Nydia Sahagún
Career Resources

Practical career guidance for every stage of your career

I grew up in Chicago, put myself through school and built a 25-year marketing career at companies like Target, Wells Fargo and Humana. Along the way, I've hired, coached and mentored a lot of people. These are the fundamentals I share most often.

01
Resumes

Your resume has one job: earn the interview.

  • Keep it to one page until you have roughly ten years of experience.
  • Start each bullet with a strong verb and end it with a result. "Organized a food drive that collected 1,200 pounds for a local pantry" beats "Helped with a food drive."
  • Quantify wherever you can: dollars, people, percentages, hours.
  • Tailor the top third to each role, and mirror the language in the job posting so applicant tracking systems find you.
  • Count everything. Part-time jobs, volunteering, club leadership, family responsibilities and side projects all show work ethic.
  • Use a clean, simple format and send it as a PDF named FirstName-LastName-Resume.
  • Have someone proofread it. One typo can end the conversation.
02
LinkedIn

Your profile is your professional storefront.

  • Use a clear, recent headshot with a plain background and good light.
  • Write a headline that says where you're headed, not only where you are. For example: "Marketing student | Interested in brand strategy and consumer insights."
  • Write your About section in first person: who you are, what you're good at and what you're looking for.
  • Add experience, projects, volunteer work and skills, using the same results-focused bullets as your resume.
  • Personalize every connection request with one sentence on why you're reaching out.
  • Follow companies you admire and comment thoughtfully. Recruiters notice.
  • Turn on Open to Work and set it to recruiters only if you'd rather keep your search private.
03
Interview prep

Preparation turns nerves into confidence.

  • Research the company: what it sells, who it serves, recent news and why you want to be there.
  • Prepare five or six stories using the STAR method: Situation, Task, Action, Result. One of them will answer most behavioral questions.
  • Have a crisp answer to "Tell me about yourself" that covers where you are, how you got here and why this role.
  • Practice out loud, ideally with someone who'll give you honest feedback.
  • Prepare two or three thoughtful questions for the interviewer.
  • Dress one step above the company's everyday standard, and test your camera and audio before a virtual interview.
  • Send a short thank-you note within 24 hours.
04
Career coaching

One-on-one coaching with clear deliverables.

I work one-on-one with people at every stage of their career to build the materials and confidence they need to land the role. Sessions are available in English or Spanish.

  • Resume Development

    $125

    A new or fully reworked resume, ready to send

    Get started

  • Resume and LinkedIn Development

    $200

    A finished resume and an updated LinkedIn profile that tell the same story

    Get started

  • Interview Prep

    $150

    A 60-minute mock interview with feedback and follow-up notes

    Get started

  • Complete Package

    $325

    Resume, LinkedIn and Interview Prep together, a $25 savings

    Get started

To get started, email me with your current role or situation, the opportunity you're preparing for and your current resume, if you have one.

Free tools worth bookmarking

  • O*NET OnLineExplore careers, the skills they require and typical pay.
  • Occupational Outlook HandbookEducation requirements, salaries and job growth by field, from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
  • Google Interview WarmupPractice answering common interview questions out loud and get instant feedback.
  • HandshakeInternships and entry-level jobs for college students.