May 2026

Editor's Message
by Ruth Sternberg, NCOPE – NRWA Newsletter Editor

Colleagues,

This month’s newsletter addresses a question many of us are facing in real time: How do we keep our work sharp, human, and valuable in a changing profession?

Ashley Watkins Thomas begins to tackle that issue directly, reminding us that the tool is not the differentiator. Judgment is. 

The same theme runs through the NRWA’s new master class series, which will help writers and coaches strengthen both their skills and their businesses. 

Don’t forget to read this month’s grammar tip! And check out our Member Milestones to learn of the many ways NRWA professionals continue to teach, publish, certify, present, and expand their impact.

Whether we are learning new tools, refining our writing, building stronger practices, or sharing our expertise with broader audiences, the throughline is the same: Professional growth is not about chasing every trend. It is about staying discerning, relevant, and deeply committed to the quality of the work.

As always, the NRWA is here to support you with resources, education, and a professional community that understands the work you do and the business you are building.

Three reminders:
• Check the Midweek Memo for upcoming programs and details.
• Looking for a past article? Visit the newsletter archive for past Watercooler issues.
• Questions? Contact us at info@thenrwa.org.

Here’s to your professional growth.

Your Guide to This Issue:

• The AI Writing Challenge: Humanity and Depth
• Build a Stronger Practice with NRWA Master Classes
• Grammar Matters
• Share Your Milestones

The AI Writing Challenge: Humanity and Depth

By Ashley Watkins Thomas, NCRW, NCOPE

There’s a lot of noise right now about resume writers using AI. Most of it straddles the fence between concern and judgment.

Writers who don’t use AI feel they are somehow holding a higher standard.

Every day, I see writers and coaches who are either avoiding AI altogether or using it without adjusting it to meet quality writing and personalization standards. Neither approach is a long-term, foolproof solution. 

Yes, AI can take a prompt and produce a quick draft. But that’s not the issue. The issue is what happens with the input. If the writing still leans on fluffy phrasing and generic claims with no clear intent, it doesn’t matter how it was produced. It won’t stand out or convert to interviews. The weaker the input, the weaker the output.

The writers staying afloat and gaining traction right now aren’t rejecting AI. They understand that artificial intelligence can help the resume-development process. It can improve the mechanics of a resume. It can make the writing cleaner, clearer, and more organized. These writers are using AI to ask better questions, validate their judgment, and decide what gets prime resume real estate. 

The distinction affects the landing.

Indeed’s 2025 employer research found that artificial intelligence-generated resumes were often seen as well-written but generic and thin on detail. Employers said they needed other ways to assess candidates’ claims. In other words, many resumes sound polished while revealing less.

The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) has reported similar concerns from recruiters. When artificial intelligence is used to shape a resume too closely around the job description, the result can stop sounding like a person and start sounding like borrowed language. Recruiters pointed to generic phrasing, heavy keyword saturation, and even inflated duties as warning signs.

Ashley will address these issues at the NRWA’s upcoming virtual summit, The New Resume Playbook: High-Impact Writing in the Age of AI, May 6–7.

During her session, “Beyond the Prompt: Elevate Your Writing without Lowering the Human Voice,” Ashley will teach you how to shift your thinking. You’ll learn how to work with AI to strengthen your writing without watering it down, and how to move your clients from the AI-generated draft to something you both can confidently stand behind. 

It starts next week, and there is still time to register!

Topics include how standards are shifting in the AI-influenced landscape, what clients need and expect today, how to use AI tools to streamline the writing process, and how to approach the process to earn Nationally Certified Resume Writer (NCRW) certification through the NRWA.

Participants will earn 6 CEUs. Each will receive an $18 gift card for the Apple App or Google Play store, enough to cover two months of ChatGPT Go. Learn more and register here.

Ashley owns Write Step Resumes. She is a former corporate recruiter for companies across the banking, education, healthcare, nonprofit, and manufacturing industries. She is best known for empowering overthinkers to navigate the senior-level job search without spiraling, settling, or selling themselves short.

NRWA Master Classes

Build a Stronger Practice with NRWA Master Classes

By Lorraine Beaman, NCRW

Writers and coaches are not merely delivering documents; they are building businesses. Career advising today requires more than writing and coaching expertise. It demands strategy, adaptability, and a commitment to continuous growth.

To support that business growth, the NRWA is launching a master-class series focused on what matters most right now: emerging industry trends and the business skills needed to turn expertise into sustainable success.

Beginning in September, these fee-based classes will deliver practical, actionable insights you can apply immediately, helping you strengthen your practice, serve clients more effectively, and remain competitive in a changing market. When you complete a class, you will receive a digital badge to showcase on LinkedIn and other social media platforms. 

We are starting the series with these courses:

September: AI for Career Services: What to Use, When to Use It, and Why

The session provides a practical approach to integrating AI into career services. Participants will learn how to evaluate tools, apply them effectively, and maintain quality while improving efficiency and client outcomes.

The instructor will be Tom Powner, a frequent NRWA presenter and educator with extensive experience in resume writing, career coaching, and professional development. Tom is known for helping professionals integrate AI into their practices in practical, ethical, and results-driven ways, so we can stay competitive and deliver greater value to clients. 

November: From Chaos to Clarity: Systems, Structure, and Strategy for a Business That Grows with You

This interactive class focuses on building a business that supports growth without burnout. Designed for solopreneurs and small-business owners, the session helps participants shift from reactive work patterns to intentional leadership.

The session presenter will be Jessica Rosario-Fortis, a certified executive coach and business strategist who helps service-based business owners move from operational chaos to sustainable growth. 

Registration details and expanded course descriptions will appear in the Midweek Memo beginning July 1.

Here is a tip from Donna Tucker to help improve your writing.

Dangling Modifiers

Dangling modifiers happen when the introductory phrase doesn’t clearly refer to the subject of the main clause. Making sure the subject is right after the modifier clears it up every time.

Dangling Modifier (Incorrect):
Working closely with senior leadership, the new marketing strategy was implemented successfully.

Corrected Modifier (Modifier in the Right Place):
Working closely with senior leadership, implemented a new marketing strategy successfully.

Member Milestones

Heather Rothbauer-Wanish, Ph.D., conducted a resume and cover letter workshop for college students held at a February American Marketing Association event. Students learned the importance of format, keywords, and relevant information.

Marian Bernard delivered an hour-long virtual presentation on new approaches to resume writing to 25 attendees at Toronto Event Hub in March as part of Women’s Month programming. She received the highest approval rating among hundreds of presentations featured over the years.

Cathy Alfrandre published a book, Breaking Free from a Malignant Manager: Strategies to Reclaim Your Confidence & Career, in November 2025. The book, available on Amazon, emerged from her experience with many clients whose confidence, performance, and sometimes mental and physical health, were battered by their managers. It offers numerous concrete and practical strategies to help people navigate the situation, survive, and move forward.  

Lisa Dupras earned her designation as a Strong Interest Inventory Certified Administrator in January. This career-assessment tool provides clients with research-backed insights into their career strategy and direction. She is partnering with fellow coaches who want to use it to complement their practice offerings. 

Gabrielle Suttis joined NRWA member Donna Tucker as part of a panel, “Red Hot Resumes,” hosted in April by Career Connectors in Phoenix, AZ. Eighty attendees asked questions about resumes and LinkedIn profiles and received expert guidance on writing and speaking confidently and optimizing their online presence.

Share Your Milestone

Have you written a book?

Delivered a talk?

Achieved something significant in our profession?

We want to hear from you!

Click here to fill out the form and get a mention in an upcoming issue of our monthly newsletter, The Watercooler.

Professional Development 

The NRWA offers live and on-demand webinars, a self-paced Resume Writing 101 course, teleseminars, and more opportunities for learning throughout the year.

Certification Programs 

The National Résumé Writers' Association, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you opted in at http://thenrwa.org/