10 Questions with Madelyn Mackie

Get to know other resume writers in our community with our “10 Questions” series! 

Our newest profile is Madelyn Mackie of Madelyn Mackie & Associates | Activate Your Career Dreams.  

Madelyn is the “career activator”! As a Certified Career Management Coach, member of the National Resume Writers’ Association, and former board member of the National Speakers Association, Madelyn offers conference keynotes, professional development trainings, and career coaching to help her clients design unique, job-getting documents, build successful career plans, and create lifelong success. She has been a professional resume writer for nine years. 

Madelyn draws on her experience of navigating four high-profile careers — the lab (as a published biochemistry researcher), the stage (as a stage and production administrator at four Tony Award-winning theaters), the C-suite (as an officer with the American Red Cross), and the owner’s box (CEO of Madelyn Mackie & Associates, a career management and professional development firm) — to help individuals activate their career dreams.

1. Why did you decide to become a professional resume writer?

I never set out to be a resume writer. My goal was to be a professional speaker. I speak on career transition and tell the story of how I went from the lab, to the stage, to the C-suite, and often, I would be approached by members of my audience asking me if I could help them do the same thing — which translated into career coaching and resume writing.

2. How did you get into the career industry? What did you do before?

In my first career, I was a public bio-chemistry researcher. After I wrote and published my first paper, I quickly realized I had no intention of doing that for the next 40 years. For my next career, I worked in professional theatre for 15 years on the production side — and I loved it! Eventually, I got burned out and turned my volunteer work at the American Red Cross into a full-time role as a Program Manager and External Relations Officer.

3. What do you typically wear when you’re working? 

Since the pandemic, it’s fuzzy slippers, leggings, a business top, and relentless red lipstick. Gotta look good on Zoom!

4. What is your best habit, and what is your worst? 

I try to always treat everyone the way I would want to be treated. I firmly believe you put good things out in the world, good things will come back to you.

My worst habit is the snooze button.

5. What is your favorite object in your office? Why? 

My business license from 2011. It reminds me to “take pride in how far I have come and faith in how far I can go.” When I applied for that license, I didn’t have a single client or speaking gig or even a business bank account. Now, 11 years later, I have all those things and so much more.

6. What is your “go to” technique or secret when you get stuck when you are writing a resume? How do you get unstuck? 

I immediately go work on another part of the resume that is easier — like education or older experience and work my way backwards on the resume. By the time I get to the value statement at the top, I have some motivation and inspiration to write it.

7. What is the best career advice you ever got? 

The best business advice I ever received is “Listen to your audience.”

8. How do you unplug? 

I love sitting on my balcony with some cheese and crackers, an apple cider, and a romance novel. It’s nice to get away into the land of “happily ever after” for a little while.

9. What ONE thing would you change about your business or the career industry if you could? 

Not a single thing. What I love best about our industry is that it is constantly changing and evolving. There is always something new to learn and my fellow resume writers never hesitate to share their knowledge and expertise.

Connect with Madelyn on LinkedIn: 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/madelynmackie/

Find her company on Facebook: 

https://www.facebook.com/ActivateYourCareerDreams

Two Words That Can Help You Write Interview-Winning Resumes

In 26 years of writing resumes, two words help me when I’m collecting information for client resumes: THEN WHAT.

It’s a great strategy when you’re working with a client who is having a hard time articulating their accomplishments.

Here’s how it works:

Let’s say you’re writing a résumé for a preschool photographer. I chose that one by going to Indeed.com and looking for the first non-sales job I found in Omaha, Nebraska, where I live. It’s much easier to get accomplishments from sales people than from folks in the “helping professions.” I’m not sure if “preschool photographer” is a helping profession or not, but it’s one where you might have a hard time getting accomplishments out of the person, but one where asking the right questions can yield some good stuff.
 
So I’m asking my preschool photographer about their work, and they say that they take photos of all the kids in a preschool class. I’ll ask about how many kids are in the average class, and how long it usually takes to shoot a class. Then I might ask directly about an accomplishment — for example, “Tell me about what makes you good at your job.” My future famous photographer client might say something like, “Well, sometimes the kids don’t want their picture taken. They might be shy, or just not like photographers. I’m good at getting them to smile.” 
 
I’d say, “Okay, so let’s say little Timmy is clinging to his teacher and doesn’t want his picture taken. Then what?” He might respond, “Well, first I’d put him at ease. I keep a little box of puppets in my photography bag for that very reason. He might not want to hear from me, but he’ll listen to Mr. Monkey.” “Okay, so you bring out Mr. Monkey. Then what?” He says, “Well, I put the camera down and put on Mr. Monkey — he’s a hand puppet — and I have Mr. Monkey explain — in a funny voice, of course (my client is now doing the voice) — that he wants to be able to remember what Timmy looks like, and could he get a picture of him? Sometimes that works directly, but sometimes I have to give Mr. Monkey to the child and have Mr. Monkey agree to get his picture taken with Timmy first.” 
 
“Great,” I say. “So then what?” “Well,” my client says, “At that point, they’re usually smiling … or sometimes laughing … because I’m still using my Mr. Monkey voice, and I can get a couple of shots off. And because we shoot all digital, I can see right away if I’ve got the picture. 
 
In three years of doing this, Mr. Monkey has never failed in getting me the shot I need. Sometimes it takes a couple extra minutes, but I always get the photo.”

From there, I’m able to write strong, employer-oriented accomplishment bullets.

This is just ONE of the strategies I share for writing better resumes by asking better questions.

It’s part of this course:
Ask Better Questions, Write Better Resumes

You can get the course for 60% off with our one-week sale (through Aug. 4, 2022). Get lifetime access for just $59.60 (regularly $149). Use promo code FLASH or click here to get the discount.

Get immediate access to the course, including the video, handouts (for you and homework for your clients), and more.

And, of course, it comes with our 30-day moneyback guarantee. If you’re not satisfied, I’m not satisfied, and I’ll happily refund your purchase.

You’re welcome to use the THEN WHAT strategy with your own clients to help you create better accomplishments in the resumes you write!

P.S. – Bronze members save even more – get 85% off the course by getting your discount code here. (Just $25 instead of $149.) 

Book Review: Grossman’s “Guide to the Post-Pandemic Job Market” Highlights Challenges and Opportunities

The world is in a “demographic, healthcare, and technological revolution” writes Frank Grossman — founder of Resumes That Shine — in “Guide to the Post-Pandemic Job Market,” his new e-book about today's job search process. 

Those societal shifts — combined with challenges brought on by the global COVID-19 pandemic — mean that jobseekers will have to be more nimble in the the future. 

“Whether you are in school now or are in mid-career and plan to work another 10, 15, or 20 years, your skills could be obsolete if you don’t respond to change,” writes Grossman. The average jobseeker’s skills will have to be stronger than ever to earn a living wage — even for jobs that previously didn’t require college degrees. 

While Grossman says his guide isn’t “crystal-ball gazing,” it provides research on the hurdles applicants face in today’s job market, jobs that are on the “endangered species list,” the evolution of the job search, the virtues of enhancing career skills (both hard and soft), and new paradigms and opportunities in the job market. 

One of the more fascinating aspects of the “Guide to the Post-Pandemic Job Market” is Grossman’s focus on growth areas in the job market over the next decade (an aspect that is sometimes overlooked in today's social media zeitgeist). 

Various media outlets have recently focused on the rise of remote work (with some companies making a permanent paradigm shift) as well as the trend of workers leaving the workforce in what's been dubbed the Great Resignation. 

The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) recently shared a study (during the organization's 2022 annual conference) that reports 48 percent of survey respondents are “definitely” looking to work remotely. 

But according to statistics from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) presented in Grossman's guide, the top 20 job categories between now and 2030 — with salaries ranging from $23,680 to $110,140 — are primarily in-person professions (“high-touch” jobs where one must be physically present to do the work are at — or near — the top of the list). 

The dichotomy between professions that will be “in demand” and those that are “desired” creates an interesting conundrum for jobseekers and career services professionals going forward. 

Jobseekers need to be practical. 

“It would be nice to look at the menu of jobs in demand for the post-pandemic 2020s and pick one that meets your criteria for a great opportunity,” writes Grossman. “This will not work for many of us because we must fit the job to be successful.”  

Since starting Resumes That Shine in 2004, Grossman has worked with a wide-ranging client base — tailoring resumes, cover letters, LinkedIn profiles, and job search strategies. He is a Certified Career Management Coach (CCMC) and a Nationally Certified Online Profile Expert (NCOPE). During the early stages of his business, Grossman served as a Work Readiness Trainer with the ResCare welfare-to-work program in Brooklyn, NY — writing, editing, and/or critiquing roughly 1,200 resumes in that role. 

Sprinkled with raw data and personal and professional anecdotes, Grossman’s “Guide to the Post-Pandemic Job Market” provides salient information and analysis for resume writers, career coaches, and jobseekers as they navigate the job search process. 

Order your copy of the "Guide to the Post-Pandemic Job Market" here. 

How to Get Started as a Subcontract Resume Writer

 

Fifteen years. That’s how long ago I published the first edition of “Making Money as a Resume Subcontractor.” But that was probably five years after I actually started writing resumes for a contracting writer. I also wrote for CareerPerfect from to May 2004 to October 2008. But before that, I wrote for a solopreneur contracting writer. Along the way, I earned between $500 and $2500 a month from my subcontract writing.

Before, during, and after my subcontract writer phase, I also worked with my own clients. Many subcontract writers do the same. They write as a subcontractor to smooth out the peaks and valleys in their own client load and income as they build their business. Or they want to get exposure to writing for a variety of different types of clients while seeing how another writer or firm operates their business.

But with so many resume writers feeling burned out these days, there’s a third reason to subcontract: To focus on the writing instead of the marketing and business management. Sometimes, you just want to write resumes, not spend your time creating content to attract jobseekers and filling your days with talking with prospects. 

If you’re interested in learning about how to get started as a subcontract resume writer, I’ve got you covered. The 51-page “Making Money as a Resume Subcontractor” special report addresses it all.

Chapters in the special report include: 

• Who Are Subcontractors and What Draws Them In?
• Show Me The Money! (Compensation for Subcontractors)
• Client Interaction & The Information-Gathering Process
• Managing Your Business: Can You Market Yourself and Subcontract?
• Signing on to Subcontract
• Comparing Contractors: Big or Small?
• Once You’re In, How to Stay in the Contractor’s Good Graces
• Don’t Forget Legal Issues
• Other Subcontracting Opportunities
• Golden Nuggets: Benefits of Subcontracting
• Keys to Success as a Subcontractor: From a Contractor’s Perspective
• Words of Wisdom from Experienced Resume Writers
• Results of Survey of Subcontract Writers
• Red Flags When Selecting a Contracting Firm
• Making a Pitch to Subcontracting Firms (including a sample Resume/Cover Letter)
• Your Contract
• Seven Profiles of Subcontract Resume Writers

Even if you’ve never thought about subcontracting before, there might be a subcontracting opportunity that is the right fit for you right now. One way to know is to check out the 25+ listings in the Directory of Subcontract Opportunities.

Each listing includes the following information:

• Specialization (what kind of clients does the contracting writer/firm target, and what services are provided)
• Client fee (what the client pays, not what the subcontractor gets paid)
• Writer qualifications (desired/required)
• How to apply
• What spells rejection for a candidate
• Special requirements
• Turnaround time for projects
• Pay to subcontractor
• Demand weekly (# of projects)
• Client management (client contact vs. ghostwriting; also, if the contracting writer uses a CRM)
• Phone consultation? Paid extra?
• Do writers upsell?
• Revisions? (how are revisions handled; included in pay or compensated separately?)

The Making Money as a Resume Subcontractor Special Report — and the 25+ listings in the Directory of Subcontract Opportunities — are INCLUDED in Bronze membership on BeAResumeWriter.com. There are opportunities with no client contact — and some with. Some offering 1-2 projects a week … or 1-2 a month. Some that pay as little as $75 per project, but some that are $500+. Like I said, there’s something for everyone, even if you’ve never considered subcontracting before.

Join as a Bronze+ member for $27/month or as a Bronze Annual+ for $279 a year. 

You’ll get full access to the “Making Money as a Resume Subcontractor” resources, plus all the other benefits of Bronze membership:

• New done-for-you content each month (Pass-Along Materials)
• A Special Report to help you with some aspect of your bsiness or work with clients
• A Profession-Specific Career Worksheet (licensed from Evelyn Salvador), based on member votes
• Two new Content Checklists each month to help you create client-attracting content
• 30 Ready-to-Use Social Media Graphics (conversation starters, inspirational quotes, and month- and holiday-related themes)
• Discounts on Resume Writer’s University courses (including the signature “Pricing Right” course)

Learn more here.

Note: If you are a contracting writer looking to connect with subcontract writers, fill out this online form to be included in the Directory of Subcontract Opportunities.