The job ad closed three weeks ago. She applied anyway.

I finally finished my Graduate Certificate in Career Development. 🎉

For one of the final assignments, I needed a “client” to do a proper career counselling session with — and my long-time client, Megan, graciously volunteered.

Now, this wasn’t just role play. She had a genuine career question to work through, so it was the perfect mix of “graded assignment” + “real life stakes.” (And yes, I got a HD… so thanks Megan).

During our session, she had a couple of lightbulb moments.
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One was about thanking people via LinkedIn who’d supported her through her recent studies — academics, colleagues, her organisation.

The bigger one?

Realising her current profession no longer matched what she wanted.

Through her study, she could see a different future.

Fast forward a week. Megan messaged me about a role that was exactly in line with her new career pathway at her company.
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Problem: the applications had closed three weeks earlier (she’d missed them while travelling).

Now, most people would shrug and move on.

Megan wondered if it was still worth trying.

But here’s the kicker: reaching out would mean contacting a direct report to the CEO of a $63B global company.

Intimidating? Sure. Appropriate? Hell yes. Here’s why:

• Fifteen roles for this new team were advertised simultaneously. Odds were, the hiring process was only just kicking off.
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• Her resume was up to date and already tailored for this role.
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• She was about to see this same exec in person at an event in London.
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So she emailed him. And here’s what landed in her inbox:

Two weeks later? She’s got a meeting locked in with that same Exec.

Here’s the takeaway for you:

• Job ads aren’t the only door in.
• Relationships and timing matter more than the closing date.
• If you’ve done the work (resume sharp, clarity on what you want), you’ve earned the right to back yourself.

So next time you see a role you’d love but the ad has disappeared — don’t assume it’s game over.

Find the human, not the portal.

Worst case? You get ignored. Best case? You’re having coffee with the Chief Digitalisation Officer in London.

~Lisa

PS: Megan’s story is proof that sometimes “too late” isn’t too late.

Your Q&A

The Vanishing Year

Hi Lisa,

I’m an E-commerce Director. I pivoted into insurance sales from 2017 to 2018, but before and after I have been in marketing or e-commerce. A recruiter told me to leave out the insurance role.

That leaves a 1 year gap in the resume. Would you leave the insurance sales role out or in? Does a 1 year gap matter on page 2 of a resume?

Thanks

Daniel

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Hi Daniel,

A one-year detour into insurance seven years ago? Honestly, that’s hardly the skeleton in the career closet recruiters want you to think it is.

Here’s the deal: if you were still selling insurance today, you’d need to tackle the “gap bias” head-on.

But a single year tucked away on page two of your resume?

Most hiring managers are too busy trying to remember their LinkedIn password to care.

That said, don’t be too quick to bin it.

Sales and marketing are two sides of the same coin.

Spending a year on the “front line” can actually make you a sharper e-commerce leader — you’ve seen firsthand what customers say when they’re not on a glossy brand survey.

You could even frame it as: “Yes, I learned I prefer marketing over sales … but it taught me how to align campaigns with what sales teams really need.”

That little nugget of perspective can be a differentiator in interviews.

So, your options:

• If you want a perfectly clean marketing narrative: leave it off, no drama. Nobody’s losing sleep over a one-year gap from 2017.
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• If you can spin it into a strength: keep it, with a short blurb and maybe two bullets (customer service, client relations, negotiating).
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Either way, the golden rule is this: pretty resumes don’t get you jobs. Critical thinking — and tailoring like your career depends on it (because it does) — will.

Thanks for writing in.

~Lisa​