Would you take a $100K retention bonus over a VP-level role?

Would you take $100K over a new VP role?

Imagine building a GenAI product that is an enterprise-wide success, getting it licensed to Audi, yet still being stuck in the same position.

Waiting for someone to leave

After nearly 10 years at a global telecom company, this client had reached a point where his performance wasn't the problem. He had built the products, delivered the results, and earned a $100K retention bonus.

But when he asked about moving up, the answer was basically: wait for someone to leave.

“Unless somebody retires or moves out, there is no space to put you in even though you're doing all the work.”

That was the reason he finally decided to look outside.

He wanted a VP-level role where he could lead AI transformation, make real decisions, and still stay close enough to the technology that he didn't lose the part of the work he actually enjoyed.

30 to 35 applications and zero calls

The first problem was getting anyone to see him as that person.

He had put together his resume himself, applied to roughly 30 to 35 roles, and received zero calls. He admitted he would sometimes get frustrated, apply for a while, see nothing happen, and stop.

He knew the technology wasn't going to hold him back in an interview.

As he put it, “I know the tech, I really work in it, so I can go any depth. All of that is not a problem at all... It's just landing those darn interviews.”

46 interviews and four offer stages

So we focused on the part of the search that had been missing: positioning his experience for the level he wanted and getting that experience in front of companies that were actually hiring AI leaders.

Once we started working together, he went through 46 interviews with companies including Google, Optum, McAfee, GE Vernova, McKesson, UnitedHealth Group, SupplyHouse, 7-Eleven, Humana and many more.

He also reached the offer stage for four different opportunities: two Director roles, one VP role and one Senior Director of AI role.

He ultimately accepted the Senior Director of AI opportunity at $265K base and $310K+ total compensation.

After nearly a decade of being told to wait for an opening internally, he finally had multiple companies asking him to come build. When you've already spent years becoming qualified for the next level, a major challenge is getting the market to understand the scale of what you've actually done.

If you're a senior AI, Data or technology leader who knows you're capable of operating at the next level but isn't getting enough conversations with the right companies, book a call with us and your first interviews usually land within about 3 weeks.