Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to my resume-writing colleagues!

It's January -- and with the change to the New Year comes the hordes of job seekers, prompted by the promise of the new jobs that come with new fiscal budgets, and spurred by New Year's resolutions to get a job ... or a better job.

I was in Denver over the weekend to watch my alma mater's college hockey team (Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks) take on the hometown team (Denver University Pioneers) and was at a pre-game tailgate party at Chopper's Sports Grill when I noticed a neon sign lit up in the window across the street. My heart soared at the sight of the single, red-lit word: "Résumés."

Of course, it was New Year's Day, and the business was closed. I didn't have my laptop with me, so I couldn't look up and see if it was a colleague that I knew. But back in Omaha today, I pulled up Google and found the service I was looking for: Cherry Creek Resume Service. I checked and I don't have this particular resume company in my database (I will be adding it though) and I will be calling the owner to offer my congratulations on an attention-getting sign. I just wish I had brought my camera along ...

ReTweet Wisdom #1

I'm on Twitter and get so much good advice on there (inspirational sayings & quotes, links to great blogs) that I'm going to share some of it occasionally on here with you. I only follow 103 people (currently) and I can't believe the great ideas, information, and resources that shows up in my Twitter feed!

Here's just a sample of the ones I liked in the last five minutes:

RT @derekfred 5 Tips For Making a Good First Impression http://j.mp/8LpefI #jobsearch (Thanks @BriteTab)

@KellyMagowan Glass Door, 50 best places to work in 2010 http://bit.ly/7LSYVY (Thanks @AnneMarieCross

HireCentrix Weighing the Value of That College Diploma http://twurl.nl/66n1xf

Animal Introverts & Networking - http://bit.ly/5HHoqE - by @JulieWalraven <-- it's all explained here @KevinWGrossman

BriteTab Build Your Brand http://bit.ly/5sdOm5 #Networking #jobsearch

JobHuntOrg #jobhunting Effective networking follow-up for the holidays & beyond by @Keppie_Careers - http://bit.ly/8aBKwG

Here are some folks you should definitely follow on Twitter (more to come--this is just a start!):
Animal (recruiter)
JulieWalraven (resume writer)
BarbaraSafani (resume writer)
ValueIntoWords (Jacqui Poindexter, resume writer)

Fall 2009 Issue Now Available

The cover story in this issue is an interesting one -- the results of the 2009 Recession Survey conducted by Resume Writers' Digest, the Career Management Alliance, and the National Resume Writer's Association. Also on page 1 is the article, "A Cover Letter is Really Just a Good Sales Letter."

Also in this issue: Ligaya Fernandez, of The Resume Place, Inc. talks about "The Art of Writing a KSA: Writing Effective Accomplishment Record Stories" in a story on page 6. And Dr. Katharine Hansen contributed an article on "How to Coach Clients to Handle a Poor Interviewer," with a sidebar on "Top 10 Executive Interview Pet Peeves from Hiring Decision-Makers."

I also write about "Using Conference Calls to Grow Your Resume Writing Business" in my letter from the editor on page 2. In this month's "Resume Writer's University," learn "The Strategies of Client/Career Branding: Getting It Right Every Time" in an article by Jane Roqueplot.

Joan Stewart, The Publicity Hound, writes about "How to Use Twitter for Business & Publicity" in her column this month. (Be sure to follow me on Twitter @RWDigest).

Subscriptions to Resume Writers' Digest are free -- subscribe here.

Used Car Salesmen, Lawyers ... and Resume Writers?

Maybe I'm just more sensitive to the subject recently, but it seems that the professional resume writing profession is taking a beating lately. We're the subject of polls, discussed extensively in podcasts, and debated in Facebook posts.

Louise Fletcher, of Blue Sky Resumes, caught some of this as well, and wrote an excellent note on her Facebook page. A recruiter, Jill, responded back with a post that included this comment:

"It's true that most in your profession just seem to get paid by the word but that's why it's so important that you (Louise) are out there."

Ugh.