Meet Khoren Claiborne | Federal Career Strategist & Professional Resume Writer

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

Hi Khoren, what is the most important factor behind your success?
I believe the most important factor behind the success of my brand is my humility. My ability to meet people where they are. I pride myself and my business on empathy and providing a safe space for jobseekers to feel heard and understood. My goal was for people to feel warm and invited when they see The 9 to 5 Pro, and I believe that that is something I have achieved and will continue to grow into. I truly enjoy having conversations with people from all different walks of life and listening to their experiences. Everyone’s WHY looks different, and being able to provide a service that can stand as a resource to success is extremely humbling for me. I love what I do, and I think my character and energy portrays exactly that when people finally get to work with me one-on-one.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I landed my first Federal Government job as an unpaid intern at the Department of Treasury in Washington, DC as a freshman in college. My mom wrote my resume and pretty much coached me on how to be an effective interviewer. I watched my mom write many resumes including mine and she always made it a point to show me her strategies and visually help me understand what I needed to succeed. I literally kicked and fought against taking the role because in my young 18-year-old mind… I wanted money! I didn’t see the value in working for free. It’s so funny how life comes full circle because that very job aided me in landing my first permanent Federal Government position and where I’ve been ever since.

I had been writing resumes of friends and family for a little bit in college and post-college. I took a professional development course at my job which resulted in me becoming a Certified Career Coach/Facilitator. In that class, my instructor helped me to visualize what ways I could help the community with my knowledge and newly acquired skills. It was in that class that I realized I knew how to write very good resumes. The resumes weren’t the end all be all, but I at least knew I had the foundational pieces to grow on. I started taking trainings and joining webinars to gain as much resume and industry knowledge as I could. I offered free resume and cover letter revamps for about a month and a half. I was able to help over 20 people transition careers, gain career clarity, and even secure higher-paying roles. I am so very grateful to those who supported me then and actually utilized my services because it was those clients who allowed me to strengthen my skills and writing capabilities. That’s when I knew I had found my niche. Now, in year 3 of business, The 9 to 5 Pro has grown and continues to grow beyond what I had ever imagined. My mission has always been to be a pillar of resources and opportunities to those who may not have had the guidance, support, and coaching that I was given since an adolescent. I am a well of knowledge constantly soaking up new things and I feel it is my duty and responsibility as a product of successful guidance to give that back to others in whatever capacity that may be. The 9 to 5 Pro is on its way to becoming a professional development hub full of opportunity and career success for those willing to bet on themselves and see all of the successful outcomes possible.

Nothing worth it comes easy of course! I made many mistakes starting out simply by not doing the due diligence of researching and/or listening and taking the advice of others. Starting a business sometimes creates a massive bubble of “I got it”. I am the CEO, the Director of Operations, the Chief Resume Writer, and so much more, so sometimes it gets difficult to ask for help or to really even allow yourself to not only hear others’ opinions but to truly listen to them. That has been one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned. Listen to your gut. If your gut is telling you that a particular aspect of business it out of your wheelhouse, listen! Learn to outsource and delegate to allow yourself the space to stay clearheaded and focused. Learn to ask for help. The entrepreneurship journey has been a wild ride but when you start to see the bigger picture and finally give yourself permission to envision complete success everything becomes worth it.

I would like the world to know that The 9 to 5 Pro is your one-stop shop where your job search meets convenience. Let us do the job for you! We offer Federal resume and cover letter optimization, LinkedIn revamps and critiques, job application services, interview coaching, and more!

I am most proud of the success my business has had. In 3 years, I have about a 95% success rate of my Federal Government resumes being referred and candidates being called for interviews. This is exceptional for a young and aspiring resume writer. I’ve grown with my clients, and I love the relationships I have been able to build with them outside of their professional journey. This path was meant for me, and I believe that I have fallen into my purpose. This is why I stress confidence-boosting strategies to my clients because no one will support you if you don’t support yourself. No job will hire you if you don’t believe you’re hireable. Believe in yourself and trust me they will make room at the table for you. Period!

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.
I would take them to Throw Social here in Washington, DC! Nothing sounds better than margaritas and games! 🙂

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to dedicate my shoutout to my Career Development/Facilitator Certification Instructor, Sharon.

She was the main person who saw a talent in me. The ability to be compassionate and kind while assisting other people to reach their goals. She believed in my ideas, and she was the first person to tell me to go for it. Once I received my certification, I immediately got started on my business from the simple fact that I KNEW I was capable and she did too! She gave me drive to uncover my purpose and share my talents with others who need them.

I appreciate you so much Sharon!

Website: www.the9to5pro.com

Instagram: the9to5pro

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-9-to-5-pro/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/the925pro/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqQMkZJA4eBUSckskUaS8WA

Image Credits
Bryanna Goode IG: @goode_visions