Capstone Resume Services

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Amy Gies, CPRW, Founder and CEO of Capstone Resume Services, located in Mountain View, CA, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

My business is a professional service providing resume, LinkedIn profile, executive biography, and cover letter writing services. Our customers are leaders of industry and executives looking to strengthen their brand, professionals looking to progress their careers to the next level, professionals looking to showcase transferable skills into a new career, or people wanting to see what's out there in the job market and get conversations going with potential employers.

Tell us about yourself

I launched Capstone Resume Services, Inc. in 2013. At the time, I had just worked for a start-up in San Francisco, heading their resume services division and overseeing that national program. It did very well and earned millions every year; however, after two years, the CEO wanted us to stop talking to clients on the phone. Just take what they have on their resume and "edit" it. That would have caused a significant loss in quality as people do not know how or what to write about themselves. As writers, it's incredibly important to have a conversation "beyond the page" to discuss deeper points of approach to work, leadership style, and back story to key contributions. I launched Capstone with this in mind. With this work, I get to meet amazing people every day and help them position themselves in the job market to realize their career goals and earning potential and provide for their families. No two collaborations are the same. It's exciting for me to not only own the company but still take on writing projects to stay current with what's happening with clients. That's very important to me.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Still being around and growing! It's an achievement to set a goal, understand and build a business model around your competitive edge in the market, and still see growth year over year nine years in. I'm incredibly proud of that.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

Getting used to wearing multiple hats all the time. Not only do you need to provide the services, but you're also the Chief Financial Officer, Chief Information Officer, Head of Human Resources, Chief Marketing Officer, and Head of Customer Relations. Once you set a plan to allocate time to each of these functions, it becomes second nature after a while.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

Make sure you understand your industry and consumer base! Know what others in the industry are already offering and what you will offer that will be competitive in the industry. Know why customers would come to you and provide a product or service that meets those needs.
Be ready to put in the work! Launching a brand, especially a new brand that doesn't have a consumer base yet, takes a lot of work and dedication to get known. It won't happen overnight, but persistence pays off. Be ready to put in many hours and allow time to do so.
Make sure you invest in a website. This is your calling card, accessible by anyone in the world. It's a wise investment to make sure you have SEO optimization and the right site elements to rank higher on google.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.capstoneresumes.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CapstoneResumeServices/
Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/capstoneresumes
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/capstone-resume-services/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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