Before taking on her new recruiting position, Caitlin felt stagnant in her previous role. "I felt like my options for growth were limited after doing the same things for over 10 years," Caitlin shared. "Achieve allowed me to break out of that cycle. Now, I can give back to others and help them build careers they love."
Caitlin’s tips for creating a strong resume
As a career coach, Caitlin discusses the benefits of a strong resume with her mentees. Having reviewed thousands as a recruiter, she knows what makes candidates stand out when wanting to advance their careers internally. "The best place to start is by ensuring your resume reflects your current employment situation," she said. Caitlin also emphasizes the importance of using simple bullet points rather than lengthy paragraphs. "Companies often use applicant tracking systems that search for keywords. Keeping your resume concise makes finding relevant information easier for these systems."
On top of making it concise and up-to-date, it also needs to be as error-free as possible to avoid confusion for the recruiter or hiring manager. "Double-check your dates, spelling, and grammar. I’ve seen resumes with conflicting dates, and candidates often say it was just a typo." It’s essential to ask someone else to review your resume and ensure it’s polished and professional.
For those with limited work experience in their dream job, Caitlin advises highlighting transferable skills. "Volunteer or academic work is valuable, too. Get creative with your descriptions. For example, a stay-at-home parent could list 'Family Coordinator' or 'Director of Household Activities'—the skills involved, like managing a budget or organizing schedules, are just as important."
How to grow your career internally
For internal promotions, Caitlin’s advice is clear: Always work toward the next step. "Your current role is an audition for your next one," Caitlin explained. "If you're not meeting expectations now, you won’t be considered for a promotion later."
Being proactive is also key. "Speak up about your career goals with your manager and ask for feedback regularly. It shows that you are committed to personal growth and improvement."
While technical skills are essential, the most valued skill in leadership roles is the ability to collaborate with and help others. "Most hiring managers look for a desire to develop and mentor others," Caitlin explained. "If you don’t have leadership experience, find opportunities to coach your colleagues or help with projects." Get more of Caitlin’s tips for internal career growth in her detailed article on Internal Mobility.
Short and long-term career strategies
When setting new goals, Caitlin recommends breaking them down into simple steps. "Start with small, realistic actions that you can build on. For example, if you want to become a people manager, a short-term goal could be completing a leadership course or taking on a special project outside your regular role."
Once you’ve set your plan, keeping a “success log” is an easy and effective way to track progress. "Every time you feel good about something you’ve done or receive positive feedback, add it to your log," Caitlin suggested. "This helps keep your confidence up and gives you evidence of your accomplishments when it’s time for an interview or performance review."
It's important to share your strategy with someone already in the place you want to be. Finding a mentor to help you along your journey is key to accomplishing those intentions. Mentorship has played a significant role in Caitlin’s life over the years. "I’ve had the chance to work with many great leaders at Achieve who have encouraged me and helped me build confidence," Caitlin said. "One of the most impactful people was Heather Marcom. She encouraged me to speak up more, and her support has made a huge difference in my personal and professional life."
In addition to finding support from co-workers, taking advantage of your company’s resources is a great way to continue your education and challenge yourself in new ways. Achieve has a wealth of resources to help employees move forward. "From career development programs to leadership training courses and college credit opportunities, there are many ways for employees to develop their skills," Caitlin said. "Our six Employee Resource Groups also host workshops supporting personal and professional development."
Final thoughts: Lessons on career development
Caitlin's advice is simple for anyone just starting out or looking to make a change: "Learn as much as you can, ask questions, and observe others. You’ll find your way, and as you grow, share your knowledge with others." No matter where you are in your career, the journey doesn’t have to be solitary—you have the power to shape your path and inspire others to do the same.
"Embrace challenges because they will make you stronger. If you feel like you’re in the wrong position, talk to someone before making a drastic decision. Every job makes an impact, and taking pride in your work will help you grow."
