I didn’t plan to be a coach.

I spent twenty years in tech—nine building software, the rest leading teams as a VP of Engineering in startups and a Director in big tech. I ran orgs from five to ninety-five. I sat in both chairs: the person hoping for a chance, and the person deciding who gets the yes.

As my scope grew, supporting others' growth became natural.
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Quickly, I've positioned myself as the go-to person when the matter was finding a new job or getting a promotion. People from my teams, and other teams started reaching out. And through word of mouth,  the people I supported recommended their friends to have a coffee chat with me.

Senior engineers who felt invisible. Tech leads and EMs stuck at the same level. Returners after a break. Immigrants learning a new market. Career-switchers from ops, support, teaching, and analytics.

Different paths, same pain: clueless about how to grow, guessing the target, looking average on paper, shouting into the void, freezing near the finish line.

Working with them, I started to see the same patterns again and again. They had a wealth of experience, but struggled to make it visible, to pitch themselves, to translate all their achievements into words that sell to multiple audiences. They were playing the numbers game, and spraying and spraying out there.

Let me tell you something: Hiring managers don't look for perfect people nor the smartest ones. They look for a signal. Clarity of fit, proof of outcomes, calm judgment under pressure. Hiring manager want to feel safe, while betting on someone who delivers value to their teams, and company.

That’s when the framework took shape: Clarity, Credibility, Connection, Conversion. Target your goal. Show proof that you deliver business value. Open the right doors. Negotiate calmly, and having your worth in mind.

In 2022, I ran a simple experiment: thirty applications.

Ten with a generic resume → ten cold rejections.
Ten with a tailored resume, no real prep → some movement, then stalls.
Ten with full strategic prep—clear lane, AI-assisted tightening, proof pieces, warm paths, calm follow-ups → seven six-digit offers.

Not luck... method.

But then the market shifted.

AI exploded into hiring. Candidates pumped out bloated, look-alike resumes. Recruiters answered with tighter filters and more automation. Noise went up. Trust went down. Because I’ve lived on both sides, I knew the answer wasn’t “more AI” or “no AI.” It was balance: your story and your plan; powered by AI, not replaced by it.

We've fully adapted our method to embrace the new market conditions, and started using AI as a sidekick to tighten language, surface keywords, speed drafts, and provide smart recommendations, knock on the right doors, and capture signals proactively.
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Then 2025 made it personal. After helping 17 laid-off professionals back to work in 2023 and mentoring 30 engineers one-to-one that year, it was my turn. I was laid off. Father of five. Pressure, noise, doubt.

And I stress-tested all of this on myself by running the same system under fire. In 45 days, I entered 8 targeted hiring processes, sat in 52 interviews, and finished with 4 strong offers I could negotiate. Back in market in under 60 days.

The method held. That method is now our company: Candl Consulting.

We help software engineers, tech leads, and engineering managers move from unnoticed to "I want this person in my team," with a high-paying offer in their dream companies under 90 days.

We've worked with 400+ clients and kept a 4.97 satisfaction rating because we track what matters: replies, interviews, panels, offers.

Our purpose is simple: give back control of their careers for undervalued and busy tech professionals, and help them land not just a simple job... but the job they feel fulfilled for life.

Moreover, we aim to help 1,000 tech professionals land roles they’re proud of in the next 24 months, and pass $10M+ in client offers.

If this sounds like you, you’re home. Bring your story. We’ll bring the system, the hiring lens, and the truth.

Together, we’ll turn interviews into the offer that makes sense—for you, and for what comes next.

– Raphael Neves, Founder.