Getting the Most Out of Your CDI Conference Experience

I have promised Laura DeCarlo that someday I will make it to a Career Directors International Conference ("Career Empowerment Summit"). The 2010 CDI conference will be in San Diego from Oct. 14-16, 2010 — and, unfortunately for me, coincides once again with my other passion: UNO Maverick Hockey. (If all goes as planned, I’ll be in Minneapolis at that time.)

But for you lucky folks who get to be there, I want to share some ideas on how to get the most out of your experience. (These ideas are based on an article by columnist Robert Middleton in the Summer 2009 issue of Resume Writers’ Digest.)

• Remember that everyone you meet is a potential referral source. The best resume writers are specialists, not generalists. That means that you have the opportunity to gain referrals from your colleagues who don't work in the same areas you do. I am always looking for writers who are really good at what they do when I attend a conference. As a result, I’ve made referrals to writers who specialize in military transition resumes and federal resumes — all from contacts I've made at conferences.
• Collect business cards. Make sure you get cards from the resume writers you meet, so you can follow up with them when you get back home. (Conversely, make sure you bring plenty of your cards with you too!)
• Participate in the conference! Yes, I know conferences are often also vacations ... but you're missing out if you hit the beach instead of that afternoon session. The beach will still be there ... but you might learn that one most valuable piece of information you really needed for your business to succeed ... or you might be sitting next to your new top referral source! I agree with Robert Middleton: “Attend every session, every meal, every reception, and every event.” As a corollary to this: Do NOT expect to be able to work on client projects while you're at the conference. You won’t get the most out of your experience if you’re sitting in a session working on a client project. (Yes, I’ve seen this actually happen at a conference.)
• Participate in workshop sessions. Don’t be a wallflower — get involved! Ask questions. Approach the presenter after the session. Take part in the group activities.... even if you’re shy!!
• Follow up after the conference. Most conference organizers will give you a list of everyone who participated. E-mail these folks ... connect with them on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. These are great connections to continue in the virtual world!

Enjoy the conference ... and if you'd like to write up a session or two for a future issue of Resume Writers’ Digest, send me an e-mail! E-mail me at editor(at)rwdigest.com.

Next Resume Writing Academy (RWA) Live Class Begins Sept. 24

There is no college degree offered at the moment for resume writing, so the next best thing (or, from my perspective, even better than a degree program!) is the Resume Writing Academy, offered by Wendy S. Enelow and Louise M. Kursmark.

Billed as "the nation's premier resume training organization," RWA offers comprehensive training for resume writers looking to improve their skills or for new professionals looking to enter the industry. The program includes eight weekly teleseminars and three independent learning programs. Program graduates are eligible for ACRW (Academy Certified Resume Writers) credentialing.

The next live class begins Sept. 24. An independent study option is available to begin anytime. Visit

www.resumewritingacademy.com or call Wendy Enelow at (434) 299-5600 for more information.

Better Questions: Better Resumes (Bridget's Top 5)

"Garbage in. Garbage out."

When writing a resume, the information you are able to collect from clients makes a huge difference. Ask the right question, and you can unlock a treasure trove of valuable accomplishments and insight from the client about his/her value to the employer.

In an article in the Summer 2009 issue (back issues are available for purchase for $3 each), I wrote an article called "A Perfect '10': Better Questions Yield Better Resumes." In it, I identified 10 key questions in four specific categories:

• Collecting Information About the Client's Job Target/Desired Job
• Questions to Capture the Essence of the Client's Current Job
• Questions to Elicit Information About Accomplishments
• Other General Questions

If I had to pick my top 5 questions from the ones listed in the article, it would be these:

1. In your performance reviews, in what areas did you receive the highest scores or the most positive feedback?
2. What is the most important part of your current job?
3. What have you achieved in your job -- have you saved your employer any money or achieved any other quantifiable measure (helped the company make money, become more efficient, improve safety, improve customer service, etc.)?
4. What have you introduced at your firm that has never existed before ... or what did you improve upon?
5. What sets you apart from other candidates for this job?

For more client questions and tips for effective resume writing, purchase the "Write Great Resumes Faster" special report for just $14.

Have You Hit "The Dip?"

I just finished reading Seth Godin's book, "The Dip: A Little Book that Teaches You When to Quit (And When to Stick)." It originally came out in 2007 -- and although I'm a huge Seth Godin fan, I somehow missed this one.

Which is unfortunate, because the message in The Dip probably would have served me well in recent years.

Here are three simple concepts that Seth outlines in the book:

• Quit the wrong stuff.
• Stick with the right stuff.
• Have the guts to do one or the other.

He describes The Dip as follows:
At the beginning, when you first start something, it's fun. It's interesting. It's easy to stay engaged in it. Then the Dip happens. It's "the long slog between starting and mastery." You know, the hard part: the middle.

...When you start writing a resume and you're zipping along, and suddenly you don't know where to go next. You're simply stuck.
... When you start your business and get a whole bunch of clients, and then ... all of a sudden, it seems ... the phone stops ringing.
... Or you start to write a book, and the first few chapters seem to write themselves ... and then your brain freezes up.

That's the Dip. Read the book to find out how Seth suggests you get through it (and WHY it's important to get through it. And when you should QUIT instead of trying to get through it).

Here's a hint (from Seth):
"Successful people don't just ride out The Dip. They don't just buckle down and survive it. No, they lean into the Dip. They push harder, changing he rules as they go. Just because you know you're in the Dip doesn't mean you have to live happily with it. Dips don't last quite as long when you whittle at them."