We had the good fortune of connecting with Ariana Smith and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ariana, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I provide diverse career advancement services. These aren’t limited to resumes, cover, letters, and interviewing coaching. I’ve always been in Human Resources but I decided to start Impressume after I departed from one job for an extreme lack of work life balance and then I was laid off from my HR role at a fortune 500 company, both of these happened in less than a year.

I was worked tirelessly to get where I was in my career and to have both opportunities taken from me for reasons outside of my control ignited me to take control of my life. I thought, if I could work hard so hard for someone else, why can’t I work that hard for myself and build the life I wanted on my own terms?

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
It sounds so cliche but my genuine care for the well-being /success of others is what sets me apart. I’m currently an HRBP for the world’s most successful standalone interactive entertainment company. I just celebrated my 1 year anniversary. I started as a contingent worker Coordinator and now the primary HR support for a few departments of 500+ employees. This consists of everything you could assume about HR.

I also own Impressume, an organization that provides diverse career advancement services. Impressume changes lives. Impressume isn’t just a writing service, we are an organization that has a proven record of advancing the careers of individuals through strategic planning, client education, the creation of smart goals, and application ready documents. We help individuals think outside the box about their careers and reignite their confidence and motivation to take their career to the next level. One of my proudest moments is helping an individual transition out of the government into a fortune 100 company. They increased their comp 70k, changed career fields, and relocated across the country as desired.

To get here wasn’t easy but my nature to do whats right and take of people is what allowed me to be successful. If you want to do it, it will get done. If you take care of the world, the world takes care of you. I live by the quote “bloom where you are planted” and thats literally what I do daily. Whether its a problem that needs to be solved, an internal challenge, or social interaction, I’m present, learn from it, and make the choice to be emotionally intelligent do right by people in all actions and interactions.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I currently reside in North Jersey. I was born and raised on the Jersey Shore so as you can start to assume, we have the best of all worlds. It’s important to relax and wind down but it’s also important to let loose and have some fun. Here’s how I would show one the best ever time in Jersey. We get all 4 seasons so my recommendation would be to come in the summer.

Tuesday:
Day of arrival. This day would be spent relaxing and giving my guest the opportunity to settle and unwind. We would run any necessary errands and stay in and enjoy wine + Pizza from Blue Steele Pizza in Bloomfield.

Wednesday:
Go to NYC to site see. Though not a favorite of natives, it’s only right to show them the cheesy, picture worthy places.
A quick bite from Starbucks and then brunch in the city. We’d then hit some attractions like the Empire State Building, Times Square, MoMA, Central Park, The High Line, 9/11 Memorial, Brooklyn Bridge and via the subway of course. We’d grab dinner and take it in.

Thursday:
Beach day. We’d drive down the shore and have a 6 hour day full of fun – games, food, sun, and tanning. This is tiring so I can image we would grab take out and chill for the evening. For beach food, we’d hit up Shoprite to build a custom sub and then grab On the Rocks as our bev of choice to enjoy on the beach.

Friday:
Breakfast from the Corner in Montclair and then a 1 hour drive to hike the mt. Tammany trail this is located on the Delaware River Gap. This body of water separates NJ and PA. This hike takes 3 hours. Once complete, we’d head over to water tube with Big Bear River Tubing. This is a 2 hour lazy river with snacks and music.

Saturday:
A FULL day at Island Spa in Edison NJ and then a house music party in Brooklyn, NY.

Sunday:
Breakfast from Natural Start Cafe in East Orange NJ before dropping her at the Airport.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d love to recognize my close friends and family who have provided limitless support and encouragement with any and everything.

Website: https://www.impressume.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/impressume/?hl=en&__coig_restricted=1

Image Credits
Brianna Thomas

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