Careers at The Resource Group | New Roles & Life Transitions
Molly Wilhite, Beth Law, Celine Lawson

Finding and applying for a new role can be a daunting task. This is even more true when you are from a different industry or transitioning to and from life events such as parenthood. At The Resource Group we understand how stressful these changes can be and want you to know you aren't alone. In this Life at The Resource Group post we asked three associates to share their career transition experiences as well as advice they have for prospective applicants.  
Molly Wilhite
Analyst II

Transition: Student to First Job | Molly's Story

When I was first starting my collegiate career I was motivated by a passion to help people and was naturally drawn to nursing; however, I quickly realized I was not made for the nursing lifestyle so I switched to business. Starting my senior year still unsure of how I could combine my passion for hospitality, healthcare, and my business degree, I turned to my friends who exposed me to the business side of healthcare, and specifically The Resource Group. Interning for The Resource Group helped me determine if this type of work was the solution I was looking for (I am happy to say it was). However, I still entered a full-time role unsure of my abilities to meet expectations, deliver results, and support the team in the most effective way. I think most students probably feel this way since classes don't expose you to real world, day-to-day expectations. Luckily, The Resource Group is a curiosity driven company that emphasizes ongoing training, sets reasonable expectations for newcomers, and encourages mistakes to foster growth. I can now confidently say 'I am prepared' for the full-time working world. 
  • How did  you select a position/role based on your academic experience? 
    As I mentioned, helping others while using my degree was the main reason I chose The Resource Group. However, choosing a team within The Resource Group was a huge decision. Throughout my internship, I was exposed to multiple areas of the organization. I quickly narrowed down the list to teams that would expose me directly to local communities, provide leadership roles at each level of work, and foster my creativity. These are all qualities I knew I enjoyed because of my academic experience and I wanted to make sure I chose a role which played to my strengths. 
  • What skills from academics do you think easily transferred over to your resume? Which ones didn't? 
    I think it is pretty normal for most students to highlight coursework when attempting to build a resume for their first job. Although there is nothing wrong with this approach, I focused more on what my coursework exposed me to and on extracurriculars. For example, I highlighted group projects to showcase my leadership abilities and tangible results. Showcasing extracurricular activities also helped me highlight time management and critical thinking skills. These areas seemed more applicable to the roles I applied for and in turn helped me curate a resume that spoke more to what I could offer the company rather than just what I learned in school.
  • What were some of the challenges you faced when constructing your new resume?
    For me it was showcasing my personality and the 'type' of person I am (values, goals, etc.) while still highlighting the benefits I may offer to the organization. Sometimes this can be harder said than done, especially when our experiences don't feel like the perfect combination.
  • What advice do you have for people going through career transitions?
    Confidence is key! The good news is there is not a perfect combination of experiences and skills to guarantee a job offer. Allowing your confidence to show through your resume by highlighting what you have to offer is really important (and will make for great conversation during the interview). Be proud of who you are, how far you have come, and don't be afraid to highlight some areas that are uniquely YOU even if they may not 100% align with the job you are applying for. When someone has this attitude while constructing their resume, the hiring manager will notice which will increase the likelihood of turning that first impression (resume) into a second one (interview).
Beth Law

Project Specialist, Deployment

Transition: Parenthood and Returning to the Workforce | Beth's Story

I had worked for over six years full-time as a Registered Nurse for a hospital system but life started to take a detour when I had my second child in April 2019.  Adding a second child to our family, coupled with the pandemic, nursing shortages, and the relentless load of motherhood was overwhelming. As much as I tried to keep up, I couldn't, so I quit working full-time. Nine months later, I was ready to get back into the workforce but was worried about my 'time-off' (I use quotes here because unpaid domestic labor IS work) and how that time would impact my ability to be successful in the corporate world. So many doubts crossed my mind: 'Can I juggle a PRN schedule with kids?', 'Will people respect me?', 'What if I fail, how will that look?' and on and on. Regardless, I started looking for a job and I like to say The Resource Group and healthcare supply chain found me. The Resource Group and my whole team have alleviated all my fears and worries and supported me in a way I didn't believe was possible in a corporate environment. I feel valued, I feel I can balance my life, and most importantly I feel an immense amount of trust and respect. 

  • How did you select a position/role based on your needs and pre-parent experience?
    It was important to maintain my work-life balance. Again, the original reason I moved out of the workforce was due to the overwhelming nature of traditional work environments. I also wanted to be able to connect my healthcare background directly to my work. The Resource Group has a vast array of Communities (aka: teams) with varying degrees of clinical exposure. The Community I am now a part of, Deployment, works on engagements more closely related to the clinical space which was a perfect fit for me. It also allowed me to tie in some of my pre-nurse/pre-parent skills that I gained from other work experiences such as waitressing, painting, coaching, and teaching. 
  • What skills from the full time parent phase of life are transferable into the workforce?
    It is unfortunate that many traditional work environments have still yet to embrace the skills parenthood, especially motherhood, bring to the table. As a mom, one of my greatest skills is efficiency and coming up with (usually on the fly) new ways of being effective. We are organized, focused, and deal with fluctuating priorities, schedules, and of course, personalities (#toddlerlife). We excel at listening, crisis management, logistics, relationship building, and empathy. We persevere in ways most people can't fathom. All of these skills and traits are extremely valuable and transferable to many areas of the workforce. It is just a matter of showcasing those skills and having organizations value them even if they are developed in an 'untraditional' way. 
  • Many parents find the 'work gap' on their resumes a challenge to address. Did you face this challenge? If yes, how did you deal with the gap?
    During the interview process, The Resource Group did not make me feel any less respectable than another candidate. However, I questioned myself and what the time gap on my resume said about me. Like I said earlier, we have a ton of skills as parents. I'd recommend being confident in showcasing those skills. Additionally, be confident in your pre-parent life. Just because your experience may be months or years ago does not mean it isn't relevant or that you have 'forgotten' key skills. Lastly, challenge yourself to think about other 'nontraditional' experiences you had while being a parent. Maybe you coached a soccer team, maybe you led the parent-teacher association, or volunteered at a local organization. Many of these experiences continued to shape you and further hone a set of skills that are valuable to the role you are applying for. 
  • What advice would you give parents re-entering the workforce?
    After going through this experience recently, I have lots of advice and I am a huge fan of self-help through reading (I have a list of recommended books if anyone needs it) but I will summarize my thoughts.

    -1: Give yourself grace. It is intimidating to put yourself out there, even more so in this particular situation.
    -2: Be patient with kids, spouses/partners, and teammates and ask for that same patience in return. Open communication is key!
    -3: Play to your strengths. Again, it is already challenging to jump back into the workforce, so start with something that draws on your talents. This will boost your confidence and help you get back into the swing of things.
    -4: Ask for help. It is normal to hesitate to ask others to help you but use your support system and give away power to others. Talk to your manager before you get overwhelmed. Share your priorities openly (aka: don't try to hold a vomiting toddler in your lap and balance work. I've been there and it is not great).
Celine Lawson

Analyst, Deployment

Transition: Different Industries | Celine's Story

Figuring out what I wanted to do when I was in college was very difficult for me. I started pursuing a business degree but ended up choosing a public health degree. After graduating, I still did not have a firm idea of where I wanted to go in my career. Given the pressure to commit to a field, I ended up joining a consulting firm right out of college working with pharmaceutical companies. At this consulting firm, I learned how to do market research, a demand forecasting analysis, and other traditional consulting work. While doing the work, I knew I would be more successful in a different environment. I switched to a new company and gaining a lot of experience in a project management role. Although the work was a much better fit for me, the culture was not. I started looking for new opportunities and I found The Resource Group. When I heard about the company I was so impressed I thought it must have been too good to be true. The Resource Group offered me a perfect balance of business, healthcare, and consulting. Tying everything I wanted to do (and everything I had done in my career so far) into one neat package. After a year at The Resource Group I can confidently say it has been the best career move for me!

  • How did you decide what type of role in a new industry would be best for you based on past experience?
    I had experience in consulting, project management, and healthcare so I knew I wanted something that would combine all those aspects. When I heard about The Resource Group and the opportunity to get exposure to a lot of different parts of healthcare, I was immediately drawn to the organization. In my past jobs, I had to be remote due to COVID-19 lockdowns. The Resource Group offered me the chance to be in a remote environment and in person. The company has each side of the spectrum and plenty of opportunities for collaboration in between. 
  • How did you showcase skills from your previous industry to your resume for the industry you transitioned into? 
    As I was growing my skill set in my first job, I realized the importance of metrics, so I made sure to include metrics highlighting the results and impacts of the deliverables for clients. My resume included my professional experience, specifically my background in project management and analytical work. While I was applying for The Resource Group, I could tell, through online research, that associate experience, culture, and customer service were equally important to highlight. Knowing their emphasis on culture, I made sure that my resume showcased who I am as a person by adding a personal statement and a section on my past volunteering engagements. These elements helped clarify who I was as a person and showcased my strengths outside of the professional world. 
  • What were some of the challenges faced when constructing your new resume?
    The balance between showcasing my personality, skills, and tangible results was difficult for me. As noted above, I wanted to make sure I showcased who I was as a person (especially since the organization emphasized culture) while also being professional and highlighting my transferable skills. The most helpful tool I leaned on was close family and friends who had experience with changing industries. They helped with basic areas such as grammar, spelling errors, and general aesthetics, and they ensured my resume highlighted who I was as a person. They were super helpful, and they gave me a fresh perspective in making sure my resume aligned well with the job I was applying for. 
  • What advice would you have to people from a similar background thinking about applying to a Resource Group position?
    Be prepared for a longer application and interview process. It may seem tedious at first but it truly is rooted in a mutually beneficial framework. Not only does The Resource Group get to see if you are a good fit but you also get to see yourself working at this company. The idea here is, if you can see yourself in the company's culture, fostering connections, and feeling comfortable enough to ask questions and learn, then you will succeed at The Resource Group regardless of your past professional experiences. Don't be afraid to let your personality shine in your resume. Ultimately, skills can be taught and learned , but finding a cultural fit where you can grow yourself is important.