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The Watercooler
Articles from the NRWA Newsletter

  • July 06, 2021 3:00 AM | Administrative Manager

    By Brandi Muñoz, PHR, SHRM-CP, CPRW, NCOPE, CMCS and Gabrielle Thomas, CPRW

    Editor’s Note: The following is a brief snapshot of Brandi and Gabrielle’s upcoming presentation at the NRWA 2021 Conference— "Resources for Career Center Professionals.”

    online resourcesWe are finally beginning to see hints of the post-pandemic hiring boom everyone had hoped for. But the recruiting process is likely to keep several rituals gained during the past year: virtual interviews, continued emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion, and (from the job seeker’s perspective) exploitation of their personal network for referrals. Here is what we know:

    • Many employers will likely keep virtual recruiting as a cost-effective method for selecting candidates.
    • Virtual recruiting and remote work can enable greater opportunities for diversity.
    • Referrals are the leading source of superior candidates for 88% of employers.

    Career center professionals are expected to help job seekers navigate these hiring trends and position them for success. But resources available to career coaches often vary, which is why we seek to provide universal strategies and affordable resources that empower job seekers to take ownership of their search.

    The Role of Career Coaching Professionals: The public is putting more pressure on universities to increase the job placement rate of its graduates. As tuition rates continue to rise, career centers are quickly becoming a necessity. But only as recently as the early 2000s have advising practitioners attempted to intentionally clarify and convey the role of advising as a profession. As it stands, there is no standard set of resources, tools, or platforms available to advisors.

    During our conference presentation, we will be leveraging techniques learned from their time working at several top-tier universities to share best practices related to in-house/external job boards, virtual recruiting, student/alumni engagement program ideas, alumni network cultivation, and research-informed advising approaches.

    Resources for Job Seekers: Often, we see a greater need than career advisors can accommodate. We believe this is why empowering job seekers to proactively and independently own their job search is so critical. To accomplish this, we will review several strategies that enable job seekers’ application materials (resume, cover letters, LinkedIn) to be seen and pass the applicant tracking system filters. We will also discuss how to equip job seekers with a concise pitch that jumpstarts networking and secures interviews.

    DEI Strategy: Finally, we will dig into DEI strategy and what this looks like from a career advising perspective:

    • Which industries are “walking the walk” as it relates to DEI?
    • What advice can you give to job seekers who don’t believe they bring diversity to a new role?
    • How can we support students who have been marginalized or are the victims of racism? How can we cultivate a diverse network for students while they are still on campus?
    • What questions should we be asking employers to deduce whether they are truly accountable to increasing diversity and promoting equity and inclusion?

    To learn more about the role of career centers in the recruiting process, attend the NRWA 2021 Conference!

    -----------------------------------------------------------------

    Brandi Muñoz serves on the NRWA Board as the Director of Member Support for College Career Centers and is an advisor for the Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion, Membership, and Public Image Committees. Additionally, Brandi is the Diversity Officer for the Education, Research, and Training section of the Association for Conflict Resolution. She also consults with People Culture Consulting in Houston, TX. Find her online at or LinkedIn.com/in/brandimunozpcc.

    Gabrielle Thomas is a Certified Professional Resume Writer and career coach. She currently offers career advising for graduate students and alumni at The Wharton School of Business and Villanova University. She is also a resume writer with People Culture Consulting in Philadelphia, PA. Gabrielle also holds two masters’ degrees from The University of Pennsylvania in Education Policy and Public Administration. Find her online at LinkedIn.com/in/gabriellethomas.

  • July 06, 2021 2:00 AM | Administrative Manager

    By Amanda Brandon, NRWA Newsletter Editor

    I had to go out of town unexpectedly this month for a family funeral. However, I could’ve used a message template like the tip I found from Deidre Rock on our awesome Facebook forum. This would’ve saved me so much time!

    She wrote, “Please use my online scheduling option to book a complimentary consultation. This can be accessed on my website or directly on my scheduling app. If you are in urgent need of a professional resume writer, I highly recommend you check out the National Resume Writers’ Association member database to consult with a writer who may be able to assist you.”

    She then linked to https://thenrwa.com/findaresumewriter. Kudos, Deidre! What a great way to share the load and to promote our organization.

    I’d love to feature more “What’s Saving My Life This Month?” contributions. Here’s what to do:

    1. Share a tip related to your business or profession that others can adopt.
    2. Keep it to 100 words or less (we’re writers; I know you can do it!)
    3. Share a headshot and a 2–3-line bio with your location and business or job.
    4. Email your contribution by the 10th of the month. I’ll contact you when I run your submission.
  • July 06, 2021 1:00 AM | Administrative Manager

    By Amanda Brandon, NRWA Newsletter Editor

    We had a great month of collaboration on Facebook. It was kind of hard to choose featured conversations because they were all so good. Here’s a recap of what you may have missed:

    • What do you do when you may not make a deadline? This conversation gives some strategies for responding to this potential business threat and some mitigation techniques to use in the future.
    • How do you get tire kickers to stop wasting your precious writing time? We’ve all been there. We get a client who is unclear on their need for a resume writer. They have a million questions. While that’s great, we have a business to run. This post has some terrific strategies for getting your potential clients off the fence and on the books.
    • What do you do when a company is using your company name for Search Engine Optimization purposes? In this post, our members discuss the why of this practice and how to rectify the situation.
  • June 01, 2021 7:00 AM | Administrative Manager

    Welcome to our new and renewing members for the month of May 2021!

    Feel free to introduce (or reintroduce) yourself via our members-only networking forums: the Member Forum on our website, Facebook group, and LinkedIn group.

    You can find colleagues in your area by searching here.

    New Members

    • Paulette Ayoung in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts
    • Matt Benning - Northern Illinois University Chicago, Illinois
    • Sharon Fullerton in Apple Valley, California
    • Dominic Gaggini in Murrels Inlet, South Carolina
    • Allana Goodwin in Pembroke Pines, Florida
    • Isabel Kenner - STRATEGY Career Solutions, LLC in Denton, Texas
    • Kate Knaul - Thrive Coaching Group in Greencastle, Indian
    • Sandra Leshaw - Jewish Family & Children's Services of Northern New Jersey in Teaneck, New Jersey
    • Jennifer Snelling - EnquisitV Administrative and Consulting Services in Albany, Georgia
    • Chris Sotomayor in Hutchinson, Kansas
    • Timothy Tart - Greyscale Global LLC in Midwest City, Oklahoma
    • Judy Vince - DeAnjo Coaching, LLC in Wayne, New Jersey
    • Dawid Wiacek - Career Fixer LLC in White Plains, New York
    • Terri Wiksten - Executive Career Partners in Greenwood Village, Colorado
    • Roman Williams - Dr Andrea Employment in Covington, Louisiana

    Renewing Members

    • Jessica Gramc - Healthy Resumes LLC in Cleveland, Ohio
    • Cheryl Harland - Resumes By Design in The Woodlands, Texas
    • Nick P. - ProfessorP Media in Plymouth, Massachusetts
    • Saresa Pleasant in Baltimore, Maryland
    • Michelle Robin - Brand Your Career in Buffalo Grove, Illinois
    • Deirdre Rock - Composed Career LLC in Rockaway, New Jersey
    • Marie Sales in Chicago, Illinois
    • Nikki Townsend in Elk Grove, California
  • June 01, 2021 6:00 AM | Administrative Manager

    By Mary Jo King, NCRW, NCOPE

    Do a gut check right now and ask yourself, “What’s stopping me from trying for my NCRW?”

    After all, you’ve heard about the advantages. The Nationally Certified Resume Writer (NCRW) credential means instant prestige for resume writers, branding you as the best of the best. It’s a smart business decision that will ramp up your visibility and your earnings.

    Yet you’ve heard from the skeptics, too; those told by someone, somewhere, sometime that the NCRW process is too difficult and the graders too strict for all but an elite few to earn the certification. The real statistics may surprise you. In the last two years:

    • 74% of those who took the exam passed it
    • 90% of candidates passed the exam on their first attempt

    Excellent grammar and punctuation skills are essential, of course, but everything else you need to know is in the NCRW Study Guide. So, how do you begin?

    • Download the free NCRW Study Guide, available on demand to all NRWA members. Learn it well. Its 43 pages will make you a better writer even if you never sit for your exam.
    • Buy a copy of The Gregg Reference Manual by William A. Sabin. As a meticulous writer, you need this tome regardless of your certification intent.
    • Assess your current skill set. The certification process begins with a sample submission, where you will find yourself among the 27% deemed ready to proceed to the exam—or not.
    • If you’re not ready, the NRWA offers many resources to help you get there, including the much lauded Writing Excellence Certification Preparation Program.

    Expect to practice and study hard. Expect a rigorous process. Expect to succeed. And when you do, you’ll have more confidence in your advice and your product. Your clients will find success sooner. You’ll close more sales, command higher rates, enjoy better client relations, and receive more referrals.

    You can do it—and you’ll love what the NCRW does for you!

    Mary Jo has volunteered for the NRWA since 2012 and served as president in 2018. She currently chairs the Advisory Board, serves on the Certification Commission and Public Image Committees, and operates Alliance Resume and Writing Service as a solopreneur. You can find her on LinkedIn and at Alliance Resume and Writing Service.

  • June 01, 2021 5:00 AM | Administrative Manager

    By Amanda Brandon, NRWA Newsletter Editor

    When I came across Laura’s comment on a Facebook post, I did what any curious writer does—I checked out her social profiles and website. I started browsing her website, and something resonated with me—her authenticity of being a mother. Her “why” for this business is her children. I hope you enjoy getting to know Laura as much as I did.

    Laura ran a local career center in the San Diego area beginning in 2012. She was helping professionals recovering from the Great Recession adjust to the new job market. Through her work in the career center, she handled the “tough cases.” She helped professionals transition to new industries and careers, shift back into the workplace after long-term unemployment, and secure federally funded training.

    Then her own world shifted – she had her first child. And as she says, “He had different plans for me.” So, she stepped down from her career center leadership role. However, play dates and playdough would not be her new normal. She has a specialized skill set (like all of you!) that former colleagues, friends, and family needed.

    One particular former colleague sparked her new business. He had been No. 3 out of 2,000 sales reps; yet, he had been job searching for an entire year without any results. So, she reworked his resume, and within two weeks, he got an interview and a job offer for more than he was making before. Soon, she launched Anew Resume & Career Services.

    “My specialty is recognizing transferrable skills,” Laura says. “I pull those out and help my clients transition to industries and careers they may not have considered.”

    Laura says she got started on Thumbtack (a professional referral network) her first year and “never needed it again.” The referrals from former clients and LinkedIn networking now drive her business. She’s presenting a workshop at the 2021 NRWA conference in September on how to leverage virtual networking (If you’re interested in learning more about how to grow referrals, check out her on-demand workshop from last year’s conference, “How to Grow Your Business with Quality Referrals.”)

    Working with children is a constant obstacle for any parent, but Laura makes it look easy. She says, “Be flexible. Have your process down. Schedule consultations. And give realistic timelines.”

    With her background in helping clients build new careers, Laura also offers career coaching and interview preparation. She helps her clients understand how to execute their search, develop their referral networks, and gain confidence in interviewing. She also assists clients with performance evaluations, LinkedIn profiles, and salary negotiations.

    As for her participation in the NRWA, she says this organization meets you where you are. “If you’re just starting, the training can build your confidence,” Laura says. “If you’ve never worked with LinkedIn before, Thomas Powner’s training is excellent.”

    “The other side of the NRWA is the networking,” Laura says. “It’s nice to have people you can trust when you’re overbooked or overwhelmed.”

    Laura’s blog has a fun story. She loves music (particularly live music) and posts her concert list on her LinkedIn “About” section. (She says this has helped her connect with clients.) She named her blog the “Ruby Tuesday Career Blog,” after the Rolling Stones song. She posts on Tuesdays, and she says the song is a great reminder to do that.

    Be sure to check out Laura’s blog and website at www.arcresume.com and connect with her on LinkedIn.

  • June 01, 2021 4:00 AM | Administrative Manager

    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.

  • June 01, 2021 3:00 AM | Administrative Manager

    By Eustacia A. Campbell, NRWA Staff Writer

    We all have unconscious bias. If you think you don’t, you’re lying to yourself.

    When presenting your resume to a potential employer, the focus should be on representing your work experience and accomplishments in the best light. You should be preparing a targeted resume and a cover letter discussing your qualifications and what problems you can solve for the employer. However, there’s often more to the story.

    Early in my career, as a Black female, I have felt compelled to remove certain criteria from my resume for fear of unconscious bias. I believed that the recruiter or hiring manager’s perception of my resume might inadvertently harm my candidacy. To counteract this, I simply omitted things like my address, used my middle name, and removed any professional organization deemed too ethnic.

    Names can give an indication of someone’s race or cultural background. At first, I thought it was pointless for me to use my middle name (Audrey) on my resume instead of my first name. However, I began to notice a shift when I did, and I immediately started to receive more calls for interviews. According to Harvard Business School’s Working Knowledge research, “Minority job applicants are ‘whitening’ their resumes by deleting references to their race with the hope of boosting their shot at jobs, and research shows the strategy is paying off.” It certainly paid off for me.

    Second, I removed all professional organizations that had anything to do with being Black. This was hard for me because I was an active member of the organizations, so removing them from my resume did not allow me to show my leadership skills gained outside of the workplace.

    Lastly, I removed my address, including only city and state. I only provided a link to my LinkedIn profile. It’s easy to insinuate an individual’s success (or lack thereof) or ethnicity based on where they live. Unfortunately, depending on where you live, an address can imply socioeconomic status as well as ethnicity. I decided it was best to remove it.

    Being aware that there are conscious biases against men and women of color who are applying for jobs is the first step. Awareness is the first step. However, what we do about it is the second step. As long as a candidate has the qualifying skills and ability for the job, their name, the city they live in, and the school they went to shouldn’t matter.

    Over the years, I’ve learned that removing criteria takes away from who you are and leads to “code-switching” in the workplace. Code-switching is the act of changing behaviors to conform to different cultural norms. Present yourself and all of your accolades on your resume. If one has to wear a mask to get a job, then chances are that job and/or culture is not for you. Take the mask off and be yourself.

    Eustacia has over 20 years of experience as a human resources and talent acquisition leader. She has a passion for education, coaching, and writing. She holds an MBA from the University of Phoenix. Eustacia is also a Certified Contingent Workforce Professional (CCWP) and most recently earned a DEI in the workplace certificate from the University of South Florida. Eustacia has proven success in advising clients of various backgrounds, professional levels and industries. She helps them identify their professional goals, evaluate their skillsets, and provides career guidance and placement support to help them achieve their career goals. Find her on LinkedIn or at Resumeson-Demand.com.

  • June 01, 2021 2:00 AM | Administrative Manager

    By Amanda Brandon, NRWA Newsletter Editor

    In my interview with Laura Bashore (our member spotlight this month), I discovered three gems that are saving my life. Maybe they’ll save yours too!

    1. Use “Project Draft” in your subject line. Laura says that this eliminated many of her clients’ frustrations, and she hasn’t had a refund request since making this transition in positioning.
    2. Don’t react immediately to frustration. Give it 24-48 hours. Laura recommends scheduling a call to “address concerns” but push it out 24-48 hours. “It gives the client and me a chance to calm down.”
    3. Maintain your expert status. When clients want to make significant changes, Laura says it’s fine to push back and give easy-to-edit files. “Your clients hire you for your expertise; don’t put your name on a document that won’t serve your client well.”

    I’d love to feature more “What’s Saving My Life This Month?” contributions. Here’s what to do:

    1. Share a tip related to your business or profession that others can adopt.
    2. Keep it to 100 words or less (we’re writers; I know you can do it!)
    3. Share a headshot and a 2–3-line bio with your location and business or job.
    4. Email your contribution by the 10th of the month. I’ll contact you when I run your submission.
  • June 01, 2021 1:00 AM | Administrative Manager

    By Amanda Brandon, NRWA Newsletter Editor

    The networking on our Facebook group was hopping this month! Here’s a recap of what you may have missed:

    • What do you do when a client did ghostwriting for an employer and claims the published work as their own? This conversation is an excellent primer on what to do when you face this unique challenge.
    • How do you help clients tailor their resumes? Some writers give their clients comments in the file. Others schedule a post-document review. Check out the discussion here to get some new ideas.
    • Forum Update: We need more engagement in the Member Forum! I got a great referral project from checking it out in May. Maybe you could be next? Let’s all aim to connect in the forum as much as we do on Facebook in June. We have many members who don’t follow Facebook.

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