Career Directors International
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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:

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

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. The TORI™ Award competition is truly the resume writer's #1 secret to explosive business growth.

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.

 

Read winner

testimonials + a special letter from CDI's President

Nine categories to enter! 45 chances to be nominated! 27 chances to win with gold, silver, and bronze awards! Read what winners and nominees have to say!

Learn how to increase your chances of winning with the  TORI Master Mentor Program

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


MP3 File

Get 14 Free Tips to Win a TORI - Click here to access them.

View 2000-2011 nominees and winners.

Gayle Howard of Top Margin Career Marketing, displays her 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).

Read what winners and nominees have to say!

 

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 2012 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 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.

  • Best Re-entry into the Workforce Resume - encompasses any discipline, industry, or career level as long as the focus is on re-entering the workforce after a period of unemployment.

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

  • Best LinkedIn Profile
 
TORIs are only open to CDI members. Each entry is $15 to cover administrative and worldwide shipping expenses. 

IMPORTANT DEADLINES:

The registration deadline to receive entry instructions is Wednesday, June 6, 2012.

The entry submission deadline is Friday, June 8, 2012 at 5:00 PM 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 fictionalizing, naming, saving, and 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 and winners will be announced via email prior to the 2012 Summit.

 
WORLD'S BEST RESUME WRITER COMPETITION (WBRW)

This competition will again be

held in either 2013 or 2015.

 

CLICK HERE TO VIEW WINNING RESUMES

Welcome to the first-ever World’s Best Resume Writer competition. This competition has all-new parameters:

  1. Open to any English-writing resume writer in the world, non-members included.

  2. Diverse judges panel consisting of HR managers, Sr. recruiters, OD specialists, and certified resume writers. (see list below).

  3. Unique standardized content on one subject where everyone creates a new resume based on content provided. Target client: sales & sales management professional.

  

 

 

“After winning CDI’s World’s Best Resume Writer Award my business has simply exploded. There's no other way to describe it."

  - Cliff Flamer,

     BrightSide Resumes

 

  
     

Each registrant can contribute only one (1) entry. The deadline for entry has been reached.

The Awards Committee Director will ensure all submissions appear anonymous to the panel so that fair and equitable judging can take place. The panel will select first, second, and third place winners. Winners were announced on March 1, 2009. Awards, certificates, and logos were sent to winners.

Learn more about the WBRW Competition - Listed to the Q&A Recording:


MP3 File

Distinguish yourself by being selected as a first, second, or third place winner of the World’s Best Resume Writer competition. No other opportunity of this scope has ever existed for professional resume writers. Attaining this accolade will truly allow you to benchmark to your prospects and clients that you are the best of the best worldwide.

 

Similar to our other award programs, you will:

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

  • Receive a copy of CDI's Resume Writing Guide, a 66-page instruction manual (a $39.95 value).

  • 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 WBRW award and appropriate website / print graphics for marketing, advertising, and promotion.

  • 1st place winner will receive a 1-year CDI membership ($180 value).

A second chance to be #1! CDI will host a public choice competition between the top three resumes through Facebook.com and CareerDirectors.com. The public will choose their 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners. A separate set of winner certificates and logos will be issues.

Again, the World’s Best Resume Writer competition is open to both members and non-members. Neither membership or certification as a resume writer are required. One entry fee per person at $39.95 US (includes a copy of the CDI Resume Writing Guide, a $39.95 value).

You can register at the CDI cart (www.careerdirectors.com/cart.asp). Just select the World’s Best Resume Writer competition category at the top of the page to get started. Be sure to accurately enter your contact information so that CDI can contact you with your candidate profile.

Once registered, you will receive the candidate profile in 24-48 business hours. You will use this profile from which to write your award-winning resume. Submission instructions will be included.

The entry deadline has passed!

Our judges are made up of Human Resource Manager, Organizational Development Specialists, Recruiters, Association Career Center Managers, and Certified Resume Writers:

Brian McComak, MSM, PHR - Director, Human Resources, L’Oreal

Amy Clem - Sr. Recruiter, Volkswagen

Barbara Safani, CMRW, CPRW, MA, BA, NCRW, CCM – Career Solvers / Fast Track Transition Career Research

Vera Morales - Regional HR Director, Sam's Club, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

Darlene Dassy, CMRW, CARW, BBA – Dynamic Resume Solutions

Joe Sabrin - EVP/Founder - eHire.com

Tina Kashlak, PHR, BA - Regional HR Manager, Pacific Sunwear of California

Laura Labovich, MLRHR, CFRW, CARW – A & E Consulting, LLC

Marta Hayes-Trice - Sr. Manager, Career Services – American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) Services, Inc.

Tony Deblauwe, CIJSE, MA, MCD, MHROD, CLC, CEC – HR4Change (and Citrix)

Robin Schlinger, CARW, CFRW, CECC, BSChE, CFRWC - Robin’s Resumes

Lynn M. Lorenz, SPHR, MBA, MA - HR Goddess, LLC

Delia Troy - VP, Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO) Operations - Beeline

Dave Guerra – CEO, Corpus Optima

Diane Long - Manager & Regional Practice Leader, Kelly Services, HR Consulting

Laura Drew - Carolina Career Coach, CIJSE

Judges are bound by confidentiality and have no knowledge of the authors whose resumes they are reviewing due to the blind evaluation process. Contacting of judges by a participant before, during, or after the competition will result in termination of participation from this and future CDI competitions.

All professional resume writers who write in English are eligible to enter the World’s Best Resume Writer competition. Membership in CDI is NOT required. Certification as a resume writer is not required.

Only one (1) submission will be accepted per registrant. Please make sure your first submission is the correct one.

Submissions must be received no later than 12:00 PM US Pacific Time (midnight) November 1, 2008. Any submissions received after this date will not be considered.

Winners will be announced March 1, 2009. Awards, logos, and certificates will be conferred via mail.

Winners are required to display award logos on their website homepage (when winners have a website) with an active link to the CDI website. Winners understand they forfeit their awards should this be removed.

Editing, tampering with or using a logo without permission will result in revocation of the award. Depending on the scope of the infraction, further actions may be taken by CDI including legal action and/or revocation of membership.

A one-time registration fee of $39.95 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 along with the candidate profile via email. Registrants will also receive the 66-page CDI Resume Writing Guide, a $39.95 value.

Once candidate profile is emailed (within 24-48 business hours), no refunds are available unless the entire World’s Best Resume Writer program is cancelled due to extenuating circumstances with CDI.

The Awards Committee Director will ensure all submissions appear anonymous to the panel so that fair and equitable judging can take place. The panel will select first, second, and third place winners from the entries received.

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.

No refunds will be made available for registrants not submitting their entries. Registrants each receive a copy of CDI’s Resume Writing Guide, a $39.95 value.

Once you are registered, you will receive via email:

  1. Client profile in MS Word (.doc) for a job seeker who is a specialist in sales and sales management. The content will include both relevant and irrelevant client data, similar to what you might have seen in a resume writing certification process. (See 'About the Resume Project' below for more information on the project).

  2. Submission guidelines on how to name and save the resume file along with instructions for using the online system.

  3. Code number for naming your resume (to ensure we can match your submission to your registration).

While the CDI Awards Committee wanted to create a competition that was challenging, they also wanted it to be fair, representing a job seeker and job target that would be familiar to virtually all candidates. With that in mind, the category of revenue-producing retail sales manager was selected (or retail sales manager with individual sales responsibility).

The Notes file, which you will receive after registering, includes 5.5 pages (8.5 x 11") of structured and detailed information on:

  • Job objective.
  • Areas of expertise.
  • Talents and strengths.
  • Employment history including sections on: products/services, challenges, and responsibilities coupled with results produced.
  • Education.
  • Volunteer work.
  • Hobbies.
VIEW A SAMPLE OF THE NOTE FILE YOU WILL RECEIVE (sample is a PDF). This is a sample only; not the complete resume note file for entry into the competition.

To open a PDF, you need a free copy of Adobe Reader.

 
President's Choice Award for Career Excellence

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.

Winners:

  • 2003: Anne Kramer, Alpha Bits
  • 2004: John Donovan, CRS Resume Service
  • 2005: Freddie Cheek, Cheek & Associates, LLC
  • 2006: Don Skipper, Career Beginnings, Inc.
  • 2007: Barbara Safani, Career Solvers
  • 2008: Susan Guarneri, Assessment Goddess; Camille Roberts, CC Career Service; Nona Pratz, Types Write; Laura Labovich, A & E Consulting, LLC
  • 2009: Laura Drew, Carolina Career Coach; Robin Schlinger, Robin's Resumes
  • 2010: Susan P. Joyce, Job-Hunt.org; Gayle Howard, Top Margin Career Marketing
  • 2011: Susan P. Joyce, Job-Hunt.org; Pat Schuler, The Gemini Resources Group
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
     
Career Directors International Lifetime Achievement Award

CDI offers a distinguishing Lifetime Achievement Award recognition to any career or resume professional who attains excellence through industry longevity, contribution, and lifelong learning.

Required criteria:

  • Industry Longevity: Member of the professional resume writing or career services community for a minimum of ten (10) years and a member of CDI for a minimum of three (3) years.

  • Certification: Earn and maintain the Certified Master Resume Writer (CMRW) and/or Master Career Director (MCD) credential.

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

  • 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 Career Directors International 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.

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. 

  

Former recognized logos:

 

Recipients of the new Career Directors International Lifetime Achievement Award, created in 2011 to replace the LAAMRW and LAAMCD:

  • Darlene Dassy - Dynamic Résumé Solutions - 2011

  • Patricia Duckers - CareerPro Global, Inc. - 2011

Recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award as the Master Resume Writer Lifetime Achievement Award:

  • 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

Recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award as the Master Career Professional Lifetime Achievement Award:

  • 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
Career Innovator Awards

A competition to demonstrate and be recognized for your career industry 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.

View 2011 Career Innovator Award Nominees and Winners

View 2010 Career Innovator Award Winners and Nominees

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 up to five of the most innovative and effective of the entries for recognition.

 

 

  

 

TESTIMONIALS:

"Receiving Career Innovator Awards (in 2009 and 2010) has helped me to feel more empowered as a career management industry leader and to sell to my prospects as such." 

   - Evelyn Salvador, Creative Image Builders.com
 

*   *   *

 

"What an honor to be a recipient of CDI's Career Innovator Award. My co-winners Deb Dib and Chandlee Bryan have proudly displayed the award online and off as a symbol of our commitment to advancing the wonderful field of career management!


- Susan Whitcomb, author,

speaker, trainer -

TheAcademies.com

    

Demonstrate your innovation as a career professional by being selected as one of the most innovation implementations.

 

This 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?

 

ALL-NEW GUIDELINES FOR APPROPRIATE ENTRIES

There are no award categories or segmentation to avoid limiting the areas in which people are innovating and creating.

Evaluate the suitability of your program, service, tool, or site using the four following questions:

  1. Do you have the right to the innovation? Is it solely your innovation or are you willing to recognize everyone who has contributed to your innovation? Can you attain signatures from contributors agreeing to the submission for the innovation? This is required for entry.

  2. Is your innovation unique or a variation of something that already exists? Either is acceptable if you can demonstrate how your entry is different and innovative. 

  3. Are you willing to make your full innovation available for evaluation by seven judges? (Judges have signed agreements to limit their use to the innovation to this evaluation only). Unwillingness to allow full access such as login to an online system or a copy of a book for up to seven judges makes it impossible to consider.

  4. Do you have evidence that your innovation has had a positive impact on the industry? You will need to provide at least three testimonials from end users.

If your innovation is an idea and has not been completely brought to market with testimonials, it is not suitable for entry.

  1. Select the innovations you wish to enter (you can enter as many as you want as separate entries, simply make sure that each is unique from the others).

  2. Register online for the number of entries you plan to submit at www.careerdirectors.com/cart.asp. Each entry is $49.95.

  3. Follow the instructions you will be emailed for submitting each innovation which includes completion of a questionnaire about the innovation. (View the Questionnaire).

  4. If you have previously entered an entry two times in the past, unless there has been substantial redevelopment, you may want to reconsider entering it a third time.

  5. Submit the innovation no later than 5:00 PM Pacific on Friday, June 29, 2012.

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. Make sure each entry is unique.

Entries which have previously received an award are not eligible for reentry.

All entries must meet the guidelines listed above. Failure to do so will result in disqualification. No refunds will be made.

Instruction Questionnaires that are supplied upon registration must be filled out in their entirety.

Entries must be self-contained and complete. The judges will not be available for tours or other demonstrations. Full access to the product, tool, or materials must be available for seven judges. Supplemental marketing material or demo videos may be included. Nothing will be returned.

Submissions must be received no later than 5:00 PM Pacific Time, Friday, June 29, 2012. For mailed innovations, send seven copies of your innovation. NOTE FOR SHIPPING: Choose a method that guarantees delivery to CDI no later than June 29, 2012.

Winners will be announced via email prior to the 2012 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 5:00 PM, Friday, June 29, 2012.
 
     
 
     

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