May 2018

In This Issue



Executive Greeting


Michelle Dumas, NCRW – Past President and Chair, Public Image Committee

Every few months it seems, public image issues rise to the top of the discussions on the e-list. Each time, members post messages expressing legitimate concerns about how the public perceives the value of a professionally written resume, what could to be a growing trend toward “price deflation,” and a need for professional resume writers to present a united front in educating the public.

The mission of The National Resume Writers' Association, a nonprofit trade association for professional resume writers, is to increase the visibility of the industry, encourage ethical practices, promote excellence, and raise industry standards through peer marketing and training.

Increase the visibility of the industry…this is a key part of the NRWA’s mission, but it has not always received the attention it deserves. This all changed in 2016 when the NRWA formed an ad hoc think-tank committee to brainstorm creative public image solutions and initiatives. Several industry-pioneering initiatives and action plans were the results, and last year the Board of Directors voted to make the Public Image Committee a standing committee, providing the committee with the resources and support we need to turn these creative ideas into reality.

It has been my honor to be a part of the Public Image Committee, working collaboratively with the dedicated group of volunteers who have moved each of these projects forward, transforming the groundbreaking initiatives into reality and readying them for launch later in 2018.

Our goals with all the Public Image Committee projects are three-fold.

  1. Increase the visibility of the industry and present a united front in educating the public about the value of working with professional resume writers. 
  2. Raise awareness and strengthen the image of our profession among related professions such as recruiting firms, employment agencies, university/military career centers, and with career coaches and career counselors.
  3. Improve the value of NRWA membership, providing members increased opportunities to promote their services and connect with the public through NRWA-sponsored public relations and social media initiatives.

I’m excited to share more in the coming months! In the meantime, if you share our passion for increasing the public image of the industry, I encourage you to reach out to me at pastpresident@thenrwa.com to learn more about how you can get involved.  

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CANDIDATE NOMINATIONS

Wendi Weiner, President-Elect

It's almost time for the NRWA elections!

The following elected positions are turning over at the end of this calendar year and need to be filled:

You can find descriptions of these positions in Standing Rules on the NRWA website. Note, executive board candidates must have one year of service on the board of directors to be eligible.

Please watch for more information and nomination forms via email later this month. If you have questions in the meantime, contact President-Elect Wendi Weiner at president-elect@thenrwa.com.

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2018 NRWA Conference Registration is Open


See you in Seattle in October?!? We hope so!

Registration is now open for the 2018 NRWA Conference in Seattle, Oct. 4-6. The program features more than 24 sessions, focusing on resume writing and design, content development, job search techniques, sales and marketing strategies, additional profit centers, branding, business management topics, and more. You’ll learn cutting-edge ideas and insights that will help you serve your clients today while preparing for the future of job search.

Attendees receive 10 Continuing Education (CE) credits. If you’ve been considering pursuing the Nationally Certified Resume Writer (NCRW) certification, attending the conference is a great way to jumpstart the process and earn the required number of CEs.

Considering attending your first conference? Hear what your colleagues had to say about the impact of the NRWA conference:

“I was blown away by the program content. There were so many expert breakout sessions covering a wide range of relevant topics; it was difficult to choose. I wanted to attend all of them!” – Kate Madden, MBA, CPRW, Fresh Start Careers LLC and Fresh Start Resumes LLC

“What I thought I knew about resumes and resume writing was totally different after I attended my first conference. I credit attending that first conference as my biggest business game-changer.” — Wendi Weiner, JD, NCRW, CPRW, CTCC, CCM, the Writing Guru

Early-bird registration is available from now until June 30 — just $499 for members and $674 for nonmembers. (Members who attended a previous NRWA Conference receive a discounted rate of $449.00.  To take advantage of this special rate email tbower@thenrwa.com and you will receive a special registration code.)

In addition, single-day registration will also be available. Thursday-only registration will be $200 for NRWA members and $250 for nonmembers. Friday-only or Saturday-only registration will be $250 for members, and $300 for nonmembers.

The NRWA has negotiated a rate of only $205+tax per night at the W Seattle, an amazing hotel in the heart of the city. Make your hotel reservations here CLICK HERE.

To register for the conference, CLICK HERE.

We hope to see you in Seattle!

Adam Zajac
2018 NRWA Conference Chair

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2018 NRWA Conference - Don't Be Linked Out Pre-conference Workshop


Don’t be Linked-OUT!

LinkedIn Content Writing, Networking & the Technical Backstage

Are you ready for the day when paper résumés are overshadowed by LinkedIn profiles? The shift in relevance has already begun!

Currently, LinkedIn is the leading digital platform for sharing career information and helping individuals get found by companies searching for talent. Things are shifting; it is just as important to be found for career opportunities as it is to find them. As of May 10, 2018, LinkedIn had 15.8 million job postings and 1.25 million active recruiters. Combine this with the fact that social recruiting is on the rise and artificial intelligence is actively utilized to match profiles with recruiters as well as open jobs. The new age of career campaigning has arrived!

Don’t worry, our services will be more in demand as our clients have to compete for attention among a sea of profiles. We just need to know how to market our services, leverage new technology, and continuously evolve our service and product offerings.

Join Tom Powner and Brittney Beck at their pre-conference workshop as they take a deep dive into LinkedIn – Content Writing, Networking & the Technical Backstage

Get the details here: https://www.thenrwa.com/2018-Preconference-Workshop

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2018 NRWA Conference Brief

Conference Keynote Speaker: Kendra Prospero, Owner and Founder of Turning the Corner

By Brittney Beck, NCRW

In preparing for the 2018 NRWA Conference in Seattle, WA, I had the pleasure of interviewing our keynote speaker, Kendra Prospero. The following is a synopsis of that interview:

Tell me a bit about your business story.

I started as a musician, turned into a computer software engineer, and then became an entrepreneur to help make sure that everybody loves their job. It was a very crooked path.

After 12 years at IBM, it was time to leave. but I didn’t know what I was going to do next because I’d been in an odd field. I had a friend help me write a resume, but I didn’t get any traction. At the same time, I had been reaching out to recruiters and wasn’t getting call-backs, and I felt like the world needed help and a problem solver in this space.

Tell me about Turning the Corner and what you think is at the core of its success.

We are both career coaches and resume writers supporting the job seeker, and we are also recruiters and HR professionals. We know the market inside and out, because when we’re recruiting, we’re looking at thousands of resumes on a weekly basis and then we can turn around a standout resume.

We are changing the whole model in that we are beyond just writers, and because of that, we give so much more value to our clients.

How can a resume writer break into these other elements of the business (e.g., recruiting and HR consulting services)?

You have a huge candidate pipeline of people you’re already working with, so you really just need to reach out to employers and shift the recruiting conversation from not just putting a butt in the seat, but about fit. This is easy, because as resume writers, we really want to understand what the candidate brings to the table. So you already know that side of the recruiting process, and you know it well. All you need now is a company to give you a shot.   

What do you see as the next big change in the resume writing and career coaching profession that we should expect?

Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR); it’s becoming easier and easier for technology to do the writing for us, which means we’re not going to be needed as much. We have to be very careful of this, and if we’re not careful as resume writers we’ll become obsolete.

What do you think is a key component that most resume writing and career coaching small business are missing out on or struggle with for which there is a solution?

The face-to-face contact. One of our key differentiators is that we do as much as we possibly can face-to-face (or via technology like Skype and Zoom). It’s easy to have the client fill out a form online and have that form be ghostwritten into a resume, but it’s not valuable and it’s not what they want. You need to see their face. You need to be able to see what lights them up or shuts them down and coach them on that.

To learn more about Kendra, Turning the Corner, and the job search, recruiting and HR consulting services she and her team provide, visit her website at http://turningthecornerllc.com/  and/or connect with her on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/kendraprospero/. To hear her keynote presentation, register for the NRWA 2018 Conference in Seattle, October 4-6, 2018. https://thenrwa.com/2018-Conference

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2018 NRWA Conference - Become a sponsor.  Grow your business.

Ashley Watkins, NCRW

Sponsor/Affiliate Relations Chair

Would marketing your product or service to 500 of the finest career services professionals on the planet positively impact your business results? Consider becoming a sponsor for The National Résumé Writers' Association 2018 Conference to generate exposure for you and your business. This year's conference will be held October 4-6 in Seattle, WA. 

By becoming a sponsor, you can showcase your business to 500 members via multiple advertising options, including banner displays, vendor tables, conference newsletter features, or the NRWA website placement. Contact Ashley Watkins (info@WriteStepResumes.com), Sponsor/Affiliate Relations Chair, to learn more about affordable sponsorship packages and benefits.

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2018 NRWA Conference - Consider joining us and donating a door prize!

Hello! I’m here to share a bit about the upcoming conference and ask for door prize contributions now, which will be distributed at the October NRWA Conference in Seattle on October 4-6, 2018.

Why you should plan to attend the conference:

The NRWA will soon begin to put the finishing touches on yet another stellar annual conference, hosted this year in beautiful Seattle, Washington. Each year, the conference is filled with so many outstanding presenters it’s hard to select which ones to attend!  I always make the conference a priority because it…

Why you should consider donating a door prize:

You may never have considered donating a door prize, or figure, “why should I do that – I’m sure someone else will do so.” Donating a door prize is a great and easy way to get involved in the conference and yields many benefits.

How to donate:

Please send donation pledge ideas and questions to me at info@dreamlifeteam.com – I’ll share everything you need to know and make the process as easy as possible.

Your participation is sincerely appreciated!

Rebecca Bosl, 10X Certified Career Coach & Executive Resume Writer
Dream Life Team
Email: info@dreamlifeteam.com
216-532-3450

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NRWA Education Update

Virginia Franco, NCRW, CPRW, CEIP
NRWA Education Chair

Spring has been a busy time on the NRWA Education front as we continue to focus on bringing in speakers to help members build their businesses AND improve their craft.

Please save the date for next month’s webinar:

Microsoft Word Shortcuts and Timesavers for Resume Writers by Writer and Career Transitions Coach Holly Genser: June 8, 12:30-1:30 PM ET
PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE JUNE 8 WEBINAR

Stay tuned for details on upcoming summer webinars tackling sales and marketing! Remember – all calls are recorded, so you’ll have access to the recording if you can’t make the live call. Members receive 50% off registration!

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Resume Writers Get Ready to ROAR!


Increase Your Credibility & Propel Your Business Growth

Enter the NRWA’s annual resume writing competition –

Recognizing Outstanding Achievement in Resumes (ROAR)

Enter Today:
All Entries MUST be Submitted by July 20th.
Winners will be announced at the NRWA 2018 conference in Seattle.

* Increase Your Credibility *

* Raise Your Visibility *

* Grow Your Business *

* Prove That Your Resumes are Among the BEST of the BEST *

Submit your entries today! Don’t miss the deadline!

http://www.thenrwa.com/ROAR-contest-2018


Testimonials from Past ROAR Winners

“Besides being a great honor to win, earning the very first ROAR award was a huge boost to my confidence. Being recognized by my peers verified I knew what I was doing after being in the industry for just a couple years at the time. I raised my fees and still proudly tout award-wining resume writer in my bio.”

-- Michelle Robin, Brand Your Career
ROAR winner, 2015



“The 4 ROAR awards I won in the first couple of years of the ROAR Awards competition, made a tremendous difference in not only my credibility with clients, but also my confidence in charging at the level I am continually told I should be charging. My referrals have soared since winning, to the tune of about 85% of my business; I think my clients get a kick out having award-winning resumes. Almost all of the new inquiries I receive mention the fact they reached out to me because of my awards. Last, but definitely not least, I place high value on my awards, given the caliber of judges on the ROAR panels. Thank you, NRWA, for providing this opportunity – it has helped me and my business grow in so many ways!” 

-- Lucie Yeomans, Sick Resumes 
ROAR winner, 2016 and 2017




"Winning multiple ROAR awards has been incredibly positive for my business and my confidence! When clients ask to see samples, I steer them to my award-winning online samples (e.g., on the NRWA website), which boosts my credibility tenfold! I’ve landed more clients and sales because of these honors and recognition! Plus, I’ve gained much more respect from my clients when it comes to strategies and advice on their career marketing materials!"

-- Sandra Ingemansen, Resume Strategies
ROAR winner, 2015, 2016 and 2017



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Director of Industry News

By Sara C. Timm, Membership Chair

Take advantage of these opportunities to sharpen your skills this May, through events hosted by your Directors of Industry.

For our Experienced Business Owners, we invite you to join us for:

“A BrainstormingSession: Improving the Value of Your Client Intake Process”

Thursday,May 24th

12:00-1:00 P.M. EST

Are you looking to increase the value of your client intake process? In this session, we will explore ways to:

This session is free for our Experienced Business Owners. Log in details will be sent by email to all experienced business owners the week of May 24, 2018.

Please forward all questions to Tom Powner (Western Region) at TomPowner@CareerThinker.com.

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Member Benefit - NCRW Style Guide

Did you know that as an NRWA member, you have access to the NCRW StyleGuide?

Chock-full of details to guide your writing, from English composition rules to best practices for creating resumes and cover letters that meet Nationally Certified Resume Writer (NCRW) writing excellence requirements and expectations – the style guide is your one-stop resource for all things resume writing!

If your goal is to earn NCRW certification, then the Style Guide is a must-read.  Each section relates to specific evaluation criteria used by the Certification Commission to review sample submissions and grade NCRW test documents. The guide also includes dozens of writing samples, MS Word formatting screen shots,a table of recommended fonts for resumes and cover letters, and cross-references to essential sections of the Gregg Reference Manual.

Members can download the NCRW Style Guide from the NRWA website. Note: You must log in to access the Members Portal.

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Writing Excellence Course Options

ADVANCE YOUR RESUME WRITING SKILLS FROM MEDIOCRE TO MAGNIFICENT!

Whether you’re looking to write resumes that stand out from the competition, build your confidence as a resume writer, or prepare for the Nationally Certified Resume Writer (NCRW) exam, the NRWA Writing Excellence programs are designed to help professional resume writers boost the quality of their resumes and cover letters so their clients and students can land more interviews.

Chose from one of two training options:

WritingExcellence: On Demand Virtual Training

The industry’s most comprehensive on demand virtual training for both new and experienced professional resume writers.

Register any time. Complete the program at your own pace. Maintain lifetime access to all the modules!

https://thenrwa.com/writing-excellence-on-demand-virtual-training

WritingExcellence: Instructor-Led Accelerated Program

Complete the highly valued 11-week program in half the time!  Classes begin Tuesday, Aug. 28thand meet every Tuesday and Thursday from 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. EST throughSept. 27th.

Register by June 22, 2018, and pay for the program in three monthly installments!

https://thenrwa.com/writingexcellenceprogram

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New and Renewing Members

Welcome to our new and renewing members for the month of April 2018!  Feel free to introduce (or reintroduce) yourself on our Facebook page or the elist

Be sure to take this opportunity to network via our LinkedIn Group with other members of The NRWA and nonmembers who are career professionals.

Find colleagues in your area by searching here.

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