By Donella Tilery, NRWA Staff Writer
Once you join the NRWA and log into the Member Resources, relief comes to you. After many years of writing cover letters and resumes, it is nice to know you are not alone in the quest to craft exceptional documents for your clients. When you join the NRWA, you have access to your tribe—people who enjoy the highs and lows of working as a freelancer or as college career center or workforce development center staff member.
Even more satisfying is knowing there are classes, programs, and materials provided by a plethora of industry professionals who want to see you do well. However, as you progress, you decide to pursue the NCRW certification, but may feel slightly intimidated by the process.
Well, to help soothe your worries, we've talked with the NCRW Certification Chair, Kathy Keshemberg. Kathy has been a member of the NRWA for more than 20 years and is equipped to provide incredible behind-the-scenes insight into the inner workings of the Certification Commission.
Tell us about the role of the NCRW Certification Chair.
The NCRW Certification Chair leads the Certification Commission and is an appointed member of the NRWA board of directors. As Chair, I train NCRW graders, review sample and test grading sheets, compile results for candidates, and oversee the NCRW renewal process. I also handle administrative activities related to certification, including coordinating updates to the NCRW Study Guide and website content, compiling and managing the Commission’s annual budget, and assisting with selecting presentations for the annual conference to fulfill CEUs awarded for attendance.
Who comprises the NCRW Certification Commission?
The Commission is composed of the chair, incoming chair, past chair, graders, and advisors. All these positions are filled by volunteers who must be NRWA members in good standing and hold the NCRW credential.
Incoming and past chairs help me with administrative tasks and they, as well as the advisors, provide input on decisions related to the certification process.
The graders are the heart of the Certification Commission. They review samples that are submitted as the first step in the certification process, provide detailed written comments, and decide if the candidate who submitted a sample package is ready to take the exam. They also grade exams, scoring over 30 criteria to determine if it is a pass or fail. As with sample grading, they provide feedback to educate the writer.
The entire certification process is based on education – we aren’t out to find mistakes, but rather to point out discrepancies with the NCRW Study Guide and Gregg Reference Manual. Our goal is to help writers reach high standards of excellence in resume writing.
Why do you feel that pursuing and attaining the NCRW is important in the development of a resume writing professional?
Earning the NCRW certification demonstrates to peers and the public that the resume writer is knowledgeable of the strategy for writing a strong resume, has a good grasp of grammar and punctuation, and is aware of current industry trends and best practices.
How does this certification distinguish a professional from other certifications?
Those who hold the NCRW are required to earn annual CEUs to prove they are remaining current on industry trends. This is important, as standards continue to evolve and an NCRW needs to be aware of changes so they can best serve their clients.
We have a rigorous testing process that focuses on education. While the NCRW has earned the reputation of being “difficult to attain,” this isn’t the case. In addition to the NCRW Study Guide, a free resource for members, we offer many learning opportunities including the Writing Excellence program, Resume Writing 101 self-directed training, and numerous writing-focused webinars (live and on-demand). If writers take advantage of training and carefully learn each section of the Study Guide, they will be better prepared to pass the exam.
Additionally, the sample submission and review process is a great investment. For a $75 fee, writers receive 2-4 pages of comments and recommendations about their work. One bit of advice in selecting which sample to submit: your goal should not be to show us how clever you are by submitting an extremely complex resume that represents a job seeker with a challenging career. Pick a sample that most closely aligns with the standards and best practices, without a lot of complicated hurdles to address. And feel free to embellish your sample to demonstrate you understand the components of a strong resume.
And yes, many times first-submission samples aren’t deemed ready, but if the writer carefully reviews and implements the grader’s recommendations they will improve. We’ve had writers who submit multiple samples, and those who persevere and follow our advice have an exceptionally good chance of becoming an NCRW.
What are your final recommendations for members who may still be apprehensive about pursuing certification?
If anything, I’d like to encourage writers to learn our craft by taking part in the educational opportunities offered by the NRWA, asking questions on the Facebook group and the NRWA Member Forum, submitting a sample to gauge their writing skills, and continuing to learn and grow.
About Kathy:
Kathy Keshemberg is a Nationally Certified Resume Writer (NCRW) and Nationally Certified Online Profile Expert (NCOPE). For more than three decades she has developed resumes and LinkedIn profile content and provided job search coaching. Her company, A Career Advantage, serves job seekers in all industries and at all levels, primarily focusing on mid-management, blue collar, and entry level candidates.
Kathy served on the original board of directors of the NRWA when it became a national association, was one of the first NCRWs, and planned six NRWA conferences. She has been a grader on the Certification Commission for years and has recently tackled several special projects, including co-writing new test profiles and collaborating with a team to revamp the NCRW Study Guide. Find her on LinkedIn or online at www.acareeradvantage.com.
