Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Jaqui Winston, Founder of New CV, located in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, UK.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
My business is all about getting people in front of recruiters and hiring managers so they can sell their personal brand at interviews. I write CVs, LinkedIn profiles, and cover letters for people at all career stages who are looking for a new role.
Clients come to me having struggled to write their own CV or after multiple rejections, they may have been made redundant or got stuck in a rut, or they may be fired up to go for promotion but are too close to the subject (themselves) to be able to write about it objectively.
Whether my client is a recent graduate or a senior company director, I drill down into the detail to ensure the reader (of the CV, LinkedIn profile, or letter) is inspired to find out more because they can see how much the person has already achieved.
Tell us about yourself
My first career was in sales and marketing management, and the skills I learned are totally relevant to what I do now. My business was born when I was a part-time marketing executive with small children at school and was heavily involved with school fundraisers. I was surrounded by smart women who had had amazing careers before taking a break to raise their families, but now they could not get interviews for even the most simple jobs. Their confidence was at rock bottom. I wondered if there was a communication issue and took on the challenge to write a CV for one such woman. I did my homework and wrote the CV, and she got an interview (quite a few in the end) and a job.
From that niche beginning, New CV has grown, and I now work for people from all walks of life and in all circumstances. The excitement is still the same as ever. I take on a client who is usually stuck in some way, and they get used to me asking lots of questions; we work closely to make sure I miss nothing then I send them off with a bounce in their step and the confidence to apply for the roles they want. The ultimate "yay" moment is when they come back to report they got the job they wanted, and their confidence is sky-high!
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment as a business owner has been taking a feeling of "something is not right here" and evolving it into a successful, much-in-demand enterprise that makes a significant difference to lots of individuals' lives.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
Being a solopreneur has its drawbacks, and one of the hardest things is to keep on top of everything from admin, networking, marketing, social media, and business planning, as well as doing the thing I do best - writing the CVs, LinkedIn profiles, and letters. It takes focus and good prioritisation skills to keep all the balls in the air.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Research and know your market.
- If you get it wrong, you learn; if you get it right, you learn. Keep your mind open, and keep learning.
- Be financially astute, it is easy to get stuck in the process of running the business and doing the do, but you need to have a financial plan, and your numbers need to add up.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.newcv.co.uk/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jaqui.winston.52
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaqui-winston/
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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