September 2019
Nancy Grant
NRWA Conference Program ChairDear Colleagues,
As the countdown to Conference ticks away, it’s hard to believe the time is almost here. Who knew 5 years ago when I attended my first National Resume Writer’s Association Conference as a “newbie” that I would be Charting a Course for Success for all members of the NRWA. Taking on challenges, growing professionally, and building our tribe is what we are all about, and I am honored to be a part of delivering this exclusive and enriching Conference at Sea experience.
For those attending, I cannot wait to meet you personally if I have not already. Please make sure to connect with attendees on one of our many social media forums and then book optional excursions using Royal Caribbean’s cruise planner. For those not attending this year, we will miss you for sure, but keep a look out as we will be sharing our experiences via social media to keep you in the loop.
Best wishes to everyone and enjoy the rest of your summer.
See you on board!
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NRWA 2019 Conference: Cruise Planner
Jean Austin, NCRW, NCOPE
NRWA Education Chair and Conference Committee Member
If you’re attending the 2019 NRWA Conference at Sea, you have probably already taken a virtual tour of the ship, and are looking forward to walking through Central Park, experiencing the FlowRider, watching a show, or taking part in one of the many available excursions.
Your key to these, and the wide array of other on-board activities and shore excursions, is via Royal Caribbean’s Cruise Planner. It allows you to view entertainment, excursion, dining, and other onboard options and book ahead—a definite plus for you when selecting popular venues. Create your account at https://www.royalcaribbean.com/account/signin?default=false&cS=MHDR and watch an overview at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4VzenmZuY0. And don’t forget to download their smartphone app for everything from mobile check in and expedited arrival to viewing and reserving activities and more!
I am adding two more articles I stumbled upon that may be of help to you as you prepare for the conference—enjoy!
8 Handy Items Most Cruisers Don't Pack
https://cruiseline.com/advice/before-you-cruise/what-to-bring/cruise-packing-tips-unexpected
7 Things to Do Immediately After Getting into Your Cabin
New - NRWA Sales Mastery Program: Unlocking the Secrets of Selling for Resume Writers
Virginia Franco, NCRW, NCOPE
NRWA President“I’m confident in the quality of the products and services I provide but struggle to convey this to potential clients!” Sound familiar?
We’re excited to announce the launch of a powerful and interactive program, exclusively for resume writers, to unlock the secrets of selling and generate more sales.
Click here for a video with details on this new program.
Whether you’re an industry newbie or an established career professional, the NRWA Sales Mastery Program will teach strategies to sell your products, quality, and value. You’ll also walk away with:
- Skills you need to overcome common objections and improve your close ratio.
- Sales language that feels authentic to you.
- Modern sales techniques that address sales and industry changes.
Taught by StartingBlock Career Services founder, former executive recruiter, and professionally trained saleswoman Ellen Steverson, NRWA Sales Mastery kicks off October 1. Ninety-minute sessions will take place on Tuesdays from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. through November 5. Pricing is $649 for members and $749 for nonmembers.
Ashley Watkins, NCRW
NRWA Sponsor/Affiliate Relations ChairStarting in 1995, Certified Professional Behavioral Analyst Jane Roqueplot used DISC assessments with every client in her career advancement firm.
In 2001, Jane launched a business division, ProfilingPro, to extend her services to her career industry colleagues.
ProfilingPro has successfully served NRWA colleagues—and others—providing services, materials, and support with DISC reports.
As a long-time NRWA member, Jane is excited to be an NRWA Affiliate Partner, giving all NRWA members access to the Resume and Cover Letter DISCStyles™ Report, enabling NRWA members to:
- Adapt their writing styles fittingly for clients.
- Learn more about clients in minutes than could be learned in countless attempts to understand preferences/strengths for developing talking points.
- Demonstrate human behavior leadership for positioning among the best in resume writing.
- Gain a profit center by including the DISC assessment as the first step while making a 100% profit on each report.
- Partner, as an option, with an Authorized DISC Virtual Coach for more income with additional DISC-based services.
The DISC report is a value-added service that can be used as a resource and tangible evidence with language/phrases for branding, bios, profiles, and effective interview preparation. The DISC assessment is validated, reliable, and meets EEOC and Adverse Impact Compliance.
NRWA members can order DISC assessments as needed using this link: http://www.profilingpro.com/NRWA.html.
NRWA members can also become an Authorized DISC Administrator and Behavioral Consultant through ProfilingPro at a reduced rate. Details are available at http://bit.ly/profilingproNRWAregistration.
NRWA’s Affiliate Partners offer job search-related products that are not in direct competition with members yet provide a service which could be valuable to NRWA members or their clients.
For more information, visit https://thenrwa.com/partners.
To learn more about becoming a part of the NRWA Affiliate Program, visit https://thenrwa.com/becomeaffiliate.
Jean Austin, NCRW, NCOPE
NRWA Education Chair and Conference Committee MemberUpcoming Webinar:
Value-Added Services to Offer Your Clients
Presented by Adam Zajac, NCRW, and Brittney Ripley (Beck), NCRW, CCELW
Friday, September 20, 2019
12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m., ET
In this webinar, we will cover several add-ons which can easily be included in your service offerings to improve your clients’ job search efforts, increase client satisfaction rates, and provide additional revenue. These value-added items include:
- Labor Market Analysis Services – We will review the type of information gleaned from Job Browser Pro and OASYS, explore how you can leverage these tools for better client success rates, and add them to your services.
- Job Search Tracking Documents – We will provide examples of job search tracking tools you can use to help clients be more methodical as they apply, explain how to use them to further client success, and will share how to incorporate these services into your pricing.
- Elevator Pitch Development –We will walk you through approaches to developing an elevator pitch, discuss the value it provides for the client, and explain how to add this to your standard service packages.
- Interview Preparation – We will discuss a streamlined interview preparation process that you can offer as an add-on service to ensure your clients ace their interviews and not just land them.
- Job Search Template Letters – Extending the client’s brand to template documents (cover letter, thank you letter, etc.) is a no-brainer. Examples will be discussed so you know how to extend a brand to template documents through formatting and content.
- Needs-Focused Coaching – We will share how to add needs-focused coaching to a project for those clients who need extra TLC throughout the writing process, and how much to charge for this service.
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 Adam Zajac, NCRW:
Adam is an accomplished career services and brand development professional with 13 years of experience sharing his expertise in resume and LinkedIn profile writing, career strategy, strategic communications and marketing with job seekers, organizations, and small businesses. Since 2005, Adam has worked for Vocamotive, Inc., a vocational rehabilitation and career services firm located in Hinsdale, Illinois. Adam began marketing his resume writing and LinkedIn expertise to individuals outside of the vocational rehabilitation environment in 2012, and soon became a well-respected and in-demand expert sought by experienced professionals, managers, and senior executives throughout the country. He now runs a standalone resume and career services division at Vocamotive and oversees a staff of talented associate writers. His resume services client base has also grown worldwide, and he has worked with clients in North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.
About Brittney Ripley (Beck), NCRW, CCELW:
Brittney is a Senior Associate Resume and LinkedIn Profile Writer at Vocamotive, with a focus on career development strategy. She holds an additional certification in LinkedIn profile writing. She is a regular presenter at industry conferences, networking events, and at universities, speaking on the importance of building a personal and professional brand, particularly as it relates to resumes and LinkedIn profiles. Brittney has an education in strategic communications, as well as considerable experience in writing, career development, and personal branding.
Click here to register.
Sneak Peek: You’ll also want to mark your calendars for Rebecca Metz’s in-depth 2-part webinar, “Using a Lead Magnet for Automatic Follow-up and Consistent Sales.” On October 4, she will present “Creating a Lead Magnet on your Website,” and on October 18, she will focus on “Nurturing & Following Up Leads.” Each presentation is a standalone webinar, so you can take one or both. Both presentations will be recorded and distributed to all participants. This webinar does not qualify for CEUs.
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!
Thank you all so much for your interest in the NRWA’s valuable educational programs, and for your attendance and active participation!
Sally McIntosh, NCRW, NCOPE
NRWA Certification ChairPlease join us in congratulating our two newest NCRWs: Jennifer Czerniak and Julia Mattern! Both Jenny and Julia are graduates of the NRWA Writing Excellence program.
Jenny is the assistant director and resume coordinator for the career services office at Cedar University in Cedarville, Ohio. In this role, she assists students and alumni with their resumes, CVs, cover letters, and personal statements. Jenny also trains student/peer reviewers to assist her and presents classes and workshops throughout the year on writing resumes, CVs, and cover letters.
Julia enrolled in the Spring 2019 Writing Excellence program and hit the ground running! A Certified Professional Life and Career Coach previously operating under the business name Julia Mattern Life Coaching, Julia is in the process of rebranding as Julia Mattern Career Services (a reflection of her new credentials and services). She is also an Authorized DISC Administrator and on track to add the NCOPE to her list of credentials.
We appreciate your commitment to the NRWA mission of promoting excellence and raising industry standards and know that your students, clients, and colleagues will reap the benefits. Well done!
Member Benefits: Membership Directory
Sara Timm
NRWA Membership ChairThe NRWA is the meeting place of the absolute best resume writers in the world. As a member of the NRWA, you are demonstrating that you are dedicated and serious about your resume-writing career.
You are also granted access to our membership directory to search and connect with like-minded professionals. Set up and optimize your profile and use it to search for professionals who wish to engage in sharing knowledge, mentoring new writers, and exploring subcontracting opportunities.
Cultivating strategic partnerships with fellow NRWA members is an excellent way to generate new business. You can partner with writers who specialize in areas that you do not; our search feature can be used to find writers with specific skill sets.
We make it easy for NRWA members to collaborate, share ideas, and connect with other NRWA members across North America and beyond. You can find fellow members by name, state, or company and take advantage of this expansive network.
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.
When asked what they liked best about the program, attendees responded:
“The insight on the Recruiter Lite feature and how it works from the back end.” - Bonnie Negron
“The value of LinkedIn, so much functionality that I was unaware of . . . I am sure my clients will benefit from this knowledge.” - Deirdre Rock
“The nitty-gritty detail for each topic.” - Carla Deter
“How to use LinkedIn to help clients search for jobs and make strategic connections. This will add value to my ability to provide LinkedIn coaching.” - Nickquolette Barrett
Mark your calendars for the next NCOPE program, which will be starting in November. You won’t want to miss it!
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 - Ashley Watkins
Paul Bennett
NRWA Director of Member Support: New Business Owners (Eastern Region)
Ashley is a Job Search Coach and owner of Write Step Résumés, LLC. Previously, she spent 15 years in corporate recruiting for the banking, manufacturing, nonprofit, and education sectors. Ashley is originally from Montgomery, AL, and graduated with a BS in Human Resources Management from Auburn University at Montgomery. As Alabama’s only NCRW, Ashley earned her NCRW designation in 2016. Currently, she serves on the NRWA Board as the Sponsor/Affiliate Relations Chair.
Ashley’s company offers high-quality career documents and services that generate more interviews and higher salary offers for job seekers who are ready to advance or who feel stuck in a dead-end job. She gives them the boost they need to confidently present their brand promise and communicate their value.
Tell us a little bit about yourself - for example, what's the name of your business, and what types of clients do you typically work with.
At Write Step Résumés, I partner with frustrated mid-career to executive-level job seekers. I teach them leading-edge job search strategies for overcoming networking anxiety, articulately communicating their career stories, and confidently showcasing (in their resumes and LinkedIn profiles and during interviews) their unique value to potential employers.
How did you first get involved with the NRWA?
I joined the NRWA after launching my business in 2012. One quick Google search changed my career outlook. I didn’t know much about resume writers and wanted to ensure I was doing all that I could to help my clients rediscover the impact in their careers so they could market themselves to employers as top talent and command top-dollar salaries. I think I immediately purchased about 15 courses from the webinar library, and I consistently studied to refine my writing and coaching strategies.
What prompted you to participate as the Sponsor/Affiliate Relations Chair?After taking the plunge into full-time entrepreneurship in 2019, I set a goal (with my mentor) to become more involved in the careers industry and gain more visibility among my peers. When I was approached about the opportunity to serve on the board, it felt like the perfect way to leverage my skills in recruiting, nonprofit fundraising, and relationship building to make a bigger impact with NRWA sponsors and affiliates.
What do you wish others knew about the benefits of getting involved with the NRWA?
Since joining, I have benefited tremendously from educational tools such as webinars, forums, books, and the Writing Excellence Course. With The NRWA, you don’t just pay dues and attend boring training calls; coaches and writers actually come together to share ideas and knowledge to consistently drive the careers industry forward. The networking opportunities and open Q&A sessions alone were enough to boost sales and efficiency in my business. Volunteering is an amazing way to have your ideas heard (and implemented) while giving back to an organization dedicated to presenting a positive public image and excellence in writing, coaching, and job search strategies.
What might someone be surprised to know about you? What do you do when you aren't working or volunteering?
I was the co-host of a radio show (for about 7 years) and of a TV show (for 6 months). We discussed a wide range of topics including politics, sports, and current events. I collect shoe figurines and get lost for hours in coloring books and Dr. Pimple Popper YouTube videos. I'm also a die-hard football fan (Roll Tide! and Who Dat!).
Welcome to our new and renewing members for the month of August 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.
- Cathy Alfandre in Easton, Connecticut
- Nickquolette Barrett - iRock Résumés in Allen, Texas
- Brittney Beck - Vocamotive in Lombard, Illinois
- Lindy Bookamer - Career Sense in Corpus Christi, Texas
- Kathleen Brogan - Brogan Communications in Richfield, Minnesota
- Shauna C. Bryce - Bryce Legal Career Counsel in Washington, DC
- Catharine Craig in Lamoni, Iowa
- Elaine Doremus in Albany, New York
- Cliff Eischen - Eischen's Professional Resume Service in Fresno, California
- Emily Fitzpatrick - Recruiters International, Inc. in Pembroke Pines, Florida
- Margo Flores - Writing With A Flair, LLC in Washington, DC
- Wendy Gelberg - JVS in Boston, Massachusetts
- Bevley Green - University of South Alabama in Mobile, Alabama
- Julia Holian - Julia Holian & Associates in Walnut Creek, California
- Kelly Hood - ApplyWell Application Strategies, LLC in Austin, Texas
- Phil Hurd - Catalyst Resumes LLC in Lexington, Massachusetts
- Emily Kapit - ReFresh Your Step in Miami, Florida
- Stephanie McKenzie - Blue Ridge Career Resources in Loganville, Georgia
- Lheiren Milanette in Arlington, Virginia
- Ruth Pankratz - Gabby Communications in Fort Collins, Colorado
- Louriann Patterson in Breckenridge, Colorado
- Thomas Powner - Career Thinker Inc. in Rego Park, New York
- Teaera Raines in Atlanta, Georgia
- Jared Redick - The Resume Studio in Rancho Mirage, California
- Jennifer Reule - Precision Writing Services LLC in Orlando, Florida
- Terry Richards - City of Norfolk - Norfolk Works in Norfolk, Virginia
- Danielle Savage - ParisResumes in Paris, France
- Paula Scott Gross in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Shahid Shiekh - Significant Consulting Assoc. in Rolling Hills Estates, California
- Columba Smith - Columba Smith Resumes in Ben Lomond, California
- Ruth Sternberg in Columbus, Ohio
- Michelle Swanson - Michelle Swanson.com in Edwardsville, Illinois
- Barbara ter Horst - iCareerSolutions.com in New York, New York
- Angie Tinnell - Meridian Resources, Inc. in Greenville, South Carolina
- Karen Walcott - Rock Your Resume in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Molly Walsh - Standout Consulting in Shaker Heights, Ohio
- Sheila Wener - BYU-Idaho in Rexburg, Idaho
- Christine Wunderlin - Wunderlin Consulting in Las Vegas, Nevada
Find colleagues in your area by searching here.
Forest Hill, MD 21050
