We had the good fortune of connecting with Danielle Holmes and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Danielle, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
In 2015, I started my Resume Writing Company to help job seekers land their dream job. A few years prior to starting my own business, I worked for a large “resume writing mill” creating resumes to make some extra money on the side. Through completing a multitude of trainings, reading a few books, and studying the work of some of the best writers in the industry, I gained the skills that I needed to write high-quality resumes for the company. But I over time, I started to feel like something was missing. I wanted to establish more of a connection with the clients that I worked with. I also had a strong desire to build a brand that I could call my own. That is why I started my company, Career Services by Elle!

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
My company, Career Services by Elle, specializes in creating resumes that help elevate career changers from feeling stuck to thriving in higher paying positions. I am always excited to have the opportunity to help my clients reach their career goals and go after their dream job! Building a company that has close to 100 positive reviews online was not too easy in the beginning. When starting out in my business, to be honest, I was very new to this! I ran an e-commerce business before this one, but it was only about creating marketing and getting sales. My resume writing business is not just another e-commerce business for me. It’s a mixture of my passion and talents for writing and creating resumes that will help build the confidence of my clients and help them get more callbacks for interviews. I have put so much of my heart, energy, and time into growing my brand. One way that I overcame challenges that I faced in the beginning was by thinking of how I like to be treated as a customer. I had to see my business through the eyes of my customer to meet their needs. I focus on building strong relationships with my customers to give them a high-quality experience. As a result, many of my clients come back to have their resumes updated and refer me to their friends and family members. A lesson that I had to learn early in business is that I could not satisfy EVERY single customer. Out of the close to 100 reviews my company has, I have had a client or 2 that did not leave great reviews. It used to really bother me, but one day a client told me: “I usually won’t shop with businesses that have 100/100 5-star reviews. That’s a business I can’t trust!” I want the world to know that I am a talented, award-winning resume writer who has helped hundreds of thousands of professionals land their dream job!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If I was to visit Atlanta, my best friend (aka my husband) and I would grab a bite to eat at the Slutty Vegan to enjoy her popular plant-based burgers! After that, we would tour a few of the HBCUs in the area, such as Clark Atlanta University, Spelman College, and Morehouse College. Then we would go visit The King Center and Martin Luther King Jr., National Historical Park. We would probably spend the late afternoon checking out a few houses. We have always dreamed of living in Atlanta!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to dedicate my shout out to my amazing mentor, Melanie L. Denny, who established a one-of-a-kind group known as the Society of Elite Resume Writers. Mel has worked with me during numerous one-on-one sessions and training sessions to push me beyond my comfort zone. The group that she has formed has become a part of my success story and has completely transformed my business! SERW has grown to 100+ extremely supportive members who are there to give tips, motivation, advice, and more! Also, the amount of support and resources that the group gives us access to is truly invaluable.

Website: http://www.ellecareerservices.net
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/ellecareerservices
Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/daniholmes
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ellecareerserv1
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ellecareerservices
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCW3OQI1VoyPLcDfinF1WA9w

Image Credits
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