Today we’d like to introduce you to Chanel Sims.
Hi Chanel, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I guess I’ll start at the very beginning. At the age of 12, my mother enrolled me into a job and experience training program called Adventure Central in my hometown of Dayton, OH. I can honestly say that this program not only helped set me up for success but also carved out my career path, considering that I had to create a resume, interview, and present different 4-H related projects at competitions. I became such an expert at this process that I started sitting in on other participate interviews to offer feedback. All of this before I was 14 years old.
Later in life, I went on to attend the University of Toledo as a Physical Therapy major, but after a few major changes, I graduated with a B.S. in Health Care Administration with a minor in Business and discovered a passion for Human Resources. I completed an HR internship and landed a job in HR fresh out of college and I haven’t looked back since. Although I loved HR and it still holds a dear place in my heart, I found myself extremely frustrated when I had to interview candidates. Many were not adequately prepared for the interview process, from the way that they dressed to how their resume looked and how they answered interview questions. It got to the point to where I found myself constantly at odds when trying to fill different positions. After months and months of this, one day a light bulb went off. Instead of complaining about the lack of properly qualified candidates I had to interview, I realized something needed to be done about it. These candidates showed up for interviews in this manner because they did not know any better. How can I be mad at them when they were showing up and doing their best with what they knew. With this epiphany, I went home and created a business plan.
Soon as my business plan was complete and I was ready for the next step of implementation, BOOM, we were trapped inside a pandemic. This caused me to abandon my idea and focus on keeping my job and creating a space where I could be efficient at working from home. While I still had my job, I saw how everyone around me was losing theirs. This broke my heart. I remember sitting on the couch reading stories and talking to some of my friends that had lost their jobs, a flood of emotions overwhelmed me, and I began to cry. This motivated me to rethink about that business plan that I buried away, and I immediately pulled it back out and put it into action, sparking C. Sims Consulting. C. Sims Consulting became a business specializing in providing career resources and services at an affordable rate. After my launch, I started writing resumes and cover letters, prepped clients for interviews, and coached them through difficult career transitions for 50% off, and sometimes, for free if they had just lost their job. It was my time to give back with my gifts through this trying time. I am beyond passionate about professional development, which I think helps make my C. Sims Consulting unique. C. Sims Consulting is not just a business for me, but it gave me the opportunity to give back while doing something that I love.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I think that with everything comes challenges and the big challenge for me was my big heart. I struggled because I wanted to help make a difference for so many people, yet I am just one person. After brainstorming and reaching out to other coaches, I’ve identified new ways of working. While I still offer one on one services, I’ve also created digital products such as eBooks on interview preparation and resume writing, job search organizers, and follow-up email templates. I also ran into issues with some contract work for my eBooks. Either they didn’t meet the deadline or just didn’t execute what I was looking for. It was disheartening because I worked so hard on the content for these books. I then decided I was going to take the time out to learn and do it myself and while this slowed me down a bit, I’m thankful. It taught me to be multifaceted in all areas of the business and that with all setbacks come experience gained.
We’ve been impressed with C. Sims Consulting, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
C. Sims Consulting is a career consulting business that specializes in tools, resources, and services to help individuals on their job search journey long term. C. Sims Consulting sets itself apart from other career consulting businesses because it takes pride in not just doing it for you but in teaching you how to do it to maximize your career potential while providing lifelong knowledge. I’m most proud about my brand’s adaptability and transparency. I understand that the job market is ever-changing and as it changes, I educate myself to provide accurate and current resources and services to customers while also ensuring that customers never feel alone. I’ve been in their shoes and I take pride in motivating them by being a true support system through their career journey. I’d like for readers to know that our work comes equipped with passion behind it. While it is a business, it is not just about dollars. It’s about giving back, it’s about providing useful knowledge, it’s about motivation, and it’s about staying current. We offer resume writing, cover letter writing, interview preparation, career coaching, digital products, and soon mini-courses to enroll in.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
LinkedIn is my bestfriend. I am able to network with like-minded individuals to build creativity while also learning about new trends in the job market and recruiting. I also search for new career books and exercises quarterly on Amazon. My favorite is What Color Is Your Parachute by Richard Nelson.
Pricing:
- So, We’re Talking Resumes eBook: $15
- So, We’re Talking Interview Prep eBook: $15
- Job Search Organizer and Follow Up Email Template: $5
- Resume Writing: $100 w/ Cover Letter: $125
- Career Coaching and Interview Prep: $60
Contact Info:
- Email: csimsconsulting@gmail.com
- Website: www.csims-consulting.com
- Instagram: @C.SimsConsulting
- Facebook: c.simsconsulting
Image Credits
Eric D. Wynn
