Are You Certifiable? November/December 2007

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1 November/December 2007 Career Facts & Figures Employment Dynamics and Growth Expectations (EDGE) According to the 2007 EDGE Report from Robert Half International and CareerBuilder.com, 58 percent of employees are willing to ask for more money when negotiating a new compensation package double the percentage from Forty-three percent of employers said they are struggling to find candidates for professional and technical staff positions, an increase from 37 percent in Seventeen percent reported difficulty filling director, manager, supervisor, and team leader positions, up from 15 percent the prior year. The survey results also show that these are the types of positions for which employers are most likely to increase compensation. Nearly one-third of hiring mangers said their firms have instituted new policies and programs to increase staff retention rates in the last 12 months. Primary tactics include offering bonuses (23 percent), increasing pay (16 percent), improving the office environment (15 percent), and providing a more defined career path (10 percent). Source: Robert Half International ( The survey was conducted by Harris Interactive. Are You Certifiable? Comparing Résumé Writing s By Bridget Ann Brooks, CPRW Editor s Note: In the four years since Résumé Writers Digest last examined professional certifications for résumé writers, there has been an expansion in the number of credentials available. In this article, we ll review the primary résumé writing certifications offered by the four major professional organizations. Why Get Certified? Résumé writing certifications are a mark of competence, for both writers and their prospective clients. While there are certainly many fine résumé writers out there who are not certified, certification is designed to be an objective measure of mastery of key résumé concepts. is a point of differentiation for clients seeking a résumé writer. They may not know what certification involves, but it reassures them that someone has checked your qualifications. According to material provided by the Professional Association of Résumé Writers and Career Coaches, before 1990, there were no résumé certifications. The first certification testing was held in 1991, and seven members were awarded their CPRW at that time. Since then, between 6,000 and 8,000 professional résumé writers around the world have earned a résumé writing certification. All credentials require the candidate to demonstrate mastery of principles of grammar and composition as well as prove their ability to write an error-free, technically sound résumé and cover letter. While testing methods vary, all the certifications examined are sufficiently rigorous that a minimum of one year of experience developing résumés and cover letters is recommended before pursuing certification as a résumé writer. Once certification is achieved, all the professional organizations offer reproducible logos and materials to promote the certification. The certificontinued on page 3

2 November/December (PARW/CC) was the first to offer a certification and the Certified Professional s By the Numbers Résumé Writer (CPRW) creden Certified Expert tial is the best known of the five certifications Résumé Writer (CERW) examined. More than 1,000 résumé writers 8... Master Résumé Writer (MRW) have been certified by PARW/CC alone Certified Military over the years.... Résumé Writer (CMRW) continued from page 1 cation can be advertised in your Yellow Pages ad, on your website, and in print materials. All of the professional organizations mentioned also offer a separate search function on their website for prospective clients to identify credentialed providers. The chart on page 8 provides a comparison of the certifications offered by these organizations: Career Directors International (CDI) offers the Certified Advanced Résumé Writer (CARW) and Certified Expert Résumé Writer (CERW) designations. The Career Management Alliance ( The Alliance ) offers the Master Résumé Writer (MRW) credential. Members of the National Résumé Writer s Association (NRWA) can earn the Nationally Certified Résumé Writer (NCRW) designation. The Professional Association of Résumé Writers and Career Coaches Choosing a to Pursue If you re already a member of one of the professional associations, it may be tempting to simply pursue the credential offered by that organization. Membership in the association is always a prerequisite for beginning the certification process. However, there are other factors to consider which may affect your decision. These include: Cost Initial requirements Testing process Continuing education and recertification procedures Recognition of the credential continued on page Certified Federal Résumé Writer (CFRW) Nationally Certified Résumé Writer (NCRW) Certified Advanced Résumé Writer (CARW) 386*...Certified Professional Résumé Writer (CPRW) Sources: Career Directors International (for CARW, CERW, CFRW, CMRW), Career Management Alliance (for MRW), National Résumé Writer s Association (for NCRW), and the Professional Association of Résumé Writers and Career Coaches (for CPRW), websites, as of 11/26/07. * While only 386 CPRWs are listed on the PARW/ CC web site, an exact number of active CPRWs is not available. Companies and organizations with multiple CPRWs may only have one listing in the directory on the website.

3 4 November/December 2007 continued from page 3 Does which certification you choose matter? It depends. Among your peers, certain certifications may command more respect, again, due to the rigorous nature of the certification requirements. Most résumé writers choose to pursue their CPRW because PARW/CC has more members than the other professional organizations. However, the CARW credential is gaining ground, offering the second-highest number of credentialed practitioners in the industry, closely followed by NCRWs. Certified Advanced Résumé Writer (CARW) and Certified Expert Résumé Writer (CERW) Career Directors International offers both a basic Certified Advanced Résumé Writer (CARW) and an advanced résumé writing certification, the Certified Expert Résumé Writer (CERW). CDI previously offered the Certified Résumé Writer (CRW) credential, but this was revamped to better represent the credential, according to CDI president Laura DeCarlo, MCD, CERW, CECC, CCMC, CCM, when the organization changed its name from the Professional Résumé Writing and Research Association (PRWRA) to CDI. The CARW certification process begins with the purchase of a 50-page CARW Study Guide and submission of a résumé you ve written. These materials are then reviewed by the certification committee. The $39.95 cost of these two components is applied to the $150 CARW registration fee. To complete the process, the CARW candidate must write two résumés from a supplied profile, answer several short essay questions, and pass a timed test covering information about grammar, punctuation, and résumé and cover letter techniques. CDI also offers a training-to-certification option through their course, PS You re a Résumé Expert. Successful completion of the course will fulfill the résumé writing module of the CARW. You can learn more about this training course at careerdirectors.com/rescourse.htm. The CERW is an advanced credential appropriate for seasoned résumé writers who wish to demonstrate they meet the highest level of distinction in résumé writing, DeCarlo notes. Candidates for the CERW credential complete a three-part, test-free portfolio evaluation process. Before applying to become a CERW, résumé writers must possess a recognized résumé certification (CARW, MRW, NCRW, or CPRW). Individuals must submit seven professional résumés, one ASCII text résumé conversion, and two cover let- continued on page 5 The Association of Online Résumé and Career Professionals AORCP was formed to specifically target Internet-based career coaches and résumé writers who perform their business using online technology. AORCP is different from other professional organizations, offering networking opportunities, certifications, professional development seminars, and conferences exclusively online. Membership is open to all career coaches and résumé writers who currently market their business through website technology or intend to develop an online career coaching or résumé writing presence. With an ever-increasing number of households turning to the Internet for career services, business growth potential is incredible. Join our virtual community! Dues are just $45 a year. Join today! info@aorcp.com or call

4 November/December continued from page 4 ter samples, along with a brief description for each document outlining the project situation/challenge, explanation of choices for document style and information inclusion, and the results for the job seeker (if known). Examples of preferred résumé styles to include are: Executive résumé Career change résumé New graduate résumé Technical résumé (engineer, scientist, technician, information technology professional) Professional résumé (manager, director, account executive) Re-entry into the workforce résumé Résumé of your choice (i.e, education, healthcare, marketing). chaired by Barbara Safani, and the candidates will be notified of the committee s decision in 4-6 weeks. Candidates who do not meet the criteria for certification will be counseled individually to determine steps for remediation. If a second portfolio is required, a $95 fee will be assessed when it is submitted. The CARW certification must be renewed every two years by earning 30 industry-related continuing education units. These can be completed through a variety of activities, including employment-related book reviews, career-related community service, industry coursework, article writing, and conference attendance. The renewal fee is $50. Recertification of the CERW is required every three years. The cost is $75 and certified writers must submit four sample résumés, one cover letter sample, and an updated bio. Active membership is a prerequisite for retaining the CERW credential. CDI also offers other certifications, including the Certified Military Résumé Writer (CMRW) and the Certified Federal Résumé Writer (CFRW). You must also submit a detailed résumé or biography outlining your experience, industry contributions, and accomplishments. Finally, candidates must submit either an essay of no fewer than 1,000 words detailing their philosophy and approach to résumé writing and why they feel qualified to be a CERW candidate OR an article Certified Professional Résumé of no fewer than 1,000 words on a Writer (CPRW) topic about, or related to, résumé The CPRW testing process is writing. These documents should be comprised of four components a submitted as Word or PDF documents multiple choice exam; a test to along with a fee of $250. evaluate the résumé writer s command of grammar, spelling, punctua- The portfolio will be evaluated by the certification committee, continued on page 6 CERW Guidelines Evaluation of the candidate s portfolio for the Certified Expert Résumé Writer (CERW) credential is made using a Résumé Score Sheet. Criteria for judging the résumés and cover letters includes: FOCUS Résumé is focused on career direction that client desires Résumé is written to highlight strengths as they relate to client s focus Experience and abilities are tailored to enhance career focus All unnecessary information has been excluded FORMAT Résumé is in correct format for client s career history Résumé is visually appealing and easy to read Résumé is in a visual format that is suited to client s industry There is sufficient white space in the document Résumé is free of errors in spelling, punctuation, grammar, and syntax Résumé is in a modern format Résumé is OCR and/or electronically scannable Résumé type/font size is appropriate Résumé is at the appropriate length Résumé uses short paragraphs and/or bullets in descriptions/position summaries CONTENT Résumé is powerfully written, with correct industry-specific language Résumé includes specific, quantitative achievements Résumé effectively communicates client s professional worth Résumé builds on client s experience and abilities Résumé negates or lessens the impact of detrimental factors in client s employment, professional, or educational history All employment gaps are handled well Résumé sells client s skills, abilities, and potential as the best candidate Résumé targets bottom-line company needs and position expectations Résumé demonstrates leadership skills Provides clear direction of career target/objective Résumé is written concisely, energetically Résumé is rich with keywords The full CDI Résumé Score Sheet is available for download from:

5 6 November/December 2007 continued from page 5 tion, and proofreading; several essay questions to test strategic thinking on issues related to the résumé field; and a practical application of résumé writing skills through development of a résumé and cover letter based on information provided about a hypothetical client. After submitting a CPRW Test Application form, the candidate will receive a copy of the CPRW Study Guide. He or she will then have up to one year to schedule a testing time. On the appointed date and time, the candidate will receive all four test modules via . He or she will have two hours to complete and back answers to the first three modules, and three days to complete and mail four sets of the résumé and cover letter. Tests are mailed to three volunteer members of the Committee for scoring. Results are available in 6-8 weeks. Master Résumé Writer (MRW) Easily the most difficult of the professional résumé writing credentials to achieve, The Career Management Alliance s Master Résumé Writer (MRW) is for highly experienced, wellqualified résumé professionals who combine expert writing skills with a strategic approach to résumé developing and top-flight English skills. Requiring five years of documented, paid professional experience in résumé writing, the certification offers the ability to build on previous certifications earned. Non-certified writers must submit twice as many client presentations as their certified colleagues. The Alliance recognizes and accepts CPRW, NCRW, CARW, and CERW certifications to meet the standard. Earning the MRW is an intensive process and candidates are (generally very) experienced in résumé writing, and typically hold at least one other résumé writing certification, according to certification chair Bill Kinser, of To the Point Résumés. Thus, (all) candidates to date have earned their MRWs on their initial submission. The first year the credential was offered (2003), four résumé writers earned the designation. Since then, four more writers have been certified. To begin the process, candidates submit the MRW registration form on The Alliance s website, and submit the $295 payment. Once payment has been processed, the candidate will be sent the MRW English Language & Grammar Study Guide, which is the preparation for the MRW Exam. When the candidate is ready, he or she should contact Kinser to schedule the English Language and Grammar test. The candidate has 14 days to review, complete, and return the exam (by , fax, or mail). The candidate must achieve a score of 85% on the test before proceeding to compile their portfolio. A major component of MRW certification includes presentation of a portfolio of résumé and cover letters 5 for previously certified writers and 10 for noncertified applicants. Because many résumé writers do not retain all client materials much beyond the delivery of the final documents to the client, most writers pursuing MRW certification will want to assemble their portfolio from new clients. As the portfolio requires a broad range of industry types, assembly of the portfolio may take a few months. The portfolio is submitted in hard copy format, along with the documentation of five years of paid professional résumé writing experience (client invoice, certification or professional association memberships, etc.). Each presentation must contain five components: statement of client needs/objectives, statement of résumé writing strategy and rationale, all materials submitted by the client, the first draft of the résumé (with client changes indicated), and finally, the finished résumé and cover letter. Résumé samples must be different in their format and visual presentation and cannot be templates or boilerplate documents. If submitting five samples, they must include: One résumé for an industry or profession that s new to you; One résumé for a senior manager/ executive ($100,000 candidate); One résumé for a client in a technology industry; Two of your very best résumés. The portfolio for noncertified writers must also include one résumé for: A graduating student with unique experience and/or qualifying credentials; A client in sales, marketing, and/ or business development; A client who has been out of work for more than six months; A client in education or health care. The noncertified writer must also include two résumés for industries or professions that are new to him or her, for a total of 10 résumés and cover letters. The MRW committee will evaluate the materials within 14 days of receipt. The Résumé Writing Academy (RWA), which operates independently of Career Management Alliance, offers a structured, intensive training procontinued on page 7

6 November/December The first part of the exam is a grammar and composition test. The NCRW What s Happening on continued from page 6 candidate will be given a résumé containing 25 specific errors and will have the Résumé Writers gram which also culminates in the development of a portfolio which can be one hour to identify grammar, capitalization, and hyphenation mistakes. used for MRW certification. Digest Blog? For more information on the Résumé The second part of the test re- Looking for even more ideas and Writing Academy program, visit quires practical application of writing resources for your résumé writing skills. He or she will be provided with practice? Check out the Résumé Writers overview.php. a client profile and will need to write Digest blog at: To earn the MRW credential, you a résumé and cover letter for this client truly must be at the top of your game! in Microsoft Word, Adobe Acrobat, You ll find links to online re- says Kinser. The MRW serves to offer and ASCII text formats. sources, marketing ideas, my an exclusive résumé-writing credential The completed documents must be thoughts on the state of the résumé to professional résumé writers who submitted to Sally McIntosh, NRWA s writing industry, guest columns by have clearly distinguished themselves certification chair, within three days. Publicity Hound s Joan Stewart, Action at the top tier of the résumé-writing The files will be forwarded to three Plan Marketing author Robert industry. graders and judged as pass/fail. Grading Middleton, and much, much more! Renewal of the MRW requires the of Part II of the exam is usually You can also sign up for the Ré- submission of five full client presentations, completed in two or three weeks. sumé Writers Digest list on a two-page essay on the new Candidates who fail any part of the blog (the only way you can get information, strategies, and techniques the NCRW test are eligible for retest- this newsletter for free!). related to résumés, cover leting. You will have to pay a $70 fee to If you want to reach careers pro- ters, and job search strategy that the retake the grammar portion, and candidates fessionals, you can also advertise on writer has learned since receiving the must wait six months before the blog using AdWords. MRW certification, and payment of a retesting. If you fail this portion of For more information, call fee of $75. the test twice, the certification committee Bridget at (402) The Alliance may revoke a MRW recommends completing a certification if the individual does not grammar course. meet the credentialing renewal requirements, You must wait six months before if he or she is dismissed retaking Part II of the test, and will from any company or any professional have to pay $70. If you fail a second association for unprofessional or unlawful time, you must wait one year before conduct, or if the writer is found attempting the exam again, and will How You Can Support the Return guilty in a court of law for unlawful have to pay $70 for a third time. The of Résumé Writers Digest or unethical business practices. three graders of the exam will provide feedback and recommendations to prepare candidates for the retake process. Candidates attempting Part II of the exam for the third time must continue to meet the requirement for 10 CEUs within a three-year period. Nationally Certified Résumé Writer (NCRW) The process begins with submission of a sample résumé and cover letter, which is forwarded to a member of the NCRW certification committee for review. If the samples are not deemed to be up to NCRW standards, the writer will be given recommendations for further study and/or instruction, including participating in NRWA s free mentoring program. Results of the sample review are available 3-4 weeks after submission. If the samples are approved, the writer is ready for the two-part exam. Putting It All Together Pursuing certification as a professional résumé writer isn t an easy process but the rewards can be great, in terms of recognition from clients and colleagues of your expertise, increased opportunities to subcontract, and the potential for additional revenue from charging higher prices due to having achieved certification. Subscriptions to Résumé Writers Digest are now free if you re on the mailing list. How can you help support the newsletter? Buy Write Great Résumés Faster (see to order; just $18, including shipping). Read the RWD Blog and support our advertisers! Do you sell a product or service or training for résumé writers? Advertise on the RWD Blog using AdWords. Advertise in this newsletter (call Bridget at for ad rates). Tell your colleagues to sign up for the mailing list (using the form on the Résumé Writers Digest blog).

7 8 November/December 2007 COMPARING RÉSUMÉ WRITING CERTIFICATIONS CERTIFICATION Certified Advanced Résumé Writer (CARW) Certified Expert Résumé Writer (CERW) Certified Professional Résumé Writer (CPRW) Nationally Certified Résumé Writer (NCRW) Master Résumé Writer (MRW) OFFERED BY Career Directors International (careerdirectors.com) Career Directors International (careerdirectors.com) Professional Association of Résumé Writers and Career Coaches ( National Résumé Writer s Association ( Career Management Alliance (careermanagement alliance.com) AVAILABLE SINCE 2000 (revised 2007) SUMMARY Established as the gold standard of résumé writing certifications for those professionals committed to working a tier above their peers. Established to provide senior professional résumé writers with the challenge to demonstrate excellence in working at an expert level of résumé writing. Exhibits knowledge of the development of strategic résumé writing expertise in meeting client career interests in accordance with industry standards. Designed for the very experienced résumé writer. Recognizes top-tier individuals in the résumé writing industry with proven expertise in résumé strategy development and execution as well as creative résumé design. CERTIFICATION COMPONENTS Part I: Submit sample résumé. Part II: Write résumé and cover letter for two fictional candidates from supplied worksheet and raw notes. Part III: Respond to a series of short essay questions. Part IV: Final exam to determine mastery of grammar and résumé strategy. Submit portfolio of résumés, including seven professional résumés, one ASCII résumé conversion and two cover letter samples along with description of challenge, explanation of strategy, and job seeker results. Submit personal bio or résumé and 1,000- word essay or article. There are four modules: 1. Multiple choice exam about the careers and résumé industry. 2. Tests grammar, spelling, punctuation, and proofreading. 3. Essay questions that test strategic thinking on résumérelated issues. 4. Résumé and cover letter writing exercise. Three components: 1. Submit sample résumé and cover letter for review and approval. 2. Exam Part I: grammar and writing questions based on a résumé. 3. Exam Part II: Résumé/cover letter writing exercise that includes an electronic version. Three components: 1. Completion of MRW Exam. 2. Document five years of paid résumé writing experience and provide copy of other certification (if applicable). 3. Portfolio submission (5 or 10 case studies) Completion of Résumé Writing Academy program may substitute for items 1 and 3. EVALUATION METHOD Seven business days to complete two résumés and cover letters; three business days to respond to short essay questions; One hour to complete and return final exam. Portfolio will be evaluated by certification committee and decision provided within 4-6 weeks. First three modules: two hours to compete; fourth module, three days to complete and return four copies via postal mail; pass/fail as determined by PARW/ CC Team. One hour to complete Part I; three days to completed résumé in Word, PDF, and ASCII formats. Must provide all required documentation. Fourteen days to submit completed exam. Must score at least 85 percent to pass writing exam. PREREQUISITES CDI membership Read CARW Study Guide Prefer one year of résumé writing experience CDI membership Possess valid résumé certification (CARW, MRW, NCRW, CPRW). PARW membership Study suggested reading list CPRW Study Guide NRWA membership Thorough review of NCRW Study Guide 10 CEUS in 3-year period 2 years résumé writing experience recommended Minimum of five years of experience Completion of résumés for a wide variety of industries COST $150 (includes study guide and résumé review). Training-to-certification option available. $250 with portfolio to review $225 $50 for initial résumé/cover letter review; $140 for two-part test $295 (or complete Résumé Writing Academy program)