June 2020

In This Issue 

• Executive Greeting
• Board of Directors Nominations Request
  
• 2020 Conference: CHANGES
• Member Benefits
• Member News
• Affiliate Highlight - Cognito Forms
• Announcing New NCRWs
• Congratulations to New NCOPEs
• Certification News and Training Programs
• Upcoming Education
• Industry Hero Awards: Call for Nominations
• ROAR Awards
• Volunteer of the Month
• Share Your Expertise in Ask The Experts
• New and Renewing Members

Executive Greeting 

Dear Colleagues:

In these tough times, our role as resume writers has never been more important. While you are helping job seekers, the NRWA is here to help you!

Here are three ways in which the NRWA remains by your side to support you in navigating today’s uncertain waters:

• Virtual Business Talks & Coffee Breaks: Free to members, these virtual chats allow members to stay connected with NRWA colleagues and discuss topics impacting their businesses.
• Member Forum: Replacing our NRWA e-list, the forum allows members to solicit advice, share best practices, and build business relationships for subcontracting, mentoring, and other mutually rewarding partnerships.
• NRWA Facebook Group: Whether you have a question or need a laugh, this members-only forum is active and on hand to reply and lend a hand.

Stay safe, be well and thank you for your work supporting job seekers!

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Board of Directors Nominations Request

Do you want to know what goes on “behind the scenes” in the National Resume Writers’ Association? Are you looking for ways to give back to the organization and get more involved in advancing our profession? Do you want to work with an amazing group of people to support the NRWA’s programs and membership benefits?

If so, then we encourage you to consider joining the NRWA Board of Directors. No matter what your talents and interests are, there is a place on the Board for you!

We are now seeking nominations for the following positions on the 2021 Board:

EXECUTIVE BOARD

Requirements:
The minimum qualification for nomination and election to the Executive Board is one year of service as a member of the Board of Directors.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Requirements:
The minimum qualification for nomination and election to the Board of Directors is one year of membership in the NRWA.

How to nominate board members:

More information:
The nomination forms are located on the NRWA website at: www.thenrwa.com/elections2021

You can also find descriptions of these positions and learn more about board responsibilities at that URL.

If you have questions about any of these positions, please contact President-Elect, Kathi Fuller at president-elect@thenrwa.com or 603-481-0032.

2020 Conference: CHANGES 

Changes are coming—stay tuned for our formal announcement about going virtual!

Member Benefit: Virtual Coffee Breaks

Sara Timm
NRWA Membership Chair 

I am having so much fun meeting our members in our new NRWA Virtual Coffee Breaks!

Hosted by NRWA President, Lorraine Beaman, and NRWA President-Elect, Kathleen Fuller, this relaxed colleague chat provides the opportunity to step away from work, socialize, and sip your favorite beverage.

Held via Zoom, the coffee breaks are not focused on business (though it does come up) and offers the opportunity to:

• Get to know your colleagues better, like Edwina in Texas, Allison in Alabama, and Michelle in Delaware with her fancy teas.
• Help each other find ways to get through current and anticipated challenges.
• Make connections that drive ideas, development, and growth.
• Relax and re-energize with friendly faces.

Ready to join us for our next coffee break? Bring your stories with you and, of course, your beverage of choice. Click here to register!

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Member News: Military/Workforce Career Centers

Brandi Munoz, NCOPE
Director of Member Support: Military.Workforce Career Centers 

I will be hosting a live call on Friday, June 5 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m., CT, to discuss how we can help the vast number of jobseekers dealing with unemployment and layoffs during this pandemic. As military transition and workforce center professionals, what resources are you leveraging and what do you feel that you still need to help your constituents? Let’s dig in and collaborate!

Click here to register for the call.

Affiliate Highlight 

Cognito Forms is a free, online form builder that allows you to easily create powerful forms for your website. You can build a contact form, registration form, or order form in seconds.

Create custom online forms and email or embed them right into your website. Collect information regarding your client’s education, professional experience, skills, and awards to kickstart your intake calls. Then, automatically use that data to craft resumes, cover letters, and other documents. Securely process credit and debit cards online with our easy-to-design payment forms. Just click this link and choose your plan level to start the 30-day free trial of a simple, no-code solution to making your careers business run more efficiently.

To learn more about becoming a part of the NRWA Affiliate Program, visit https://thenrwa.com/becomeaffiliate or contact Candace Barr at candace@strategic-resume.com.

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Announcing New NCRWs 

Please Join Us in Congratulating Our Newest NCRW: Teri Bickmore

Teri is a part-time faculty member at Central Michigan University where she teaches classes in business communications. Her experience teaching students and helping them see themselves in a different light sparked her interest in resume writing.

Earning the NCRW credential gave her the boost she needed to begin building her business and marketing plan and growing her client base of recent graduates and entry-level professionals. Teri's additional creative talents are spotlighted in her roles as an Advanced Master Gardener and cofounder of the Mid-Michigan Classical Guitar Society.

Welcome to the NCRW community—we appreciate your commitment to the NRWA mission of promoting writing excellence and raising industry standards!

Are you interested in becoming the next NCRW? The NCRW certification process is as follows:

• Submit a sample to help gauge where you are with your current skills and if you need to prepare more to successfully pass the test.
• Obtain 10 in-house Continuing Education Units (CEU) within the three years prior to taking the NCRW Exam.
• Register to take the 2-part exam—one on grammar and another on writing.

To learn more about the NCRW Certification Process, check out our FAQs!

Congratulations to New NCOPEs 

Congratulations to the most recent graduates of the Nationally Certified Online Profile Expert (NCOPE) program. Having completed a rigorous five-week training program, the following resume writers, career coaches, and other industry professionals are poised to unleash the power of LinkedIn to boost success for their job-seeking clients:

• Mirela Borsan in Litchfield Park, Arizona
• Michelle Desrosiers in New York, New York
• Tracey Gutierrez - Tracey Gutierrez Coaching in Maplewood, New Jersey
• Alana Henry - The Writique, LLC in Indianapolis, Indiana
• Erin Kennedy - Professional Resume Services in Lapeer, Michigan
• Kristi Kigar - Professional Resume Services in Lapeer, Michigan
• Holly Leyva - Virtual Vocations, Inc. in Eugene, Oregon
• Bernice Maldonado - Catalyst Era, Inc. in San DImas, California
• Camille Mason, Gillings School of Global Public Health in Chapel, North Carolina
• Kevonna McAnuff in Stone Mountain, Georgia
• Andrea Mitchell-Khan - Blackmere Consulting in Redmond, Washington
• Kim Nowlin - Nowlin Resume Service in San Angelo, Texas
• Kelli Page - Professional Resume Services in Columbiaville, Michigan
• Bea Ramos - USN FFSC in Washington, D.C.
• Dorothy Richardson in Deerfield Beach, Florida
• Marie Sales in Chicago, Illinois
• Shahid Sheikh - Significant Consulting Assoc. in Rolling Hills Estates, California
• Tammy Shoup - Breakthrough Resume Writing Service in Decatur, Indiana
• Heather Tudor in Jupiter, Florida

The next NCOPE course is now open for registration. It will be offered on Thursdays from July 30 through August 27, 2020, from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., ET. Click here for more details and registration.

Certification and Training Programs

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.

The next NCOPE program starts on July 30 and runs through August 27 with live 120-minute sessions on Thursdays from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., ET.

Click here for more details and registration information

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 2020 the year you become an NCRW!

Visit the NRWA website for more details

Writing Excellence Certification Preparation 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.

Last year we 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 Certification Preparation Program is right for you?

The answer is yes!

Each session attracts a variety of participants, from new and experienced business owners to workforce development center staff to HR professionals.

The next nine-week live program begins on June 18 and runs through August 13 and meets on Thursdays from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., ET. 

Visit the NRWA site for more information and to register.

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 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.

Upcoming Education 

Presented by Bridget (Weide) Brooks

Friday, June 19, 2020
12:30 p.m.-1:30 p.m., ET

The top 1/3 of the resume is critical to attracting employer attention. In this information-packed webinar, participants will learn how to use this valuable real estate to set their clients apart by creating impactful headlines and summaries—incorporating ATS-friendly keywords—to help candidates secure interviews.

Participants will learn…

• Plug-and-play formulas for developing powerful branding headlines for your clients.
• How to create the "hook" that will make writing the rest of the resume a lot easier.
• The five letters that you must keep at the forefront when writing headlines and summaries.
• The critical question for assessing a summary that resume writers need to ask themselves before finalizing the draft.

About Bridget (Weide) Brooks:
Bridget has been writing resumes with Image Building Communications in Omaha, Nebraska, since 1996. She is the editor of Resume Writers' Digest, a trade newsletter for professional resume writers, and the founder of the BeAResumeWriter.com resource site for careers industry professionals. Bridget has a bachelor's degree in journalism and public relations from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. She was the inaugural recipient of the NRWA's "Industry Hero" award and is a three-time presenter at NRWA conferences.

This one-hour webinar is $19.99 for NRWA members and $39.99 for nonmembers. It will be recorded and distributed to all participants. Eligible for 1 CEU.

Click here to register for the June 19 webinar.

Industry Hero Awards: Call for Nominations 

The NRWA created the annual Industry Hero Award in 2015 to recognize leading-edge members passionate about the growth and advancement of our profession.

Past winners have introduced industry-leading tools and courses, promoted excellence, and raised industry standards. They’ve devoted time and energy while managing their own careers, and their work has educated and inspired countless colleagues in the resume writing profession.

Who do you think deserves this recognition in 2020? Let us know and tell us why!

Email your description of why your nominee is your industry hero and what impact their work has had on the industry to VAFrancoResumes@gmail.com by July 31, 2020. The award will be presented during the NRWA’s Conference in September.

Get Ready to ROAR! 

The 2020 ROAR (Recognizing Outstanding Achievement in Resume) Awards launched in April, but there is still time to submit your entries to the NRWA’s annual resume writing competition by July 17, 2020, for a chance to prove your resumes are among the best of the best.

This year's categories allow you to show off your writing AND/OR design talents.

Winners earn a year of free membership, formal recognition at our 2020 conference, and exposure in our newsletter, website, social media platforms, and more. 

Past winners have spoken to the value of the accolade and have attributed winning an award to increasing their credibility and visibility and growing their business!

Register your entries today and get ready to ROAR!

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Volunteer of the Month - Annette Richmond 

Paul Bennett
NRWA Conference Committee and Marketing Committee Member 

Hello everyone!

This month’s Volunteer of the Month is yet another example of the outstanding caliber of professionals who get involved with the NRWA. A passionate writer, Annette Richmond brings plenty of experience working as a magazine writer and as a vocational counselor to her business as a career specialist. She is on the NRWA Board and a model of teamwork and dedication.

Tell us a bit about yourself, your business, and the type of clients you typically work with.
After earning an undergraduate degree in English, I started writing professionally (as a magazine writer) before earning an MA in Psychology. After that, I entered the career field as a vocational counselor in a nonprofit training and placement facility serving the chronically mentally ill. Since then, I’ve launched and run Career-intelligence.com (“the smart woman’s online career resource”), taught university-level communications, and worked as a recruiter.

Today, I get to use my writing and recruiting experience while doing really cool things with interesting clients. My business, named in part after Career-intelligence.com, is “Career Intelligence Resume Writing and Career Services.” Like many others, I started working with clients at all career levels; however, I found that most of the people who gravitated toward me were senior-level executives. So, after a couple of years in business, I shifted to serving that demographic.

How did you first learn about the NRWA? In other words, what brought you to the organization?
My longtime friend and colleague, Dawn Rasmussen, recommended the NRWA as a great resource.

You’ve been busy as one of our Directors of Member Support (and I understand you've really gone above and beyond, dealing with COVID-19 issues on our behalf). What has led you to get so involved?
Since starting my business, I’ve had support and guidance from numerous friends and colleagues in the NRWA. I ran for this board position because I wanted to give back to an organization that has helped me so much. It’s been great working with Tom Powner over the last two years. We decided to step up our Experienced Business Owner (EBO) calls to provide additional member support and help build a feeling of community during these challenging times.

What do you wish others knew about the benefits of getting involved with the NRWA?
The best thing is that it’s a great way to pay forward the help you’ve received. One of the biggest benefits for me has been getting to know many of the members, building friendships with people who before I only knew by name.

What might someone be surprised to know about you, or what do you do when you aren’t working or volunteering?
As a media minor (TV and film) at Sacred Heart University, I worked as a producer and live TV reporter (for their news magazine) and I wrote, directed, and produced a music video. As a result, I’m a bit of a film buff with eclectic tastes. Favorites include To Kill A Mockingbird (which we recently saw on the big screen) and The Godfather (which we watch on Christmas morning).

Annette, you’ve contributed enormously to the NRWA, and we’re delighted to have you as a member. Congratulations on being our Volunteer of the Month for June!

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Welcome to our new and renewing members for the month of May 2020!  Feel free to introduce (or reintroduce) yourself and network via our Facebook group, the Member Forum, and our LinkedIn group.

• Jennifer Alexandre - Project Alliance, LLC. in Gaithersburg, Maryland
• Jennifer Amy - ACS Human Development in Argyle, Texas
• Marvin Arts, Jr. - Get Noticed Resume Writing and More in Mesquite, Texas
• Joanne Aughey - Joanne's Resumes in Hamburg, New Jersey
• Hollie Baker - Custom Resume Writer in Tyler, Texas
• David Barnes - Dbarnes431 Communications LLC in Fairfax, Virginia
• Karen Bartell - Best-in-Class Resumes in Massapequa Park, New York
• Stephanie Beach in Fairfield, Connecticut
• Emily Benson in Keene, New Hampshire
• Samantha Carroll - Once Upon A Brand in Gaithersburg, Maryland
• Deborah Carter in San Marcos, Texas
• Lauren Charbonneau - Climb Higher in Boston, Massachusetts
• Courtenay Davis in Alameda, California
• Allison Davis - Resumes Plus Professional Services in Shavertown, Pennsylvania
• Skylar DePedro - Western Nevada College in Carson City, Nevada
• Kiona Discipulo - EFC Consulting, LLC in Rancho Cordova, California
• Tara Dishmon in Albuquerque, New Mexico
• Louise Duffield in Colchester, United Kingdom
• Deborah Eison in Chicago, Illinois
• Cliff Flamer - BrightSide Resumes in San Francisco, California
• Judy Friedler - CareerPro International in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
• Jerrelyn Gaines in Corinth, Texas
• Nirmala Gangadeen in Hollis, New York
• Holly Genser in Lake Worth, Florida
• Caitlin Gonzalez in Cary, North Carolina
• Fred Hairston - National Able Network in Oak Park, Illinois
• Sherica Heardvelez - Queen of My Blessed Home, LLC in Lawton, Oklahoma
• Janita Hickenbotham - Resume Clear in Macon, Georgia
• Brandy Hill in Longwood, Florida
• Demisha Jennings in South Bend, Indiana
• Rita Jerman - Resumes by Rita in Holly Springs, North Carolina
• Zahra Khan - ResumesbyZahra in Elmhurst, New York
• Ginger Korljan - Take Charge Coaching in Phoenix, Arizona
• Tyler Littleton - Littleton Virtual Services, LLC in York, Pennsylvania
• Patti Long in Tyler, Texas
• Irene Marshall - Tools for Transition in Fremont, California
• Katherine Martucci - Delaware Valley University in Doylestown, Pennsylvania
• Deidre McClellan - Virtual Executive Administrator in Oak Grove, Missouri
• Stephanie Meehan - Cameron Smith & Associates, Inc. in Rogers, Arkansas
• Sarah Moore in Augusta, Maine
• Stacy Moore - Delaware Valley University in Doylestown, Pennsylvania
• Noha Mostafa in Cairo, Egypt
• Kimberly Murphy - Right on Time Resumes in Poolesville, Maryland
• Kim Nowlin - Nowlin Resume Service in San Angelo, Texas
• Aisha Ortiz - Aisha Ortiz Consulting in North Chesterfield, Virginia
• Saresa Pleasant in Baltimore, Maryland
• Charmaine Pocek in Houston, Texas
• Deirdre Rock - Composed Career LLC in Rockaway, New Jersey
• Rhonda Shannon - Rhonda's Resume Writing Service in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
• Lexie Sinscera - Ambition Career Services in Seattle, Washington
• Karen Springer - Spring Forward Résumés in Providence, Rhode Island
• Jason Stauffacher in Minneapolis, Minnesota
• Kristen Tepas in Amherst, New York
• Joeli Tineo - Careerching L.L.C. in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Nikki Townsend in Elk Grove, California
• Chioma Triplett in Chicago, Illinois
• Tim Windhof - Windhof Communications - Career Services in Aurora, Colorado
• Cathy Yonek in Jeannette, Pennsylvania

Find colleagues in your area by searching here.

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