Applying for jobs is hard enough without wondering where your resume ended up, or if it’s actually getting through to hiring managers. Ever wish there was a Resumes 101 class to be sure you were putting your best foot forward?
Today’s guest, Wynter Love, is a certified resume writer, here to dish on everything you were never taught or told about how to construct your resume. In today’s episode, we cover the basics of Resumes 101, what the ATS system is, and what your resume should look like. Join us to learn how your resume could be helping or hindering your career goals!
As a thank you for listening to this episode of the Career 101 Podcast, we are sharing our FREE master class – Career 911: Solving the Top 5 Challenges Executives and Professionals Have! It’s a training based on solving the common problems our clients have experienced to reach their goals. You can get access to the master class here!
Wynter: [00:00:00] Hello. Today
Porschia: we are talking about resumes 101 with winter love. Winter love is the career services manager and a senior resume writer at fly high coaching. She is a current member of the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches and a previous member of the National Resume Writers Association.
In addition, Winter holds certificates in Human Resources Management, Motivational Interviewing, Mediation, and Teaching with Technology and Distance Learning. She has 15 years experience in employment, consulting, and transition coaching. In her previous roles, Winter has collaborated with United Way of America to create and facilitate employment workshops for [00:01:00] veterans and has spearheaded leadership initiatives to train over 100 student mentors on a college campus.
As a military spouse, Mrs. Love understands the importance of capitalizing on job search trends and is constantly on the forefront of cutting edge ATS technology. Winter attended, uh, the University of Georgia and attained a Bachelor of Family and Consumer Science, and she has a Master’s of Education with a concentration in adult education.
And training from Colorado State University. Hi, winter long and, uh, informative bio there. I love it. How are you
Wynter: today? I’m doing well. Thank you for having me. It’s so funny to hear everything laid out like that. I’m like, Oh, wow. Yeah. Yeah.
Porschia: You’ve done a lot in your career winter, and I’m excited to have you with us [00:02:00] today where we’re going to discuss resumes 101.
But before we get into that, I wanted to know just a little bit more about you.
Wynter: So I want you to tell me about seven year old Winter. Seven year old Winter, gosh. I guess I was like a typical seven year old, you know, just. outside playing with friends. I did always have a book in my hand. I think that’s where my, my love of storytelling and poetry came from.
But yeah, I’d say it was definitely an average seven year old running around causing problems in my own way.
Porschia: Okay. Poetry. Storytelling, all of that relates to, to what you do today. That’s interesting. So when you were running around with these books, winter, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Wynter: You know, at seven, I don’t think I had an idea.
I didn’t. Really know or figured out what I wanted to be or attempted to until it was time for [00:03:00] college. Uh, it’s crazy how time’s changed so quickly from there, but I wanted to be an astrophysicist. I started at the University of Georgia as a physics major and quickly changed after a semester or two. Um, yeah, that was interesting, but yes, I was deeply in love with the stars and I even did a full presentation in high school.
For on pulsars and I could go on for days. Don’t let me bore you.
Porschia: Yeah. No, no. Uh, one thing that, uh, we’ll share with the audience is that winter and I were in AP. We were in AP physics class together, uh, years ago. And I didn’t even know about this astrophysicist, uh, aspiration that you had at the university of Georgia.
So I’m learning
Wynter: new things. It went deep for a good semester. I was in. Deep that chemistry cast came around and yeah, [00:04:00] well, it
Porschia: sounds like you, you might’ve shifted a little bit to some other areas, but you don’t tell me about your first job winter. Uh, since you, you figured out the astrophysicist part, I guess around college, but what, what was your first job?
Wynter: My first job was actually at the movie theater at AMC, uh, the local, uh, mall opened up and it was the newest, it was the newest attraction in town at the time. Gosh, 15, 16, 20 years ago now. Uh, but yeah, so I was at the movie theater. I always was interested in interacting with people. So, uh, retail customer service always intrigued me.
I always wanted to jump in and be with the people. Before then, you know. You know, with you, with your family, you do jobs like that. So had opportunity to be a production assistant at one point in time, uh, with friends and family. And we had friends who worked in nonprofits. So I volunteered a lot. So it was always people centric from there.
Porschia: Wow. [00:05:00] Wow. Um, so what did you do at the movie theater then?
Wynter: Everything and nothing at the same time. Teenagers are, you know, have the best fun at their first jobs. So it was all about, you know, making sure everyone was good. It was definitely my first introduction to professionalism. In a way that I didn’t expect it, you could say, so, you know, it was a good introjectory job though.
I would say that every teenager should try and find a corporate job when they first start out, you know, their version of corporate as much as they can. Yeah.
Porschia: Yeah. So tell us about some highlights or pivotal moments
Wynter: in your career, Winter. You know, I, I think about my career and how much things have progressed so far and it’s interesting because I am a military spouse, like you mentioned in the bio so [00:06:00] I’m constantly moving I’m constantly transitioning so it’s not a easy pipeline for my career, the trajectory that I’ve chosen.
So some highlights. are the populations that I get to work with. I enjoy working with the veteran populations that I came across. Like you mentioned with the United Way, I worked with nonprofits, so I did a lot of case management and engaging with that population with the job searching, apartment hunting and things of that sort.
But then I really, really enjoyed working with foster youth at the college. So I, when I, we moved again, I had opportunity to work at a community college in California, and we got to work with the foster youth population there because it’s huge. It’s such a huge population in, in California and just helping with that transition into adulthood, transition into their careers, their resume writing, introducing them to a resume.
You know, a lot of. A lot of, uh, emerging professionals have never crafted a resume. [00:07:00] Honestly, you may have never seen an executive resume, so they don’t know what to attain to. So yes, that was a lot of fun helping that transition from there.
Porschia: Yeah. Yeah. And so it also sounds like Winter, you’ve worked with a lot of different types of professionals and students.
Um, you know, from different walks of life and, and seeing a lot of people, uh, in different career fields and at different kind of levels in their
Wynter: career. Yeah, absolutely. I always get excited when I come across someone who I haven’t seen in an industry that I haven’t seen before. So, uh, I, I look for those type of people.
I really want to experience something new. In that regard, I want to problem solve in a different way. So I’m always looking always eager to meet professionals, maybe an industry that I haven’t had a chance to explore, or even to learn more about industry program manager in education is not the same as a program manager and supply chain.
So, you know, those dualities and that [00:08:00] difference is interesting to me personally, and I think that projects into my writing as an as well as interview coaching. Yeah, I would
Porschia: definitely agree. I would definitely agree. So, Winter, when you think about your career, what would you say has been your biggest career challenge
Wynter: so far?
The challenge is, with moving, the challenge is knowing where to start over again. You know, with, uh, The depth of my experience, I immediately jump into management roles, but that may not necessarily be always the case, depending on the location, depending on the climate, the culture climate, you know, uh, it just depends.
So that’s been a challenge for me knowing when to jump in, when to jump out, honestly, cause that’s a part of strategizing as you grow your career, as you learn. I found that contracting and entrepreneurship is a completely different beast and, um, taking on. [00:09:00] That mindset is, uh, is interesting in itself. And even when we do have clients who are entrepreneurs and they want a resume to either, you know, sell themselves for new opportunity, uh, venture opportunities, or they are jumping back into the workforce.
It’s just interesting to see the shift that entrepreneurs have to take. And then, you know, how I can relate it back to my own personal, uh, journey. So the challenge has been in the moving, the fluidity of my circumstances. Uh, outside of that, you know, you take it as it comes and you move with it, you know, and it being opportunities, it being the ebbs and flows of business.
Yeah. Yeah. I,
Porschia: I’m sure that gives you a great perspective winter, you know, as you’re looking at clients and looking at their resumes and, and hearing them talk about their career or position themselves in an interview.
Wynter: Yeah. And even if you consider the region that they’re in, you know, the same [00:10:00] advice that I give to someone who is in the New York area may not be the same type of advice that I give to someone who’s in San Diego, you know, you have to take into consideration.
What the local area needs outside of, you know, a lot of people jump to salary. I want to be, you know, I want to be at this point in this location. Give it to me. Well, in certain locations, the climate is different. Maybe the interview may be different. You know, the company may want to do group interviews in this climate in this area where it’s one on one in different ones.
So, you know, you kind of prepare Um, clients for where they are and meet them where they are so that you understand where to go from there. Because what’s the point? What’s the point if you don’t, if you don’t know what you’re doing, you don’t have a plan, if you don’t, if you’re not strategizing to the best of your ability.
And my goal is to make sure that I’m giving. All of the information to my clients so that they have an option, you know, that’s, that’s one thing I want to make sure the clients have an option to choose, you know, where they want to go and how they [00:11:00] want to approach certain things. I feel like I drifted off a little bit in my mind.
Porschia: No, I think that was great. I think that was great. Um, so how did you get into writing
Wynter: resumes. I think back and I think it was honestly, I needed a resume for a job, and my friend said me too. And we both got the jobs. And then from there, it builds, you know, my friend, my friend brought me a resume and I got the job so you write the resume you give me a job.
And it kind of builds from there and before you know you have your own little portfolio of clients that you consistently work with through the years, my best friend will come back. Till this day, she’s about to apply for a new job. She’s like, it’s that time again. I’m like, all right, I’ll go into my files and get your resume because it just happens that way for friends and family.
Naturally. You want to be of help. You want to be of service. Um, I think a lot of resume writers naturally have a gift of gab or, you know, way with words. So, [00:12:00] you know, my reading started when I was younger. Um, then, you know, when I was younger, I used to do. So, you know, I was selling homework on a larger scale.
Yeah,
Porschia: that’s what I was going to say. It sounds like you’ve had multiple writing
Wynter: businesses, uh,
Porschia: winter in your career. So why do you think a resume is
Wynter: important? I think a resume is important on multiple levels for yourself. First and foremost, you are able to. Succinctly see what you do. I think a lot of people on a day-to-day basis don’t know what to do.
What what they do specifically don’t know what they do that add value to their role. Everything that you do adds value. And when you have that resume, you’re able to see it in plain form and you’re able to quantify that. So that adds not only confidence to you, but then in confidence in your work and in confidence to ask for that promotion.
Um, [00:13:00] the courage to seek out those, uh, executive roles. So we, you want to know for yourself first. A resume is also important when you don’t know how to explain what you do to someone else. And that sounds like so simple, but a lot of times If you aren’t in a position where you can see yourself, then how are you going to explain it to someone else?
And a resume just helps refocus, realigns that, realigns it for maybe your mentor, maybe for your supervisor. If you’re looking for other roles, of course, for the recruiter or the hiring professional. But it’s definitely positioning you for your confidence and to step out for yourself first and foremost.
I just suggested to my sister, she has no plans on moving on. But I said, but when’s the last time you updated your resume? Because it’s been five years and I know you’re not doing the [00:14:00] same thing. I know you’re not doing the same thing. So, um. definitely update your resumes just for yourself. So you know what you are doing.
So you have that confidence going forward. Um, and in your work from there, that’s the first thing you say. Yeah, very
Porschia: well said just a lot of reasons why, uh, resumes are important. And to your point, um, resumes really help people when it comes to that confidence, right. Seeing what they’ve done on paper and, uh, you know, being able
Wynter: to talk about it.
Porschia: Um, so how have resumes changed over the years,
Wynter: Winter? Oh, where do we begin? As stylistically resumes have changed, um, the relationship of resumes and technology has changed. The resumes and relationship with hiring managers and recruiters has changed. Um, [00:15:00] I feel like every time I get on and read a new article, the time that a recruiter or hiring manager looks at a resume gets smaller and smaller.
I remember her 10 to 15 years ago, they say, you have 45 seconds to make an impression. And I think the latest one says eight. And I’m just like, wow, that’s, that’s different in itself. Just the approach to resumes. Um, Because the industry is flooded with resumes, I think it is important to, to know that the industry is flooded with resumes.
And if you are being strategic, like I mentioned before, then going from point A to point B won’t seem as daunting. And those changes. That over time that has been made, don’t feel as a barrier as you go forward. Um, so what I’ve seen changes, keywords, the language has changed the most, you know, [00:16:00] new keywords, new.
So
Porschia: that’s a great point. Winter, why are keywords on a resume important?
Wynter: Keywords on a resume are so important because it helps to realign what the person is looking for, as well as yourself. It also helps optimize the, the actual resume. So when you’re accounting those applicant tracking systems, those keywords are the first things that are going to help to organize and categorize your document for the hiring manager or the recruiter or whoever the end user is.
So those keywords If you don’t have anything else, you should have keywords, you know, so you want to make sure that the keywords are relevant to your industry, but also relevant to the job postings. Companies use their own language all the [00:17:00] time. So making sure that those keywords are infused throughout your document as well as relevant for the industry.
It’s just important overall and for your LinkedIn account as well. So it. Crosses all documents for your job
Porschia: search. Yeah. So what is an applicant
Wynter: tracking system or ATS? ATS applicant tracking system is a platform that is used by almost everybody now that helps to filter out resumes. Um, so it’s a way to categorize and I like to say put case management functions on, on your resume.
So if I apply to a. position through this platform, it will read it, it will say, well, this person scores, depending on the applicant tracking system, because they’re all different. This is my disclaimer, but applicant tracking system could say, this person scores a 55 out of 100 versus a 35 over 100. We [00:18:00] recommend that you interview this person before you interview this person.
And then the end user will have the opportunity to review your documents from there. So it’s just a way to filter out, um, all of the surplus of resumes that are coming through for the most appropriate applicants to go in and interview from there. And it’s heavily contingent on the content on your documents and its readability.
So you want to make sure that formatting is consistent. Those keywords are there, like you mentioned, and then your accomplishments do bounce out because. At the end of it, a human will read it, you know, it won’t stop at the computer. So, um, yeah, the applicant tracking system is really important.
Porschia: Yeah. And one thing that I mentioned to a lot of our clients as well is that, uh, what happens a lot of times is if your resume doesn’t have a certain score on it.
In the applicant tracking system, then the ATS [00:19:00] is just filtering your resume out before a human being in HR
Wynter: or recruiting ever sees it.
Porschia: And that is something that I will investigate. I think a lot of people are not aware of more. People are starting to learn about it. But, uh, you know, when I talk to, you know, prospective clients and other professionals, uh, one thing I hear a lot winter is they say, well, you know, Portia, I’ve applied for a hundred jobs or 50 jobs.
And I haven’t gotten any positive responses. What’s the problem.
Wynter: And, uh,
Porschia: generally when I look at their resume. to your point, they just don’t have enough of those right keywords in the right frequency. So the ATS, the applicant tracking system is just filtering them out. So, uh, yeah, that’s, that’s definitely a big reason to, I think, work with a professional, uh, firm to help with your
Wynter: resume.
Absolutely. And I think to your [00:20:00] point with the frequency is something that a lot of people don’t take into consideration that frequency is important. You having management on your resume 10 times bumps up you on the list versus someone who only has it two or three times. So what are the ways that we can infuse management into your document without it being overwhelming or without it seem like we’re, we’re just Throwing it in like it’s a just a fishbowl of words rather than storytelling and the progression of your career telling it appropriately.
So, you know, those two minor details in itself make, make a huge difference. Um, the before and after, especially with our executives, I’ve noticed. Yeah, absolutely.
Porschia: So a lot of executives and professionals want to know what should a
Wynter: resume look like? It should look. simple. It should look consistent. It should have those keywords that we talked about.
[00:21:00] It should have easily identifiable accomplishments. And I know saying all these things, it sounds so much easier said than done, right? Um, but these are the things that are consistently missed. Um, a lot of people are like, well, grammatical errors and, and punctuation. And yes, absolutely. You want to give, you want to, Present something polished.
Absolutely. But if the content that you’re presenting isn’t in line with the job description that you’re looking for, if it isn’t in line with the internship with the program that you want to apply for, then It’s not serving you in the best way possible. So stylistically, yes. It needs to have those things so it can be read.
But at the end of the day, the content also needs to be solid as well. So we want to see, you know, those actionable items. What are, what was the situation? What is the action? What was the result? So resume should have all of those things and it [00:22:00] should feel like you. That makes sense. No, that’s something hard to say, but.
You should be able, your resume should be the most professional representation of your career, right? But it shouldn’t be foreign. You should be able to speak to it as naturally. Maybe not in formal language as presented, but definitely casually. It shouldn’t be a surprise between, you know, the personality and the paper.
Yeah. So how do
Porschia: you help people decide
Wynter: what should be included on their resume? It is definitely… To make sure that everything is included to help professionals decide what to include on resumes. We really want to make sure we’re taking into consideration what their job targets are, as well as where they are currently, but really their job targets will set the tone for the document going forward.
If there is a professional that wants to transition to a different industry, the approach would be completely different than if someone [00:23:00] is transitioning from the military and So when we meet them where they are, we can really hone in on what skills we need to, to pull from them, as well as the job description.
I feel like I need to give an example here, because that’s just so ambiguous, right? You know, you say, yes, pull from the job description. But if I were to give a specific example, um, uh, I can mention project management specifically. We have a, someone with a Six Sigma green belt and they attained it through the education as well as internship.
Well instead of just putting Lean Six Sigma green belt, let’s talk about the project that you got the, that certification with, you know, what were those process improvements? What, how many people were on your team? You know, did you have international students? Did you have international team members? All those things are important because that’s all relevant experience.
Well, how can we pull out those specific details to meet the needs of the job description as well [00:24:00] as? to represent you as you are. Yeah.
Porschia: I think that’s a great example. Another example, um, that we see a lot of winter, I think with clients is those clients trying to move to the next level, right? So they might be trying to go from an individual contributor or staff level role to a management role or from a management role to a director level role, or perhaps a director level to the C suite.
So, um, Those are, I think are some changes also that might require, uh, differences in their resume. So how
Wynter: might you approach that? That approach is very much. I would prefer to have a conversation with you because a lot of times when you are transitioning to a higher level, that means that you’ve shown that you have that capacity.
So what are those examples that you’ve shown that you have those capacities? What are those special projects that they brought you on? [00:25:00] Um, Unofficially, you know, what are some opportunities that you had maybe when your supervisor or the manager was away and you had additional responsibility. All those things can be highlighted your leadership skills, don’t have to surround be surrounded by supervising your team members are supervising other people mentorship is leadership, you know, classes that you have trainings that you have opportunity to take uh, at your company or outside our leadership.
So what are different ways that we can explore what you feel you know is true and then we can elevate your document from there. When those type of candidates give us what they intend, those job descriptions, it’s really important that we hone in on those keywords and those key phrases because sometimes project management on a document isn’t as impactful as managing [00:26:00] projects, you know, in that in itself.
How would, how would a professional know that? Well, with our management and our more executive job descriptions and clients, we can see those differences in the language and we can incorporate it into those documents. Um, I’m not sure if. just a professional by themselves would know the difference between the two or know the importance of using those, those two, um, different approaches.
So sometimes it’s a combination of keywords as well as the action items that you include in the document. And that’s a really long way of saying, call me. Yeah.
Porschia: Yeah. It’s, it’s definitely a lot, uh, sometimes. And one thing I hear,
Wynter: um,
Porschia: from a lot of our clients is they say, well, I just don’t have the time to do this.
And, um, they’re that’s when they’re starting to really get how nuanced. This whole process is. And to your point about just that [00:27:00] phrasing, right? Managing projects versus project management. Um, these types of things are not necessarily common knowledge. And, uh, to your point about the phone call winter, I also say to people, don’t beat yourself up about this.
You know, uh, it’s not common knowledge. Most people don’t, um, Even though, uh, you know, these different tweaks that should be made. Um, and I sometimes say, Hey, really only, uh, nerdy professional resume writers and career coaches. And I’m a, uh, self professed nerd. So it’s okay, but really know this kind of thing.
And, and sometimes a lot of people are beating themselves up because they think, Hey, I should just be able to write my resume and, uh, you know, I. I’m I do well at work. I did well in school. Why is my resume not working? And they spin in that for weeks, months or years before thinking about getting some assistance, [00:28:00] right?
And so, um, I just bring that up in case anyone is, is Having those thoughts, uh, as they listen to winter talk about, um, these different tips and tricks with the resume. Um, something else winter that comes up a lot that I want to ask you, how can people incorporate their own style with their
Wynter: resume style is.
is sensitive, right? It’s tricky. It’s personal. You know, usually with the resumes, you’re trying to be professional and succinct and you don’t want to, um, lead anyone to discrimination, as I would say. Uh, but there are opportunities for you to infuse your personalities, to infuse your style, uh, whether it’s a simple design.
Um, I did have a client who was like, well, just put some orange in it. I just want orange somewhere. Um, Well, that, you know, can be confidence boost in itself, or it can be an approach to your content and your professional summary. If you [00:29:00] consider yourself to be or recognized for how you communicate, communicate or how you lead teams, then we could create a statement or you can create a statement can be created that can lead into that that doesn’t sound, um, generic.
So, you know, An articulate communicator can be translated into something like, um,
on the spot winter can you can you get something an articulate communicator, I don’t know come back to me I can, I’ll come back with some juice later. But you know it doesn’t have to be. I don’t like to use the word robotic because that’s the. approach that a lot of job descriptions have, right? It’s the, that’s the language that resume writing is presented in.
It’s not roboticist resume writing, but there’s ways to infuse personality in there without, [00:30:00] Completely overriding the professional aspects of it. Another way to infuse it outside of that professional summary is to talk about any special projects that you have any community involvement that you have, you know, if you are a archer, you know, maybe your award winning archer and you go on retreats twice a month, and then maybe a part of those retreats you are in charge of inventory.
We can put that on your resume. That’s adding to your personality, but it’s also infusing additional keywords that we can put on there. You know, your accomplishments, your achievements are different ways to add personality to your document as well. A lot of times when you have those awards or achievements at work, a lot of people don’t put that on their resume.
Well, you’re now an award winning, award winning, excuse me, customer service specialist. That’s powerful. Why wouldn’t you want to put that, you know, you’re an award winning program specialist, you know, you’re an award winning award winning consultant, that is a tongue twister. [00:31:00] But those are different ways that you can infuse it to show your ambition to show your personality to show your passion without compromising.
Perception. Yeah. Yeah. So what
Porschia: are some of the biggest mistakes you see professionals and executives make with their
Wynter: resumes? One of the biggest mistakes that professionals and executives make are definitely the format that they use. What will count you out 10 times out of 10 is a format that an applicant tracking system cannot read.
And that is usually something that involves columns. If it’s a full page of two columns, I got bad news for you, friend. That’s not going to serve you well. You know, there, there may be some systems that are able to read it or able to organize the information so that it’s readable, so that it [00:32:00] can be, um, categorized, but most often than not, those two columns are the first, the first sign that your resume needs to be redone because just the system just is not reading your documents is not reading it accurately.
And it’s just not being read. So definitely, if you have those two columns, please consider updating your resume to a simpler format. And simple doesn’t mean boring, it just means that the system will be able to read it almost all the time. And that is what you want to happen. If you’re applying for those 100 jobs to those 50 jobs like you mentioned, you want all of those resumes to be considered.
So it ups your chances of getting that interview, getting that callback. Uh, a lot of times… Some professionals. Now, there’s a difference also between, you know, what is absolutely wrong and then what’s preference, you know, resume writers are humans to and resume writers have [00:33:00] preference. I like to say this is a faux pas but I also know this is preference references don’t put your references on the resume.
You know that’s. That’s giving up personal information. Um, and, and I’ve heard some hiring managers, some recruiters say that they, that’s the instant like turn off for them, that, you know, you are basically ripping up any opportunity for confidentiality by putting that on the resume, giving it out to the public.
Um, so, um, that’s a big no no on my book, but I do believe that is the faux pas in general, but there’s also things like, um, the overuse of verbs that that sounds so nitpicky, right? But if you have that you worked or you handled or you collaborated 15 times over, you’re missing an opportunity to really add, um, pizzazz to your document to make it more dynamic, to add more content, [00:34:00] to, um, add a variation of content.
And I think that is another thing that stops a lot of our professionals and executives is that the repetition of their roles and their responsibilities. Well, how can we, we acknowledge that you’ve done that. We don’t need that over and over and over. And if we do need that, then how can we switch it up?
So that is more appropriate going forward.
Porschia: Yeah. Yeah. So it sounds like, uh, formatting.
Wynter: challenges,
Porschia: uh, listing references, people’s personal information, and definitely that redundant word choice. Um, those are some major mistakes. Uh, so I want to segue a little bit now, Winter.
Wynter: Um, what is your definition of career success?
Career success from my point of view. I think that’s important is that from everyone’s [00:35:00] idea of success is going to be different from their point of views. And what has helped me hone into my point of view is honestly talking to people to networking, learning more about the different types of roles helps me redefine what success looks like.
And honestly, right now, success looks like Me helping people and not going to sleep. Stress. I want to make sure that I’m doing everything in my ability to make sure that the clients that we have are successful, that they feel that they are seen, they’re validated, that they’re confident going forward.
That is success for me. I don’t necessarily have a goal at this moment. for my career because everything is fluid right now. COVID has done a number on a couple of things, but what I do know is that if I’m not doing anything else, then I’ll definitely be resume writing. If [00:36:00] I don’t do anything else, then excuse me, then I’ll be helping, um, clients, helping people, helping family, uh, attain what they want, how they want it.
And if they let me, It’s in my power to help them then. Yeah. That’s what success looks like for me right now. Wow.
Porschia: Wow. That’s very powerful. Very powerful
Wynter: winter. Um, so
Porschia: how do you think executives and professionals can get an edge in
Wynter: their career? Oh, you want to edge in your career, then you have to talk to your peers.
Did that rhyme? Maybe. Um, uh, what I mentioned before that networking is important. A lot of gatekeeping is happening. Again, without that knowledge share, you don’t know what to look for. You don’t know what to expect. You don’t know what your options are, you know? Um, so the first thing I would suggest if you’re looking to, uh, move on in your career, progress in your career, if you’re looking to transition, um, even if [00:37:00] you’re looking for a lateral change at a different company, it’s just to talk to people.
Well, what has been your experience in this role? And then, um, how does it relate to me? And then also know that people are speaking from their own perspective, take everything with a grain of salt, because people will project on you. And, um, you know, especially if you’ve given them opportunity if you’re asking about them just just know that you’re giving yourself the opportunity to learn, and you’re learning the good you’re learning the bad, you’re learning, but you may not even think is important until 10 years later, but give your space, give yourself space to learn, give your space.
uh, self space to network, excuse me, because that that knowledge is invaluable. I learned more from talking to, you know, someone in a different department that had the same job title or rank than I did from, you know, talking to HR to my supervisor. And that’s just because people want to share [00:38:00] and you need to open yourself to listen from there.
Um, and even if it gets to a point where. Well, the people around you aren’t providing information, then go search for a coaching service like Phi Height Coaching. Um, go search for, um, you know, another employment firm. You know, they always have those free consultations. They always have webinars. There’s always opportunities for you to learn more and to get outside of the silo that you may have put yourself in.
Um, when you want to break away. You know, a lot of people feel closed in, feel boxed in, they don’t feel heard or seen, um, and the one way to jump out of that is definitely to reach out and talk to people. I’ve even gotten on Reddit threads and just read from other people’s perspective because something you.
Maybe so simple that you’re just missing because it wasn’t given to you, you know, and it can be the world of difference. One certification could change the whole life. [00:39:00] But how would you know about that certification if you don’t talk to people if you don’t know do a little bit of research if you’re not intentional about your, your career so I’d say one thing that professionals, executives, students, entrepreneurs can do to get ahead is Definitely network, definitely do research, try and get other people’s perspective, and then take it with a grain of salt.
Everything that you read doesn’t need to be set in stone, but I do think it needs to be taken under consideration. That
Porschia: is great advice, Winter, great advice. You touched on a lot of things there. And I hope, I hope people caught it all. Um, but to one of your points about networking and sharing information with peers, that’s part of the reason why, uh, we started this podcast is because there are just so many things about your career and management of your career and navigating your career.
Are [00:40:00] not taught in, you know, universities or, uh, you know, within companies or different organizations. So I absolutely agree with you there. Uh, what are your thoughts on work life
Wynter: balance? That’s impossible. And
Porschia: why is it impossible?
Wynter: Winter tell us. Because we are humans. Everything is ebbs and flows. You need to flow with work, life, everything like water.
There is, there is no work life balance. You know what you can control? You can control yourself. You can control how you react to those ebbs and flows of life. Um, there’s never going to be a time where. Is 50, 50 or 60, 40, you know, and that’s not even taken in consideration, you know, economic disadvantages, uh, class disadvantages, uh, like we can go on for days and days and days.
So no, I [00:41:00] don’t subscribe to a work life balance. I subscribe to a winter balance. Um, what does winter feel? What, how can I balance myself so that I can tackle these tasks? Because if you position yourself as work life balance, then. You’ll think of everything in terms of work and life. Well, no, I want to think of everything in terms of winter.
What does winter feel like? What is, is winter too burnt out to work? Where’s her life, you know? And then where’s her activities to support that? Well, and then if work is going awry, well, what are the processes that are in place? How am I examining? How am I reacting to the situation rather than to the work?
That’s coming in or the life that’s coming in. You know, I can’t control the work and the life that comes in, but I can control my reaction to it. So, you know, I don’t, I think that was a very, uh, almost spiritual answer to that. But really I do, I, I, I really [00:42:00] don’t, I really don’t subscribe to work life, especially being in the military and seeing how, you know,
the lack of work life balance is there. I know that I, I want to be a little bit more intentional from my end. Yeah. Yeah. A
Porschia: word that I’ve, I’ve heard you mention a couple of times, uh, during this conversation winter is flow and it sounds like you definitely go with the flow and, and think about your flow, um, as needed.
So to kind of wrap up winter, I want to know, uh, what have been the two
Wynter: biggest
Porschia: lessons or, you know, most important pieces of advice. Someone is giving you
Wynter: in your career. Um, for my career,
I think what I’ve learned from first my mother because My mother was the [00:43:00] first professional woman that I’ve seen. What I learned from her is to figure it out.
Don’t come and ask me nothing unless you attempted to figure it out yourself. And while that can lead to some problems, I do attribute to a lot of my success from my gumption, my willing to figure it out. I want to know. Um, I’ll call myself nosy, but I’m a problem solver. Uh, I’ve had a previous employer call me an all purpose cleaner.
If you want something fixed, send Winter. Uh huh. And, and, in some regards, I like that. I enjoy that. That does give me fulfillment. Um, but it doesn’t always flow with my work life balance. So, but definitely that bit of advice to, um. to attempt to try first, try first, uh, before you, you give up or before you ask others for help, try [00:44:00] first, because sometimes in that trying, you learn just enough to, to either push through or to ask a more appropriate question.
Um, so that is definitely the first thing. Another thing that I learned Um, and I’ve had to learn this recently with all the moves that I’ve had and I mentioned it before is to take everybody’s advice with a grain of salt because they are speaking from their own perspectives. You know, I, I’ve had supervisors managers attempt to push me in a direction and I’m like, but I’m only going to be here for three years, you know, like, you can’t, you can’t change.
You can’t let someone attempt to change what’s going on in your life because of their perception on. Your anticipated success. Does that make sense? Ooh, it does. It does. Um, you don’t want to change yourself from the potential that someone else may see in you, because at the end of the day, [00:45:00] you need to see the potential that you see in yourself.
And working towards somebody else’s goal is not going to fulfill you. So I, I learned that most recently that I need to, what does winter want to do? So look at you when you have to ask yourself, and that’s all a part of the, the coaching, the professional transitions and all that stuff. You have to really examine, do emotional inventory is what I call them.
Um, and see, where are you? What do you want to do with what advice that has been given to you? Is it impacting you? Um, so yeah, just touch base with yourself and know that people are people. Yeah. Yeah.
Porschia: Well, uh, Winter, you’ve shared a lot of wisdom and, uh, insights with us today. I’m sure our listeners can take some of that and use it to spruce up their resumes and then they can take some of it to, uh, God bless you.
Think about the flow and [00:46:00] taking things with a grain of salt in their lives. Um, we appreciate you being with us today and, uh, talking, uh, with our
Wynter: audience and our community. I appreciate you having me. It’s always a joy. Always a pleasure talking with you. All right. Thanks winter. Thanks.
