As a member of CDI you have the opportunity to be recognized for industry innovations, cutting-edge resume writing and association contributions.

CDI currently hosts three competitions in resume writing and career services:

• Career Innovator™ Awards competition.

• Toast of the Resume Industry™ (TORI) resume writing competition - Annual

• World's Best Resume Writer™ (WBRW) competition - Every 3-5 years

CDI also offers three awards that members earn through their accomplishments:

• President's Choice Award for Excellence in career services - Annual

• Master Resume Writer™ Lifetime Achievement Award - Annual, When Earned

• Master Career Professional™ Lifetime Achievement Award - Annual, When Earned

TOAST OF THE RESUME INDUSTRY (TORI) AWARDS

Each year, CDI hosts the resume writing industry's most prestigious Toast of the Resume Industry™ (TORI) resume writing competition.

CDI members are eligible and encouraged to strive for writing and creative awards, which benefit the general membership, members' clients, CDI, and the industry as a whole.

CDI introduced the TORI™ Awards to  the industry in 2000 to celebrate a new standard in excellence through rigorous criteria requirements. While award standards have always been demanding, never before has the resume writing industry embraced the concept of a standardized criteria for resume judging.

Now CDI's judges will select first, second and third place winners from the top five nominees in each category to win gold, silver and bronze awards!

Learn more about the TORIs -- listen to the Q&A on Entering Call Recording: 

View 2009 Nominees and Winners

View 2008 Nominees and Winners.

View 2007 Nominees and Winners.

View 2006 Nominees and Winners.

View 2003 & 2004 Nominees and Winners.

Gayle Howard of Top Margin Career Marketing, displays her 2008 Awards:

It is a great honor to be nominated, but a truly distinguishing accomplishment to be selected as the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place TORI™ Award Winner in each category. The competition gives each member the opportunity to:

• Participate in a fun and competitive venue for judging the quality of your craft against national and international standards.

• Attain recognition amongst your peers.

• Represent your services to potential customers as the "best of the best."

• Leverage media publicity for your achievement(s).

• Receive a prestigious TORI award and appropriate website / print graphics for marketing, advertising, and promotion.

• Further hone your resume writing skills by applying the standards represented in the TORI Criteria Check Sheets.

• Attain recognition as a nominee/winner at the annual awards banquet at the CDI conference (should you choose to register and attend conference).

Each year, the TORI Awards Committee selects the most applicable categories which best reflect current market trends. CDI members are welcome to contribute one (1) entry to each category.

The TORI Committee Leader will ensure all submissions appear anonymous to the committee so that fair and equitable judging can take place. The committee will select up to five (5) TORI nominations in each category. The CDI Leadership Team will then select the best of the best from the nominations in each category.

The 2010 TORI categories for entry include:

• Best International Resume - encompasses resumes written for any profession within a non-US market.

• Best Technical Resume - encompasses scientists, engineers, technicians, mechanics, etc.

• Best Creative Resume - encompasses creative-style resumes in full-color, unusual layouts, artistic writing styles, etc. Very open to interpretation.

• Best Executive Resume - encompasses any executive-level position in any industry.

• Best Cover Letter - encompasses any discipline, industry, or career level.

• Best Career Change Resume - encompasses any discipline, industry, or career level as long as the focus in on a career change.

• Best Sales & Marketing Resume - encompasses any level of sales, marketing, and/or business development.

• Best New Graduate Resume - encompasses any discipline, industry, or career level as long as the focus is on leveraging a recent degree as the career target.

• Best Military Resume - encompasses any discipline or career level as long as the focus is on a military job seeker transitioning to the civilian sector.

The Master List of TORI Categories currently include:

• Best International Resume

• Best New Graduate Resume

• Best Creative Resume

• Best Re-entry into the Workforce Resume

• Best Federal Resume

• Best Military Conversion Resume

• Best Executive Resume

• Best Technical Resume

• Best Web Resume

• Best Career Change Resume

• Best Cover Letter

• Best Career Web Portfolio

• Best Professional Resume

• Best Sales & Marketing Resume

IMPORTANT DEADLINES:

The registration deadline to receive entry instructions is Wednesday, June 23, 2010.

The entry submission deadline is Sunday, June 27, 2010 at Midnight Pacific Time.

Additional information is available in the Members Only section (member login required).

Easy entry steps to get started:

1. Select what categories you plan to enter from the list above.

2. Register online at www.careerdirectors.com/cart.asp for the number of TORIs you plan to submit. It is listed under 'TORI Competition.' Each entry is $15.00.*

3. Once registered you will receive instructions for submitting your resumes / cover letter.

*Refunds will not be issued should you opt not to enter a purchased category after registering or submit after the deadline.

Nominations will be announced in August.

Winners will be announced at the 2010 Career Empowerment Summit in October. Winners do not need to be present to win; awards will be mailed as needed.

Each year, the association President selects the individual who has made the most significant contribution to the association and the careers community for this distinguished award.

Former winners:

• Anne Kramer, Alpha Bits - 2003
• John Donovan, CRS Resume Service - 2004
• Freddie Cheek, Cheek & Associates, LLC - 2005
• Don Skipper, Career Beginnings, Inc. - 2006
• Barbara Safani, Career Solvers - 2007
• We couldn't pick just one in 2008:

          Susan Guarneri, Assessment Goddess

          Camille Roberts, CC Career Svcs.

          Nona Pratz, Types Write

          Laura Labovich, A & E Consulting, LLC

• There were two in 2009:

  Laura Drew, Carolina Career Coach

  Robin Schlinger, Robin's Resumes

In 2000, CDI (then PRWRA) introduced the industry's first Master Resume Writer credential with our Certified Master Resume Writer™. However, in 2006, it was decided that this credential would be best positioned as a Lifetime Achievement Award -- the highest honor an industry can convey.

The Master Resume Writer™ Lifetime Achievement Award can only be attained through years of definitive contribution and achievement to the resume writing profession. This distinguished recognition will be bestowed on any resume writer and CDI member who meets the following criteria:

• Industry Longevity: Member of the professional resume writing community for a minimum of ten (10) years.

• Certification: Earn and maintain the Certified Expert Resume Writer (CERW) credential.

• Awards & Recognition: Earn a minimum of two TORI nominations or one TORI award in the last three (3) years.

• Continuing Education: Complete a cumulative 45 hours of industry training such as conference attendance or teleclasses over the past four (4) years.

• Industry Commitment: Provide CDI mentorship to at least two resume writers / career professionals in the past two (2) years AND/OR sit on a CDI committee for the past one (1) year.

The Master Resume Writer™ Lifetime Achievement Award will be conveyed once per year at our Annual Convention Banquet to all those members who have met the criteria. Members not in attendance will still be recognized and conveyed this prestigious award and recognition.

Once you have reached this career apex with The Master Resume Writer™ Lifetime Achievement Award, you will no longer be required to recertify.

If you believe you have met the criteria to attain this recognition, then please submit your list of criteria to info@careerdirectors.com. 

Recipients:

• Gillian Kelly, Career Edge - 2008
• John Donovan, CRS Resume Service - 2008
• Gayle Howard, Top Margin Resumes Online - 2007
• Annemarie Cross, Advanced Employment Concepts - 2007
• Susan Guarneri, Susan Guarneri Associates - 2006
• Laura DeCarlo, A Competitive Edge Career Service, LLC - 2006

The Master Career Professional™ Lifetime Achievement Award is bestowed upon career professionals who have attained a benchmark of quality and longevity in the industry. This award can only be attained through years of definitive contribution and achievement as a career professional.

This distinguished recognition will be bestowed on any career professional and CDI member who meets the following criteria:

• Industry Longevity: Member of the careers industry for a minimum of ten (10) years.

• Certification: Earn and maintain the Master Career Director (MCD) credential.

• Awards & Recognition: None at this time; will be changed when the Career Innovator Award comes online in 11/08.

• Continuing Education: Complete a cumulative 45 hours of industry training such as conference attendance or teleclasses over the past four (4) years.

• Industry Commitment: Provide CDI mentorship to at least two career professionals in the past two (2) years AND/OR sit on a CDI committee for the past one (1) year.

• Free CERW Updates: All CERW renewals for award recipients are waived ($75 every three years).

The Master Career Professional™ Lifetime Achievement Award will be conveyed once per year at our Annual Conference Award Ceremony to all those members who have met the criteria. Members not in attendance will still be recognized and conveyed this prestigious award and recognition.

If you believe you have met the criteria to attain this recognition, then please submit your list of criteria to info@careerdirectors.com by August 1st each year. 

Recipients:

• Tony Deblauwe, HR4Change - 2008

• Gayle Howard, Top Margin Career Marketing - 2008

• Don Skipper, Career Beginnings, Inc. - 2008

• Mary Elizabeth Bradford, Career Artisan - 2008

• Laura DeCarlo, A Competitive Edge Career Service, LLC - 2008

A new competition to demonstrate your innovation!

To innovate (definition from Dictionary.com): “To introduce something new or make changes in anything established.”

Are you a Career Innovator? Have you created a resource, tool, program, or initiative that has added significant value to the careers industry, either to job seekers or career professionals? Then enter CDI’s Career Innovator Awards competition.

Learn more about the Career Innovator Awards - listen to a 20 minute audio:  

View 2009 Career Innovator Award Winners and Nominees

Suggestions of possible innovation areas include:

• Career Assessment
• Book or e-Book
• Training Program
• Software, Technology and/or Web Tools/Web Resources
• New Methodology
• Outreach Programs.

CDI’s goal is to allow career professionals a platform to demonstrate their expertise, innovation, and commitment to the careers industry. 

Our Award Committee will select the most innovative and effective of the entries as nominees (number will vary based on submission quality and volume of entries). The Board of Directors will select the first, second, and third place winners from the nominees.

Demonstrate your innovation as a career professional by being selected as a first, second, or third place winner of the Career Innovator competition.   This all-new competition will allow you to distinguish yourself as an expert who is committed to making a difference to job seekers and the industry.   Winning a Career Innovator Award is an outstanding way to gain press and recognition -- positioning you to grow either in your current job as a career professional or in expanding your business as you build further awareness for your level of excellence. Who wouldn't want to work with or promote a career professional who is recognized for innovating in the industry?   Because this is a new competition in which we do not know what to expect will emerge in terms of innovation, we have opted not to introduce categories at this time. All entries, whether software, books, websites, tools, games, training programs, outreach programs, etc., will be judged together to identify the most innovative / valuable to the careers industry. Evaluate the suitability of your program, service, tool, or site using the four questions from the entry application: What is your innovation? Please describe what it is, its purpose, etc. Why do you consider your innovation to be innovative? Is your innovation unique or a variation of something that already exists? If it is not unique, please provide a list of similar products (including URLs if possible) and describe how you believe yours is different. What influence or benefit does your innovation have on the careers industry? Who does it help and how (career professionals, job seekers, etc.)?

The competition is open to CDI members only.

Members can submit as many innovations as desired but must pay registration fees for each one and submit them separately.

Resubmissions will not be accepted; please make sure you submit the correct innovation and questionnaire without errors when you submit.

NOTE: Entries which have previously received a first (1st) place award from this annual Career Innovator competition cannot be resubmitted for repeated entry.

Per the Instruction Questionnaire that will accompany each innovation you enter, you will be required to provide the innovation for viewing. If it can be viewed virtually, you will be able to submit the URL where it resides, a PDF, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, MP3, QuickTime Movie, etc. If your item can not be viewed in one of these manners, the Questionnaire will provide instructions on mailing ten copies of your innovation to CDI. The number to submit is not negotiable and items will not be returned since they will be shipped worldwide to judges for review.

NOTE: Submissions must be self-contained and complete. The judges will not be available for tours or other demonstrations. We recommend, if you feel you need a demo, include a screen shot video, audio, or slide show. 

Submissions must be received no later than Midnight Pacific Time, April 25, 2010. For mailed innovations, send ten copies of your innovation postmarked no later than Midnight Pacific, April 25, 2010 (there is no mail on Sunday the 5^th). NOTE FOR SHIPPING: Choose a method that guarantees delivery to CDI no later than April 26, 2010.

Nominees will be announced in August. Winners will be announced at CDI's 2010 Career Empowerment Summit.

Winners and nominees are required to display award logos on their website homepage or credentials page (when winners/nominees have a website) with an active link to the CDI website. It is understood that recognitions are forfeited if this is not carried out or the logos are removed.

A one-time registration fee of $49.95 per entry is required to participate, which will assist us in covering the expense of awards, shipping, and administration. Registrants will receive all submission instructions and guidelines via email.

This competition is not anonymous; we believe it is impossible to control anonymity when judging existing products that might be highly visible in the marketplace or have a name / company name affixed to them.

No refunds will be made available for registrants not submitting their entries.

Failure to follow these and other submission guidelines will result in elimination from the competition.

The volume of submissions makes it impossible for the Award Committee Director to grant special provisions for those not following instructions.

Don't wait! Remember, the deadline for entry is Midnight Pacific Time, April 25, 2010.