Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Williams.
Hi Jessica, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
2018 I left an amazing position in San Francisco and went back to my hometown of Fairfield where I found a Career Coaching position-which is my bread and butter. I worked FULL-TIME and got my first check for $864 for 40+ hours (I will NEVER forget this number), I was shocked. My rent was $900 alone and I was short. This was every single month and the final straw broke when my car was repossessed while I worked FULL-TIME. None of my family or friends knew how extreme this situation was because I believed in my heart I would figure it out. I was more shocked that I was struggling and employed, so fight or flight kicked in. April of 2018, I had a coffee chat with a successful career coach/resume writer in my area and he gave me the game on writing resumes and where to start-on LinkedIn! That month I started a premium account for free because remember I was BROKE, broker than broke. I had 30 days to optimize this opportunity, to say I was terrified is an understatement. It became trial and error when responding to proposals and I let my personality respond. The first week three proposals were duds-I mean the people responded and told me they sucked! I made my responses more personalized to the potential need and in three days, I made $900! At that moment, I knew I found my side hustle.
Fast forward to January 2019, I was a part of an amazing company in Oakland as a Career Coach-remember that’s what ignites my fire. It just so happened that I was turning 30 that month and I decided to take a leap of faith and bet on myself that year. I quit my corporate role with positive wishes from my leadership team and I became a full-time resume writer and career coach. Best decision I made for my life. Rolling into my 3rd year of being the Founder/CEO of JMW Career Consulting, I have empowered 1,000+ professionals in finding their voice in a corporate space and advocating for what they deserve. I’m known as the Resume Finesser because I finesse resumes with ease, turning them upside down and inside out for my clients to retain 8X more interview invites. By focusing on the people (as my business coach reminds me), I have been fortunate to double the salary I made in the corporate realm initially, all I wanted to do was pay my bills. Now, I am pouring into my business that has allowed me to support mid-to-executive level professionals to SNATCH a seat at the table or to BREAK it. Some days I still can’t believe that I am creating the life I love to live by traveling more, creating memories with my family/friends, having creative freedom, and establishing long-term financial stability.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
There are so many obstacles in this journey of entrepreneurship! There are three struggles that I have hit during this experience and the biggest being imposter syndrome, followed by procrastination, and coming in last is being a control freak. Comparisons can completely ruin your brain, brand, and business. I found myself comparing my story to the next resume writer/career coach and I got stuck in “what the heck” am I doing wrong mode. This is a dangerous stage of entrepreneurship because you create a race that you don’t belong in. I hate to admit it but procrastination allows me to create some of my best work but I end up with a fried brain and out of commission for 3-4 days at a time. Procrastination is a form of self-sabotage that I continuously remind myself that I will not participate in. Now, being a control freak in your own business is a challenge because people want to support and I am really good for saying “it’s okay, I got it” knowing damn well I could use the help. I like things created a certain way, written with my personal touches, and everything that goes out represents me. I rather do it all on my own and thats the best way to reach burnout. The journey of entrepreneurship is a beautiful struggle and I am learning every step of the way.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
As a career consultant, I finesse resumes, cover letters, LinkedIn profiles and I empower mid-to-executive level professionals to go after roles they actually want. I came into this industry unapologetic and with a chip on my shoulder as a previous serial job hopper. It is imperative for my company to curate customized experiences with my clients that I refer to as job snatchers. This term developed because after we collaborate, you will SNATCH the next job or opportunity you shoot for. I turn cold corporate rooms warm with this infectious energy I carry and it creates long-lasting relationships as I continue to get referrals from seasoned and newer clients. It is important for me to transfer confidence into my job snatchers so they can negotiate like crazy, identify opportunities that don’t fit them, and being confident to walk away from the wrong manager. I am a full experience-I can’t lie!
What sets me apart from others in my industry is my experience as a serial job hopper. I know what it’s like to put hours into applying without a strategy, cold emailing for follow ups, and the feeling of disappointment and discouragement when you aren’t offered the position you wanted. I support my clients from this space each and every time because I know what they are experiencing and I help them to build better strategies to minimize these feelings. I am the most proud of the fact that complete strangers trust me with something that is so precious and private-their CAREER! Letting me into your world builds a line of trust that after we collaborate, we keep in touch. I’ve had the honor of supporting well over 1,000 professionals and will do everything in my power to reach as many as I can monthly. I use my voice to share my professional insight with various outlets and this past year, I was able to send a heartfelt message of encouragement to job snatchers that was seen on Times Square.
How do you think about happiness?
Progress and growth make me the happiest. The last thing I ever want to be is stagnant or stuck, I won’t be able to empower others if I am not happy. Happiness is contagious and knowing that I have the ability to change someone’s mood or disposition due to the fact that I am happy and in a good mood means the world to me. My circle also keeps me very happy. They are so supportive, encouraging, and transparent that they keep a smile on my face even through the trials and tribulations of this journey. Oh and Almond Joys… when life gets a little hard, I will grab an Almond Joy with a quickness and it changes my attitude quick.
Pricing:
- Job Searching Package: $1,250
- Hourly Career Coaching Sessions: $200
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.jmwcareerconsultant.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/jmwcareerconsultant
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/JessicaCareer
- Youtube: JMW Career Consulting
