About Career Directors International (CDI)
Career Directors International (CDI) is a globally recognized professional association serving resume writers, career coaches, and career industry practitioners.
Founded in 2000 as the Professional Resume Writing and Research Association (PRWRA), the organization was established to advance excellence, professionalism, and standards within the resume writing field. As the career services landscape evolved, we expanded our mission and, in 2005, rebranded as Career Directors International to reflect its growing global membership of career coaches and allied career development professionals.
Leadership and Governance
Career Directors International is led by Laura DeCarlo, a 17-time award-winning, 22-time certified resume writer, interview coach, and career strategist with more than 30 years of experience in the career development industry.
Laura is the author of Resumes for Dummies and Interviewing: The Gold Standard and has trained thousands of career professionals worldwide through CDI’s certification programs, continuing education, and professional development initiatives.
Under her leadership, CDI maintains a strong emphasis on:
- Professional ethics and accountability
- Credentialed education and certification standards
- Continuing education and skills advancement
- Responsible integration of emerging technologies
National Reach with Quality Control
CDI’s association-based model enables nationwide and international reach while maintaining consistency, oversight, and quality assurance — a critical factor when delivering career services across diverse populations and geographic regions.
Our members include experienced resume writers, career coaches, employment consultants, and workforce development professionals who participate through opt-in programs aligned with their credentials, training, and areas of expertise.
This structure allows CDI to support large-scale initiatives while preserving professional standards, human oversight, and consistent service delivery.
Commitment to Responsible Innovation
As technology continues to reshape the career services industry, CDI emphasizes the ethical and responsible use of artificial intelligence and emerging tools.
Our framework is designed to ensure that innovation enhances, rather than replaces, human expertise, particularly for individuals navigating complex career transitions.
This balanced approach supports:
- AI-enabled efficiency
- Human-centered guidance
- Ethical standards and transparency
- Outcome-driven career solutions
Supporting Career Transitions & Workforce Stability
Career Directors International exists to strengthen the ecosystem surrounding career transitions by equipping career professionals with the education, structure, and standards necessary to support long-term employment success.
Through certification, training, partnerships, and professional governance, CDI contributes to a more effective, ethical, and sustainable career services landscape to help individuals move forward with clarity, confidence, and opportunity.
Learn More
To learn more about Career Directors International, including our professional standards, certification programs, and leadership, please visit the sections below: