Dear Abby

DEAR ABBY: I have an offer with an awesome company but the title is below my current title – am I ruining my resume??

Why Titles Can Be Misleading

I’ve gotten this question quite a bit recently and my answer, as it often is, is it depends. Titles are so nebulous – a Controller at one company could be equivalent to a Sr. Accountant at another company and an Assistant Controller at one company could be the same as a CFO at another.

Factors to Consider Beyond the Title

So much goes into just a title. I always take into consideration the size of the company, the size of the team, where this position is in relation to the executive it funnels up to, long-term growth for the company and the specific role, etc.

Take a look at where you want to be in the next 5 years and does this give you the right starting point to get there. I never want someone to title chase and I never want someone to dollar chase. I want someone to make their next career move based on the factors that go beyond the title. Companies will have different naming conventions depending on their size, industry, functional roles, etc.

How to Address Title Changes on Your Resume

One way to highlight this on a resume (we want to be proactive in answering any potential question marks on a resume!!) is to put the company name and then have a brief sentence that describes the company size, revenues, industry, etc. (i.e. Controller for a $5mm company with a team of 1 transitioning to an Assistant controller at a $250mm company with a team of 4).

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In short, it won’t kill your resume by taking a lesser title, just make sure the opportunity itself fits what you are looking for as the next step in your career! If you like the people, you like what you’re doing, and money makes sense – you can’t make a bad choice!!

Have you ever made a transition for a lesser title? How did it turn out? What were your factors in making the decision??

Feel free to reach out to anyone here at Prospex Recruiting if you want to talk through an offer or your interview process in general!

PROSPEX FAM:

• Amelia Graviet
• Talisha Jones
• Bracken Higginson
• Maloree Johnson
• Whitney Jaques
• Maria Battista Foxley
• Lauren Hedin
• Zach Truman
• Josh Roberts
• Nicole Ehlers

Dear Abby: I haven’t written a resume in years and I need HELP! or I’ve sent my resume to more places than there are Swifties with no response – HELP!

Don’t worry, I got you. Here are some tips that get the best response from hiring managers:

The Basics of a Great Resume

Key Resume Tips

1. Chronological Format > Functional Format. I want to know what you did, when you did it, and where you did it.
2. 👍 bullet points, 👎 paragraphs. If a hiring manager is thumbing through 50+ resumes, make sure your content is as digestible as possible. I’m fine with a 1-2 descriptive sentence detailing the size of company, etc., but concise bullet points are easier to consume.
3. Bullet Points – Have a good mix of key accomplishments and daily responsibilities, either separated out with the respective headers or mixed together…your personal preference. The more quantifiable and objective details, the better: revenue generating/expense saving initiatives, reducing ME close X amount of days, presidents club, % achievement of quotas, etc.
4. Outline/Header Format – This is my favorite view to construct your resume. This can show longevity, progression, and highlights of what you did at each role. If you’ve had more than one position at the same company, start with the name of the company as the master header with the total years you’ve been there. Under the master heading, your secondary heading is the most recent title you held, the dates/years you held it, with bullet points under that; then your next secondary heading with the next most recent title, dates, bullet points; so on and so forth!

Highlighting Your Skills and Achievements

5. Section for Technology, Certifications, Skillsets. Show the level you’re at as much as you can, i.e., Excel (v-lookups, Macros, Pivot Tables). Include all softwares and ERPs. You can list out general responsibilities like Cost Accounting, Budgeting, Forecasting, etc. Be as objective as you can. I don’t care as much about “hard working, detail oriented, etc.” because those are so subjective. Show that with your accomplishments in your bullet points.
6. Less is more – save a little for the interview! Keep your resume 1-2 pages with the top highlights.
7. Add more details under your most recent positions. What you’ve done in the last 5 years is much more relevant than what you did 15 years ago. All of it is important, but I want to know what your recent experiences have been!
8. If you have any certifications, list them after your name. This starts the review of your resume on an optimistic note!
9. I’m indifferent about an Objective or Interest section. To me, the objective is implied by applying to any position. I’d rather take that space to add more details about what you’ve done.
10. If you have less than a 3.8 GPA, leave it off the resume. 🙂

Need Help? We’ve Got You Covered

If you want help or a review of your resume, reach out to our Prospex Recruiting team!!

Need help?? Reach out to anyone on the Prospex Recruiting team to review your resume and LinkedIn profile and ensure you’re presenting your best on-paper self.

• Amelia Graviet
• Talisha Jones
• Bracken Higginson
• Maloree Johnson
• Whitney Jaques
• Maria Battista Foxley
• Lauren Hedin
• Josh Roberts
• Zach Truman
• Nicole Ehlers

DEAR ABBY: Is the art of a Thank You Note dead?? Should I still send one? Should I send one after each interview if there are multiple rounds?? If I’m not interested in the position, should I still send a Thank You?

Call me old fashioned but…ALWAYS SEND A THANK YOU!! I love a Thank You after each round. I have never seen anyone get disqualified because they were too gracious.

I have had multiple hiring managers tell me they will not hire someone if they don’t send a Thank You.

An email works great! I have seen people do hand-delivered notes but I definitely don’t think that is necessary. If it is a group interview then you can either do a combined Thank You or you can personalize each one – I think either gets the intent across!

A Few Pointers:

1. Highlight a few things that you spoke about in the interview to make sure it’s personalized
2. If you have any additional questions, this is a great place to ask
3. Reinforce how your background is relevant for the position
4. Assuming you’re interested in moving forward, let them know and ask for next steps
5. If you aren’t interested in moving forward, thank them for their time and let them know that you are pursuing other opportunities at this time but would love to stay connected

Contact the Pros at Prospex Recruiting Today!

What has been your experience with Thank You’s? What extra tips do you have? Love hearing from you!!

Reach out to anyone on our Prospex Recruiting team for help or to review a thank you.

• Nicole Ehlers
• Maloree Johnson
• Zach Truman
• Amelia Graviet
• Maria Battista Foxley
• Lauren Hedin
• Whitney Jaques
• Talisha Jones
• Bracken Higginson
• Josh Roberts

DEAR ABBY: What is the “secret sauce” – what differentiates a top performer from someone who is barely scraping by?

The reality is, there isn’t a “secret sauce”. It comes down to good, old-fashioned work. Aside from the day-to-day basics, below are the top 5 actions and mindsets that I’ve found have always elevated my performance and kept me motivated.

Consistent and Persistent

I always joke with that once you speak with me, you never get rid of me ;). Strong focus on consistent, proactive follow ups whether you have their business or not. If you work that hard for them before you are working with them, just imagine how hard you’ll work for them once you’re engaged. Have a hunter mentality constantly. Use your planner/calendar religiously to stay organized and always have a follow up action. Have a positive attitude and understand the big picture of what you do.

Personal Branding

Not everyone will use you for everything they do, but when they do, I want the only name that comes to their head to be me. And make sure you back up what you preach!! Branding may get you in the door, but effective actions will keep you there!

Relationship Building

My goal with almost every business interaction is to build long-term relationships. I never want anyone I work with to feel like they are only a dollar sign or that this is a one-time conversation. I genuinely LOVE getting to know my network, fill my day with real conversations, and build a mutual trusting/professional friendship.

Scarcity Mindset/Gratitude

With every opportunity I work on, I am grateful for the opportunity to have worked it and am constantly humbled by this job every single day, regardless the size of the deal. I never want to take anything for granted and always keep my foot on the gas pedal to make sure I am giving everyone the best experience. There is a lot of competition in any space, I want to make sure that I show them why they chose me and my team and make sure they feel that gratitude and have an exceptional experience. No entitlement here 🙂

Calling the Play and Working Intentionally

Prioritizing what makes the most sense each day to be able to keep a strong pipeline while simultaneously taking care of your clients (whoever they may be). Working intentionally and having a purpose for each action and not doing something just to check a box.

Connect with Prospex Recruiting Today!

What have you seen that has helped you succeed in your role or in general??

Reach out to anyone here at Prospex Recruiting to have an exceptional experience!!

• Whitney Jaques
• Zach Truman
• Amelia Graviet
• Nicole Ehlers
• Talisha Jones
• Lauren Hedin
• Josh Roberts
• Bracken Higginson
• Maloree Johnson
• Maria Battista Foxley

DEAR ABBY: I love having a career but also love being a mom/parent – how do I feel accomplished in both??

There is no right or wrong way to approach this. There is no perfect answer. There is only what is right for you and realizing that as your kids grow and demands change, your solution will need to be fluid.

SACRIFICE

There will always be sacrifice as a parent whether you are in the corporate world or not. When I am home, I try to put my phone down as much as I can and give my kids focused attention – even if it is 10 minutes of undivided attention, I want my kids to know they are important. When you are at the park, play with them. When you’re in the kitchen, have an impromptu dance party. I’ve had to sacrifice different things at different phases. I’ve started my calls at 7:00 am and I’ve logged in after my kids are asleep to get caught up. I’ve passed on different activities with friends to spend time with my kids. I’ve had to consume more caffeine than I’m proud of on sleepless nights to snuggle a sick kid, and I’ve had to take work calls during carpool while trying to mime to my kids that I’m on the phone or locked in my closet to have a quiet environment when I’ve worked from home. AND IT’S ALL BEEN WORTH IT. There are different seasons and the sacrifices will change as your kids grow.

GIVE YOURSELF GRACE

You will have times that you feel like you are dominating everything and times you feel like you are failing at everything. Give yourself grace. Acknowledge the proverbial Mom Guilt, feel it, and then let it go. It won’t always be a perfect balance. Your kids love you. You are doing better than you think you are!

GOOD CHILD CARE SOLUTION

When you have a place where you know your babes are being loved, you can focus on crushing your work. We’ve personally lucked out with childcare that has become part of the family. Our kids have an awesome support system built on a foundation of loving people!

DATE NIGHTS

I have a non-negotiable calendar invite the first Thursday of every month for a date night rotating between each of my girls. These are just as much for me as they are for them. They get to choose the food, the activity, the treat and we get to spend a whole night just having fun together with just the two of us!

FIND A PLACE THAT VALUES HARD WORK AND FAMILY VALUES

Ultimately – work needs to get done. Deadlines need to be hit. Reports need to be delivered. Find a place that allows you to get everything done while giving you the flexibility you need to be the parent you want to be!

Connect with Prospex Recruiting Today!

What have you experienced as a working parent?? How have you allowed yourself to find success in both? I love hearing everyone’s experiences and having this wide-reaching support system!!

Having 11 working parents here at Prospex Recruiting (8 being working moms) – we’d love to talk through anything. Reach out!

• Amelia
• Talisha
• Bracken
• Maloree
• Whitney
• Maria
• Lauren
• Josh
• Zach
• Nicole