Exploring Life & Business with Khoren Claiborne of The 9 to 5 Pro

Today we’d like to introduce you to Khoren Claiborne. 

Hi Khoren, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers.
Growing up in the Northwest part of Washington, DC provided me with numerous opportunities of success. From an early age, I knew my circumstances were different from a lot of my peers who lived around me. My mom specifically, poured greatness and love into me as a child and still does to this day. Once I graduated from high school, I enrolled in college in Greensboro, NC and had to quickly learn how to be self-sufficient and utilize my gifts to make things happen. I landed my first Federal Government job as an unpaid intern at the Department of Treasury in Washington, DC as a freshman in college. My mom wrote my resume and pretty much coached me on how to be an effective interviewer. I watched my mom write many resumes including mine and she always made it a point to show me her strategies and visually help me understand what I needed to succeed. I literally kicked and fought against taking the role because in my young 18-year-old mind… I wanted money! I didn’t see the value in working for free. It’s so funny how life comes full circle because that very job aided me in landing my first permanent Federal Government position currently at the National Science Foundation where I’ve been ever since. While balancing a full-time career and finishing up my bachelor’s degree simultaneously, I was desperately looking for something that I truly enjoyed investing time in outside of my responsibilities of work and school. I finally graduated in 2018, and immediately jumped into entrepreneurship ventures and ideas. I started designing phone cases and selling them online, then I became a certified lash technician and started to sell magnetic lashes, but neither of those paths seem to fit. I am a very creative and hands-on person who expresses herself in her presentation or in the work/projects she produces. I needed something that would not only fulfill me but also something that expressed ME. I had been writing resumes of friends and family for a little bit in college and post-college. I took a professional development course at my job which resulted in me becoming a Certified Career Coach/Facilitator. In that class, my instructor helped me to visualize what ways I could help the community with my knowledge and newly acquired skills. It was in that class that I realized I knew how to write very good resumes. The resumes weren’t the end all be all, but I at least knew I had the foundational pieces to grow on. I started taking trainings and joining webinars to gain as much resume and industry knowledge as I could. I offered free resume and cover letter revamps for about a month and a half. I was able to help over 20 people transition careers, gain career clarity, and even secure higher-paying roles. I am so very grateful to those who supported me then and actually utilized my services because it was those clients who allowed me to strengthen my skills and writing capabilities. That’s when I knew I had found my niche. Now, in year 2 of business, The 9 to 5 Pro has grown and continues to grow beyond what I had ever imagined. My mission has always been to be a pillar of resources and opportunities to those who may not have had the guidance, support, and coaching that I was given since an adolescent. I am a well of knowledge constantly soaking up new things and I feel it is my duty and responsibility as a product of successful guidance to give that back to others in whatever capacity that may be. The 9 to 5 Pro is on its way to becoming a professional development hub full of opportunity and career success for those willing to bet on themselves and see all of the successful outcomes possible. 

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Nothing worth it comes easy. I made many mistakes starting out simply by not doing the due diligence of researching and/or listening and taking the advice of others. Starting a business sometimes creates a massive bubble of “I got it”. I am the CEO, the Director of Operations, the Chief Resume Writer, and so much more, so sometimes it gets difficult to ask for help or to really even allow yourself to not only hear others’ opinions but to truly listen to them. That has been one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned. Listen to your gut. If your gut is telling you that a particular aspect of business it out of your wheelhouse, listen! Learn to outsource and delegate to allow yourself the space to stay clearheaded and focused. Learn to ask for help. The entrepreneurship journey has been a wild ride but when you start to see the bigger picture and finally give yourself permission to envision complete success everything becomes worth it. 

As you know, we’re big fans of The 9 to 5 Pro. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
The 9 to 5 Pro is an exponential professional development hub that focuses on complete professional branding and full resume optimization for both private and Federal Government industries. As a results-driven professional resume writer, my forte lies in creating the most attractive and fully optimized resumes for ambitious career changers and aspiring millennial executives. The 9 to 5 Pro is your one-stop shop where your job search meets convenience. Let us do the job for you! We offer resume and cover letter optimization, LinkedIn revamps and critiques, job application services, interview coaching, and more! 

I am most proud of the success my business has had. In 2 years, I have about a 95% success rate of my Federal Government resumes being referred and candidates being called for interviews. This is exceptional for a young and aspiring resume writer. I’ve grown with my clients, and I love the relationships I have been able to build with them outside of their professional journey. This path was meant for me, and I believe that I have fallen into my purpose. This is why I stress confidence-boosting strategies to my clients because no one will support you if you don’t support yourself. No job will hire you if you don’t believe you’re hireable. Believe in yourself and trust me they will make room at the table for you. Period! 

What do you think about happiness?
Having the opportunity to change the world. I grew up being a very kind and genuine person, always wanting to help others, but often feeling that I was inadequate or incapable. I mean what did I know? Now, writing resumes and supporting people with gaining career clarity, and learning how to highlight their career value, makes me ecstatic. I get to help people!!! 🙂 And actually, know what I am talking about and have the results to prove it. I love making other people happy and helping them find fulfillment. 

Pricing:

• Federal Government Resume – $249
• Private Industry Resume – $199
• Cover Letter – $49
• Job Application Services – $75
• LinkedIn Profile Revamp – $75

Contact Info:

• Website: www.the9to5pro.com
• Instagram: @the9to5pro
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/the925pro

Image Credits
Bryanna Goode