Khalan Boyer
The Client
Khalan Boyer is a purpose-driven leader with a rich background spanning the nonprofit, private, and public sectors—work that’s always centered around equity, justice, and creating real change. After leaving her corporate role in May 2024, she stepped back to recharge, then reentered the job market in the fall—only to find that the job market had drastically changed.
She quickly discovered how competitive the landscape had become, and how so many of her friends and colleagues were struggling to find their next step. Despite applying to a number of roles, she wasn’t hearing back.
“It had been years since I had to apply proactively for a job, and it was hard to figure out how to position myself, especially since my experience touches so many sectors.”
Like many leaders who’ve built their careers through mission-driven work, Khalan was great at making an impact—but found it tough to translate that into job search strategy, especially in an environment where so many executives working in DEI and racial equity work were out of work. She was looking for someone who really understood today’s job market and could help her tell her story with more clarity and confidence.
The Engagement & Our Impact
Khalan heard about Carrington Talent Group through a friend who had worked with us; we decided Khalan would benefit most from our Job Search Advice package. Our focus was on helping Khalan get clear on her narrative, build updated materials that truly reflected her strengths, and gain the confidence to show up for the kinds of roles she’s fully qualified for.
Here’s what we worked on together:
Clarified her value proposition. We helped Khalan connect the dots across her cross-sector experience and identify the leadership themes that ran through it all.
Rebuilt her resume from scratch. She went from a list of responsibilities to a crisp,impact-driven resume—complete with metrics and outcomes that showed exactly what she had accomplished.
Refined her cover letter. We kept her storytelling voice but made it more focused, more aligned with each role, and easier to read quickly.
Prepared for interviews. We practiced how to answer “Tell me about yourself” in a way that wasn’t just chronological, but strategic—and it paid off.
Strengthened her networking strategy. With updated materials, a sharper pitch and more clear direction, Khalan started reaching out to her network and having richer and more pointed conversations about how they could help.
But the biggest shifts? Renewed confidence and a roadmap for her job search.
“I was doubting myself. I was talking myself out of roles before even applying. Now, I see an opportunity and just go for it—because I know what I bring to the table…Catherine helped me see what works in the job market now—how to own my leadership story, articulate impact, and go after the roles I want. It made such a difference."
Within just a few months, Khalan started seeing results. She landed multiple interviews, including for a senior role at a major foundation. She began having better networking conversations—where she could clearly articulate what she had done and what she wanted next. She felt more courageous and prepared, with a full toolkit of materials and messaging that helped her stand out. And, as an added bonus, now she has expanded her network, which she will take with her into her new role