Author name: FirstWeb

Who Is Cynthia B. Okonkwo? I am a wife and a mom who is a people person by heart. I live in metro-Atlanta and work as a Human Resources professional and have over twenty-four years experience in the field. My experience includes Compensation, Training, Recruiting, Employee Relations, Benefits, and Selection Procedure Development; however, Employee Relations is my passion because I enjoy interacting with others and helping them to solve problems. I became interested in Human Resources while on a work-study assignment during my sophomore year in undergraduate school. I chose management as my major because I was not quite certain what I wanted to do after college and I knew that an off-shoot of Business Administration was a safe, general choice that could help me get into a number of career fields. My work-study assignment was as an assistant to the campus Director of Career Services. There, I learned to make cold calls to area businesses to seek out employment opportunities for students and alumni. I also learned how to format vacancy announcements and resumes. Since writing had always been one of my strengths, I enjoyed my assignment so much that I requested to be reassigned to that department for most of the remainder of my undergraduate career. My Director also provided resources on job interview preparation and she allowed me to type resumes for students who did not have one and charge $1 per page to make a few extra bucks. I got a full-time job immediately after graduation, but it wasn’t in Human Resources; however, I had a Vice President who took me under his wings and allowed me to review employment applications for job openings at the Distribution Center where I worked, so this helped to strengthen my resume. It took me about two and a half years to secure my first full-time job in the field of human resources where I became a trained test developer for the State’s Government Merit System. From there my career has continued to grow. My blog was born out of my desire to write a book that provides practical job search tips and advice, from a spiritual, holistic perspective. After having drafted about three chapters, I got busy with grad school and obtained my MBA; got married and started a family. In 2013, I became SPHR (Sr. Professional in Human Resources) certified. I started seeing other people’s blogs, became interested and thought that blogging might be a great alternative, or spring board to completing my book, so here we are today. My sincere hope is that what I write will help someone. Enjoy!

Modern Résumé…

Nnamtique / By

From Generic to Employer-First Resume “If your résumé could be anyone’s, it won’t be remembered.” Let’s talk about the most common résumé problem I see—especially with smart, experienced professionals who know they can do the job: Your résumé is accurate… but generic. And generic résumés don’t get interviews. Because hiring managers aren’t looking for “a …

Modern Résumé… Read More »

Mastering Private-Sector Job Offers: A Step-by-Step Guide

Nnamtique / By

How to Evaluate a Private-Sector Offer Like a Pro (Without Getting Played) If you’re transitioning from federal, state, local government—or any public-sector role—private-sector offers can feel confusing because the money is packaged differently. And that confusion is exactly how people accept a “higher salary” that’s actually a worse deal… or reject a slightly lower base …

Mastering Private-Sector Job Offers: A Step-by-Step Guide Read More »

Measure Your Wins and Paint Your Picture of Success

Interview Prep, Job Search Tips, Nnamtique / By

As an executive job seeker, you must communicate your successes clearly. You will stand out when you quantify your achievements. So, use key performance indicators (KPIs) and measurable results, to demonstrate your impact in a way that resonates with hiring managers and boards of directors. Failing to do so could negatively impact your career trajectory.  …

Measure Your Wins and Paint Your Picture of Success Read More »

INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEWS ARE YOUR GOLDEN PATHWAY TO CAREER SUCCESS

Nnamtique / By

INTRODUCTION: Have you considered using an informational interview to boost your job search and career advancement goals? If you haven’t done so, don’t overlook the positive impact that it could have on your job search and career advancement efforts. WHAT IS AN INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEW? An informational interview is a meeting that gives you access to …

INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEWS ARE YOUR GOLDEN PATHWAY TO CAREER SUCCESS Read More »

Scroll to Top