Posted By Amanda Collins on February 22, 2011

A number of professionals go through certification to prove to their clients and the world that they know their stuff. Anyone in the medical or legal field definitely has some credentials, as do CPAs and CFAs. There are a slew of other industries that either require or strongly suggest professionals receive some kind of certification. But what about résumé writers?

There are two major categories into which certified résumé writers fall: Certified Professional Résumé Writer (CPRW, PARW/CC) and National Certified Résumé Writer (NCRW, NRWA). Some would argue that the latter is more prestigious, which is why most certified writers have the first designation. I, as a résumé writer with 15 years of experience, have neither designation. Why? It’s simple, really. One is that I’ve never really gotten around to it, and the other—perhaps more important point—is that I’ve found CPRWs to be no better than I am.

I’m not trying to sound like I’m “all that and a bag of chips” in the résumé writing world; like anyone else, I’m sure I have areas in which I can improve. However, since the CPRW designation is a test and submission of a résumé, it’s pretty easy to do that (again, I know I should do this; when do I have the time?). Granted, the NCRW is much more rigorous, so someone with that usually is a good writer and immersed in the profession, but I have seen some not-so-good work come from CPRWs.

The bottom line is that, while a designation can certainly be a good thing, it is not the end-all, be-all. By all means, ask anyone with whom you plan to work what qualifications s/he has. Ask if she is certified. Ask how long he’s been writing. Ask all of those things, but do not base your choice solely on the fact that one does or does not have certification. For my part, not only have I been writing résumés for 15 years, I have written for TheLadders.com and am a member of the National Résumé Writers’ Association (NRWA) and the Résumé Writers’ Council of Arizona (RWCA). I write the weekly newsletter for the former and am the vice president of the latter. I also have a contract with the City of Phoenix to write résumés as part of the Obama back-to-work grant they have. I have paid my dues. Someday, I will get the letters after my name…but don’t let that alone make you think I cannot write a good résumé.

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Tags: certified resume writer, CPRW, NCRW

Posted By Amanda Collins on February 2, 2011

When it comes to writing résumés, not every person needs the same approach. Obviously, it’s easier when you can just plug your information into a simple, clean chronological format, but sometimes a career background or goal might not fit the cookie-cutter mold. As a résumé writer, I really enjoy when someone comes along to get me out of my box and challenge me to create something I’ve never tried. Usually, those clients are stay-at-home parents, laid-off employees, or career changers who present the biggest opportunity.

If you fall into one of these categories and are struggling through your résumé, you may want to hire someone! Okay, okay, no pitching here; I want to provide some hints to get you on the best track. The first thing you need to do is determine what you’re targeting. A résumé should always begin with the end goal in mind. Look at what skills you need to have to get into the position you want. Make sure you have them! Think about the accomplishments that fit into that position as well, as accomplishments play a huge role in a well-written résumé.

Once you have all that hammered down, start thinking about which strategy is going to work for you. It could be chronological, functional, or a unique combination. Regardless, you always want to showcase your WIIFM factor: tell the employer what you can do for them! Otherwise, you’re just making it a laborious read—and I can guarantee you it will be passed up. Pile in the accomplishments because they’ll sell you much more than your skills. Oh, and make sure you have the right keywords!

Regardless of how great your résumé is, it won’t do too much on its own. Remember to incorporate social media and in-person networking to create a comprehensive job search. In this new economy, WHOM you know carries a lot of weight!

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