Step 2: Sample Submission

Assessment

You must be a member of NRWA to begin this process. The sample submission is required to start the certification process. It helps gauge where you are with your current skills and if you need to prepare more to pass the test, as well as ensure you have reviewed NRWA resources on resume writing standards. You will receive feedback from an NCRW commission grader that will help you prepare for the test or to submit another sample, if needed.

You must read the NCRW Study Guide thoroughly before writing and submitting your sample resume and cover letter for grading. Too many certification candidates fail the writing sample segment on their first attempt—many because they disregard basic grammar rules and “strategy” concepts that are outlined in the NCRW Study Guide.

The NCRW Study Guide is a resource created by the Certification Commission and updated annually with details on best practices in resume writing and strategy. 

Formatting for Submission

Your sample submission must contain four documents that are in compliance with
the NCRW Study Guide (available only to members) and The Gregg Reference Manual:

• A self-authored ATS-compliant resume in Word
• The same self-authored ATS-compliant resume in PDF
• A self-authored cover letter for the same client in Word
• A brief (2–3 paragraph) strategy statement. The statement must include the job target, challenges the client faced, and resume and cover letter strategies used to market your client.

Our graders require all four documents to perform a fair review of your materials. If you don’t include all four files, you will be asked to re-submit and the review process will be delayed. 

Before uploading your files, remove all identifying information from the properties in Word and the PDF (i.e., your name and the client's name). 

PLEASE NOTE:
This is a resume writing certification. Your samples must reflect your original writing, not the output of AI tools. If a grader recognizes telltale signs of AI usage, your sample will be returned ungraded. You will need to rewrite without the aid of AI and resubmit.

Additionally, your layout/design should be original. The use of templates is prohibited and if the grader recognizes a template was used your sample will be returned ungraded.

We recommend that your sample be written for a client with 10–15 years of work experience. Avoid submitting samples for new graduates or career changers, as these career scenarios often do not provide enough content to evaluate your resume writing skills. If you don’t have an appropriate candidate, click here for a sample profile we have prepared. Regardless of who you choose to write about in your sample, you may embellish the career history or add accomplishments to demonstrate you understand the NRWA Study Guide best practices.

Results

While the sample submission process is limited to members pursuing certification, part of the feedback is a “Ready” or “Not Ready” recommendation to help you determine if you are prepared to pass the NCRW Examination.

One NCRW grader will review your sample submission using the same criteria used when grading NCRW exams. Recommendations are returned within four weeks from the date of submission.

A “Ready” recommendation is required to move on to the NCRW Exam. However, some writers may find it helpful to submit multiple samples if the grader recommends that the writer is "Not Ready" (a $75 fee applies to each submission).

Resumes that meet the grading criteria are:

• Exceptionally well-written – Demonstrating the writer’s command of the English language (e.g., effective word usage, active verbs, appropriate keywords). Certification graders expect that sentence structure will have “integrity” and that writers will strategically present relevant data and exclude/edit nonrelevant data.
• Marketing-oriented – Demonstrating the writer’s ability to effectively “sell” the candidate by presenting qualifying information in the best light (based on candidate’s objectives), and effectively meeting employer’s expectations by focusing on skills and accomplishments that meet the employer’s requirements.
• Thoughtfully executed – Demonstrating the writer’s above-average skill in document preparation, word processing, and formatting. Consistency is an important part of the grading criteria. The use of templates is prohibited.
• Technically correct – Demonstrating the writer’s skills in proofreading, attention to detail and accuracy in writing mechanics, punctuation, grammar, spelling, and syntax.
• Human-generated – Demonstrating the writer’s ability to write original content, rather than relying on AI-generated text.