We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Melanie Mitchell a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Melanie, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Do you have any thoughts about how to create a more inclusive workplace?

With over two decades of experience as a Recruiter across diverse industries, I’ve engaged with decision-makers at every organizational level, providing me with a comprehensive understanding of the contemporary workforce landscape. Having navigated through environments predominantly led by white male executives, I’ve personally witnessed the impact of an exclusive workplace culture. My journey included facing challenges in securing promotions, even as less experienced white male counterparts advanced more easily in my previous role. In my current role as a Career Coach, I leverage these experiences to empower my clients, offering insights to shape their career trajectories and influence their roles within their current and future organizations.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My professional journey began in recruitment, where I honed the art of connecting talented candidates with their ideal roles. In 2017, I underwent a transformative shift into Career Coaching, fueled by my passion for demystifying the job market and offering job seekers transparent insights into the intricacies of the hiring process.

Drawing on my extensive experience as a recruiter, I seamlessly leverage my profound knowledge of the job market to empower clients in their job search endeavors. My mission revolves around assisting individuals in discovering meaningful and fulfilling career opportunities.

My expertise covers a broad spectrum of career-related areas, including crafting compelling resumes, optimizing job search strategies, refining interview skills, developing impactful LinkedIn profiles, and cultivating successful personal brands. I am dedicated to facilitating my clients’ self-discovery, providing them with a profound understanding of the job search process, and guiding them toward the realization of their career goals, ultimately helping them secure their dream roles.

I work with a diverse clientele, ranging from mid-level career professionals to C-Level Executives, across various industries in the United States. My wealth of experience, coupled with an unwavering commitment to my client’s success, positions me as a trusted partner in their journey of finding passion, achieving ambitious goals, and thriving in the dynamic world of careers.

What else should we know about how you took your side hustle and scaled it up into what it is today?

In 2017, I parted ways with my role as Managing Director at a recruiting firm after an 8-year tenure. Initially intending to take a break and transition into Corporate Recruiting, my plans took an unexpected turn. The jobs I secured didn’t unfold as promised. I led recruitment for a new Clinical Research firm, only to face my first layoff in a 20-year career within 30 days. I hadn’t asked the right questions, misjudging expectations regarding my results.

This setback, occurring just before Thanksgiving, left me financially strained as a single mom, facing a seemingly bleak situation. Ironically, I stumbled into coaching, initially turning to resume writing for quick cash while job hunting. By February, I led a nationwide operations recruiting department, achieving immediate success and earning accolades. However, organizational challenges and a lack of support for needed changes prompted a layoff in June.

Rather than fear, I recognized an unintentionally built business during this period. With family support, I took a leap of faith, giving myself six months to focus on my business full-time. Fast forward to 2024, and each year since has surpassed the last in terms of earnings. While enjoying a degree of freedom, it’s important to note the intense effort I put in. Betting on myself has proven to be a rewarding journey, making me stronger and more resilient.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

One of the most effective strategies for growing my clientele has been a dedicated focus on leveraging LinkedIn. When I started my business, I recognized the immense potential of this professional platform, having been on LinkedIn as a recruiter. However, this time around, I delved deeper into understanding the platform comprehensively, knowing that my clients were actively present there.

To enhance my knowledge, I immersed myself in a wealth of resources — from free downloads to webinars — absorbing as much information as possible. While I certainly encountered challenges and made mistakes along the way, I actively sought opportunities to learn from some of the best LinkedIn experts globally. This strategic investment in learning about LinkedIn has proven to be a goldmine for connecting with my audience.

What sets this strategy apart is not just its effectiveness in growing my own business but, more importantly, its transformative impact on my clients. I now share the valuable insights and techniques I’ve acquired with my clients, teaching them how to create a compelling LinkedIn presence. This, in turn, significantly contributes to their success in navigating and excelling in their own job searches.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.findsucceedachieve.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mwexlercareercoach
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AchieveinFindingSuccess
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melaniemitchellwexler/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/mwcareercoach
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0PKqjQpfkZJtcH5EgjEWnw