Today we’d like to introduce you to Akea Collins.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Akea. So, let’s start at the beginning, and we can move on from there.
When I retired from the Army in December 2017, I had no clue how to interview or correctly present a resume. I completely bombed 20 interviews and possibly missed 50 job opportunities due to a lack of knowledge. Once I finally landed a position as Director of Human Resources for one of the top Lodging brands in the world, I begin to understand the process. The resume that you present to the hiring manager goes as saying, “my perception of you is YOUR reality!” So before contacting a candidate for an interview, I need your skills, qualifications, experience, and personality need to jump off this page!
I remember interviewing a candidate and seeing how nervous she was. Before passing her to the General Manager for the final saying, I caught myself coaching her to excel past the last interview. In the community where I grew up, this wasn’t a life skill presented to us. Some individuals never were corrected to speak with proper etiquette or showed how to submit a resume properly. And I remember praying to God and asking him how to contribute this asset to my community. I decided to run with the idea of resume reconstruction, career coaching, and interview etiquette. I never knew how important it was to have the proper attire because I had worn a military uniform for 12 years. I wanted the people in my community and anybody surrounding me to enhance this skillset so they can rock their interviews. And the rest is history.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The biggest struggle, honestly, was my business name and brand. In the beginning, I had called my business Interview Me Now LLC. One day my cousin James and I were cracking jokes while I was pondering should I rebrand. And the thought behind it was to make my name a brand and catchy. We played with words for about an hour, and then we started blurting out things that our peers would adhere too. And then boom, The Resume Chop Shop was formed. And when I relaunched in April 2020, my business completely took off, and the name became a brand. I never thought in a million years that people would wear shirts with my slogans and carry tumbler cups and promote me. It has been a blessed road because it all truly fell into place for me once I took a step and enhanced it. The support has been terrific! My clients assisted with the transition and the advertising.
Please tell us about The Resume Chop Shop.
I specialized in Resume Reconstruction, Interview Etiquette, Salary Negotiation, and Career Progression enhancement. I am known as the lady who chops your resume apart and reconstructs it into a document that solidifies your career through the facilitation of enhancement. The proudest moment in the process is when my clients call me and tell me they signed offer letters above what they envisioned for the job. Once, a gentleman signed over $40k from his previous career, which granted him his first 6-figure position! How cool is that! When they call and tell me, they can give their families a life of luxury that they always dreamed about.
In all honesty, I scream with excitement as if I signed the offer. When they get what they deserve, I know that’s a job well done on my part, and I go to bed knowing that I just elevated somebody in my network only by formulating a plan of attack through a resume and cover letter. What sets me apart is my character and work ethic. I have worked for three fortune 500 companies and did 12 years in the military. I understand making .25 cents an hour as a 24 hour/ 7 days a week Soldier. I know being furloughed during the pandemic, and needing to feed my two children was a stressor for many individuals. I work on every resume, like it’s the only thing that provides for my children. If I don’t keep up the excellent work ethic, how will I keep my client referrals booming? I have to put everything on those two to three pages as if I am going for the job. I want my work to speak high volumes, so even the hiring manager and recruiters compliment it. I have had all my candidates tell me that the hiring panel was pleased with the layout and facilitation of their resume, and it was an excellent document to read.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
The pandemic was good luck. It gave me the push I needed to dig deeper into my business and my life. I made an accountability board for what I would allow and not allow in my life and business. I needed to understand what this pandemic meant, and I also need to know how to take advantage of the opportunity as well. I know a lot of people struggled in the beginning, but when I woke on April 1st and realized this pandemic wasn’t slowing down, I begin to research and write a new business plan so I can be better in my arena. I begin to research other companies and network with others in my field, and it’s been nothing short of amazing. If I was still working 8 am-5 pm daily, It may have taken longer to get to this point. I genuinely hate that this pandemic has hurt so many people, but it gave me the time to be home and enhance my business so I could take care of my family and keep them as safe as possible.
Contact Info:
- Phone: 901-492-1889
- Email: akea.imn@gmail.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/theresumechopshop
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/theresumechopshop
Image Credit:
Ashredlens Photography LLC, Greenville, MS
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