Testimonials
Career Solutions
PO Box 1296
Alpharetta, Georgia 30009
Dear Ms. Collins:
Your consulting staff told me that I was worth much more on the employment market than I had been earning and that I needed to open up enough of the right opportunities to see this for myself. Well, you did that for me and because I was prepared with the proper interview and negotiation coaching, I am now enjoying a 31% increase in salary from my previous position. I also negotiated an extra week of vacation time, as you suggested. Considering my marketing campaign began less than 4 months ago, this is certainly faster, and much more lucrative, than how I was searching in the past.
My success, as a result of working with Career Solutions, astonishes me, even now. When I was initially contacted by your consulting staff I had been searching for a job for roughly three months. I had posted my resume and information on Monster.com, CareerBuilder.com, ResumeSpider.com and a few other websites. My job search consisted of combing these sites and guessing which postings were actual jobs and how to simultaneously appeal to HR and hiring managers. Additionally, I had to determine which recruiters were just looking for resumes to present to a prospective client and which recruiters were retained employers. In short, my job search involved a lot of guesswork and wishful thinking.
With some effort Patti, you helped and encouraged me to come up with a list of contacts, personnel and professional. I was skeptical of this for two reasons; first, I did have many contacts (the first batch of letters only went to six people) and second, I didn’t want to bother these people (that was my perception how these people would respond to my calls). I am an engineer, so cold calling people is not in my nature. I am both surprised and pleased with the results of my networking efforts. Thank you for guiding me.
Obviously this approach to a job search is very different than sifting through websites. Submitting resumes to postings from the major job boards does provide the immediate and tangible feeling of having done something each day. I have a large stack of postings I submitted to prior to working with Career Solutions. A problem with doing that is it takes a lot of time sorting through all the postings and there is such a low percentage of success. It is easy to think I can improve the odds by simply pushing more resumes out there. And that points to the other big problem with my old job search approach, psychological. I realized the more resumes I submitted (and consequently the more I didn’t hear back from) the more frustrated I was becoming which could easily have turned into desperation and that would have come across in an interview. Submitting to postings on the major job boards became akin to launching a paper airplane from the upper deck of a stadium in hopes hitting a specific seat number while a hurricane was blowing. I had no idea where my airplane was headed.
Thank you for everything.
Yours Sincerely,
John P.
Charlotte, NC
Dear Patti and staff,
I am writing this thank-you note as a result of your great assistance to me in finding my new position. The effort put forth by the Career Solutions staff was nothing short of outstanding in all facets of my search, including providing top quality documentation in the form of resumes, cover letters, position leads and follow-up. More important was the coaching and receiving relevant job leads based on my criteria, one of which I pursed and accepted. My marketing director was in contact with me at least twice a week to review progress and the weekly position log was a good tool to follow my activity.
My only regrets were the fact that I didn’t find Career Solutions sooner as I had already hired two of the companies’ competitors - one at a substantially higher fee. What did this higher fee get me? They gave me template resumes that generated no activity and a search engine that provided job postings 2 days later than they were posted on the original job board. They said they would get me into the unpublished job market and that never happened either. My marketing director called me only twice in a fourteen week period. This firm succeeded only in taking double the money Career Solutions charged for absolutely no service.
The second firm I hired never even wrote a resume for me. They relied on the one I had submitted to them along with a qualification match I created for each position they sent me. They were better than the expensive firm but were totally less effective than Career Solutions.
In my new position as a Senior Corporate Officer, I will recommend Career Solutions to anyone in my network based on your trustworthiness, direct approach and a sense that I felt the people really cared. The most important factor was that I accepted an offer at a firm that met all my needs and with a compensation package greater than $200,000 annually, which was more than adequate. I was told from the beginning that the average client with Career Solutions is successfully employed in their new career in 90 to 120 days. I thought that was very aggressive, but my marketing campaign, from the day I signed my contract to become a client was achieved in only 94 days, well below the average time for a search for an executive position.
Regards,
Doug C.
Date: April 30, 2006
To: Patricia Collins
From: Barry V
RE: Acceptance of Job Offer
Hi Patti,
I wanted to send you a quick note letting you know I have officially accepted a new Position at Bankers Fidelity in Atlanta. I accepted on Friday and I start tomorrow. The firm has some growth challenges and is hoping I can be the change agent needed to overhaul their product line and increase their recruiting and sales.
While the starting pay is lower then I wanted the opportunity to become the Chief Marketing Officer in 6 months and a potential of becoming President in two years while being 30 minutes from my current home is an opportunity I could not pass on at this point in my career.
Without you and Career Solutions professional approach in sending letters and resumes, I don’t believe this unpublished position would have come my way. The President of Bankers Fidelity contacted me based on the letter you designed, which was sent to Senior Executives in my field.
Patti, I can not thank you enough for your advice, support and the direction you have provided me over the past weeks. You are a truly a professional and a wonderful person. Your direction as well as being my sounding board over these weeks has made this transition much easier than I ever expected. I appreciate all your assistance.
Thank you again Patti!
Barry J. V
Alpharetta, Ga
December 27, 2006
To: Ms. Patricia Collins, VP of Marketing Services and
Career Solutions Marketing Staff
Dear Ms. Collins and Staff:
While working with Career Solutions I have encountered the distinct pleasure of working with Ms. Patti Collins and her entire professional staff. She was my Marketing Director while I engaged in my contract search for employment.
She is a conscientious hard working individual who goes the extra distance to make sure the job gets done. She is always searching for a possible solution for any problem that arises.
The marketing staff at Career Solutions is diligent and determined and I was happy to have them on my side of the ledger.
I would be happy to discuss any reference requirements that they may need.
Carl B
Memphis, Tennessee
Dear Ms. Collins,
When Sharon F contacted me to offer Career Solutions’ services, my career search had been stalling and I needed a big push. Although I realized my needs and the value of the services, I was in a tight financial spot and it took me a while to decide whether to make the investment in myself. Sharon helped me look into financing alternatives and I signed up with Career Solutions once the funds became available.
My search officially began a few weeks ago, and I’m very happy with the decision to partner with Career Solutions. Since I started the process, my resume is outstanding, employers are contacting me, and I’ve become more confident in my ability to reach my career goals. The investment is worth every penny as my success was quick and beyond my expectations and I would encourage anyone who is sitting on the fence to jump in and take charge of their career today.
Sincerely,
Denise W.
Tampa, Florida
Dear: Patti Collins, Career Solutions
This is to serve as a letter of reference for Career Solutions and Ms. Patricia Collins, VP of Marketing Services.
I have had the distinct pleasure and honor of working with Patti since February of 2007. During this period of time, I can state unequivocally that she changed my life in more ways than one.
Prior to entering the agreement with her, I was unemployed for almost 8 months. I was utilizing all the traditional methods of seeking a new position to no avail. I searched website after website with virtually no responses with the exception of the typical ones, which offered commissioned sales positions. I also utilized my industry’s trade papers and received rejections without companies interviewing me.
I realized I had to do something differently. A former client of Patti’s referred me to her. Upon reviewing my resume, she immediately recognized that my resume was working against me. She transformed it from the typical chronological statement of where I worked and what my responsibilities were to a document of accomplishments. She made me aware that I was reluctant to promote myself. As a result of this exercise, she awakened my sense of self confidence and brought me out of my depression. She made me believe in myself again; something that was lacking in me during my period of unemployment.
The assignments and exercises she put me through were challenging, educational and essential in order for me to reach my goal. She taught me how to interview, both on the telephone and in person and how to sell myself. What was truly amazing was the fact each question that we rehearsed was asked by my prospective employer and because of her constant prodding, I nailed these questions. She also removed the age factor (I’m over 50) and taught me how to make this a positive. I also have only a high school education and thought this was going to keep me from ever landing a good job. Despite age and education I am now a National Sales Manager for a Fortune company and beat out several candidates with Masters degrees for my new job.
There were so many other components to this process. However, if it were not for Patti, I would not have had the opportunity to land the executive position I’ve been seeking for a long time. I admire her skills, her knowledge, her dedication to me as if I were her only client, and I worship the ground she walks on.
In summary, I highly recommend her and Career Solutions. I only wish I found out about her much earlier.
Sincerely,
Howard M. K
Marietta, Georgia
Ms. Patricia Collins
Career Solutions
Alpharetta, Georgia
Dear Patti,
I want to thank you for all of the support, encouragement and wisdom that you have given to me during such a stressful time in my life. I have not had to “search” for a job in more than 25 years, and although my professional experience is deep and wide, my age and my lack of an advanced degree have made it a very challenging experience.
I know I would not have found my new position without your hard work, determination and your expert guidance.
Thank you again.
Sincerely,
Jean B.
Alpharetta, Ga.
To: Ms. Patricia Collins
Dear Patti,
Thank you so much for the expert assistance you provided in my search for a new position. Without you and Career Solutions I know I would not have found a position in the “Non-profit” world and certainly would not have advanced my career to that of a Managing Director. I certainly appreciate your knowledge and understanding of the Non-profit environment.
I am convinced the compensation package I received is among the best for work in a nonprofit environment. I have the opportunity to expand my division, almost as an entrepreneurial enterprise over the next few years, possibly creating many exciting career advancement options along the way. Your interview coaching allowed me to convincingly sell myself and my professional skill sets and win the offer over some very qualified competition.
Sincerely,
Kay W.
Irvine, California
Lisa J
Charlotte, NC
May 12, 2006
Dear Patti:
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you and your marketing staff for helping me secure my dream job, Vice President of Sales/Business Development for GreenStone Media. I couldn’t ask for a position that fits more of my ideal criteria. Without you, I am not sure I would have had the confidence, much less the strategy, to find and secure the job.
When you and I first talked, I was going through more emotions than I can remember. After leaving the company that had been my home for 15 years, I was questioning my own value and completely lost on where to focus my efforts. Your patience and understanding helped me get through each and every day. Your kind words of encouragement (how many times did you talk me out of a tree?) kept me focused and gave me hope. The strategy Career Solutions proposed was dead on.
Now, I am earning a great living and working in an ideal environment. The people I work for are supportive, appreciative, encouraging and I have a whole new lease on life. I told you I wanted a challenge and I got it! However, I have the chance to succeed, to be a hero. And we both know how I like that.
Thank you. You have done an awesome job. I enjoyed every conversation we had. You have the intelligence, drive, people skills and passion to accomplish amazing things. It is always a pleasant surprise when you work with someone who not only gets the job done, but becomes a friend. Speaking of that, please stay in touch.
Sincerely;
Lisa J
Vice President of Sales/Business Development
GreenStone Media
February 12, 2007
Ms. Patricia Collins
VP of Marketing Services
Career Solutions
Alpharetta, Georgia
Dear Ms. Collins,
I want to thank you and your marketing staff for helping me find a position as Marketing Director for a Commercial Real Estate company here in New York. The Career Solutions resume and letters helped a lot and the assistance in negotiations was greatly appreciated.
I will certainly send referrals to you whenever possible and when I am ready for my next career advancement, if it is not here, I will certainly contact Career Solutions.
Patti, thank you again for all the assistance and guidance you provided in my search.
Regards,
Marcus W.
Rye, New York
Dear Career Solutions:
Prior to signing with Career Solutions, I had been looking for a position for six month. There was the odd interview with small engineering firms but I never hear back from them, which was confusing since I thought most of the interviews went very well.
After Career Solutions reworked my resume and sent it to hiring managers of mid-cap to large companies, I suddenly had more interviews than I ever anticipated. Also, the career positioning was substantially better than what I was experiencing on my own. My marketing program included an entire day at the Career Solutions’ offices for “Premium Interview and Negotiations Coaching Services.” What I learned was that I had been deluding myself as to my abilities to interview effectively. I left Alpharetta at the end of my sessions with Patti Collins, having been coached on how to answer just about any question that was asked, knowing that the next opportunity was mine to win. Having the knowledge of how to interview properly is great, but having the confidence that I am better at interviewing than any of my competition is better.
I have been so successful that two large companies have offered me a challenging position with salaries approximately 25% higher than I was previously earning.
Thank you Career Solutions.
Patrick S.
Seattle, WA
Marketing Directors
Career Solutions
Alpharetta, GA 30005
I have secured a position with Quick Crete Products as their new Operations Manager. It is a new, vitally important and strategic position, crucial to the future growth of the company. It will allow the owners to concentrate on their fields of expertise and enable me to act as a principal agent of change and growth.
After emigrating from the UK with my family the pressure to find the ideal job was mounting. The prospect of a job search and the challenges that brings was daunting. I wanted a new opportunity, new challenges, new people, an opportunity to use my talents and creativity to the full in a company that would grow and offer career advancement with people that I like. Not too much then.
Your expert advice, timely comments, kindly manner, and encouraging words, even after I made a total hash of our first practice interview question, were exactly what I needed to complete my job search successfully. The hours of personal interview coaching and knowing what to expect in every interview, made me very confident in my abilities to secure offers.
My family and I cannot wait to get to California and start the next chapter in our lives.
Thank you!
Anthony L
Tampa, Florida