August 2019
Ashley Watkins, NCRW
NRWA Sponsor/Affiliate Relations ChairDear Colleagues,
I am thrilled to be serving as the 2019 NRWA Sponsor/Affiliate Relations Chair. As we gear up for this year’s conference at sea, my focus is cultivating mutually beneficial partnerships by reinforcing the NRWA’s position as the only national nonprofit organization for resume writers and career services providers.
This year, we’ve diversified our sponsorship packages to offer an online presence and a la carte options. Even if you’re not planning to attend the conference or have a limited advertising budget, you can take advantage of virtual marketing benefits to grow your business.
By joining forces with the NRWA, sponsors and affiliates gain valuable exposure and the opportunity to network with conference attendees and members, including resume writers, coaches, counselors, and other career professionals.
Selling a book? Try the Virtual Book Nook. If you’re hiring subcontractors or have a B2B service, sponsor one of the NRWA’s educational programs, advertise your service/product with the new and improved Member-to-Member Ad Book, or select from other great sponsorship opportunities.
While we traditionally target organizations that specialize in resume writing resources, business management support, software, or other tools for writers and their clients, I also strive to build strategic alliances with companies across diverse disciplines that find value in the work we do.
The NRWA wouldn’t have such a positive impact if not for the support of our members and partners.
If you would like to share leads for potential sponsors and affiliates or would like to become a partner, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at info@WriteStepResumes.com.
Together, we can increase the NRWA’s visibility and promote excellence throughout the career services industry.
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Lorraine Beaman, NCRW
NRWA President-Elect and Ethics Chair
I want to thank all the members who took time to vote for the 2020 NRWA Board. It is the collective wisdom of our membership and its understanding of what makes this organization great that has assured we have been led by dedicated, innovative boards since the selection of our first board in 1996. And you have done it again. I am pleased to announce the newly elected members of our 2020 NRWA Board:
President-Elect - Kathi Fuller
Secretary - Nickquolette Barrett
Treasurer - Sharon Stapleton Glennon
Directors of Member Support:
Experienced Business Owners - Thomas Powner, Annette Richmond
New Business Owners - Melanie Denny, Ebony Joyce
College/University - Eileen Davis
Workforce/Military - Brandi R. Muñoz
In addition to our elected officers, we depend upon dozens of volunteers to support our programs. If you would be interested in joining a committee, please contact me at Lorraine@interview2work.com.
NRWA 2019 Conference Cruise—And I Have to Pack!
Jean Austin, NCRW, NCOPE
NRWA Education Chair and Conference Committee Member
Packing for a vacation, weekend trip, or conference takes time and thought, but if you happen to forget something, there will probably be a shop nearby. Packing for a cruise, however, is a little different as you can only access the stores that are on the ship itself.
I’m sharing some tips from experienced cruisers to help make your conference cruise preparations hassle-free. You should pack:
- Your passport or birth certificate, cruise documents, and airline tickets. Remember to keep important documents on you; don’t pack them in a bag, which could get lost. Consider packing a copy and/or storing a photo of these documents on your phone.
- Excursion/activity-appropriate clothing and shoes.
- At least two bathing suits (it can take a while for them to dry out).
- Tote bag or backpack to corral your things (and your purchases) during onshore excursions.
- Cash in small bills for tipping during onshore excursions.
- Contact numbers to report lost/stolen credit cards or traveler’s checks.
- Playing cards/games.
- Poncho, umbrella, or light raincoat.
- Pop-up mesh laundry hamper, pillowcase, or garbage bags for dirty and/or wet clothes.
- Sweater, light jacket, or wrap (it can be chilly on deck in the evening).
- Sun hat or visor.
- Heavy-duty magnets with hooks for hanging things in a small space (you’ll be surrounded by steel).
- Prepaid phone or SIM card.
- Waterproof camera or camera bag and/or a waterproof phone case.
- Batteries, camera memory cards, chargers, and any other electronic necessities.
- Home emergency numbers and your insurance and medical cards.
- Detergent wipes.
- Antibacterial hand cleaner.
- Over-the-counter medications for pain, motion sickness, upset stomach, and/or allergies.
- Prescription medications (in your carry-on only!).
- Sunscreen/sunblock and soothing aloe gel.
- Lip balm.
- Folder for all the information you will accrue on the ship (and memorabilia, too).
Many travelers and cruisers rave about packing cubes. I recently tried them out, and they really did make a difference, but large Ziploc® bags work just as well!
Onshore Tips from Cruisers
- Set your cellphone to airplane mode to avoid international roaming rates.
- Use your watch! Ships operate on “ship’s time,” which may or may not be the time your longitude-sensitive (local time) phone may give you. If you rely on your phone to know what time it is, you may be back to the ship an hour early (bummer) or an hour late (really big bummer). You can also set your phone NOT to change based on the local time.
- Consider (for women) wearing a bathing suit cover-up that looks like a sundress—or actually is a sundress—when going on shore excursions. You may be going to the beach, but there may be other stops along the way, and you’ll want to look like you’re dressed.
Finally, I am including a few links that I found helpful:
NRWA Conference Cruise Information
Royal Caribbean Dress Code (note that shorts and tanks are acceptable for breakfast and lunch, but not in the main dining room at dinner)
Happy packing! See you on the ship!
Last Call to Nominate Your Choice for 2019 Industry Hero
Mary Jo King, NCRW, NCOPE
NRWA Immediate Past PresidentDon’t assume that someone else has nominated your favorite candidate for the 2019 Industry Hero Award! Even if a like-minded individual has already done so, s/he may not have been as thorough and eloquent as you can be.
If you know a professional who has contributed significantly to the growth and advancement of our industry, take a few minutes now to document that leading-edge influencer’s achievements for consideration by NRWA leadership. The 2019 Industry Hero Award will be presented at the NRWA Conference at Sea in September.
Read more about the award and past recipients here. Document a brief description of the impact your nominee’s work has had on the industry and email MJ@alliancewritingservice.com by Friday, August 16. Nominate your hero today—before time runs out!
Rebecca Bosl, NCRW, NCOPE
NRWA Conference Planning Committee Member
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:
- Draw attention to your unique product/service/book that might be useful to other professionals.
- Brighten a colleague’s day by sharing a gift card. Suggestions for gift cards include restaurants, office suppliers, and bookstores. National chains are best, as we don’t know who will win the door prize.
- Pay it forward and bless someone else with a webinar, book, or workshop that helped you.
- Publicize your business! Your contribution, name, company name, and logo will be published in the conference materials, displayed at the conference, and noted in a conference email announcement. Plus, the excited winner is sure to share with others about the generosity you’ve shown in donating their great prize!
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!
Ashley Watkins, NCRW
NRWA Sponsor/Affiliate Relations ChairLet's give a warm welcome to our newest NRWA affiliate Partner, Rebecca Metz!
Web Pages That Sell has been helping career professionals showcase their unique talents online for more than 5 years. Rebecca helps clients get more business…consistently. Using the collaboration of a dynamic website, engaging social media, and personalized branding, she creates an online ecosystem that attracts clients and sells products and programs authentically.
An intrinsic educator, Rebecca’s secret sauce is taking the scary out of technology. She teaches clients to use and manage their websites and integrate them with social media and other marketing tools to create a powerful brand image—one they can update as often as needed. As a member of the NRWA, you get free access to her online educational library. Visit www.wptsacademy.com and use the code NRWA.
Click here to schedule your complimentary 30-minute conversation with Rebecca about your website needs.
To learn more about becoming a part of the NRWA Affiliate Program, visit The NRWA Affiliate Program page or contact Ashley Watkins, NRWA Sponsor/Affiliate Relations Chair, at info@WriteStepResumes.com.
Jean Austin, NCRW, NCOPE
NRWA Education Chair and Conference Committee MemberUpcoming Webinar:
Spinning Straw into Gold: Resumes and Cover Letters for the Inexperienced Job Seeker
Presented by Norine Dagliano, NCRW, NCOPE
Friday, August 16, 2019
12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m., ET
We all love working with experienced professionals who come to us with significant details about their many positions and accomplishments and are prepared to pay us the big bucks. But even those entering the workforce for the first time (with less money to invest) need the talents and services of a professional resume writer to help them make the best impression. If you’ve been avoiding serving this population because of the challenges of “creating something from nothing,” this webinar is for you.
Webinar participants will receive 26-pages of before and after resumes and cover letters; during the presentation, Norine will explain the techniques she used to transform them and “spin straw into gold.”
In this webinar, you will learn:
- Essential things to consider when planning the content and format strategy.
- Tools and resources you can use to identify the client's skills and value.
- What to include in the resume, what to leave out, and how to write in the client's "voice."
- Creative formatting techniques to capture attention and reveal the client's "brand."
- How to summarize the client's message in a clear, concise, and compelling cover letter.
Eligible for 1 CEU. This one-hour webinar is $19.99 for NRWA members and $39.99 for nonmembers. It will be recorded and distributed to all participants.
About the presenter:
Norine Dagliano is a Nationally Certified Resume Writer, Nationally Certified Online Profile Expert, DISC Administrator, and sole proprietor of ekm Inspirations, with more than 30 years of experience working with job seekers and career-services professionals, both experienced and starting out. As a sought-after trainer and presenter of resume, job search, interviewing, and career management tools and techniques, Dagliano has engaged and entertained participants at numerous local and national conferences with her quick wit and dynamic training style. She developed and is the exclusive instructor of the NRWA Writing Excellence program, is on the NRWA board, is a member of the NCRW grading team, and has taken an active role in mentoring and training other writers who wish to excel in the field. Samples of her work are published in nearly two dozen resume and cover letter books.
Click here to register.
Sneak Peek: Mark your calendar for Adam Zajac and Brittney Beck's September 20 webinar, "Value-added Services to Offer Your Clients." You'll be seeing complete webinar information shortly!
2019 Learning on Demand: 2019 webinars are available via the NRWA Education page and many offer CEU credit. Be sure to check out past recordings as well!
Ask a Colleague: Working on a finance resume? Contact a writer with experience in that field through the NRWA's Ask a Colleague resource. If you would like to be included on that list of experts, please let us know!
Thank you all so much for your interest in the NRWA’s valuable educational programs, and for your attendance and active participation!
Sara Timm
NRWA Membership ChairIf you have not explored the Member Portal on the NRWA website lately, I encourage you to check it out! Our organization has been working hard to update resources for the benefit of our members. Here are a few resources you can access in the Member Portal (you must be logged in):
Getting Started outlines the ins and outs of business licensing, branding/company identity, and financial operations. It even includes tips for promoting and growing your business.
Business Forms provides forms, including project agreements and contracts, that facilitate the establishment of effective communications channels for prospects and clients.
Marketing Methods & Tools for Resume Writers delivers valuable resources for networking, newsletters, websites, blogging, marketing, PR, and more! If you want more business, this is for you.
Articles You Can Use are provided by NRWA members and invited guests. The articles cover a wide range of topics to help you build credibility and establish yourself as an SME in the market.
Find a Subcontractor is a list of NRWA members interested in subcontracting opportunities.
Teleseminar Archives contains free audio files from past teleseminars.
Members like you strengthen the community and are what make the NRWA great. We strongly encourage you to enhance your professional development by exploring the many resources and benefits that the NRWA has to offer.
Annette Richmond
NRWA Director of Member Support: Experienced Business Owners
Certification Programs
The NRWA offers two powerful certification programs to give you the tools you need to stay abreast of trends and best practices in writing resumes and LinkedIn profiles.
NCOPE Certification: The Nationally Certified Online Profile Expert (NCOPE) program is designed to help you understand best practices, craft powerful LinkedIn profiles, and expertly navigate LinkedIn's back end.
Developed and taught by Tom Powner, this interactive program will help you unleash the power of LinkedIn and give your clients a competitive edge. Upon successful completion of the program, attendees earn the NCOPE Certification.
Visit the NRWA website to review the course outline.
NCRW Certification: The Nationally Certified Resume Writer (NCRW) program is recognized as the premier resume writing certification. Becoming an NCRW means that you have achieved the highest standards of excellence in resume writing. Your NCRW designation will help you attract higher-caliber clients, raise fees for your services, build your brand, and grow your business. Make 2019 the year you become an NCRW!
Visit the NRWA website for more details.
Writing Excellence Instructor-led Program
The NRWA's comprehensive writing excellence program has helped resume writers across the industry polish their writing skills, prepare for career-advancing industry certifications, and charge higher rates for their services.
In 2019, we’ve added even more valuable benefits to the program—more educational resources, greater professional opportunities, and a clear path to help you advance your career!
Wondering if the Writing Excellence Instructor-led Program is right for you? If you want to improve your resume writing, the answer is yes!
The last session attracted a variety of participants, from new and experienced business owners to workforce development center staff to HR professionals.
The final 9-week live program of 2019 will run from September 25 through November 20, 2019 with classes meeting every Wednesday from 12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. ET. Visit the NRWA website for a course outline and registration information.
About the Instructor:
For more than 30 years, job seekers and professionals in career transition have relied on Norine Dagliano for expert advice, practical insight, inspiration, and support to help them get paid what they deserve doing work that they love. An NCRW and valued member of the NRWA, Norine developed the Writing Excellence Instructor-led Program in 2015 and continues to refine, enhance, and update the coursework to keep up with emerging industry trends.
Professional Development and Training
The NRWA's dedication to professional development is one of the biggest benefits of membership. In addition to live educational webinars, a library of webinars and teleseminars is available online 24/7. Visit the recently revamped Webinars & Teleseminars page to learn how to write faster and more effectively, create and market webinars, grow and protect your business from liability and more.
Volunteer of the Month - Sally McIntosh
Paul Bennett
NRWA Director of Member Support: New Business Owners (Eastern Region)
We are pleased to honor Sally McIntosh as August's Volunteer of the Month!
Sally is our hardworking Certification Membership Chair, and she has served on the Certification Commission for more than 20 years. Sally holds three certifications herself: Nationally Certified Resume Writer (NCRW), Nationally Certified Online Profile Expert (NCOPE), and Certified Job and Career Transition Coach (JCTC).
Tell us about your own career path, and how you first got started as a career professional.
Way back, I started my business as Total Typing Service. As time went on, I realized a large number of my customers wanted resumes written. I decided that it would be a more lucrative business than a typing service. I joined a professional association to add credibility to my services and became certified.
Tell us a little bit about your business (e.g. the services you provide now, and the types of clients you typically serve).
My company is called Advantage Resumes. All my clients are virtual. I write for current college grads through senior executives. I recently became an NCOPE and have started promoting LinkedIn profiles, and almost every resume client chooses that add-on service.
How did you first get involved with the NRWA?
Back in the day, many of us used AOL and communicated through AOL chat rooms, instant messenger, and so on. Marty Weitzman, the NRWA’s first president, convinced me to join. I volunteered to serve on the Certification Commission and have been the chair or a grader ever since.
Tell us about your involvement with Résumé Writing 101?
This program started when Pat Kendall was Certification Chair. She recognized the need for resume writing training. Initially, the program was administered using pen, paper, and fax. As technology advanced, so did the program. In the early 2000s, it became an automated, self-paced tool for members. It was NRWA's first online training program. Somewhere along the line it was converted to a PDF training program. Currently, it is transitioning back to a self-paced online training program.
What do you wish others knew about the benefits of getting involved with the NRWA?
The benefits of getting involved include being a part of something bigger than yourself. I have many colleagues and good friends in the industry because of my volunteer efforts with NRWA.
We are so fortunate to have you on the NRWA team, Sally. Thank you for your ongoing efforts!
Welcome to our new and renewing members for the month of June 2019! 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.
- Niya Allen-Vatel in Bronx, New York
- Lori Barnes - ACCU-WORD in Bakersfield, California
- Kara Bell - Intuitive Resumes in Austin, Texas
- Nicole Belyna in Annapolis, Maryland
- Veronica Burchinal - Edmonds Community College in Lynnwood, Washington
- August Cohen - GetHiredStayHired, LLC in Franklin, Tennessee
- Michelle Dumas - Distinctive Career Services, LLC in Sanbornville, New Hampshire
- Denise Edwards - New Leaf Career Solutions, LLC in Atlanta, Georgia
- Cherise Elliott - C. Elliott Resume Writing in Powder Springs, Georgia
- Andrew Fuller - 1985 in Akron, Ohio
- Cathleen Garner in Pearland, Texas
- Nancy Grant in Canandaigua, New York
- Cherie Heid - Competitive Edge Resume Service in Carlsbad, California
- Michele Kelley (McCann) CareerPro, Inc. in Newark, Delaware
- Sara Laiche - Customized Resumes and HR Services in Saint Amant, Louisiana
- Carolina Leitão - KINP HR in Miami, Florida
- Lynn Walker Levy - LWL Careers in Milton, Massachusetts
- Anne Lynch - Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, Georgia
- Caitlin May - Caitlin May Consulting in Edomand, Oklahoma
- Stacy Mehler - Next Level Career Coach in Miami, Florida
- Krista Mitchell in Adairsville, Georgia
- Judy Monaco - Monaco Writing & Consulting Services LLC in Savannah, Georgia
- G. Marquis Ouattara - Marquis Resume Services, LLC in Everett, Washington
- Robert Prock - A Preferred Career & Resume Service in Greenville, South Carolina
- Tanya Ramey - Ramey Communications in Washington, D.C.
- Randy Reliford in Orlando, Florida
- Hollis Roberts - Career Design in Coppell, Texas
- Caroline Robertson in Frederick, Maryland
- Irma Rojas in Wellington, Florida
- Nina Scott in Pleasanton, California
- Alexia Scott - A Winning Resume, LLC in Montgomery, Alabama
- Shonda Simmons-Perry - Dream Chaser, LLC in Richmond, Virginia
- Latoshia Sims in Fayetteville, Georgia
- Laura Spawn - Virtual Vocations, Inc. in Eugene, Oregon
- Daniel Valladee - City of Phoenix in Phoenix, Arizona
- Will White in River Grove, Illinois
- Rachelle Wolford - National Association of Manufacturers in Junction City, Kansas
- Karen D. Wrigley - AMW Resume Service, LLC in Granbury, Illinois
- Abimbola Yusuf - Amy Consulting in Lagos, Nigeria
- Adam Zajac - Vocamotive in Lombard, Illinois
Find colleagues in your area by searching here.
Forest Hill, MD 21050
