SEPTEMBER 2017
The NRWA 2017 Conference – Register Now!
Join us for The NRWA 2017 Annual Conference
October 4-6, 2017
Celebrating 20 Years of Résumé Writing Excellence!
Here’s What You’ll Miss If You Don’t Register for The NRWA 2017 Conference
On October 4-6, tons of career professionals will gather in Lombard, a suburb of Chicago, to celebrate our 20th anniversary.
Whether you are new to the industry or a longtime career services professional, here’s what we have in store:
For more information please visit the 2017 NRWA Conference webpage by Clicking Here!!
And don’t forget the two fabulous Preconference Workshops. Details are here.
Fall 2017 Writing Excellence Course
Strategies, methodologies, standards, and best practice for creating résumés and cover letters that distinguish you and your clients
Do you want to write résumés that stand out from the competition?
Do you want to build your confidence in knowing you’re following current best practices and industry standards for résumés?
Are you trying to prepare for the Nationally Certified Résumé Writer (NCRW) exam?
If you answered yes to any of the above, then you’re in the right place. The NRWA Writing Excellence course is designed to help professional résumé writers boost the quality of their résumés and cover letters so their clients and students can land more interviews.
Ideal participants are new and experienced business owners, college career center and workforce investment staff, and those who work in military transition centers. The sessions will take participants through each step of creating a résumé and cover letter, from planning the initial strategy to final editing and proofreading.
NOTE: The only prerequisites are an understanding of résumé and cover letter fundamentals, a willingness to accept and apply critical feedback, and a desire to move one’s writing skills from mediocre to magnificent.
What graduates are saying...
“The NRWA’s Writing Excellence Course got me over the hump.” – Doug Barnes, NCRW, Owner, Résumé-Success
“The Writing Excellence program helped prepare me for the NCRW exam. It's a great class for those who are serious about elevating their writing skills.” – Christina Austin, NCRW, Founder, ExecBrands LLC
Click HERE for more details and to register today!
The Fall 2017 Session will be on Wednesday evenings 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM EDT, October 11 to December 20, 2017.
By Bridget (Weide) Brooks
Image Building Communications
This is the eighth article in a series celebrating the 20th anniversary of The NRWA. In each article, we look back at key moments in The NRWA history as well as the résumé writing industry.
Marketing Your Business in the Mid 2000s vs. Now
Marketing your business in the mid 2000s was — and, in many ways, wasn’t — different than marketing your business today. What worked back then that you can adopt now?
One suggestion from the July/August 2008 issue of Résumé Writers’ Digest was to combat price resistance by selling your services in “stages” — first the résumé and cover letter (and now, possibly, the LinkedIn profile), then interview and job search coaching, and finally, salary negotiation coaching.
Another timeless technique is “publish to profit.” Jobseekers are hungry for information that will help them. While the medium has changed a bit since 2008 — from print newsletters in the early 2000s to LinkedIn Publishing today — writing articles is still a solid strategy. Provide career-related tips or strategies, answer common job search-related questions, and offer inspirational quotes. “Keep your articles short, simple, informative, and helpful.”
We advise clients to network, but don’t often follow our own advice. Network through professional associations (especially if you specialize in a niche), business-leadThe groups, alumni groups, and Chambers of Commerce. Investing your time in building your network can pay dividends. Participate in organizational activities, write for an association’s publications and/or website, and volunteer to chair committees.
One strategy from 2008 that isn’t as effective these days is small space print advertising — for example, in the Yellow Pages. These days, advertising is much more effective online, where it can be targeted — and tracked.
This Book Was Published in 2008 — But Is Still Incredibly Relevant
Author Michael Port wrote Beyond Booked Solid in 2008 — but much of his advice for attracting clients is still relevant today. Here are five takeaways from the book that are applicable almost 10 years later…
Occasionally rethinking how you do things is an important part of keeping your business moving forward. And that’s true whether it’s 2008, or 2018.
Next time in “Flashback Facts”: One trend from 2009 I’m shocked hasn’t overtaken the careers industry: Executive Talent Agents (ETAs). And results from a multi-organizational survey of résumé writers about how the 2008-2009 recession affected them and their business.
Bridget (Weide) Brooks is the editor of the Résumé Writers’ Digest newsletter and the founder of BeAResumeWriter.com. Her NRWA membership dates back to 1999, the year she attended her first industry conference. Coincidentally, Bridget’s company, Image Building Communications, also celebrated 20 years in business in 2016. She and her now-husband, Jon, founded the business after their graduation from the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
Working with Career Changers…Coaching & Résumé Writing Strategies
This two-part webinar series with Vered Kogan, Career Strategist and Executive Coach and Beth Colley, Chief Career Strategist ofChesapeake Career Management Services
Part I Oct. 27, 2017,11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. EST
Part II Nov. 3, 2017,11:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m. EST
REGISTRATION WILL OPEN NEXT WEEK!! PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION
Do you find working with career changers complicated andcomplex? Do you dread the idea of having to create several résumés for a clientwho doesn’t know what he wants to do? Working with professionals who are seekinga major career change is often a complex process that requires a combination ofskills utilizing both career coaching and résumé writing techniques. Avoidingthe coaching step can potentially prolong your client’s job search and yourwriting project, and also cause frustration for both parties. On the otherhand, knowing how to guide career changers through this process can berewarding, energizing, and fun.
Join us for this two-part webinar on Oct. 27 and Nov. 3, wherewe will present the big-picture-journey of guiding a career changer through thestages of career exploration, résumé and career document development, jobsearch, and job acquisition.
Part I on Oct. 27will focus on:
Part II on Nov. 3will focus on:
** Live attendance is NOT required.ALL registrants will receive the recorded link to the webinar.
NOadditional handouts will be provided.
*** Interested participants may register for each webinarseparately. We strongly encourage participants to register for the entiretwo-part series to gain the most benefit. To encourage this, we’ve provided thefollowing registration and pricing options.
Memberpricing for both Part I & II: $32.50 (save $7.48 from stand-alonepricing).
Nonmember pricing for both Part I & II:$70.00 (save $9.98 from stand-alongpricing))
Member pricing for each separate webinar: $19.99
Nonmember pricing for each separate webinar:$39.99
About the Presenters
Beth Colleypossesses 17 and a half years of career management experience. Aftertransitioning out of full-time church ministry, she started out as a ResourceSpecialist and Career Consultant in January 2000 at a government-fundedOne-Stop Career Center. In June of 2004, when her youngest of two children wasborn, Beth launched what is now Chesapeake Career Management Services nearAnnapolis, MD. She possesses mastery-level training and certifications in bothrésumé writing and career coaching. A career changer herself, Beth brings apowerful punch of expertise, training, and street smarts to working withmultiple kinds of career changers. She is currently the Education Director forThe NRWA and will begin serving as the organization’s Executive Secretary inJanuary 2018. Although Annapolis is her adopted home, Beth is a true southerngirl who drinks sweet iced tea all year long and possesses a B.A. in music fromMillsaps College in Jackson, MI. If you listen to her closely enough, you canstill detect a slight southern drawl.
Vered Kogan possesses14 years of experience as a Professional Executive Coach and Career TransitionCoach. She is accredited with the International Coach Federation (ICF),possesses other advanced coaching certifications, and is also a Master-levelpractitioner of Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP), Time Line Therapy™ andHypnotherapy.
Vered began her career as a Civil Engineer. After she earnedher M.B.A. from Schulich School of Business she joined PricewaterhouseCoopersas a Management Consultant and later worked in marketing for Kraft Foods. Shealso possesses work experience and certifications in Human Resources Managementand as a Career Coach with Lee Hecht Harrison.
Her comprehensive coaching system includes a blend of proventechniques, assessments, and job-transition best practices to help clientsnavigate the journey of personal and professional transformation. She workswith clients to reach beyond their perceived limitations to identify theirbest-fit career possibilities. Vered lives in Arizona and is an activeparticipant in many local coaching and career management chapters.
Pamela Stanson, ARM, WCCP, MOSH
September’s Volunteer of the Month is Pamela Stanson. Pam has been a writer in some form or fashion her entire life, from crafting poetry to publishing a desktop reference book, to authoring research papers, all while earning her master’s degree. She is in the process of transitioning to writing for a living and setting up her website, www.werdswerk.com. The writing services she plans to offer include résumés, case studies, PowerPoint decks, newsletters and eventually, white papers. Pam recently volunteered an enormous amount of her time updating content for The NRWA’s “Résumé Writing 101” self-directed training modules.
Pam first discovered The NRWA when she was researching résumé writing courses to ensure she was offering the best service to clients. She knew the basics of résumé writing and always believed that people should keep an updated résumé with them. In fact, Pam was once offered a position when she was able to hand her résumé to a person she met in a coffee shop.
As Pam worked through the self-directed training modules she noted a few areas she felt were confusing. It prompted her to reach out and ask questions to get clarification. Impressed by the professionalism and promptness of the members that responded, she offered some suggestions to improve the course. After this she was asked if she would be willing to note all her corrections, clarifications and suggestions and edit all the modules. Pam had such a positive experience that she was glad to help and really enjoyed the process.
When asked about the benefits of getting involved with The NRWA Pam said, “The people I have interacted with are all wonderful; very positive and willing to help. The support does not stop with payment of dues or completing a training; it continues throughout the membership. I’ve found The NRWA to be genuinely concerned about each member’s success.”
When not working or volunteering, Pam reads a lot and always continues to learn. Right now, she is starting a course about our solar system and black holes. Pam is also an amateur photographer, so the next course on her list is photography. She finds her biggest issue about free time is what to learn next because her interests are so diverse. “I can see myself in a rocking chair at 100 years old plugged into a class on psychology,” she said.
Back to topThe Secrets to Having Happy, Repeat Customers
The Secrets to Having Happy, Repeat Customers
Beth Terry, CSP
The secret to finding and keeping customers is revealed in three little words: Make it Easy!
The difference between a bureaucrat and a successful businessperson: a bureaucrat makes life easy for the bureaucracy; a successful businessperson makes life easy for the customer. Which one are you?
A bureaucrat has multiple complex forms to fill out, confusing instructions, long wait times for products and services, and generally doesn't care if the customer is inconvenienced. We’ve seen this on multiple government websites and often on sites from older legacy companies. Everyone has a bureaucrat horror story.
But, before you point fingers, look in the mirror. Do you make it possible for your customers to use your services? Have you viewed your offerings from the perspective of your ideal customer? Have you looked at everything from logistics to marketing to the physical delivery of your product? Take time now and increase sales for the long haul.
Here are a few thoughts to get you started:
Protect Your Customers
If you are the one managing your own website, have you kept up to date on all the new security measures? Websites that are not “https” soon will not be accessible by some browsers: https://www.wordfence.com/blog/2017/01/chrome-56-ssl-https-wordpress
Adding to that, are you aware Google has told Symantec they will not support any sites declared “secure” by Symantec after next Fall? https://blog.trustedsite.com/2017/08/10/googles-symantec-smackdown-means-business/ Google says that Symantec, whose root certificate also powers popular SSL brands such as Norton, Thawte, GeoTrust, RapidSSL, and TC Trustcenter, has misassigned more than 30,000 certificates.
Do you have hacker protection? WordPress is one of the most user-friendly website programs out there with thousands of options for design and plug-in applications. The best hacker protection plug-in for WordPress is called Wordfence. It’s worth the cost to go premium. You’ll sleep better and your customers will be protected.
Think like your customer and find all the ways you can make it easier for them to do business with you. Get out of your own way and you’ll see your success rise!
Please send me an email Beth [at] BethTerry.com if you have questions about any of my recommendations here.
© 2001-2017 BethTerry, CSP
Beth Terry is an author, trainer and professional speaker who travels from Phoenix, AZ. Visit her at: BethTerry.com and EverybodysLost.com
Welcome to our new and renewing members for the month of June! 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.
Deanne Arnath - Career Wizards, Inc. in Mansfield, Texas
Christina Austin - ExecBrands in New York, New York
Lori Barnes - ACCU-WORD in Bakersfield, California
Kim Batson - The CIO Coach in Sammamish, Washington
Rebecca Bosl - Brecksville, Ohio
Shauna C. Bryce - Bryce Legal Career Counsel in Annapolis, Maryland
Dawn Bugni - The Write Solution in Atkinson, North Carolina
Camille Carboneau Roberts - CC Career Services in Idaho Falls, Idaho
Graham Caulfield - ExpertResumeMan in DALLAS, Texas
August Cohen - GetHiredStayHired, LLC in Raleigh, North Carolina
Catharine Craig - Lamoni, Iowa
Kelly Donovan - Kelly Donovan & Associates in Lake Elsinore, California
Jamie Edwards - Genesee Community College in Batavia, New York
Cliff Eischen - Eischen's Professional Resume Service in Fresno, California
Ann Ferrero - Bloomsbury, New Jersey
Jennifer Fishberg - Career Karma Resume Development & Career Services in Highland Park, New Jersey
Margo Flores - Writing With A Flair, LLC in Washington, District of Columbia
Michael Fox - Expert Resumes in Mcleansville, North Carolina
Vincent Fulco - Minneapolis, Minnesota
Lois Gilbert - Center for Career Communications in Delray Beach, Florida
Nancy Grant - Honeoye Falls, New York
Catherine Hamrick - Wilmington, Delaware
Sara Laiche - Customized Resumes and HR Services in Saint Amant, Louisiana
Marsha Leap - Leap Ahead Professional Development, LLC in Lakeland, Florida
Anne Lynch - Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, Georgia
Stephanie Meehan - Cameron Smith & Associates, Inc. in Rogers, Arkansas
Stacy Mehler - 2090 in Miami, Florida
Judy Monaco - Monaco Writing & Consulting Services LLC in Savannah, Georgia
Meredith Morckel - in Fairlawn, Ohio
Lisa Parker - Parker-CPRW in Claxton, Georgia
Thomas Powner - Career Thinker Inc. in Rego Park, New York
Rnganatha Raju - H2H Solutions in Bellampalli, India
Tifini Roberts - Career Trek in Sandy, Oregon
Rosalinde Rosado - URLaunchpad in Wellington, Florida
Robin Schlinger - Robin's Resumes in Atlanta, Georgia
Paula Scott - dba Paula Gross, Writing and Editing Consultant in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Columba Smith - Columba Smith Resumes in Ben Lomond, California
Judy Steiner - Lowell, Massachusetts
Angie Tinnell - MERIDIAN RESOURCES, INC. in Greenville, South Carolina
Jamie Wheeler - Frontier Nursing University in Lexington, Kentucky
Sarah Wilson - Indianapolis, Indiana
Angela Zimmer - All Write Resumes in Jackson, New Jersey
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