October 2018

In This Issue


Executive Greeting

By Adam Zajac, NCRW
2018 Conference Program Chair

Dear Conference Attendees,

It is hard to believe that the NRWA’s 21st Annual Conference kicks off the day after tomorrow! As we prepare to Forge the Future in Seattle, I’d like to share a few last-minute details.

Thursday’s Networking and Contractor/Subcontractor Mingle

For those of you looking to hire subcontractors, Lorraine Beaman is facilitating an excellent opportunity for you to identify candidates, from 5:00-5:30 p.m. (before the welcome reception). Subcontractors should arrive with examples of previous work to show the contractors.

Thursday’s Welcome Reception

The Membership Committee is hosting a welcome reception from 5:30 - 6:30 pm, which will provide a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with colleagues and meet new ones! If you enjoy dressing up, do! If you don’t, casual dress is fine.

Special Events

We only have a couple of tickets left for both the Dinner Cruise and Space Needle Tour. If you have not yet signed up, now is the time!

I wish you all safe travels and look forward to celebrating the NRWA’s 21st Annual Conference with you in Seattle.

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     Certification Corner

Sally McIntosh, NCRW, JCTC
Certification Chair

This monthly column provides information about NRWA certification procedures and training programs. For more information contact Sally McIntosh, Certification Chair, CertChair@thenrwa.com.

Recommended Books for Professional Development

The NRWA publishes an ever-changing list of recommended books for professional resume writers. It was updated last month and contains all new books. Each book has been published within the last five years and qualifies for Continuing Education (CE) units. https://thenrwa.com/recommendedbooks

Fictionalizing a Resume and Cover Letter

When preparing a sample resume and cover letter for the first step in the certification process (grader review), protect your client’s personal information by fictionalizing the documents. Replace names, contact information, company names, employment dates, and education with different yet believable information.

Removing your Name from a Document’s Properties

Since the samples and tests are confidential, we ask that you remove your name from the document properties. In Microsoft Word, click on File in the menu bar. On the Info page, click on "Check for Issues" and select "Inspect Document." After Word inspects the document, click "Remove all" by the option titled "Document Properties and Personal Information." Click "File" again to verify that your name is no longer listed as “Author.”    

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Sponsor Highlight

Ashley Watkins, NCRW
Sponsor/Affiliate Relations Chair

Choose HAYWOOD SBS to grow your online presence and gain new customers. HAYWOOD SBS is a leading mobile marketing company that offers mobile applications and web development to drive sustainable growth for businesses across the U.S. Their mission is to help business owners maintain a competitive advantage while educating and empowering them to revolutionize their services and products with mobile technology.

Al and Tona Haywood have 30+ years of combined experience in web design, mobile app development,help desk support, digital advertising, logistics management, instructional technology, training, and consulting.

Visit them online at https://www.haywoodsbs.com today!


Click here to learn more about becoming an NRWA sponsor or reach out to Ashley Watkins,Sponsor/Affiliate Relations Chair at info@WriteStepResumes.com.

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Education Report

Virginia Franco, NCRW, MRW, CPRW, CEIP
Education Chair

This month, we’ve got some exciting webinars planned to improve your resume writing skills and grow your business!

Last Call for October Learning

Looking to differentiate yourself from your competition? Could you benefit from an understanding of your ideal client and how to connect with them?

It’s not too late to sign up for “Stand Out by Being You: Create a Marketing Message That Attracts Your Ideal Clients While Being Authentic,” presented by Tapping Your Purpose Founder, Charo Pinilla on Friday, October 19, from 12:30 p.m.-2:00 p.m., ET.

Upcoming Webinars

“Insightful Information: How to Get It and How to Use It Beyond the Resume,” presented by Best Impression Career Services Founder Louise Kursmark on Friday, November 9, from 12:30 p.m.-1:30 p.m., ET.

We will close out 2018 with a December webinar on using Profinder. The webinar will be taught by CareerThinker Founder, NRWA Board Member, and ProFinder Power User Tom Powner on Friday, December 7, from 12:30 p.m.-1:30 p.m., ET.

Professional Development and CE Units On Demand

If you are unable to attend our Annual Conference later this month in Seattle, you can still squeeze in some professional development and earn CE units with past recordings of popular webinars.

Here’s a sampling:

Essential Microsoft Word® Shortcuts and Timesavers for Professional Resume Writers

ATS Two Part Webinar (2 sessions and 1 CEU per session)

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Member News

Tim Windhof, NCRW
Director of Industry, New Business Owners/East

Our new business owners were quite active in exchanging information, growing their businesses, and increasing their public visibility. Members who were particularly active in driving their market presence were:  

Holly Genser, MA, CCTC, WestPalm Beach, FL, joined CDI and added new specialized coaching programs called "Tap the Hidden Job Market" and "Interview Confidence." She also presented the webinar "Essential Microsoft Word® Shortcuts and Timesavers for Professional Resume Writers" for the NRWA in July, which is available at https://thenrwa.com/event-2966473. Holly is currently studying positive psychology tools to add to her practice.

Laura Bashore, Anew Resume and Career Services – Arc, Escondido, CA, launched her blog, “Ruby Tuesday-Career Advice,”which can be viewed at https://www.arcresume.com/blog.The blog name pays homage to the Rolling Stones song “Ruby Tuesday” and the fact that Laura posts every Tuesday. 

Melissa Kelley, CPRW, KelleyResumes & Wordsmithing, Aurora, CO, was invited to speak at Donna Shannon's "Tattooed Freaks in Business Suits" podcast. Melissa covered the topic “What Makes a Great Resume?" The recorded talk is available at https://bit.ly/whatmakesagreatresume.

In my function as Director of Industry for our new business owners, I welcomed new members to our organization and reached out to current and renewing members to ensure they receive maximum benefit from their NRWA membership. Again, a warm welcome to everyone who joined us last month!

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Member Benefit - Business Forms

By Sara Timm
Membership Chair

The NRWA has assembled a variety of forms that you are welcome to download, making it easy to streamline information, move projects along, and strengthen relationships with your clients. Each form can be customized with your logo and company information and edited to fit your business structure.

Forms include templates for client and prospect communications, resume critiques, project agreements, contracts, and more.

The wide selection of free forms is available on the Business Forms page in the member’s portal of TheNRWA.com, so you can find forms that best suit your needs and get started right away.

Please note that the NRWA also welcomes forms or client communication resources that members are willing to share! Please email adminmanager@thenrwa.com to have your documents evaluated for inclusion.

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Volunteer of the Month - Tim Windhof

By Robert Rosales, CPRW
Marketing Chair

We are pleased to announce Tim Windhof as October’s Volunteer of the Month. Tim currently serves as the Director of Industry, New Business Owners (Eastern Region) and is an active contributor to the Membership Committee.

Tim is based in Columbus, Ohio, where he provides services to executives throughout the United States as well as internationally. Tim is a Nationally Certified Resume Writer (NCRW), Certified Hidden Job Market Coach, Certified Resume Development Coach,Certified Professional Resume Writer, and Certified Professional Career Coach. He specializes in global executive resume writing and career advancement.

Tell me a little bit about you. What is the name of your business? What types of clients do you typically work with?

I am the founder of Windhof Communications LLC – Career Services. I mostly work with executives with international backgrounds targeting various geographies overseas.

How did you first get involved with the NRWA?

I was asked at the Annapolis conference a few years ago if I would be willing to host a webinar on international resumes. The webinar is still available through the NRWA website.

What prompted you to get involved as a Director of Industry?

I found tremendous support and encouragement through the NRWA when I launched my business, and it was simply time to giveback.

What do you wish others knew about the benefits of getting involved with the NRWA?

The benefits are almost too numerous to list,but if I had to pick one, then it would be the tremendous camaraderie in an otherwise often lonely profession.

What might someone be surprised to know about you? Or, what do you do when you aren’t working or volunteering?

When not working or volunteering, I enjoy practicing and teaching the ancient arts of Tai Chi and Qigong. We actually offered morning Qigong sessions at our Charlotte and Annapolis conferences for our attendants, so this might not be much of a surprise.

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New and Renewing Members

Welcome to our new and renewing members for the month of October 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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