Meet Sheena Davis from Prince George’s County, Maryland who is a Certified Professional Resume Writer.

About Your Hustle

Business / Project Name

The Up Journal: 12 month Career Restart

How did you get started, and how did you get to where you are today?

People used to ask me to help them with their resumes, and I didn’t really think much of it. I think a lot of creative people tend to take our gifts for granted, but then we start to “get it.” I ended up becoming certified around 2012 and have been helping people with improving their resumes job search results – on a freelance basis since then. Currently, I review resumes for Indeed and have assisted professionals at every level with crafting better stories and finding resources to push them forward.

Challenges and Obstacles

Has it been a smooth road? If not, what were some of your struggles along the way?

This may be an unpopular opinion, but there is nothing easy about going into business for yourself. For many of us, just the initial belief in yourself that’s needed can be a struggle. Can I really do this? How will I make enough money? And, even at times, can I really start over? To be honest, there have been some really sucky moments – people trying to take advantage of you, cheat you out of money, bad agreements. It’s not easy for some of us, depending on where you started. However, there is something to be said for being able to look at a product or service that you came up with and hold it in your hands and feel a sense of accomplishment.

Sometimes, the only thing you have to hold onto is just the satisfaction of FINISHING something. Those are small moments, but still worth celebrating. We all have to start somewhere. One of the biggest struggles for myself – and it’s funny, I just discussed this in a meeting for a consulting agreement, is pricing. I think that people who choose fields like this, really want to “help” everyone, but sometimes, we do that to our own detriment. Fair market price points are wise and honorable, but undercharging or doing too many “freebies” really sets you back and burns you out. It’s tough. And I think for many people, women especially that the idea of worthiness rears its ugly head there.

There have been a number of opportunities that I missed out on simply because I didn’t believe in myself. I saw other people doing something that I thought was interesting and instead of saying “let’s go,” I froze. I think that this way of thinking affects a lot of people in their choices in life – both professional and personal. It’s a battle to dare to succeed.

To be honest, the biggest struggle is the inner work. Every day, like anyone else who wants to achieve something, I have to fight for my confidence, positivity and sheer belief in my own ideas. I spoke to a music industry legend a few years ago and he told me that only 10% of people are producers and even less than that make the choice to actually create or push out what they’ve been given. It’s a real battle to believe your ideas are good enough and then to fight for them. I’m still fighting though.

About Your Product / Service

What do you do? What are you most proud of and what sets you apart?

My experience as a Professional Resume Writer led me to create The Up Journal. It’s a 12-month workbook designed for anyone in the midst of a career transition. I found that many people need more than just an updated resume or a shiny LinkedIn profile to achieve the level of success they desire. Many need a better plan with new information and new habits. And with the changes we are seeing in the workplace, this is the perfect time for many of us to begin a new path. This book is the complement to your vision board. Each month, you have a place to plan and track industry books, events, podcasts, case studies, and articles you are using in your growth plan.

For some of us, the gap between where we are and our desire goal is just knowledge and exposure. I wanted to create a practical tool to help people put it all together. As a Resume Writer, I help people, from entry-level to executive to clarify their goals, craft new or stronger career stories, and present well on paper.

One of the strengths that sets me apart is my listening skills. It really doesn’t help if you approach every customer with a “canned” or templatized approach. Everyone is different and has different needs. I try to find out where people really want to go next in their career, and then we drill down each experience to make sure that all of the value is captured. People often overlook work that they’ve done whether or paid or volunteer and training they’ve taken, because they think it’s insignificant or “just part of the job,” but this is a mistake. Recruiters and HR professionals don’t know what you’ve actually contributed to the position until you tell them. And in so many cases, you’re most likely adding more value than your job title suggests. I try to help people tell a clear and complete story of who they are.

Pricing Information

The Up Journal is available through Barnes and Noble for $24.95.

Business Contact

I’m launching an online community for ambitious professionals, along with a companion course and app. You can find us on IG @Futuristic Worker. Please feel free to reach out to me directly at help@powerpackedresumes.com. I am excited to connect with new people!

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