Free Continuing Education

The price of gas is up; airfares are outrageous; you can't even THINK about leaving your office for more than a day ... what's a resume writer who wants to keep on learning to do?

One option is teleseminars and webinars. I list lots of those in each issue of Resume Writers' Digest -- but did you know there are FREE teleseminars out there too? In addition to the ones I've listed on here from the Reach Branding Club, if you're a member of Career Directors International, you can also take advantage of their free teleseminars. And if you're not able to attend the live call, you can download the audio from the Members Only section of their website at any time!

An e-mail from Laura DeCarlo caught my attention as a member was raving about a recent program* on "Prospering Despite a Downturn Market" So I checked out some other programs that are available in the free section. Here are just a few of the other offerings:

• Background Investigation Mega Trends
• Best Practices in Career Services Pricing
• Best Practices in Creating Resume USPs
• Media Strategies Tips Seminar
• Resume Fraud Mega Trends Report
  

If you're already a member of Career Directors International, log in to the Members Only section and click on "Audio Recordings." If you're not a member, consider joining. Go to www.careerdirectors.com and click on "Future Members" for a list of membership benefits. Click on the "Join Now" button on the right side of the page.

If you join by July 31 and mention "Resume Writers' Digest" in the "Special Instructions Field," you'll save $25 off the regular $150 membership rate! (Note: The cart will show $150, but when you type "Resume Writers Digest" in the comments box, it will be processed at the special rate of $125.)

* This quote from Laura Labovich of A & E Consulting, LLC, is what caught my attention in the e-mail:

"To think I almost missed the call! My head is spinning since the call ended. I wish I had been more prepared to take notes, because the ideas that were suggested were nothing short of brilliant. I honestly did not want the call to end. In short, I learned easy ways to increase my exposure in the marketplace during a market downturn, without spending a lot of money or dumping my last dollar into advertising. I think this could be a 10-part series, and I know that I wouldn't miss a single one. What a great class...thank you!"

World's Best Resume Writer (WBRW)

It's the ultimate bragging right: World's Best Resume Writer.

Career Directors International is launching a worldwide search for the "best of the best" -- the top three resume writers in the world with their new "World's Best Resume Writer" competition.

The contest is open to any English-writing resume writer in the world. You do not have to be a member of CDI to enter. The contest will be judged by a judges panel comprised of HR managers, senior recruiters, OD specialists, and several certified resume writers.

Unlike other resume writing contests -- including CDI's Toast of the Resume Industry (TORI) competition -- all entrants will be working from the same client information. You will receive a note file on a target client in the sales and sales management field.

Laura DeCarlo will be lead a free 30-minute Q&A call tomorrow, Tuesday, June 10 at Noon Eastern time. The conference dial in number is 651-715-3300. Your participant access code is 506334#.

The entry fee is $39.95 (one entry per person) and you'll receive a copy of the CDI Resume Writing Guide, a $39.95 value, with your entry.

Visit the CDI website for more information. The entry deadline is Nov. 1.

You can also read more information about this contest in the May/June issue of Resume Writers' Digest.

TORI Awards Nominations Extended

The deadline for entering the "Toast of the Resume Industry" (TORI) awards has been extended by Career Directors International to Sunday, May 18.

2008 List of TORI categories include:

Best International Resume - encompasses resumes written for a non-US market.

Best Technical Resume - encompasses scientists, engineers, technicians, mechanics, etc.

Best Creative Resume - encompasses creative-style resumes in full-color, unusual layouts, artistic writing styles, etc. Very open to interpretation.

Best Executive Resume - encompasses any executive-level position in any industry.

Best Cover Letter - encompasses any discipline, industry, or career level.

Best Retiree/Second Career Resume - encompasses any discipline, industry, or career level as long as the focus is on a career change for a mature adult.

Best Sales & Marketing Resume - encompasses any level of sales and marketing professional who focuses on business development.

Best New Graduate Resume - encompasses any discipline, industry, or career level as long as the focus is on leveraging a recent degree as the career target.

Best Military Resume - encompasses any discipline or career level as long as the focus is on a military job seeker transitioning to the civilian sector.

Don't wait! The deadline to enter the TORIs is May 18, 2008!

The first entry in each category is free and each additional category is only $15 each.

Entry is extremely easy, requiring that you fictionalize your entries, gain approval from clients for their use, name resumes as directed in CDI instructions, and upload using our online PDF converter. As Gayle Howard says in the testimonial on the left, "It is little work for great rewards."

When you enter, the TORI Award Committee Director will ensure all submissions appear anonymous to the committee so that fair and equitable judging can take place.

The distinguished awards committee will select up to five (5) TORI nominations in each category. The CDI Leadership Team will then select the best of the best from the nominations in each category for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners.

Nominees are typically announced in late August and winners are recognized and awarded at our Annual Conference Banquet and Award Ceremony, which will take place in Downtown Seattle, Washington on Saturday, October 18, 2008. Attendance is not necessary to win.

Nominees will receive a special logo for print / web marketing as well as a certificate of recognition. Winners will receive a logo, certificate of recognition, and award medal (gold, silver, or bronze for 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place).

Entry is open to CDI members only.

Get Publicity - Ideas from CDI

Since my background is in Public Relations originally, I'm a big proponent of resume writers using publicity to increase their profile among prospective clients -- especially since advertising is so expensive.

I was reminded that Career Directors International has an extensive resource section for resume writers seeking publicity on their website.

Here are just a few ideas:

1. What is International Update Your Resume Month.

2. What is International Update Your References Week.

3. Popularity and acceptance of video resumes.

4. Challenges of resume writing for job seekers with new OFCCP rulings.

5. Cum laude can get your resume kicked out – resumes and SPAM.

And CDI's Laura DeCarlo reminds me that she is always willing to be interviewed as a second source for any stories you're involved with. Visit the CDI website for her contact information.

Are You a Superhero in Training?

I'm delighted that some of my ideas were selected to help shape the theme of the 2008 Career Directors International Conference in Seattle.

Career Directors Conference Will Include Free Certification

Attend the 2008 Career Directors International Conference in Seattle Oct. 15-18, and receive a 360º Reach™ Assessment Certification for free ($377 value). The 360º Reach Assessment Certification Program certifies you to use the 360º Reach Personal Brand Assessment System. It provides you with the training and support you need to perform the detailed analysis of 360º Reach feedback. You will also learn how to coach clients to use this information.

Before attending the CDI conference, registrants will access and use the 360ª Reach™ assessment and access online training for the preliminary assessment training. Then, at the conference, participants will receive the last training module via a live presentation from Susan Guarneri, MS, NCC, CERW, CCMC... aka the "Career Assessment Goddess."

Super Early Bird registration ends May 1, and the conference is only open to the first 100 registrants. For more information, contact Career Directors International.

Career Directors International Announces 2008 Conference: Seattle

I just received an e-mail from Laura DeCarlo this morning announcing that the 2008 Career Directors International conference will be in Seattle from Oct. 15-18, 2008!

CDI puts on an amazing conference, but I've never been able to make one, due to prior conflicts with my favorite local passion, college hockey. I haven't seen the 2008-09 UNO Hockey schedule yet (and probably won't know until Spring), but I'm hopeful that I'll be able to make the Seattle conference, as the hotel looks amazing.

You can check out photos from the 2007 conference in San Antonio here. The conference featured presentations by Don Straits, Louise Kursmark, Deb James, Marty Weitzman, Joelle Silva, Cory Edwards, Grant Cooper, Sharon Pierce-Williams, Heather Wieshlow, Nona Pratz, Judy Ware, Susan Guarneri, and more!

If you are interested in being considered as a speaker for the "Reach for the Stars...Capture Success" 2008 conference, contact Laura!

Joelle Silva, Grant Cooper, Sharon Williams, Barbara Adams, and Lisa Becker take a break at the reception. (Photo by Laura DeCarlo)

Put it In Writing

I've always been a big proponent of staying in touch with clients. Not only does it allow you to see the results of your actions -- how many times have clients not gotten back to you to report how their job search is going? -- but it also fosters repeat business and referrals.

E-mail is an easy inexpensive way to keep in touch (I recommend using an e-mail newsletter for consistency), but at least once a year, you should also mail something to your entire client base. It can be a special offer (perhaps a postcard each September to coincide with Update Your Resume Month), or a holiday card, or even a print newsletter.



In the next week, I'm mailing out more than 500 postcards to promote the release of our first Special Report, "Making Money as a Resume Subcontractor." While 500 names is only a fraction of my mailing list, I know there will be several dozen people who will have received e-mails from me but didn't open them (or their spam filter caught them) who will be surprised that the Resume Writers' Digest newsletter is back.

By the way, if you want to order the "Making Money as a Resume Subcontractor" 30-page special report (available for PDF download), you can do so here:

Mailings have an advantage over e-mail -- they're hard to ignore. And postcards are even better, because you don't have to open them up. So plan a mailing and take advantage of the power of print -- to reconnect with your clients, to spark new business, and to generate referrals.

It's Emmy Night ... Speaking of Awards

My husband loves to watch awards shows -- mostly the Emmys and the Oscars. He has his favorite shows that we root for, and there's usually a surprise or two among the winners. (Yay, 30 Rock!)

Did you know the resume industry has its own awards? It's true! Career Directors International offers four separate awards:

• Toast of the Resume Industry™ (TORI) resume writing competition;

• President's Choice Award for Excellence in career services;

• Master Resume Writer™ Lifetime Achievement Award;

• Career Innovator™ Awards competition (new in 2007)
  

My favorite of these is the TORI award.

I love the idea of recognizing our peers for their work. I'm guessing there will be fewer political statements in the TORI acceptance speeches than at the Emmys, though.

Here are this year's nominees. Winners will be announced at the Career Directors International conference in Texas on October 20.

Best International Resume

Beverley Neil - d'Scriptive Words
Debbie Navara - www.resumesonline.com.au
Gayle Howard - Top Margin Resumes Online
Jennifer Rushton - Keraijen
Jill Kelly - Career Edge

Best New Graduate Resume

Laura Labovich - A & E Consulting, LLC
Erin Kennedy - Professional Resume Services
Sharon Williams - JobRockit
Jennifer Rushton - Keraijen
Gayle Howard - Top Margin Resumes Online

Best Creative Resume

Beth Stefani - Orison Professional Services, Inc.
Jill Kelly - Career Edge
Debra Mills - Pro-CV Writing Services
Barbara Safani - Career Solvers
Gayle Howard - Top Margin Resumes Online

Best Resume for Career Re-Entry

Erin Kennedy - Professional Resume Services
Freddie Cheek - Cheek & Associates, LLC
Barbara Safani - Career Solvers
Jennifer Rushton - Keraijen
Gayle Howard - Top Margin Resumes Online

Best Technical Resume

Karen Bartell - Best-In-Class Resumes
Laura Smith-Proulx - An Expert Resume
Jennifer Rushton - Keraijen
Jill Kelly - Career Edge
Barbara Safani - Career Solvers

Best Executive Resume

Annemarie Cross - Advanced Employment Concepts
Barbara Safani - Career Solvers
Gayle Howard - Top Margin Resumes Online
Jennifer Rushton - Keraijen
Jill Kelly - Career Edge

Best Professional Resume

Lisa Becker - CareerPro Global, Inc.
Laura Smith-Proulx - An Expert Resume
Jennifer Rushton - Keraijen
Gayle Howard - Top Margin Resumes Online
Freddie Cheek - Cheek & Associates, LLC
Barbara Safani - Career Solvers

Best Career Change Resume

Barb Poole - Hire Imaging
Sharon Williams - JobRockit
Freddie Cheek - Cheek & Associates, LLC
Jennifer Rushton - Keraijen
Jill Kelly - Career Edge

Best Cover Letter

Arnold Boldt - Arnold Smith Associates
Beverley Neil - d'Scriptive Words
Jennifer Rushton - Keraijen
Laura Smith-Proulx - An Expert Resume
Sharon Williams - JobRockit

Nominee selections were made by Louise Kursmark, Marty Weitzman, Darlene Dassy, and Robin Schlinger.