Customer Success Career Coach, Career Tips and Proven Job Interview Strategies For Every Customer Success Manager (CSM)

Carly Agar | Customer Success Career Coach

Customer Success Career Coach is the must-listen podcast for current and aspiring Customer Success pros. Join us as we spill the secret strategies and tips for building your Customer Success career. This isn't your typical snooze-fest – we're diving deep into the world of Customer Success careers. Whether you're starting from scratch (hey career transitioners!) or eyeing that next big promotion, we've got the playbook for you. I'm Carly Agar, your trusty 10+ year CS veteran and award-winning CS career coach, and I'm here to turn your career dreams into reality. Every Wednesday, join me and some amazing guests as we dish out practical advice and real-life steps you can actually use. No fluff, just stuff you can apply ASAP to score that dream job, snag that promotion, or become the team rockstar. What's on the Menu? 🔥 Pro Tips: Learn the tricks of the trade from seasoned pros. 🚀 Career Growth Hacks: Elevate your game, one episode at a time. 🔄 Unexpected Paths: Hear stories that'll make you rethink your career's GPS. Follow Carly on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/carly-agar/. For free job search tools, go to www.carlyagar.com/freebies. To work with Carly, go to https://www.carlyagar.com/apply Popular Episode Topics Include: Customer Success Career Tips for a CSM, Proven Job Interview Strategies and Professional Growth as a Customer Success Manager, SaaS Customer Success Career Tips for a CSM, Preparing for Your Next Customer Success Interview, Mastering Common CSM Interview Questions, Building a Standout Customer Success Resume, Landing Customer Success Jobs, Customer Success Skills Every CSM Needs to Grow

  1. 7h ago

    141. 3 CSM Interview Presentation Mistakes That Get You Cut in the Final Round

    What if the thing costing you the job in your final round interview presentation is something you don’t even realize you’re doing? I reviewed around 60 coaching calls with Customer Success job seekers preparing for final round presentations and the same three mistakes kept showing up. In this episode, I’m breaking down exactly what they are, how to show the hiring team how you actually think and make decisions, and the subtle difference between presenting to a panel and showing them what you’d be like in front of a real customer. Plus, I’m also sharing two bonus tips that can instantly make your presentation stronger and help you catch the small details that are incredibly easy to miss. If you want to walk into your next final round presentation knowing exactly how to stand out and prove you can do the job, hit play and let’s dive in. And if you have a final round interview coming up and want a coach in your corner to review your deck, perfect your talk track, and help you stand out, apply for coaching HERE. 0:45 – The 3 Final Round Presentation Mistakes CSMs Keep Making 1:45 – Why Giving Options Without Taking a Clear Stance Can Hurt Your Presentation 7:58 – Why Your Talk Track Matters More Than the Perfect Slide Deck 11:55 – The Difference Between Presenting and Running a Customer Meeting 17:35 – How to Sound More Confident by Talking Like You Already Have the Job 19:35 – Why You Should Treat the Interview Prompt Like a Grading Rubric OTHER EPISODES YOU’LL LOVE: 🎙️Episode 127: AI Won't Replace You as a CSM (But It Does Raise the Bar) with Dan Ennis FREEBIES & RESOURCES: 🛎️ Actively looking for a job in Customer Success or plan to in the near future? Apply for 1:1 Coaching with me HERE 🛎️ Optimize your resume for Customer Success jobs to land consistent interviews with my FREE Training: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/resume 🛎️ Learn how to sell yourself as the best candidate & walk into your next Customer Success job interview with confidence with my FREE Training: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/sellyourself 🛎️ Learn how to Master Behavioral Interviews with my FREE Training: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/behavioral CONNECT WITH ME: ❤️ Let's be LinkedIn friends: www.linkedin.com/in/carly-agar/ 💭 Got any questions? Send me an email at support@carlyagar.com HEAD TO THE SHOW NOTES: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/episode141 FOLLOW & REVIEW: Are you loving the podcast? I'd appreciate it if you could take a few seconds to do these two things: 👉🏻 Hit the FOLLOW button so you don't miss out on any new episodes when they drop 👉🏻 And either leave a review on Apple Podcasts or let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment over on Spotify! This helps me reach more customer success pros who need these insights. Thanks for tuning in to the Customer Success Career Coach podcast! I'll catch you next week. New episodes drop every Wednesday!

    141. 3 CSM Interview Presentation Mistakes That Get You Cut in the Final Round
  2. Sep 30

    140. First 90 Days as a CSM: 5 Things That Make Your Manager Think "Good Hire"

    Landing the job is one thing. Proving they made the right decision hiring you is another. In this episode, I’m breaking down five things every CSM should do in their first 90 days to make a really good impression and set themselves up for success in the long run. I’m sharing how to figure out what you’re actually measured on, get up to speed faster, build relationships before you need them, use being new to your advantage, and start tracking the work that could help you land future promotions and raises. If you want to crush your first 90 days without constantly wondering whether you’re doing enough, hit play and get these five things done. 0:44 – Why Landing the Job Is Only the Beginning 2:04 – How to Know What You’re Actually Measured On 3:04 – The One Question to Ask in Your First Week 5:02 – How to Learn the Product Faster Than Anyone Else 12:36 – How to Use Being New to Your Advantage 14:43 – Why Asking Questions Actually Builds Customer Trust 17:43 – The Career Habit You Should Start on Day One 19:10 – How Tracking Your Wins Can Help You Get Promoted FREEBIES & RESOURCES: 🛎️ Actively looking for a job in Customer Success or plan to in the near future? Apply for 1:1 Coaching with me HERE 🛎️ Optimize your resume for Customer Success jobs to land consistent interviews with my FREE Training: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/resume 🛎️ Learn how to sell yourself as the best candidate & walk into your next Customer Success job interview with confidence with my FREE Training: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/sellyourself 🛎️ Learn how to Master Behavioral Interviews with my FREE Training: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/behavioral CONNECT WITH ME: ❤️ Let's be LinkedIn friends: www.linkedin.com/in/carly-agar/ 💭 Got any questions? Send me an email at support@carlyagar.com HEAD TO THE SHOW NOTES: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/episode140 FOLLOW & REVIEW: Are you loving the podcast? I'd appreciate it if you could take a few seconds to do these two things: 👉🏻 Hit the FOLLOW button so you don't miss out on any new episodes when they drop 👉🏻 And either leave a review on Apple Podcasts or let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment over on Spotify! This helps me reach more customer success pros who need these insights. Thanks for tuning in to the Customer Success Career Coach podcast! I'll catch you next week. New episodes drop every Wednesday!

    140. First 90 Days as a CSM: 5 Things That Make Your Manager Think "Good Hire"
  3. Sep 23

    139. 5 Mistakes CSMs Make in the First 5 Minutes of an Interview

    That 15 minute recruiter screen you thought was just a casual conversation could be the exact reason you’re not making it to the next round. In this episode, I’m breaking down the five most common mistakes I see CSMs make in those first few minutes and how to avoid them. I’ll show you how to build rapport, structure your background without rambling, make it extremely easy for the recruiter to say yes to you, and prepare without sounding overly rehearsed. The good news is these aren’t things that require another year of experience or a new skill. They’re little things you can fix literally today. If you want to give yourself the best shot at moving forward to the next round, hit play and let’s get into it. Want to make it easy for recruiters to say yes to you? Grab my free Sell Yourself masterclass HERE to learn how to position your experience around exactly what they’re looking for. 0:01 – What Happens When You Underestimate the Recruiter Screen 4:19 – The Biggest Mistake Candidates Make Before the Interview Even Starts 7:55 – The Step-by-Step Structure That Gets You Past Recruiters 12:17 – Why Most Candidates Make It Hard for Recruiters to Say Yes 16:01 – The Silent Killer: Talking At Recruiters Instead of With Them 18:12 – Why Sounding Too Memorized Destroys Your Chances FREEBIES & RESOURCES: 🛎️ Actively looking for a job in Customer Success or plan to in the near future? Apply for 1:1 Coaching with me HERE 🛎️ Optimize your resume for Customer Success jobs to land consistent interviews with my FREE Training: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/resume 🛎️ Learn how to sell yourself as the best candidate & walk into your next Customer Success job interview with confidence with my FREE Training: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/sellyourself 🛎️ Learn how to Master Behavioral Interviews with my FREE Training: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/behavioral CONNECT WITH ME: ❤️ Let's be LinkedIn friends: www.linkedin.com/in/carly-agar/ 💭 Got any questions? Send me an email at support@carlyagar.com HEAD TO THE SHOW NOTES: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/episode139 FOLLOW & REVIEW: Are you loving the podcast? I'd appreciate it if you could take a few seconds to do these two things: 👉🏻 Hit the FOLLOW button so you don't miss out on any new episodes when they drop 👉🏻 And either leave a review on Apple Podcasts or let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment over on Spotify! This helps me reach more customer success pros who need these insights. Thanks for tuning in to the Customer Success Career Coach podcast! I'll catch you next week. New episodes drop every Wednesday!

    139. 5 Mistakes CSMs Make in the First 5 Minutes of an Interview
  4. Sep 16

    138. LinkedIn Profile Tips for CSMs: 3 Tweaks That Get You Interviews

    You could be the perfect CSM for a role and still never hear from the recruiter simply because your LinkedIn profile isn’t optimized the right way. In this episode, I’m breaking down the three things that need to happen before a recruiter reaches out to you on LinkedIn. I’ll show you how to actually show up in recruiter searches, what makes someone want to click on your profile, and the simple tweaks that can help sell them on what they see once they get there. If you want recruiters coming to your inbox with roles you’re actually excited about, hit play and make these updates today. And if you’re ready to stop guessing your way through your job search, apply for 1:1 coaching HERE and let’s get you landing roles you’re actually excited about. 0:01 – Why Most LinkedIn Profiles Never Get Recruiter Attention 2:45 – How Recruiters Really Search for Candidates on LinkedIn 5:10 – The Single Biggest Mistake in Your LinkedIn Skills Section 13:43 – The Headline Formula That Gets You Noticed Instantly 18:34 – Why Copying Your Resume Kills Your LinkedIn Profile 21:19 – How to Use Recommendations to Instantly Boost Credibility 23:31 – Does the “Open to Work” Banner Really Hurt Your Chances? FREEBIES & RESOURCES: 🛎️ Actively looking for a job in Customer Success or plan to in the near future? Apply for 1:1 Coaching with me HERE 🛎️ Optimize your resume for Customer Success jobs to land consistent interviews with my FREE Training: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/resume 🛎️ Learn how to sell yourself as the best candidate & walk into your next Customer Success job interview with confidence with my FREE Training: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/sellyourself 🛎️ Learn how to Master Behavioral Interviews with my FREE Training: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/behavioral CONNECT WITH ME: ❤️ Let's be LinkedIn friends: www.linkedin.com/in/carly-agar/ 💭 Got any questions? Send me an email at support@carlyagar.com HEAD TO THE SHOW NOTES: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/episode138 FOLLOW & REVIEW: Are you loving the podcast? I'd appreciate it if you could take a few seconds to do these two things: 👉🏻 Hit the FOLLOW button so you don't miss out on any new episodes when they drop 👉🏻 And either leave a review on Apple Podcasts or let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment over on Spotify! This helps me reach more customer success pros who need these insights. Thanks for tuning in to the Customer Success Career Coach podcast! I'll catch you next week. New episodes drop every Wednesday!

    138. LinkedIn Profile Tips for CSMs: 3 Tweaks That Get You Interviews
  5. Sep 9

    137. How to Prove ROI to Your Customers (4 EASY Steps)

    If you can’t put a number on the value you’re creating for your customers, you’re going to struggle to prove why they should keep paying for it. That’s why in this episode, I’m breaking down a simple framework every CSM can use to calculate and present ROI, even if your product feels impossible to measure. I’ll walk you through how to identify where your product is creating financial value, turn that value into actual numbers, and confidently present your math without worrying that someone is going to poke holes in it. You’ll walk away knowing how to make stronger renewal and expansion conversations while building a skill that can help you stand out as a Customer Success Manager. If you want to prove your impact with numbers that actually mean something, hit play and let’s dive in. 1:09 – How to Tie Product Usage to Real ROI Numbers 4:05 – The Three ROI Categories: Time, Money, Protection 6:09 – The Simple Math Behind Powerful ROI Stories 8:47 – How to Kill Skepticism by Calling Out Your Own Numbers 11:05 – A Step-by-Step ROI Example for Sales Tools 13:32 – Making ROI Tangible for “Hard to Measure” Products 17:08 – The Career Benefits of Presenting ROI Like a Pro 21:01 – Why Showing ROI Makes You Stand Out in Interviews 23:10 – ROI Homework for Every Level of Customer Success Pro OTHER EPISODES YOU’LL LOVE: 🎙️Episode 136: 5 Ways the CSM Role is Changing in 2026 (Beyond the Obvious Stuff) FREEBIES & RESOURCES: 🛎️ Actively looking for a job in Customer Success or plan to in the near future? Apply for 1:1 Coaching with me HERE 🛎️ Optimize your resume for Customer Success jobs to land consistent interviews with my FREE Training: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/resume 🛎️ Learn how to sell yourself as the best candidate & walk into your next Customer Success job interview with confidence with my FREE Training: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/sellyourself 🛎️ Learn how to Master Behavioral Interviews with my FREE Training: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/behavioral CONNECT WITH ME: ❤️ Let's be LinkedIn friends: www.linkedin.com/in/carly-agar/ 💭 Got any questions? Send me an email at support@carlyagar.com HEAD TO THE SHOW NOTES: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/episode137 FOLLOW & REVIEW: Are you loving the podcast? I'd appreciate it if you could take a few seconds to do these two things: 👉🏻 Hit the FOLLOW button so you don't miss out on any new episodes when they drop 👉🏻 And either leave a review on Apple Podcasts or let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment over on Spotify! This helps me reach more customer success pros who need these insights. Thanks for tuning in to the Customer Success Career Coach podcast! I'll catch you next week. New episodes drop every Wednesday!

    137. How to Prove ROI to Your Customers (4 EASY Steps)
  6. Sep 2

    136. 5 Ways the CSM Role is Changing in 2026 (Beyond the Obvious Stuff)

    Everyone’s talking about how the CSM role is changing, but what are companies actually looking for in 2026? I analyzed 25 CSM job descriptions from 2025 and 2026, and there were some really interesting patterns that I don’t hear enough people talking about. I’m breaking down what’s changing around AI, commercial experience, scaled CS and customer value, plus two things I hear CSMs lead with all the time that might actually make you sound a little outdated. You’ll walk away knowing which skills are becoming more valuable and how to position your experience for where CS is headed next. If you want to stay competitive and make smarter moves in your customer success career, hit play and let’s dive in. And if you feel like you have the right experience but aren’t sure how to position it for what companies want today, apply for coaching HERE and let’s repackage your experience together. 0:01 – Why the CSM Job Description Has Changed So Dramatically 2:55 – How AI Went From Nice-to-Have to Non-Negotiable 5:09 – Why Commercial Independence Is the Make-or-Break Skill 8:31 – The Fastest Way to Prove Revenue Impact on Your Resume 10:31 – What Happens When Scaled Motions Move Upmarket 11:44 – Why Customer Value Now Means Real Financial ROI 14:04 – The Biggest Skills That Just Disappeared From Job Descriptions 16:22 – What You Should Really Lead With in CS Interviews 17:17 – Stop Panicking: Why You Already Have More Skills Than You Think OTHER EPISODES YOU’LL LOVE: 🎙️Episode 134: What to (And Not To) Say About AI in Your CS Interviews FREEBIES & RESOURCES: 🛎️ Actively looking for a job in Customer Success or plan to in the near future? Apply for 1:1 Coaching with me HERE 🛎️ Optimize your resume for Customer Success jobs to land consistent interviews with my FREE Training: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/resume 🛎️ Learn how to sell yourself as the best candidate & walk into your next Customer Success job interview with confidence with my FREE Training: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/sellyourself 🛎️ Learn how to Master Behavioral Interviews with my FREE Training: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/behavioral CONNECT WITH ME: ❤️ Let's be LinkedIn friends: www.linkedin.com/in/carly-agar/ 💭 Got any questions? Send me an email at support@carlyagar.com HEAD TO THE SHOW NOTES: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/episode136 FOLLOW & REVIEW: Are you loving the podcast? I'd appreciate it if you could take a few seconds to do these two things: 👉🏻 Hit the FOLLOW button so you don't miss out on any new episodes when they drop 👉🏻 And either leave a review on Apple Podcasts or let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment over on Spotify! This helps me reach more customer success pros who need these insights. Thanks for tuning in to the Customer Success Career Coach podcast! I'll catch you next week. New episodes drop every Wednesday!

    136. 5 Ways the CSM Role is Changing in 2026 (Beyond the Obvious Stuff)
  7. Aug 26

    135. You Nailed the CSM Interview and Still Got Rejected. Here's 4 Reasons Why

    You can nail every interview question and still lose the CSM job offer to someone else. In this episode, I’m breaking down four reasons that happens, and none of them have to do with your experience or whether your answers were technically good. I’ll show you what hiring managers are actually assessing, how to make your interview stories prove you can replicate your results, why being too humble can cost you the offer, and the overlooked part of the interview that could be quietly working against you. You’ll walk away knowing exactly what to change before your next interview. If you want to turn more great interviews into actual job offers, hit play and let’s dive in. And if you’re tired of great interviews not turning into job offers, apply for coaching HERE and let’s sharpen your interview strategy together. 0:01 – Why Great Answers Alone Won’t Land the Job Offer 2:47 – How Being Too Polished Can Backfire in Interviews 6:47 – The Fastest Way to Show How You Think, Not Just What You’ve Done 10:46 – Why Skipping Numbers in Stories Hurts Your Interview 12:57 – What Happens When You Don’t Ask Smart Questions Back 16:24 – The Four Simple Shifts Anyone Can Make to Get Hired OTHER EPISODES YOU’LL LOVE: 🎙️Episode 62: Power Questions: 10 Smart Questions to Ask in Your Next Interview 🎙️Episode 127: AI Won't Replace You as a CSM (But It Does Raise the Bar) with Dan Ennis FREEBIES & RESOURCES: 🛎️ Actively looking for a job in Customer Success or plan to in the near future? Apply for 1:1 Coaching with me HERE 🛎️ Optimize your resume for Customer Success jobs to land consistent interviews with my FREE Training: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/resume 🛎️ Learn how to sell yourself as the best candidate & walk into your next Customer Success job interview with confidence with my FREE Training: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/sellyourself 🛎️ Learn how to Master Behavioral Interviews with my FREE Training: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/behavioral CONNECT WITH ME: ❤️ Let's be LinkedIn friends: www.linkedin.com/in/carly-agar/ 💭 Got any questions? Send me an email at support@carlyagar.com HEAD TO THE SHOW NOTES: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/episode135 FOLLOW & REVIEW: Are you loving the podcast? I'd appreciate it if you could take a few seconds to do these two things: 👉🏻 Hit the FOLLOW button so you don't miss out on any new episodes when they drop 👉🏻 And either leave a review on Apple Podcasts or let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment over on Spotify! This helps me reach more customer success pros who need these insights. Thanks for tuning in to the Customer Success Career Coach podcast! I'll catch you next week. New episodes drop every Wednesday!

    135. You Nailed the CSM Interview and Still Got Rejected. Here's 4 Reasons Why
  8. Aug 19

    134. What to (And Not To) Say About AI in Your CS Interviews

    If you think telling a hiring manager you use AI to write emails faster is proving your AI fluency, you might be setting the bar way too low. In this episode, I’m breaking down what hiring managers actually want to hear about AI in your CS interviews, why efficiency alone is no longer enough, and four specific ways to show that you’re using AI to make a bigger impact with your customers. I’ll also share the AI terminology worth knowing so you can walk into interviews feeling prepared without becoming an AI expert. If you want to prove you’re keeping up with AI and stand out for the right reasons in your next CS interview, hit play and let’s dive in. And if all the changes happening in CS have you wondering what it actually takes to land your next role, apply for coaching HERE and let’s get you on the right track. 00:45 – What AI fluency actually means in CS hiring right now 02:19 – Why using AI for efficiency is no longer enough to stand out 05:04 – What hiring managers want to see from your AI usage 07:19 – How AI can help you have smarter customer conversations 09:06 – Using AI to uncover deeper insights about account health 12:08 – How AI can help you become a more strategic customer partner 17:26 – The terminology worth knowing before your next CS interview OTHER EPISODES YOU’LL LOVE: 🎙️Episode 132: A CS Hiring Manager Who Interviewed 3,000 CSMs Tells You What Gets You Hired (with Michael Boyd) 🎙️Episode 128: How To Impress a CS Hiring Manager (from a CS Hiring Manager) - with Eric Clouse! 🎙️Episode 127: AI Won't Replace You as a CSM (But It Does Raise the Bar) - with Dan Ennis! FREEBIES & RESOURCES: 🛎️ Actively looking for a job in Customer Success or plan to in the near future? Apply for 1:1 Coaching with me HERE 🛎️ Optimize your resume for Customer Success jobs to land consistent interviews with my FREE Training: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/resume 🛎️ Learn how to sell yourself as the best candidate & walk into your next Customer Success job interview with confidence with my FREE Training: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/sellyourself 🛎️ Learn how to Master Behavioral Interviews with my FREE Training: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/behavioral CONNECT WITH ME: ❤️ Let's be LinkedIn friends: www.linkedin.com/in/carly-agar/ 💭 Got any questions? Send me an email at support@carlyagar.com HEAD TO THE SHOW NOTES: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/episode134 FOLLOW & REVIEW: Are you loving the podcast? I'd appreciate it if you could take a few seconds to do these two things: 👉🏻 Hit the FOLLOW button so you don't miss out on any new episodes when they drop 👉🏻 And either leave a review on Apple Podcasts or let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment over on Spotify! This helps me reach more customer success pros who need these insights. Thanks for tuning in to the Customer Success Career Coach podcast! I'll catch you next week. New episodes drop every Wednesday!

    134. What to (And Not To) Say About AI in Your CS Interviews
4.9
out of 5
89 Ratings

About

Customer Success Career Coach is the must-listen podcast for current and aspiring Customer Success pros. Join us as we spill the secret strategies and tips for building your Customer Success career. This isn't your typical snooze-fest – we're diving deep into the world of Customer Success careers. Whether you're starting from scratch (hey career transitioners!) or eyeing that next big promotion, we've got the playbook for you. I'm Carly Agar, your trusty 10+ year CS veteran and award-winning CS career coach, and I'm here to turn your career dreams into reality. Every Wednesday, join me and some amazing guests as we dish out practical advice and real-life steps you can actually use. No fluff, just stuff you can apply ASAP to score that dream job, snag that promotion, or become the team rockstar. What's on the Menu? 🔥 Pro Tips: Learn the tricks of the trade from seasoned pros. 🚀 Career Growth Hacks: Elevate your game, one episode at a time. 🔄 Unexpected Paths: Hear stories that'll make you rethink your career's GPS. Follow Carly on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/carly-agar/. For free job search tools, go to www.carlyagar.com/freebies. To work with Carly, go to https://www.carlyagar.com/apply Popular Episode Topics Include: Customer Success Career Tips for a CSM, Proven Job Interview Strategies and Professional Growth as a Customer Success Manager, SaaS Customer Success Career Tips for a CSM, Preparing for Your Next Customer Success Interview, Mastering Common CSM Interview Questions, Building a Standout Customer Success Resume, Landing Customer Success Jobs, Customer Success Skills Every CSM Needs to Grow

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