Why strong EdTech candidates get overlooked, and what hiring managers screen for

Strong candidates get passed over all the time. It's rarely because they lack experience. It's because the application doesn't answer the question the hiring manager is actually asking.

I spend my working life talking to founders, hiring managers and candidates across EdTech, so I see what gets attention and what gets ignored. Here is what tends to matter.

What hiring managers are really screening for

1. Relevance to this role, in this market. Do you understand the context they sell into, whether that's K12, higher education, FE or international schools?
2. Measurable impact. They want outcomes such as revenue, retention, adoption or growth, not a list of responsibilities.
3. An understanding of the buyer and the user. In EdTech these are often different people. Showing you grasp both is a real advantage.
4. A clear story. The profile should explain who you are and why this move makes sense without the reader having to work it out.

Where strong candidates lose out

• Their language doesn't translate. Terms from their last role or sector mean little to the person reading in a different one.
• Impact is buried. The results are in there somewhere, but under paragraphs of duties.
• Everything is generic. The same CV goes to every role, so none of them feels like a match.
• The move isn't explained. Why EdTech, why this role, why now? If the CV doesn't say, the reader fills in their own answer, and it's rarely generous.

None of these are experience problems. They are positioning problems, which means they can be fixed.

A 30-second test for your own CV

Imagine a hiring manager gives your CV 30 seconds. Could they tell, without effort:

• What you do
• Who you do it for
• The result you achieve
• Why you're right for this role

If any of those is unclear, that's where to start.

Want the view from the other side?

It's hard to run this test on your own work, because you already know what you meant. In the one-hour Career Strategy Session I look at your CV and LinkedIn the way a hiring manager would, and tell you honestly what lands, what doesn't, and what to change.

60 minutes, £145. See the Career Strategy Session

The Career Strategy Session is a paid advisory service, separate from RecruitHer's recruitment work. Booking it doesn't affect whether I put you forward for roles.

About me: why work with me on your CV

I read CVs from the hiring side, and that is the main reason to work with me on yours.

I've spent over a decade across education and EdTech as a founder, recruiter and commercial leader. I built and scaled an education business over seven years before exiting, and since then I've worked with EdTech companies globally, hiring and supporting teams across sales, customer success, product, partnerships and go-to-market roles. I'm also a former educator, so I understand the experience many of my clients are translating.

What that means for your CV

• I know what EdTech hiring managers screen for, because I'm in those conversations all the time.
• I can see what gets attention and what gets ignored, and why strong candidates are so often overlooked.
• I help you translate your experience into language the EdTech market values, whether you're moving from education or moving up within EdTech.
• I focus on positioning, not just wording, so your CV makes the match obvious in the first few seconds.
• I give you honest feedback. You'll hear what's working, what isn't and what to change.

My approach

My advice is practical and market-informed, grounded in real hiring conversations, real roles and real outcomes rather than theory. You leave with a focused strategy based on what actually works.

What clients say

• “After a session with Emilia I understood what was wrong with my job search and how to change it.”
• “Emilia broke it all down into steps and showed me what hiring managers actually care about.”

Client feedback from the Career Strategy Session page.

FAQs

These answers cover what people ask most before booking the Career Strategy Session.

Who is the session for?

Experienced professionals in education and EdTech who are applying without getting interviews, getting interviews without offers, or who want to understand what is holding their search back.

Who is it not for?

It isn't the right fit if you only want a quick CV rewrite or template, you're early in your career or still exploring options, you want comfort rather than honest feedback, or you're not ready to take action.

What happens in the session?

It's a one-to-one session over Google Meet. We talk through the roles you're applying for and how your profile fits the market, work through realistic career scenarios, and I answer your questions live. You leave with a clear plan for your next steps.

How long is it and how much does it cost?

60 minutes, £145.

Will you rewrite my CV in the session?

No. The session gives you honest feedback on your CV and LinkedIn profile and a clear plan for what to change. If you'd like the CV rewritten for you, the Career Positioning Package (2 to 3 weeks, £375) includes a professionally rewritten CV, a LinkedIn profile review and a 60-minute Career Strategy Session.

Can you guarantee I'll get interviews or a job?

No, and I'd be cautious of anyone who does. I can show you what is holding your applications back and what to do about it, but the outcome depends on the market and on how you act on the plan.

Is this part of your recruitment service? Does it affect whether you put me forward for roles?

No. The session is a separate paid advisory service. Booking it doesn't affect whether I put you forward for roles, and you're never required to buy it to work with me.

Why pay for a session when I can use AI?

AI is useful for drafting and tightening your wording. It can't see the hiring side of EdTech, such as what hiring managers screen for and how your profile compares, and that is the view the session adds.

What if one session isn't enough?

The Career Advisory Programme gives you five one-to-one sessions over 4 to 6 weeks (£675). It covers career strategy, CV and LinkedIn positioning, job search and networking, and interview preparation.

How do I book?

Use the Enquire button on the Career Strategy Session page and I'll come back to you.