From Manager to VP: How a Strategic Resume Made All the Difference
Interviewee: Aarti Mehta, Senior Marketing Manager
Interviewer: Tanvi Sharma, Senior Resume Strategist at Prosumely
Q1: Aarti, what made you realize it was time to revamp your resume?
After spending nearly a decade in the same organization, I realized that I had outgrown my role and was ready to aim for a Vice President position. Despite being a consistent top performer and receiving accolades for major campaign successes, I wasn't being shortlisted for higher-level roles. My resume was clearly failing me. It looked like a laundry list of responsibilities and didn't reflect my evolution as a strategic leader. The final straw came when a recruiter told me, "Your profile looks promising, but your resume doesn't do justice to your caliber." That's when I knew it was time to invest in professional help.
Q2: What were your biggest struggles with your old resume?
My resume was outdated and largely task-oriented. It read like a job description rather than a strategic narrative of my achievements. It didn't articulate the outcomes I had delivered or the value I had created for my organization. I also lacked a strong executive summary and had no real formatting structure. Every time I looked at it, I felt it didn't represent who I had become professionally. It didn't show my journey from an execution-focused manager to a visionary team leader driving multimillion-dollar campaigns.
Q3: How did Prosumely approach your resume transformation?
Tanvi and her team at Prosumely started with an in-depth strategy call where they tried to understand not just what I had done, but why and how I had done it. They looked for patterns in my success stories, identified leadership traits, and highlighted measurable outcomes. Instead of rewriting what was already there, they helped me reframe my experiences. For instance, rather than saying I "managed social media campaigns," we showcased how I "led a team that increased lead generation by 120% through data-driven social strategies." The language, tone, and structure were elevated to mirror C-suite readiness.
Q4: What was one surprising insight during the process?
The biggest "aha" moment for me was understanding how underutilized metrics were in my original resume. I had always considered KPIs as internal success markers, but Tanvi helped me see how they are key to external validation too. By quantifying outcomes—like revenue influenced, cost saved, audience growth, or engagement uplift—my resume instantly became more persuasive. It also made me realize the extent of my impact, which in turn boosted my own confidence. I also appreciated how storytelling was used to humanize achievements—not just what I did, but the challenge I solved and how I led others through it.
Q5: How long did the process take, and what was the collaboration like?
The entire process took around 10 working days, and it was incredibly collaborative. It didn't feel like I handed off a task and waited passively. Prosumely made me part of the process. From discovery calls to reviewing drafts and providing feedback, I was involved every step of the way. Their team respected my time and provided thoughtful prompts that made reflection easy. They were also very open to iteration and tweaks, ensuring that the final version was something I felt truly represented my voice and aspirations.
Q6: Did you notice any changes once you started using the new resume?
Absolutely! Within three weeks of updating my resume and LinkedIn profile, I started receiving more recruiter calls. I was invited to interviews with four top-tier companies—one of which was a Fortune 500 brand I had dreamt of working with. More than the number of calls, the quality of conversations improved. Recruiters engaged me as a strategic leader, not just another candidate. It felt like my resume finally opened doors that had been closed despite my capabilities.
Q7: What role did your revamped LinkedIn profile play?
Prosumely didn't just stop at the resume—they optimized my LinkedIn profile to mirror the same professional narrative. My headline was rewritten to include power keywords, and my summary told a compelling story about who I am and what I bring to the table. They even guided me on what kind of content to engage with to increase visibility. As a result, my profile views increased by over 60% and I received inbound interest from hiring managers and industry peers alike.
Q8: What advice would you give professionals looking to elevate their careers?
Don't underestimate the power of a professionally written resume. We often think our work will speak for itself, but in today's competitive job market, presentation matters just as much. A resume isn't just a document—it's a strategic tool that can shape your career trajectory. I wish I had made this investment earlier. If you're serious about moving to the next level, don't DIY. Work with experts like Prosumely who understand how to position you for the roles you deserve.