Certified Professional Career Coach and Personal Branding Specialist, expert in training job seekers on how to develop high impact resumes and LinkedIn profiles that significantly increase interviews and job offers

Advise Your Career

Breaking into the job market can be tough. Are you struggling to stand out? I'm here to help.

I spent 18+ years at a Fortune 1 company, only to find myself unemployed. Frustrated with the career services I received, I took matters into my own hands.

Now, I'm a career coach, working with motivated professionals like you to:
- Create stellar resumes
- Craft a memorable personal brand
- Nail that interview

In just seven years, I've written over 2K resumes and freelanced for three major resume sites. In addition, I have conducted 1K interview preparation session with clients.

Here's what I bring to the table:
💥 Personal Branding Strategy
💥 Career Coaching
💥 Resume Writing / Best Practices
💥 LinkedIn Optimization
💥 Interview Preparation
💥 Executive Bios

Ready to land your dream job? Let's chat!
Get in touch for a free consultation to kick-start your career today.

Career Coach 

Advise Your Biz 

Ever wonder how Walmart and Sam's Club keep their shelves stocked? 🤔

I'm the behind-the-scenes guru! 🧙‍♂️
Working closely with suppliers, I master:
✅ Retail Link
✅ Item setup
✅ Forecasts
✅ Order maintenance
✅ Demand planning
✅ Global cross-functional team collaboration

Real impact?
I streamline processes, making sure you find what you need on your next shopping trip. 🛒

Looking to optimize your supplier processes? 📈
Let's chat! Drop a comment or send me a message. 📩

Retail Consultant

The Northwest Group, LLC

Unlocking the secrets behind Entertainment and Sports' License item success at Walmart and Sam's.
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As a seasoned analyst, I singlehandedly
- Boosted sales through precision analysis and forecasting
- Issued game-changing reports for the VP of Sales

My secret sauce:
- Crafting budgets and wise inventory flows
- Spearheading special projects
- Collaborating with buying teams for optimal replenishment

Curious how my expertise can transform your sales performance? Let's chat & elevate your business success! 🚀

Senior Sales/Replenishment Analyst 

Welspun Group

Unlock the secrets behind $300M in sales 📈

At Welspun, I cracked the code on 250+ items for Walmart and Sam's Bath Sheet and Towel business.⚡

What did I do? 🧐
- Sales analytics and item forecasting 📊
- Provided all-star support to VP of Sales 🌟
- Prepared budgets, forecasts, and reports 📚
- Communicated with factories and led special projects 🏭
- Facilitated support meetings with Walmart and Sam's 🤝
- Worked hand-in-hand with replenishment managers 🚚

The result? 💥
In-depth item analysis for Welspun programs by size, color, and brand. 🔎

Senior Sales Analyst 

Walmart

🞕Unlocking the secret to managing a $4.5B business at Fortune 1! 👀

At the world's largest retailer, I helped transform Home Decor and the Fabrics & Crafts areas. How? By:

➡️ Recruiting and developing a star planning team within Merchandising
➡️ Nurturing eight direct reports with the right infrastructure
➡️ Engaging with cross-functional stakeholders to drive growth initiatives across competitive categories.

But there's more:

🏆 Empowering them to handle daily and recurring responsibilities
🏆 Guiding them to manage the portfolio to plan

Planning Director-Home Division

As the founder of Advise Your Career, I specialize in empowering professionals to land their dream roles. With over 18 years of experience at a Fortune 1 company and extensive expertise in personal branding, resume writing, and interview preparation, I’ve helped thousands of clients achieve their career goals.

𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬:

🎯Authored 2,000+ resumes and conducted over 1,000 interview prep sessions.
🎯Certified Professional Career Coach (CPCC), Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW), and licensed CPA."

𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧:
I craft compelling career narratives that showcase your unique value to employers. My mission is to provide you with the tools, confidence, and strategies needed to excel in today’s competitive job market. Let's work together to unlock your full career potential.

Andrew Watkins, CPCC, CPRW, CPA

Group Director, eComm: Walmart Business Strategy (Assortment & Pricing)

As the leader of a team of buyers managing Walmart's online and in-store paper goods businesses, I currently direct and develop strategies that enhance our business operations. I implement strategic business plans, including comprehensive assortment planning, pricing strategies, and promotional activities. My role involves fostering strong relationships with key suppliers to secure product availability and negotiate competitive prices. I also analyze sales data and financial metrics to monitor our performance against targets and execute necessary improvements. Additionally, I focus on simplifying complex buying and merchandising processes to streamline efficiency and boost productivity within the team.

𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐞:
🎯 Chosen by Chief Merchant for six-month project with Bain to develop global sourcing organization.
🎯 Represented Merchandising in partnership with BCG to design new Merchandising Matrix Organization.
🎯 Collaborated with Assortment Excellence and Fulfillment team to create Ecomm order fulfillment model.

DMM - Household Paper Goods at Walmart

In my previous role, I managed a team of buyers and merchandising support associates, driving a high-volume business successfully. I ensured effective merchandising and visual presentation of store products, including careful management of signage and shelf layouts. Additionally, I oversaw inventory levels for paper towels, meticulously balancing stock to meet customer demand while minimizing excesses and shortages. This role required keen attention to detail and a strategic approach to inventory management to support both sales objectives and customer satisfaction.

𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐝:
🎯 Guided team, represented company during COVID toilet paper shortage, impacting manufacturing/logistics.
🎯 Influenced industry by standardizing price pack architectures, representing customer interests effectively.
🎯 Led Walmart’s Merchant Development program as Executive Sponsor, promoting 92%+ associates.

Merchandising Director - Consumables - Paper Towels, Bath Tissue, Facial Tissue

In my role, I led a cross-functional buying team to deliver a customer-centered strategy for a multi-billion-dollar business. I also partnered effectively to grow Walmart’s private label brand, which surpassed a company milestone in annual sales volume. This achievement highlights my ability to drive significant growth and innovate within the retail space.

𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐞:
🎯 Awarded Buyer of the Year in 2018 for outstanding leadership and performance.
🎯 Spearheaded department-level vendor negotiations initiatives to secure millions of dollars in cost savings.
🎯 Collaborated with C-suite vendor executives to reshape assortment offering, focusing on customer needs.

Omni Merchandising Director-Paper Goods

In my role, I managed a multi-billion-dollar cleaning business that included chemicals, mops, brooms, and the Quick Clean categories. I developed and executed the "In the Flow" cleaning strategy, which capitalized on evolving consumer cleaning behaviors. I also partnered with Procter & Gamble to create a pet-specific Swiffer line, significantly boosting category growth and increasing customer traffic. Additionally, I collaborated with Clorox to accelerate our disinfecting wipes segment by developing top-selling items. These initiatives not only expanded our product range but also strengthened our market position in the cleaning industry.

𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐝 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐞:
🎯 Promoted to Senior Buyer within two months of tenure, demonstrating leadership and performance.
🎯 Spearheaded cohesive seasonal key pallet train events initiative for department.

Sr. Buyer - Household Chemicals/Cleaning

n my previous role, I identified market trends and carefully selected products that resonated with customer preferences and demands. I coordinated promotions and pricing strategies to effectively drive sales and maximize profitability. Additionally, I authored and executed the inaugural item file and a multi-year strategy for Bagged Landscaping Goods. I also co-developed packaging and quality standards for Mulch, which became the fastest-growing segment in the lawn and garden category. These initiatives were instrumental in enhancing product offerings and boosting market competitiveness.

𝐀 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐝:
🎯 Developed the first modular program for Parking Lot categories, driving incremental business.

Buyer - General Merchandise: Lawn and Garden

In my role as a Financial Planner for the Lawn and Garden department at Walmart, I was responsible for forecasting financial outcomes and budgeting to maximize profitability. I analyzed market trends and sales data to inform our inventory decisions and pricing strategies. Additionally, I collaborated with buyers and merchandising teams to ensure alignment between financial planning and operational execution. My duties also involved preparing detailed reports and presentations for senior management, highlighting potential risks and opportunities within the Lawn and Garden sector to support strategic decision-making.

Financial Planner Hardlines

With over 15 years of experience as a Retail Sales Leader at Fortune 1, I’ve honed my skills in driving profitable revenue growth and spearheading strategic initiatives 🚀. My expertise spans developing and executing growth strategies, analyzing market trends, and promoting brands through effective collaboration across functions. As a leader, I'm deeply committed to fostering an inclusive and collaborative environment where I can coach, develop, and mentor a diverse group of talented individuals.

Throughout my dynamic career, I've navigated challenging situations like the COVID toilet paper shortage, significantly impacting manufacturing and logistics 🔍. My role in standardizing price pack architectures and leading Walmart’s Merchant Development program underscores my ability to influence industry standards and advocate for customer interests. Currently, as the Divisional Merchandise Manager for Household Paper Goods at Walmart, I lead a team managing a multi-billion dollar category, focusing on streamlining processes and enhancing ecommerce strategies to better meet consumer needs 📈.

I’m passionate about connecting with fellow professionals who are driven to discuss innovative retail strategies or explore potential collaborations. If you’re enthusiastic about business transformation and developing cutting-edge solutions, I’d love to hear from you! Let’s connect and make a difference together 🌟. Please feel free to reach out to me here on LinkedIn.

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The Battle

Andrew Watkins, CPCC, CPRW, CPA

Will Loan

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