From Invisible to $205K at Meta
Sameera, a PhD in Computer Vision on OPT STEM, struggled to get traction in the U.S. job market despite strong credentials. After reframing her professional story around impact and positioning it for recruiters and ATS, she secured three interviews, two offers, and accepted a $205K Research Data Scientist role at Meta.
Client outcome
- Total compensation$205K+58% vs. previous role
- Competing offers2Both above target band
- Interview loops3Opened after repositioning
- Days to signed offer73From strategy call to signed offer
Where it started
Sameera, a PhD in Computer Vision on OPT STEM, struggled to get traction in the U.S. job market despite strong credentials. After reframing her professional story around impact and positioning it for recruiters and ATS, she secured three interviews, two offers, and accepted a $205K Research Data Scientist role at Meta.
What we changed
- Rewrote the resume around measurable impact so Sameera's experience led, not the noise recruiters were stuck on.
- Rebuilt LinkedIn for the keywords hiring managers actually search for in data science roles.
- Replaced volume applications with targeted outreach to teams researched in advance.
- Ran mock interview loops until the narrative matched the level of the roles being pursued.
How the search ran
- Week 1Positioning reset
Resume and LinkedIn rebuilt around impact, not chronology.
- Week 3Targeted outreach
Warm messages to pre-researched teams instead of mass applying.
- Week 6Loops open
3 interview loops running in parallel.
- Week 10Offers, one signed
Landed at Meta at $205K.
