Today we’d like to introduce you to Lesley Yvonne Hunter
Hi Lesley Yvonne, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
How did I start? It depends on in what domain. I tend to be a woman of many interests. However, I’ll start by saying that my two creative passions when I was young were writing and classical piano. I began learning classical piano at age 4 which led me to many competitions, including the world piano competition I competed in at age 18. Another unexpected type of competition that piano led me to was the world of pageantry. From my first pageant at 18 to just a few years ago, I have held a few titles—including Mrs. Florida 2021 (of the Ms World International Pageant). So, modeling and talent has been an integral part of my life for which I have great enthusiasm.
Another part of my life that I am also quite passionate about is related to the other creative interest I mentioned briefly: writing. From a young age, I wrote a lot of poetry and had several pieces published, including in a national children’s poetry book. Well, as many many years passed and when I was making an early-career transition, I thought to myself “I love writing and would like to return to it, but how can I make a living from it?” 13 job ads later, I stumbled across a resume writing opportunity. I had never thought about being a resume writer before, but applied and got the job working as a contract writer. I was employed with the company for about a year and it was good experience, but there was little to no client interaction. A big part of my desire to serve others is having that personalized one-on-one interaction with a client or individual. Due to the fact that personal touch was lacking in this firm, coupled with the fact that many people from my network were asking how they could work with me, I decided to branch out and was inspired to start my own business. And alas, Resume Makeover was born :).
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I honestly feel that no entrepreneur can say that there are no challenges in starting one’s own business (if any entrepreneur out there has had a completely easy and smooth road, please call me. I would love to your secret! 🙂 ). I am fortunate that the startup costs for my business were fairly minimal, so really my challenges—like any business owner—revolved around identifying my ideal clientele and setting the right pricing on my products and services that was both competitive in the market and also honored the effort and quality I delivered in my work.
Also, in the beginning of my entrepreneurial journey, it was necessary to build credibility in a new space. When I first started, I was fortunate to have a large network. However, leveraging that network is a whole different ballgame, especially being newer in the resume writing and copywriting space. I knew I was a strong writer and had a year of experience working as a contract writer for the previously-mentioned company prior to starting my own business. Yet, running your own business is much different than working for someone else while sitting back and being assigned new clients.
I had to put myself out there and market and pitch myself to attract clients my way. In the very beginning, I even did some projects gratis or super low cost to build my portfolio and breadth of experience. So, when clients asked if I had experience with a certain type of client or a specific type of copywriting / specialty, I could say yes (or at least have very closely related experience). Testing for and obtaining my CPRW (Certified Professional Resume Writing credential) also helped boost my credibility and knowledge in my field.
As you know, we’re big fans of Resume Makeover. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
As indicated by the name, Resume Makeover provides resume writing and consultation services for job seekers, along with additional copywriting services. Specific services include:
•Resume Revamps & Construction
•Cover Letters & Thank You Letters
•Bios
•LinkedIN Profile Revamps
•Website Copy
•Additional Copywriting, such as press releases and marketing copy
All of the services mentioned above include a personalized hour-long consultation to dive deep into my clients’ backgrounds and accomplishments, enabling me to most effectively construct or revamp their content to maximize their career-related objectives.
My business works with clients of all backgrounds, from recent college graduates to C-level executives—and I personally have reconstructed and given hundreds of resume makeovers to various clients cross-industry. Some of my clients have obtained positions in the fields of accounting/finance, management, sales, entertainment, law, healthcare, education, marketing, human resources, and more. I have also worked with many business owners and entrepreneurs looking to improve their branding and uplevel their content. Whatever your background, I am here for you and I am excited to help you achieve your marketing goals to attract new clients or get more interviews for your dream job or desired board position!
Other than the normal business day-to-day services offered, I have organized and led resume and career workshops for various professional groups, universities, and non-profit organizations. Some of these organizations include the Women’s Media Group (WMG), Fontbonne University, 826LA, Point Park University, and The Chicago Urban League.
Additionally, I host and produce a podcast, “Ask The Hiring Manager,” where I interview hiring managers and career-related experts from diverse industries and companies, providing helpful tips and advice to job seekers. Feel free to check out and follow the podcast on Spotify and YouTube and I’d love to hear what you think! 🙂
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
Given what I have learned through my entrepreneurial journey over the past 10 years, I would absolutely advise all new business owners and entrepreneurs to:
1) Do your market research
2) Get as much hands-on experience as you can (even if you have to do some projects free or low cost at the beginning to build experience)
3) Learn, learn, learn to become an expert in your field
and, if possible in your industry…
4) Get credentialed!
If you couple those areas with delivering exceptional customer service and being both tenacious while remaining adaptable to change in all that you do, I am certain your business will succeed in the years to come.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.resumemakeover.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lesleyonthetown1/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@resumemakeover6858
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/show/6NP3kzM2LIVj6DV6AZjRX2
