From Kiosk to Cubicle: How I helped an entry level candidate get their first corporate job!
The secrete to getting your first corporate job!
From Kiosk to Cubicle: How I Helped an Entry-Level Candidate Land Her First Corporate Job
As a recruiter, I’ve worked with all types of candidates from all kinds of backgrounds. But one story that always sticks with me is about an entry-level candidate who was working in retail but had dreams of moving into a corporate role. With some guidance and a revamped approach to her resume, she achieved her goal—and this story highlights how any candidate, with the right approach, can make that same leap.
Initial Connection
Our journey began when I first connected with her over a phone call. Immediately, I could tell she was well-spoken and intelligent—she had this natural charisma and warmth in how she communicated. But despite her impressive interpersonal skills, her resume didn’t reflect her potential. The work she’d done in retail was portrayed in a way that made her seem less qualified than she actually was. Her skills weren’t being showcased in a way that would catch the attention of a corporate hiring manager.
The Resume Transformation
During our conversation, I learned about her role in retail: she assisted customers, managed transactions, and helped with inventory. But she’d described these tasks on her resume in broad, generic terms, which didn’t capture the full extent of her experience or how her skills could transfer to a corporate setting. Together, we took a closer look at her daily responsibilities and reframed them to highlight the skills that would make her shine in a corporate customer service or customer accounts role.
For example, instead of “helped customers,” her resume now said:
Assisted over 50 customers daily with product questions, order issues, and service requests
Handled 25+ inbound and outbound calls each day, addressing customer inquiries and scheduling appointments
Managed order transactions and inventory control with 100% accuracy using proprietary systems
By making these adjustments, we transformed her resume from “retail associate” to “customer service professional,” positioning her as someone with experience relevant to a corporate environment.
The Application Process
With her new resume in hand, we applied for a customer service role at a well-known financial company with a local headquarters. After submitting her application, she was thrilled to be invited for an interview. But we weren’t done yet—next came interview prep.
I coached her on how to talk about her experience in a way that paralleled what was on her resume. I helped her practice answering common interview questions, and we focused on how she could share her retail experience in a way that demonstrated her ability to work well under pressure, her communication skills, and her dedication to providing quality service.
Success in the Interview
On interview day, she went in prepared and confident. She was able to convey her strengths clearly, drawing connections between her experience in retail and the skills needed for the corporate role. The hiring manager was impressed, and she received a job offer shortly after. She had done it—she’d landed her first corporate job.
The Takeaway
The moral of the story? Job seekers often have more relevant skills than they realize. The key is to reflect on what you’ve been doing and how those tasks can translate into skills for the role you want next. Don’t let a job title define your experience; instead, dig into the details of your responsibilities and accomplishments to highlight the value you bring.
If you’re ready to take the leap into a new role, focus on crafting a resume that tells your story and prepares you to talk about your experience in a way that resonates with hiring managers. You’ve got this!
