The AI-Savvy Job Seeker

Happy Publication Day to Michelle Dumas!

Her new book, “The AI-Savvy Job Seeker: Transform Your LinkedIn Profile and Outshine the Competition” is available today as a Kindle book ($7.99) and paperback ($15.99) — and here’s why you should check it out!

I had a chance to read a pre-publication version of the book (and provide a blurb for the foreword!) and here’s what you’ll get in the jam-packed-but-easy-to-read 313-page guide:

• A holistic approach to improving a client’s LinkedIn profile using AI prompts
• The EXACT prompts to plug into your AI tool to help you or your client improve their LinkedIn profile
• Prompts to help you — or your client — create an effective networking strategy
• Practical advice for how to use LinkedIn effectively in a job search

Here’s what I had to say about it for the foreword:

I’ll be recommending “The AI-Savvy Job Seeker” to all my clients and career industry colleagues. While there has been a lot of talk about how artificial intelligence can help in the job search, this book provides clear, actionable insights. With accessible strategies for everyone from recent college graduates to seasoned executives, the book combines detailed explanations about the WHY of the strategy with the WHAT of how to implement the idea, including specific AI prompts. The blueprints to create an effective “About” section are pure gold for populating this key LinkedIn section. This book is an essential resource for anyone looking to leverage AI in their job search.

If you purchase the Kindle, you'll get instant access. I had pre-ordered it and am reading it again today! I’ve already put some of the tactics into action with one of my clients! 

Check it out.

Michelle is also the creator of Distinctive Resume Templates. 

Links in this post are affiliate links, meaning I may receive an affiliate commission if you take action based on my recommendation. Don’t worry, though, I *only* recommend resources that I either personally use or would unequivocally recommend.

A Resume Writer By Any Other Name…

 

Looking for alternate job titles for “Resume Writer” for your LinkedIn profile?

Here are some suggestions:

• Career Consultant
• Career Development Specialist
• Career Development Coach
• Career Strategy Consultant
• Career Storyteller
• Career Growth Strategist
• Job Success Specialist
• LinkedIn Profile Expert
• Job Market Advisor
• Senior Resume Writer
• Career Services Consultant
• Resume Optimization Specialist
• Executive Resume Specialist
• Career Coaching Expert
• Job Search Coach
• Job Search Consultant
• Job Search Strategist
• Interview Preparation Advisor
• Interview Coach
• Job Market Specialist
• Job Search Advisor
• Job Application Specialist
• Personal Branding Expert
• Professional Bio Creator
• Client-Focused Consultant
• Professional Resume Writer
• Resume Project Manager
• Career Transition Specialist

Mindset Monday: Avoiding Imposter Syndrome

You’ve worked hard, you’ve taken the courses, you’ve learned and experienced a lot — but somehow it all just doesn’t feel real. Whenever you are praised for your skills, talents, or accomplishments, you feel fearful that you will be exposed as a fraud — even though you are obviously not a fraud. 

 
This, my friend, is imposter syndrome. Sadly, this psychological syndrome affects women at a higher rate than men, but it exists in all sexes in all classes. About half of all people experienced imposter syndrome at one time or another, according to one poll. 
 
If you suffer from this syndrome, it’s important to recognize it and work toward eradicating it from your life. In fact, recognizing it is the primary key to fighting it.

• Retrain Your Thoughts. If you ever think things like, “this was all luck” about your success, it’s time to retrain your thoughts. Instead of thinking that, go over the reasons you could do what you did. It was more than likely due to the experience, education, and action you took. 

• Assign Value. When you can verify or quantify the value that you provide to others, then you can help your mind accept that what you do is valuable and not a matter of just luck. Record data about the impact your work does for people. (Number of interviews generated, jobs you’ve helped them achieve, salary increases, etc.)

• Read About It. There are numerous books about imposter syndrome. These books will help you understand whether you have the syndrome and what to do to help you move past it. One to check out is “Ditching Imposter Syndrome: How To Finally Feel Good Enough and Become The Leader You Were Born To Be,” by Clare Josa. 

• Get Professional Help. If none of the advice given helps, you can go to a therapist or find a life coach to help you overcome imposter syndrome. Many counselors are trained in this syndrome, and many life coaches are very aware of it and now know to help you overcome it.

Imposter syndrome can cause you to miss opportunities because you think you’re not ready for it. There are many people out there doing what you want to do and doing it poorly without any issues. You’re an expert, and no matter how much you try to talk yourself out of it, you have the expertise and deserve the kudos that you get. 

Career Industry Conference Update: 2024

This year (2024) marks the 25th anniversary of my first resume writing conference appearance (the 1999 NRWA Conference in New Orleans).

I’ll be attending the 2024 NRWA conference virtually (and you can too – link below).

This is an update to a post from September 2023 (which was an update to a November 2019 post (“Have You Ever Been to a Resume Writing Conference?”), which built on a post from August 2011 (“When Is the Omaha Conference?”)

The 2023 NRWA Conference was awesome — great content, fabulous friends, and an incredible destination (Colorado Springs, CO). 

Here’s the breakdown of where the national resume writing organizations have had their conferences in recent years. (I’ve bolded the ones I attended.)

The National Resume Writers' Association (NRWA):
2024 – Providence, RI (scheduled for Oct. 8-10, 2024 with virtual attendance available as well) 

2023 – Colorado Springs, CO

2022 - New Orleans, LA 

2021 – NRWA Virtual Conference

2020 – NRWA Virtual Conference
2019 - NRWA Conference at Sea (Cruise to the Bahamas)
2018 - Seattle, Washington
2017 - Chicago, Illinois
2016 - Annapolis, Maryland
2015 - Charlotte, North Carolina
2014 - Denver, Colorado
2013 - Chicago, Illinois
2012 - Charleston, South Carolina
2011 - Portland, Maine
2010 - Fort Worth, Texas
2009 - Annapolis, Maryland
2008 - San Diego, California
2007 - Savannah, Georgia
2006 - Phoenix, Arizona
2005 - Stamford, Connecticut
2004 - Nashville, Tennessee
2003 - Seattle, Washington
2002 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
2001 - San Antonio, Texas
2000 - Las Vegas, Nevada
1999 - New Orleans, Louisiana
1998 - Chicago

This year (2024) will be my 14th NRWA conference (and third one I’m attending virtually).

Career Directors International:
2016 - Present: No conference
2015 - Entrepreneurial Success Secrets Live for Career Professionals: Orlando, Florida
2014 - Global Career Empowerment Summit: SOAR — Orlando, Florida
2013 - Global Career Empowerment Summit: Your Big Breakthrough — Orlando, Florida
2012 - Global Career Empowerment Summit: Blaze Your Trail — San Diego, California
2011 - Global Career Empowerment Summit: Jump On Board the Success Express — Savannah, Georgia
2010 - Global Career Empowerment Summit: You Selected & We Delivered: The Most Outrageously Power-Packed Career Conference Yet — San Diego, California
2009 - Global Career Empowerment Summit: Take Your Career to New Heights — Orlando, Florida
2008 - Annual Conference: Get Super with CDI — Seattle, Washington
2007 - Annual Conference: The Future is You! — San Antonio, Texas
2006 - Annual Conference: Live the Dream — Orlando, Florida (PRWRA)
2005 - Annual Conference: Play to Win — Las Vegas, Nevada (PRWRA)
2004 - Indianapolis, Indiana (PRWRA)
2003 - New Orleans (PRWRA)
2002 - Atlanta, Georgia (when the organization was still PRWRA)

(Thank you to Laura DeCarlo for help assembling the conference titles and locations!) I was never able to make a CDI conference (they were often in October and conflicted with my UNO Hockey obsession).

Career Management Alliance (no longer in business as of August 2011):
2011 - Las Vegas, Nevada
2010 - New Orleans, Louisiana
2009 - San Antonio, Texas
2008 - Minneapolis, Minnesota
2007 - Louisville, Kentucky
2006 - ??
2005 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (when it was still Career Masters Institute)
2004 - Atlanta, Georgia (CMI)
2003 - Kansas City, Missouri (CMI)
2002 - San Diego, California (CMI)

Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches
2025 – Chicago, Illinois (Thrive 2025)

2024 – Orlando, Florida (Thrive Orlando 2024)

2023 – Orlando, Florida (Thrive Orlando 2023)

2022 – Clearwater, Florida (Thrive 2022)

2021 – Virtual Conference

2020 – No conference due to COVID

2019 - St. Pete Beach, Florida
2005-2018: No conference
2004 - St. Pete Beach, Florida
2003 - Las Vegas, Nevada
2002 - Dallas, Texas
2001 - Tampa/St. Petersburg, Florida
2000 - Toronto, Canada
1999 - Colorado Springs, Colorado

PARW/CC held conferences from 1999-2004 but then discontinued conferences in 2004. The conferences returned in 2019. The 2025 one is the first conference for the organization being held outside of Florida since 2003.