CAREER IDENTITY SERVICES
Land the job you’re “not qualified” for— by telling the right story.
Most resumes are job descriptions. I'll help you excavate your accomplishments, claim your identity, and stand out—on paper and in the room.
Taught at Quinnipiac for 11 years • Hired at Yale over 47 applicants • Taught at ECSU without a Master's Degree
It's Not Really About the Resume
Most people come to me because they think they need a better resume.
Sometimes they do.
But what I find, over and over again, is that the real challenge runs much deeper.
The real problem is that they've lost sight of the value they bring.
They're so close to their own careers that they can't clearly see the strengths, accomplishments, and patterns that someone else sees almost immediately.
They're unsure how to talk about themselves without minimizing their contributions or sounding like they're bragging.
And if they can't clearly see their own value, it's nearly impossible to communicate it to someone else.
A resume can't solve that problem.
It has to start somewhere deeper.
What Makes This Different
Most career services start with your resume.
I don't.
We begin by uncovering your career identity: the accomplishments, strengths, values, patterns, and experiences that reveal the unique contribution you make.
From there, everything else becomes easier. Your resume reflects who you really are professionally. Your cover letter tells a coherent story. Your networking conversations become more authentic. Your interviews become more confident because you're speaking from clarity instead of trying to remember what you did.
By the time we're finished, you won't just have stronger job search materials.
You'll have a stronger understanding of yourself.
Why your resume isn’t working...YET
If your resume reads like a job posting, you’re blending in. Hiring managers aren’t looking for tasks—they’re looking for proof of value.
I’ll help you uncover and articulate that proof so your materials (and your confidence) finally match what you actually bring.
Boundaries = Identity.
We define who we are by what we allow and what we choose. your career story should do the same.
My signature method - This is what makes me different
The Resume Story Mining Process
We’ll extract 3–5 pivotal accomplishment stories—e.g., times you saved money, improved a process, took initiative, or went above and beyond. As you talk, I capture the skills, talents, and strengths you naturally demonstrate.
The Accomplishments Audit
We surface your distinctive competencies—the strengths that repeat across stories. These become the spine of your resume, the heart of your cover letters, and your “back-pocket” interview answers.
(Yes, we’ll align this to real roles. I’ll guide how to mirror a job posting’s needs without giving you a one-size-fits-no-one template.)
I help you make meaning of your career, especially if it's seemed disjointed.
The common denominator of your career is YOU, so it will absolutely make sense when we look at the big picture.
"I am so grateful for the mindset shift I've experienced. The personal transformation has been even more valuable than the tangible materials I've gotten out of this process. I really can't thank you enough!"
~ Kathleen H.
Why This Works
This isn’t theory. It’s a repeatable process. Here's some of what I've done using these methods:
- Hired at Yale when 47 applied and 15 were interviewed—my resume & interview strategy carried the offer, even though I had no graduate degree and less "experience."
- Taught at Quinnipiac for 11 years—chosen over more “credentialed” candidates because my value was clear.
- Taught my first university- level course without a master’s—networking + positioning opened a door that the rules said should be closed.
Choose Your Path
Every client starts with the Story Mining Session. It’s the foundation for everything else.
1) Resume Story Mining Session (Foundation)
1-hour 1:1 session to run the Story Mining Process™ and Accomplishments Audit™.
You’ll leave with your:
- identified skills & abilities list
- accomplishments list
- distinctive competencies
You'll be ready to plug these into your resume or LinkedIn.
Price: $450
2) Resume + Cover Letter Upgrade
Everything in Story Mining plus:
- 1-hour 1:1 session to tailor one cover-letter
- Resume rewrite/reframe (up to 2 pages)
- 3-5 STAR stories (Situation, Task, Action, Result) for your resume
- One cover letter, guided and tailored to a real posting (I’ll show you how to reflect what they need—without handing the whole recipe away on the page)
- 30 minute 1:1 session to review resume and cover letter
Price: $650
3) Job Strategy Intensive
(Best value)
Everything in the Upgrade plus:
- 90-minute 1:1 strategy session (networking, positioning, application plan)
- Interview prep using your stories as confident, concise answers
- 30 days of email support
- Bonus: Networking for Career Transition & Evaluating and Negotiating Job Offers worksheets
Price: $1,050
"Going through this process completely changed how I think about my career. Barb helped me see it through a completely different perspective, and my confidence has skyrocketed.
I realized I had been defining myself by my technical skills, especially the ones that had gotten rusty over the past few years. Through this process, I completely shifted my perspective. Now I'm focused on who I am, what I bring, and the value I offer. That's really the core of it. The confidence I've gained has been enormous."
~ Kathleen H.
How it works (simple + streamlined)
- Purchase your package above
- Complete a short intake (link will be sent automatically when your purchase is complete).
- Book your session (link will be sent automatically when your purchase is complete).
- We meet on Zoom, do the work, and you leave with clarity + deliverables.
- If upgrading, I deliver your revised materials, you review, and we polish.
You’ll never get “generic edits.” Everything maps back to your distinctive competencies.
Who this is for
- Women who’ve over-given at work and struggle to name their value
- Career changers or re-entering professionals who feel “under-qualified” on paper
- Strong performers who keep getting ghosted after submitting a perfectly nice (but indistinct) resume
"Reading through what Barb created felt so good. Her perspective helped me see strengths and themes in my career that I hadn't recognized on my own. I was so grateful to have someone guiding me through the process."
~ Carrie S.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I don’t have a current resume?
No problem. We start with Story Mining. You’ll walk away knowing exactly what belongs on it.
Can we do interview coaching without Story Mining?
No. Interview confidence flows from your stories. We start there.
How soon will I get my revised materials (if I upgrade)?
Typical turnaround is 7-10 business days after our session.
Do you work outside higher-ed?
Absolutely. The method is industry-agnostic because it’s built on your accomplishments, not buzzwords.
What if I can’t afford the Intensive?
Start with Story Mining. Many clients get traction with that alone, and you can upgrade later.
Ready to claim your value?
Proudly based in New Haven. Boundaries Coach and Career Identity Strategist.