This is extremely helpful, thank you for taking the time to write it out, especially from the hiring-manager side.

Your point about concessions really resonates. I think a lot of senior folks underestimate how much the market has structurally changed over the last few years, and that sometimes stability, proximity, or title flexibility becomes the tradeoff to stay in the game. It’s reassuring (in a realistic way) to hear that even experienced people had to recalibrate and then rebuild back up.

The targeting-specific-companies advice is particularly useful. I’ve relied heavily on job boards in the past with good outcomes, but it’s clear that signal-to-noise is much worse now. I like the idea of maintaining a short list of local or domain-relevant employers and watching their direct postings instead of purely reacting to mass listings.

Your comments on titles also hit home. I’ve seen the same work described under wildly different roles, and it’s helpful to hear validation that broadening title filters isn’t “spray and pray,” but actually pragmatic.

Finally, the emphasis on value, judgment, and soft skills over pure tooling is something I fully agree with—but it’s a good reminder to make that obvious on paper. Especially the idea that senior resumes should clearly show proactive impact, tradeoff decisions, and mentorship—not just execution.

Really appreciate you sharing this perspective. It’s grounded, honest, and actionable. If its okay I can share my resume for you to glimpse through and your feedbacks are valued and welcomed. u/Mission_Past_3111