Your Job Seach Isn't Broken, Your Timeline is
- Cassandra Nadira Lee
- Jul 11
- 2 min read
LIFT: ElevateX newsletter 009
Read time: 2 Minutes
Content included: Unlearn to learn, mental strength, job opportunity
You had three final-round interviews last month
All went well. You even got the "we'll be in touch soon" nod from the stakeholder. Radio silence.
Meanwhile, that voice in your head is getting louder: "What's wrong with me? Did I say something wrong? Should I follow up again?"
Stop.
According to recent data from executive search firms, C-suite hiring timelines have extended from an average of 4 months to 11 months.
Decision cycles have doubled. Hiring committees have grown from 3 people to 8.
Between AI disruption, economic uncertainty, and geopolitical tensions, companies are moving with surgical precision, not startup speed. They literally cannot afford to get this hire wrong.
This is business reality in 2025
What You Need to Unlearn
I worked with a VP who sent 2 follow-up emails in four weeks. The hiring committee labeled him "too aggressive" and moved on.
His crime? Operating with 2019 speed expectations in a 2025
market.
The "faster is better" mentality is sabotaging you. Speed used to signal competence. Now it signals you don't understand the current climate.
Here's the discomfort: every instinct tells you to push harder, follow up more, create urgency. But that approach is precisely what's keeping you stuck.
What You Need to Relearn
This extended timeline isn't punishment, it's preparation time.
While others panic and spray resumes everywhere, you have 6-8 months to become genuinely irresistible. Get specific about their pain points.
Instead of generic industry knowledge, become the person who understands their post-merger integration challenges or their specific AI adoption roadblocks.
Build relationships, not connections. The executive who landed the CFO role I'm thinking of? She spent 4 months having coffee with people in that company's ecosystem. When the role opened, she was already the obvious choice.
Develop strategic patience. Your ability to navigate this extended process without panic demonstrates exactly the kind of thoughtful leadership they need.
The Reality Check
Companies are taking longer because the stakes are higher. When they finally hire, they're hiring for keeps. They want someone who understands complexity, can handle uncertainty, and thinks long-term.
That extended timeline you're frustrated by. It's actually screening for the exact qualities they need.
The executives landing roles now stopped fighting the new timeline six months ago. They used that time to become genuinely better candidates, not just busier ones.
If you're ready to turn this extended timeline into your biggest competitive advantage, let's talk. Because the new game has new rules, and I can help you master them.
With you on this journey, Cassandra and the LIFT Team
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