teams understood his value

• Clarified his story for SE roles outside the SCADA space

• Structured his job search into a clear, repeatable process

• Built interview storytelling reps he could rely on

• Added technical depth through consistent SQL + Python practice

• Created a pipeline of roles aligned to his goals and timeline

He put in serious effort, showing up to every session ready to grow.

Turning Doubt Into Proof

The real turning point came when a hiring manager told him:

“You’re not technical enough for this job.”

Most candidates would shut the door.

Lou kept it open.

He sent a thoughtful thank-you note, asked for direct feedback, and then did something most candidates never do, he proved he could close the gap.

He:

• Sent a personalized 30–60–90 plan

• Studied the product and use cases

• Reached out to the existing SEs to understand how they sold

• Brushed up on SQL and Python every night

• Came back to each conversation sharper than the last

He wanted the team to know that he'd close every gap, quickly.

A few weeks later, the same hiring manager reached back out.

Their words:

“Out of everyone I’ve spoken to, you stood out as ambitious, motivated, and someone who will continue to uplevel themselves.”

They didn’t give him the senior title.

They created a role around him.

The Results

After 136 days of structured effort and consistent action:

• Lou accepted a Sales Engineer role at People Data Labs

• Earned 47% increase in OTE

  
  

As Lou put it:

“I finally landed at my dream company… all off a referral from Better Career that I probably wouldn’t have even caught wind of. The sky is the limit!"

What Others Can Steal From Lou’s Playbook

• Rejection isn’t final. Sometimes it’s just not yet.

• Ask for feedback. Then show you can fix whatever they flagged.

• Technical gaps are solvable. Consistent reps matter more than perfection.

• Follow-up differentiates you. Most candidates never do it well.

• Referrals change everything. It only takes one warm door.

• Ambition works (if you build the plan to support it).

What This Means For You

Lou didn’t get lucky.

He got intentional.

He built a real plan, invested in himself, and backed that ambition with consistent action.

And in doing so, he turned a stalled search into a $185K offer—and a career trajectory that finally matches the goals he set for himself.

If you’re hearing “not technical enough” or struggling to break into the interview stage, Lou’s story is your reminder:

With the right positioning, preparation, and persistence, you can create opportunities that weren’t visible before.

If you want support making that leap into AE or SE roles, we specialize in helping job seekers do exactly that.

Here’s how we help: https://www.bettercareer.org/coaching