Welcome to our new and renewing members for the month of June 2022!

Feel free to introduce (or reintroduce) yourself via our members-only networking forums: the Member Forum on our website, Facebook group, and LinkedIn group.

You can find colleagues in your area by searching here.

NEW MEMBERS

RENEWING MEMBERS

By Dr. Cheryl Minnick, NCRW, NCOPE – NRWA Certification Commission Grader

One way to torch your career is to lie on your resume. We’ve seen careers of high-profile professionals burst into flames by misrepresenting their educational accomplishments. When their mistruths were exposed, some were fired, some resigned, some lost promotions, or had to repay or sit-out bonuses. Their short-term gain (a job or promotion) was torched by a company’s long-term interest (credibility).

Let’s take a look at a few:

When resume errors come to light, professionals have quickly stepped down, repaid or forfeited a sizeable bonus, had severance packages cut, or been terminated.

In 2020, Checkster Research found that 78% of job applicants lie about skills, GPA, title, degree, university name, and achievements, while HireRight (2017) found that 85% of employers caught lies.

As resume writers, we can help clients avoid misstatements by reviewing their academic transcript for GPA, degree, and major. We can also include legal job titles with an equivalency title in parentheses and remind our clients that “embellishments” can cost them their job, promotion, bonus, severance package, and professional reputation.

Dr. Cheryl Minnick, NCRW, NCOPE, has been a member of the NRWA since 2005 and has served on the Certification Commission since 2013. For the past five years, she has ensured the NCRW Study Guide aligns with best practices and The Gregg Reference Manual updates. She has also served on past committees for Member Support and ROAR Awards. She regularly presents at NRWA conferences on ATS, implicit bias, new grad resumes, and college career center services. 

A veteran of the higher education career development space, Cheryl works as the Senior Career Coach at the University of Montana-Missoula and provides executive career consultations and resume writing for executive career development firms as well as her own boutique business, The Paper Trail. Find her online at LinkedIn.com/in/cherylminnick. 

By Anne Anderson, NRWA Staff Writer

We are fortunate that Ruth Sternberg has brought her unique brand of dynamism and creativity to the NRWA. She is currently serving as a Public Image Committee (PIC) member, is a contributing writer for The Water Cooler newsletter, and has helped develop social media posts.

For several decades, Ruth worked as a reporter and writer for newspapers and other media, including the award-winning Columbus Dispatch, national magazines, an R&D manufacturing company, and one of Ohio’s largest urban school districts (producing newsletter content for the teachers’ union). She has also served as a grant writer for the arts, social services, and education. She holds a B.A. degree in Journalism from The Ohio State University and an M.A. degree in American Studies from Kent State University.

A few years ago, she decided to transfigure her storytelling and professional writing abilities to create powerful job search documents and coach clients to use the materials effectively. In her business Confident Career Search, she focuses on clients searching for positions in nonprofits, communications, marketing, sales, education, and operations. She embraces job seekers' challenges, such as career gaps, transitioning to a new field, or re-entry to the workforce.

Having changed careers twice herself, Ruth identifies with the challenges inherent in these moves and is driven to help others do it successfully. She also helps entrepreneurs communicate their value with marketing sheets and related materials useful for clients and presentations.

Ruth joined the NRWA because she wanted to keep learning and improving her skills. She says, “I’ve been a professional writer for more than three decades, but this is a very different kind of writing. I value having a professional network to call on when I need resources.”

She appreciates being able to share insights and advice, helping us all serve our clients better. She notes that the support of professional colleagues during the pandemic isolation was critical for her. And perhaps best of all, she has made many new friends in the organization.

Ruth chose to deepen her involvement in the NRWA by volunteering because it’s essential to raise the profession's standards and keep them high. She loves that it’s a member-driven organization and sees particular value in its nonprofit status.

“If the NRWA is offering something, it’s being done from the heart,” Ruth says. “I love the spirit of collaboration and collegiality that are hallmarks of the organization.”

When asked how we could support her committee work, she had a ready answer. She said the committee would love it if more members would participate in “Ask the Experts” and weigh in on some of the questions. She notes that it’s great PR for your business. You will receive marketing materials to promote your efforts if your response is selected.

Ruth is currently living in Rochester, NY, after recently relocating from Columbus, OH. Her husband, Sam, is an engineering project manager. They share their home with their cat, Charlotte. Find Ruth online at LinkedIn.com/in/navcoach.

Anne Anderson is an HR Manager at Charter Spectrum and a professional resume writer. She has been a member of NRWA since 2013. Find Anne online at Linkedin.com.

By Eustacia A. English, NRWA DEI Columnist

Andrew Gold wrote the lyrics for the Golden Girls television series, “Thank you for being a friend. Travel down the road and back again. Your heart is true. You're a pal and a confidant.” This theme song is befitting for this month's topic, the International Day of Friendship. 

The United Nations General Assembly designated the International Day of Friendship in 2011. On July 30, we take a step back and give thanks for these connections around the world because they support and foster peace, joy, and harmony. The UN urges governments, community organizations, and other organizations to plan activities and events that honor the strong friendships that we cherish. Numerous gatherings emphasize making amends, building consensus and understanding, and finding solace in the bonds that make you feel at home.

On July 30, the world celebrates friendship by celebrating friends that feel like family, close pals, and even adversaries. This day is dedicated to respect, inclusivity, and diversity. With a heavy focus on inclusivity, the International Day of Friendship encourages us to accept those who may seem different from us and involve everyone.

Our world is challenging. Prioritizing peace appears to have less of a presence in the global community due to misunderstandings, abuse, lack of trust, discrimination, and cultural conflict. There is really no excuse for the world not to exist in some peaceful manner. We should all be grateful to the UN for helping to bring awareness to the fact that there is some good in the world.

Building connections and friendships goes beyond simply having something in common with someone else in terms of traits, characteristics, or interests. It also involves encouraging a worldwide commitment to and knowledge of diversity and inclusion. People should not be divided because of differences in appearance, attitudes, politics, interests, music, reproductive rights, or other factors. We can discover common ground despite our differences. Relationships are more important than that, and every July, the UN seeks to spread generosity and camaraderie.

We are more alike than we all think. You can find commonalities by celebrating friendships through small gestures like a quick note, a coffee date, attending a concert, Facetiming, or going shopping. Another focus of this day is to spread ideas that reduce hatred and contempt; we want to believe that there is something that unites us all.

The World Friendship Crusade, an international civil group that promotes peaceful culture through friendship, suggested the first World Friendship Day in 1958. Hallmark first launched friendship greeting cards in the 1930s, and to this day, many people, including me, celebrate their special connections with a card or note.

On the International Day of Friendship, we honor and celebrate the friends who stand by us, correct us when we're being stubborn, give up their time for us while everyone else is preoccupied with adulting, visit us in the middle of the night to lift our spirits, and even the long-distance friends whose friendship has endured across borders.

As I write this, I'm reflecting on my own friendships. I've had some of the same friends for nearly 30 years, and I will always value our friendship. Every person's definition of friendship is unique, as is the nature of the friendship bond. People we have known for a long time might not be close to us, yet we might regard someone we have only recently met as our best friend. It means a lot to me to have both in my life.

There are simple ways to observe the holiday, such as hanging out with friends and doing what you enjoy, as well as more complex ones, such as throwing parties, exchanging gifts, and telling people how much they mean to us. Reaching out and contacting people we haven't seen in a while is another custom on International Day of Friendship. Since conversations are the foundation of all friendships, you might want to reach out to someone new.

Use this celebration day to send someone a sincere note on the spur of the moment or go out to lunch with friends to catch up. Enjoy the month and strengthen your existing relationships, but don't hesitate to strike up new ones. As always, I wish you all continued peace, love, happiness, and blessings.  

Eustacia English writes the Perspective column, which examines Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in resume writing and career strategy. She is a 20-year HR and talent acquisition veteran and started Resumes on Demand last year. She also writes on DEI for The Black in HR e-zine. She lives with her husband and two children in Cherry Hill, NJ. Find her online at LinkedIn.com/in/ecampbell05. 

By Ruth Sternberg, NRWA Staff Writer

You know the feeling: You have worked hard on a resume or copy for a profile, and after you have read it 12 times (even printed it out and read it), you find a typo.

It’s hard to proofread your own work. When crafting our clients' materials, there is a lot to consider: spacing, punctuation, spelling, verb tense, formatting…the list is long.

That’s why many professional resume writers also pay proofreaders as a second layer of defense.

So, how do you find a good proofreader?

First, note that a proofreader is not the same as an editor. Their job is not to correct your choice of words or phrases or check your accuracy but to ensure that what you have crafted is error-free. Proofreaders identify grammar, capitalization, punctuation, spelling, and formatting errors. But they do not address syntax or make the writing concise, clear, consistent, comprehensive, and correct.

Next, realize that an English degree does not necessarily make someone a good proofreader. It takes practice to get good at finding errors.

Some of our NRWA members shared suggestions to help you find the right proofreader.

1.      Start with your NRWA colleagues. 

“The biggest factor in choosing a proofreader for me was getting recommendations from people I know and trust,” says Annette Richmond, owner of Career Intelligence.

Paula Christensen, owner of Strategic Career Coaches, agreed but added that you can sometimes find great proofreaders among your own friends and family. She suggests asking people who are great with grammar to help you. You can train them to meet your specific needs.

2.      Check online resources such as marketplaces and professional associations: 

3.      When you find a viable candidate, here are some questions to help you vet them:

Alison King, a resume writer, proofreader, and owner of Copyedit Queen, suggests asking if the candidate has special training.

Check out Alison’s webinar, Needles in a Haystack: Tips & Techniques for Proofreading Your Own Work.

“For example, I have a copyediting certificate from the University of California’s San Diego's Division of Extended Studies,” she says. “It consisted of four core courses that involved lectures, assignments, and discussion board interaction, and it took me over a year to complete.”

4.      Next, consider their work structure and fees.

When are they available? What’s their turnaround time? How do they charge? Annette’s proofreader bills in 15-minute increments. But others bill by the hour or by the project length. Others will bundle a specific number of projects, which can help you control your costs.

Why You Need a Proofreader to Back You Up

Remember that typos are not always a sign of sloppiness. Psychologists tell us that we make them because we are focused on higher-order thinking—on the ideas, which are the most important aspect of writing, and not on the smaller details. So, take it as a sign that your brain is doing its job!

Just know that help is available to make sure all your “t’s” are crossed and your “i’s” dotted and your client’s name is spelled correctly! It can remove a lot of your stress.

Feel free to share your tips! What other considerations have helped you find proofreading help?

Ruth Sternberg, CPRW, CEIC, NCOPE, CCTC, is a resume writer and coach who has also worked as a journalist, editor, grant writer, and copywriter during her 37-year career. She owns Confident Career Search, equipping people across the age spectrum with the confidence and tools to make meaningful career transitions. She has been a member of the NRWA for two years and serves on the Public Image Committee. She recently moved from Columbus, OH, to Rochester, NY. Find her online at LinkedIn.com/in/navcoach.

Welcome to our new and renewing members for the month of May 2022!

Feel free to introduce (or reintroduce) yourself via our members-only networking forums: the Member Forum on our website, Facebook group, and LinkedIn group.

You can find colleagues in your area by searching here.

NEW MEMBERS

RENEWING MEMBERS

By Amanda Brandon, NCOPE – NRWA Newsletter Editor

I recently reached out to Kyle Elliott of CaffeinatedKyle.com about his comment on our Facebook group regarding “getting started in resume writing on Fiverr.com.” This intrigued me because Kyle recently presented the Business Growth Labcourse with Ruth Pankratz. I wanted to know more about going from $5 a resume to helping 1,000+ candidates land jobs at big tech companies. Here’s his story.

Kyle fell into resume writing quite by accident. He was a sophomore in college seeking a degree in health education and counseling. The Fiverr work was solely to fund his pizza and coffee habits.

“I was decent at writing and reviewed resumes for $5,” Kyle says. “I would write the about section on LinkedIn for $5. After Fiverr took their cut, I made about $100/week. I was ecstatic.”

Kyle’s profile raised through the Fiverr ranks, and he followed his dad’s advice, “Every time you have a waitlist, double your price.”

Next, he took a job that involved career counseling for university students who didn’t know what they wanted to do with their lives. This is where he says his passion for coaching developed.

After completing his master’s degree in public administration at the University of Washington, Kyle moved into overseeing student housing for 800 students living in apartments at San Francisco State University. He had 23 direct reports and many student-life-related challenges. He also became a major advocate for mental health awareness, hosting workshops, training sessions, and retreats.

Over the next few years, Kyle continued to build his resume and coaching business. He is a prolific freelance writer for many career-focused organizations and mental health publications, including The Stability Network, Forbes Coaches Council, Career Directors International, Business Insider, The Muse, The New York Times, and The Washington Post.

Along the way, Kyle has worked with more than 1,000 candidates targeting jobs in Silicon Valley. He credits his success in helping these candidates land jobs with his extensive network, aligning resumes with the culture and job requirements, and helping clients set realistic expectations.

Want more insight on how to help candidates break into Big Tech roles? Check out Kyle’s webinar on “How to Craft Webinars for the High-Tech Industry.”

Kyle recently made a significant shift in his business – he stopped writing resumes. He still coaches clients on developing resume structure, differentiating themselves, and leveraging LinkedIn profiles. However, he focuses on the search strategy, interview process, and how to stand out in the huge pool of applicants that apply to Google, Meta, Microsoft, and other tech giants.

“I mostly work with people in the Bay Area, and it all happened by accident,” he says. Over the past five years, I’ve worked with 1,000+ clients to help them land in big tech. Most of my clients have come via word of mouth and referral.”

Kyle says that a secret to his success is to “put yourself out there.” For example, when he started writing for publication, he says he reached out to most of the publications he writes for and asked if he could contribute.

Another part of his success strategy is to help clients differentiate what sets them apart – experience, knowledge, and value.

Kyle believes that most clients know their own answers; he’s just here to help.

Interestingly, Kyle doesn’t have any standard resume writing certifications. He’s a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) and has two credentials with Myers-Briggs: the MBTI® and Strong Interest Inventory®. These certifications help him build bridges with clients because he is well-versed in stress management and the stages of change.

Kyle is infatuated with coffee treats and says this fuels his branding. I think it also fuels his thirst for learning. He’s currently a Doctor of Education candidate at the University of North Dakota. This doctorate will give him an edge in his coaching business because it’s all about adult learning.

His best advice for up-and-comers in our industry: “Don’t expect results overnight. This business is about small learning and steady steps toward your goals.”

Thank you, Kyle, for sharing your success with us! Kyle will be presenting at our upcoming conference in New Orleans. His session, “Building an Authentic, Thriving Business Through Word-of-Mouth Marketing,” is one you don’t want to miss.

Find out more about Kyle at CaffeinatedKyle.com or connect with him at LinkedIn.com/in/kylecromerelliott.

By Nelly Grinfield, NCRW – NCRW Certification Commission Member

As you work on creating a strong summary section, remember that you should include the client’s most impressive and relevant experience here. Since recruiters and hiring managers spend very little time reviewing each resume, the summary section is a key component in capturing the reader’s attention. 

An objective statement used to be the norm on resumes—it told the reader what the job seeker wanted and their goals. Today, the objective has been replaced by a summary section. This is your first opportunity to sell the reader on why your client is the answer to the company’s needs. 

The summary section can consist of a headline, a skills line, and/or a branding statement that communicates the client’s unique value to the future employer. Follow this with a brief paragraph, no more than six lines or four bullet points, that provide details, facts, and metrics to summarize the client’s relevant expertise.

Don’t fill space with empty phrases such as “hardworking professional,” “responsible for,” or “proven—demonstrated—track record of success.” For example, a sentence such as “Team manager with excellent organizational skills, flexibility, and teamwork” provides no details and no value to the reader.

In addition, make sure that any claims you make in the summary section are supported elsewhere in the resume. If the summary mentions that the client is a “B2B sales leader who is an expert in team leadership, new market penetration, and consultative selling,” make sure details and examples of this are spelled out in the experience section. 

Remember that every word on the resume must have a solid reason for being there. Instead of filling the summary with overused phrases that could appear on anyone’s resume, convey the client’s unique qualifications and specific abilities to solve the employer’s problems. Here are some examples of this (first phrase is generic and meaningless, what follows is much more effective):

• Top performer in division à #3 performance standing in division of 100 sales managers
• Strong communicator à 100% “excellent” customer satisfaction rating based on 250 client surveys 
• Problem solver à Prevented 12 facility shutdowns and saved $120K by leveraging resources

Remember that a resume’s purpose is to effectively market your client’s skills, abilities, and expertise to secure an interview. Starting off strong with an effective summary section will put your client on the track to success.

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Nelly Grinfeld has volunteered for the NRWA since 2018 and serves as a grader on the NCRW Certification Committee. She really values her NRWA membership for all the fantastic learning and growth opportunities offered. She owns Top of the Stack Resume LLC in Cincinnati, OH. You can find her online at Linkedin.com/in/nellygrinfield.

By Eustacia A. English, NRWA DEI Columnist

Happy Juneteenth! The 19th of June or Juneteenth is a day to commemorate, educate, and connect. Juneteenth commemorates the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation in all 50 states after the Civil War ended, abolishing slavery. While the holiday is now a national holiday, it has gained more popularity due to the Black Lives Matter movement. Whether you've always celebrated Juneteenth or have never heard the term, chances are you've heard more about it recently than ever. 

Read on for some interesting facts about Juneteenth: 

1.     Juneteenth is the United States' oldest national commemoration of the abolition of slavery. “On June 19, 1865, about two months after the Confederate general Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox, VA, Gordon Granger, a Union general, arrived in Galveston, TX to inform enslaved African-Americans of their freedom and that the Civil War had ended,” according to The New York Times. “General Granger’s announcement put into effect the Emancipation Proclamation, which had been issued more than two and a half years earlier on Jan. 1, 1863, by President Abraham Lincoln.”

2.     The festival's name is a combination of June and the nineteenth century. Emancipation Day, Juneteenth Independence Day, Freedom Day, and Black Independence Day are all names for the same day.

3.     Although Order No. 3 was issued on June 19, the almost 250,000 individuals enslaved in Texas did not immediately gain freedom. Many plantation owners/enslavers waited until after the harvest to announce the news, and many enslaved people who acted on the information faced severe repercussions.

4.     Texas hosted the first Juneteenth celebration in 1866. Freed Texans began commemorating Juneteenth with parades, cookouts, prayer meetings, musical performances, and historical/cultural readings. Every community today has its own distinct traditions.

5.     A Juneteenth tradition is to eat and drink red foods. Juneteenth festivities commonly include red velvet cake and strawberry soda, as the color represents perseverance. Red dishes are customary at Juneteenth cookouts and barbecues, as red is "a symbol of inventiveness and tenacity in bondage," according to The New York Times. Red honors the blood that African Americans shed.

6.     President Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act on June 17, 2021, making June 19th a federal holiday. This month, let’s celebrate! Take some time to reflect and learn more about Juneteenth. Many companies now give employees the day off and observe Juneteenth as a business holiday. Juneteenth is celebrated by many families and towns with parades, concerts, cookouts, and other activities. Shop at black-owned businesses, share history, or rest at home.

Juneteenth celebrations are tough for some African Americans to enjoy because Black people are still working for equal rights in labor, health care, housing, education, and other areas. Some believe it is insufficient to increase public awareness of the holiday and provide time off from work until there are actual regulations enacted in this country to defend the underprivileged and uplift the marginalized voices.

While the decision to recognize Juneteenth as a national holiday is a step forward, realize that it is only a tiny win in the grand scheme of things, and there is still much more to be done. Take the day off to learn, educate, relax, refuel, reflect, and recommit to creating a sense of belonging, dignity, justice, and joy for all. And as always, wishing you all continued peace, love, happiness, and blessings.  

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Eustacia English writes the Perspectivecolumn, which examines Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in resume writing and career strategy. She is a 20-year HR and talent acquisition veteran and started Resumes on Demand last year. She also writes on DEI for The Black in HR e-zine. She lives with her husband and two children in Cherry Hill, NJ. Find her online at LinkedIn.com/in/ecampbell05. 

By Amanda Brandon, NCOPE – NRWA Newsletter Editor

I have two tips for you this month – Explore a four-day workweek and call your clients!

Why I Decided to Work Four Days Per Week

When I had a regular full-time job, I asked my employer for a four-day workweek. They didn’t love it and said I could work at home when needed. That helped some, but as an introvert and new mom, this really didn’t solve the problem. I needed a day to do all the things. You know – grocery shopping, personal development, and appointments. I was also a writer sitting in a cubicle. The distractions were endless. When you need to read complex reports and whitepapers to derive value, you need more than earbuds.

This was one of my biggest drivers for creating my own career at home. However, I’ve realized that I still need that day, even though my schedule is flexible. So, I’ve been experimenting with taking one day off a week to focus on my kids and me. It’s life-changing!

What do you think of the four-day workweek? Have you tried it? Let me know your stories, and I may feature them in an upcoming issue. Send your thoughts to newsletter@thenrwa.org.

Call Your Clients! They Need a Personal Connection

I just got off the phone with a young lady I would hire for any sales role I had open in my company. She’s creative, tenacious, and dedicated to her customers. She reached out to me a couple of months ago to coach her on her next career path, after spending the past eight years in supply chain sales. I LOVED working on her resume and LinkedIn profile.

I remembered today that I needed to respond to a compensation question she asked me. I asked her via email how her search was going, and she listed off six upcoming interviews. She also mentioned that she had a meeting with her manager and HR. I picked up bad vibes from that email.

She quickly responded and told me she’d been let go. I immediately picked up the phone to check on her. It’s soul-crushing to get laid off, and I know that call of “I understand” and “You’ve got this!” helped her in some small way. This is why we do this – to better people’s lives and give them hope. I know a personal connection like that would mean the world to me if I faced this situation.

What do you do in this type of scenario? How do you help your clients keep their heads up when they get hard news? Send an email to newsletter@thenrwa.orgso that I can share responses in a future issue.