We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ilissa-Marie Mauzy. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ilissa-Marie below.

Ilissa-Marie, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s kick things off with a hypothetical question – if it were up to you, what would you change about the school or education system to better prepare students for a more fulfilling life and career?

School and education is something I talk about all the time. I would change the curriculum and programs offered in high school, mainly. Although some argue that this is the parent’s job to do. In all actuality, the majority of what’s missing in schools is what most of the world struggles with. It’s nice to know how to do physics and statistics or learn the in-depth history of our country from over “2000” years ago, but what is the significance of these classes in life? I graduated high school about 15 years ago, but looking back, I wish I had been taught foundational things to prepare me for this world—instead of stressing over Trig my senior year. I hate to say it, but after obtaining 2 degrees and working for the past 17 years, I never had to solve x and y or use the periodic table for my daily living—that’s not the path most of us choose for ourselves.

Some schools have enhanced their curriculum, but most have not, especially in low-middle-class communities. Classes based on Financial Literacy: Understanding and managing credit, how to pay bills, how to buy a house/car, what an APR is, stocks, and budgeting are highly needed. General Life: How to pick/understand medical insurance (HMOs vs. PPOs vs. POS), understand taxes, how to start a business and open a bank account, or how to properly manage stress, etc. Personal Wellness: Introducing personal fitness, meditation, nutrition, wellness, yoga, pilates, and boxing classes of some sort. Students nowadays deal with a lot of stress, and mental health is at an all-time high. Incorporating these activities might help take the edge off. I know PE is there, but when I was in high school, I enjoyed PE because we didn’t do much there but hang out and, of course—the mile run. Professional Development: Resume workshops, how to answer basic interview questions, how to dress for an interview, how to use Excel and standard database systems, and business etiquette principles. This class could expose students to certifications, panel interviews, and public speaking.

If more foundational classes were included in the curriculum, at least one could not say they weren’t exposed to it. School is already 40 hours a week—why not learn things that will be valuable? So many of us as adults struggle with at least 2 things I mentioned above, so why not set up our youth to be better than us? Our students should be assessed once they enter high school instead of counselors picking their classes. If schools have various programs in place, counselors should spend time with those students to ensure they are taking courses of interest to set them up on their path of interest.

I would broaden the program’s paths to reach different student needs and keep them engaged. I know some may think I am crazy, but the majority of these kids are gamers! They love it! Why not incorporate coding and software development classes to expose them to the backend of their interest? Right now, entrepreneurship is a significant path. Why not expose students to the idea of how to open a business with a firm foundation and the steps needed to write a business plan or run operations smoothly?

I am so passionate about this subject, especially the professional development end. I have taken it upon myself to offer high school workshops to better prepare them with the tools to write a properly formatted resume to help them obtain a job out of school and carry themselves in interviews. Most of us are not taught or exposed to these things, so I am doing something about it!

Ilissa-Marie, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

ElevateLikeABoss Professional Writing & Consulting (formerly, LikeABossResumes) offers job seekers and entrepreneurs various professional services. My services include resume writing, interview prepping, career coaching, small business consulting, editing, and business writing.

I am a natural-born fixer, so if you have a problem, I am your girl. I am very resourceful. It is something I have embraced over the years, which is why I have added consulting as a service. I have helped develop and brand about 5 businesses, with one in the works. All range in various fields, from healthcare operations, billing and coding, personal care, and clothing brands. I enjoy this side of my business because my brain works for each client in mysterious ways. I love solving problems, helping people get out of their heads, and bringing their vision to life.

Those who know me know that I have been writing resumes since I was a teenager. I have always enjoyed writing and proofreading (the things nobody likes to do). I started this journey by only writing resumes which, over time, led me down other paths. I am a jack of all trades, so it is only suitable that my business showcases it. I worked in orthopedics for about 6 years, which started my journey of creating custom-built forms, manuals, FAQs, physician protocol books, and a few employee handbooks for businesses.

I am most proud of the quality I put into my work. I am not a perfectionist, but I do provide a high level of detail and take pride in the work I produce for others. I love what I do and have a genuine love for writing. It brings me so much joy to be the connector in people’s lives to help them get where they need to be, whether in business or just a simple conversation.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

I honestly believe that being true to myself is what built my reputation. I created this business on the foundation of professionalism, authenticity, and quality. When I worked as an RT, I was always specific about the level of detail I pushed out on my X-rays. I received many compliments from surgeons and radiologists for consistently delivering quality—and my business models my work ethic.

I feel many entrepreneurs move too fast and push out products and services to get straight to the profit—before they make sure quality is there. I can’t say profit is a significant factor because I wrote resumes for free for 12 years before making it a business. But ensuring my operations were efficient and clients were getting quality work/outcomes has been my main concern and will always be.

Also, I am so honest with my clients. In the resume world, things are constantly changing and updating, so I do stay updated on current trends. If a client suggests certain things that are not proper etiquette, I will be more than happy to do it their way, but I will also educate them on the formalities that come with compliant resume writing. I push my clients to go for more than what they think they can do. Many of them have walked into 6 figure salaries, dream jobs, promotions, and endless opportunities.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

I have been blessed to run this business full-time off referrals; that’s how I know God is working, and I am doing what I am supposed to do. I do get some Google customers due to my reviews, which is also helpful. Most of my clients get the job they want, so I appreciate them talking about my services with others. It honestly blows my mind. I might start with a client in one location and end up servicing about 20 other clients within that same city or state. It’s amazing, and I am very grateful.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.elevatelikeaboss.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elevatelikeaboss/
• Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/likeabossresumes/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lishamauzy

Image Credits
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