Reimaging Executive Resume Writing
Have you ever thought about the fact that the top companies in the world hire PR firms to create credible brand awareness, set the right tone for communication, gain visibility and get better results?
What makes you different?
Life is a business, and you are your own CEO. You are the brand!
- How do you define your brand identity?
- What differentiates you from other job applicants?
- What are you known for?
That’s where we can come in. We aren’t just a resume writing company; we are a boutique executive career PR firm.
Our clients are not looking for a quick solution. They appreciate the thoughtful approach we take to uncovering their unique career story. We are not a resume mill; we intentionally only take on a few clients at a time. Many of our clients tell us that our intake process helped them have a deeper understanding of their strengths and a new appreciation of their accomplishments.
Our Founder
Sarah Johnston is a former corporate recruiter and industry “insider” who got tired of seeing talented high-achievers get passed over for opportunities because they did not have the proper marketing documents or know how to position themselves in interviews. She has relocated multiple times across the country as a “trailing spouse” and has had to execute job searches in completely cold markets (where she literally knew no one).
Clients appreciate Sarah’s kind demeanor and direct communication style. She usually knows the right question to ask at the right time.
Sarah is a certified YouMap coach who gives a holistic framework for helping uncover motivation and strengths. She was named a LinkedIn Top Voice in the career space in 2019, called the owner of the “best resume writing firm for experienced executives” by Balance Careers, and a “top follow” by JobScan in 2019 and 2020.
Read more about Sarah’s story below.
What makes us different?
ATS Compliant Executive Resumes
As a former recruiter, Sarah has interviewed hundreds (if not thousands!) of job seekers and has seen her fair share of good and bad resumes. She has a deep understanding of what companies are looking for in a candidate. She’s also used applicant tracking systems (ATS) like Taleo and iCims and understands how recruiters scan resumes. We are actively engaged with industry organizations like the Career Thought Leaders Consortium and participate in regular learning and development.
Excellent Client Outcomes
We get to know our clients and love celebrating their successes! Because we take privacy very seriously and extend a confidentiality agreement to our clients at the start of our engagement, we are unable to share real client stories, resumes, or LinkedIn profiles. Thankfully, these incredible clients of ours love to send us referrals!
Around 25-40% of our booked business includes referrals from either past clients, close friends, or former colleagues.
We know that social proof is a significant factor when making a decision. We have over 50 public reviews on LinkedIn or Google Business and many stories on our website.
Do we guarantee success?
No. No legitimate resume writing company will ever offer that promise. It’s impossible to ensure that you’ll land the executive job that you want, in the location you are interested in, at the comp level that you deserve.
We do guarantee that you’ll be satisfied with the final product. We will do everything we can to ensure that you love the documents. That being said, it’s not uncommon for our clients to start getting recruiter calls just weeks after our work is finished.
Another quality indicator is that we see a significant number of “boomerang clients”—or individuals who landed a job and then want to work with us again to position for future promotion or new role.
Sarah Johnston: A Brief Career History
“At the University of Georgia, I took a class through my Leadership Fellowship that encouraged us to reflect on our career goals… as a 20-year-old, I decided my mission was to place people in positions I see them really flourishing.”
— Sarah Johnston
Recruiter Turned Executive Coach
Sarah went to work for one of the largest privately held companies in the southeast. She fell in love with recruiting. Sarah loved meeting diverse, interesting people and was passionate about uncovering their talents, strengths, and dreams.
As a trailing spouse, she’s made multiple cross-country moves for her spouse’s career. Following her husband has meant she’s reinvented herself in cities where she knew no one. She’s an expert networker and friend to all. Her experience job searching in cold markets gives her a unique perspective.
Sarah Johnston Named Top Career Voice
Sarah was named a LinkedIn Top Voice in the career space. Her influence on the platform has allowed her to speak regularly to podcasts job search clubs across the country. Her business, The Briefcase Coach, was named the top executive resume writing firm for experienced executives by Balance Careers. Sarah has been named to HR Weekly’s list of 100 Most Influential People in HR Globally.
Executive Resume Writer and Job Search Coach Based in Durham, NC
Sarah is based in the “Research Triangle” of North Carolina. You can usually find Sarah and her family at the Durham Farmers Market, at a sporting event, or out running on one of the many beautiful trails in Duke Forest.