Success story · Career change · Sponsorship
How Max secured a sponsored role at Checkout.com in 90 days
After eight months and just one interview, Max combined targeted outreach, weekly coaching and focused applications to move into fintech business development.
By How to Job
Eight months of effort. One interview.
Max Sznewajs wanted to move from creative production and client management into business development. After around eight months with another recruitment support service, hundreds of applications and emails had produced just one interview.
With How to Job, he focused on relevant conversations, clearer positioning and weekly feedback. Three meetings followed in his first ten days, including one with Checkout.com. Within 90 days, he secured a sponsored role.
Max's campaign at a glance
- Reach-outs
- 844
- Responses
- 200
- Targeted applications
- 24
- Meetings
- 10
- Job offer
- 1
- To a sponsored role
- 90 days
Campaign activity figures are approximate totals reported by Max in his feedback to How to Job. Meetings should not be interpreted as formal job interviews.
A new industry. Skills he already had.
At Campbell Ewald, Max coordinated advertising projects and strategic partnerships. At Soul Fire Studios, he managed relationships, CRM reporting and outbound outreach.
We helped him connect those experiences to business development: understanding needs, building relationships and starting commercial conversations.
His previous titles changed. The evidence of what he could contribute came with him.
Creating more ways into a conversation
Targeted outreach helped Max learn about the teams behind relevant vacancies: how they worked and what they needed. Recruiters and formal applications stayed part of the search, while conversations gave him another way to explain his background.
“I distinctly remember I got 3 meetings within the first 10 days of working with you (one of them with Checkout.com).”
Max Sznewajs, feedback to How to Job
Less to read. Easier to reply.
We shortened Max's connection note and first message. He reported that his connections and responses nearly doubled afterwards.
That was his observation, not a controlled measurement or a promise for other candidates. The useful lesson: review the response and make a specific adjustment.
For your own outreach, make the reason for contacting someone clear and keep the request straightforward.
A weekly chance to find what works
Max singled out the weekly calls as especially valuable. They gave him space to discuss obstacles, review responses and decide what to change.
He kept applying, too: approximately 24 targeted applications supported the wider campaign. Conversations provided context; applications remained the formal route into relevant vacancies.
Coaching helped him turn guidance into action, then bring the results back for review.
- ReviewDiscuss replies and obstacles
- RefineChoose a specific adjustment
- Put it into practiceTry it, then review the response
A sponsored role. A new industry.
After 90 days, Max secured a Business Development Representative role at Checkout.com in London. His profile, as recorded in the case study, lists an August 2026 start date.
He brought persistence and openness to feedback. How to Job helped give his effort direction. Congratulations, Max.
Common questions
Did Max have relevant experience before joining Checkout.com?
Yes. His background included production, client management, outbound outreach and business growth. His move was a career transition, building on experience he already had.
Would I need to send the same number of messages?
Max’s figures describe his individual campaign. They are not a universal activity target or a requirement to reproduce his approach exactly. The useful lesson is to focus your outreach and review the responses you receive.
Does this mean I will secure a sponsored role within 90 days?
No. This case study describes Max’s individual outcome. It is not a guaranteed result or timeframe for another candidate.
Your next chapter
Putting in the effort, but not getting meaningful responses?
Whether you are changing industries, need sponsorship or want a clearer plan, a free advisory call is an opportunity to discuss your target roles, your approach and whether How to Job is the right support for you.