|
Jennifer
Rolles of IntRvue, Inc.:
www.intrvue.com
- a powerful platform for capturing, developing and presenting
professional stories online.
Where information can be found:
Our tool can be found
at
http://www.intrvue.com/html/home.php
·
There are
three sections at the bottom of the main page labeled “Engage”,
“Customize”, and “Communicate” If you click the more button on each
section, you will open a storyboard which contains a short video on the
first page as well as a few additional pages giving more detail and some
screen shots of the inside of the tool.
1. What is your innovation? Please
describe what it is, its purpose, etc.
IntRvue is a career management tool for creating custom
websites that integrate the in-depth stories of people’s achievements
with their resume and portfolio. IntRvue helps people build a unique and
credible on-line presence that gets them noticed.
We have a process that guides people through the steps of
creating compelling stories, and tools to turn those stories into
dynamic, interactive multi-media storyboards they can include in their
websites.
Our content management system allows users to store their
resume information in a way that makes it easy to manage multiple
versions of their resume and to quickly and easily customize both their
resume and websites for specific opportunities.
IntRvue’s tool produces uniquely interactive websites that
let viewers explore a person’s information, digging deeper into the
areas that are relevant and interesting to them. Exploring an intRvue
site is an interaction – a bit like a conversation, which makes it more
enjoyable and more memorable for the viewer.
Research shows that people remember stories more than other
forms of communication. IntRvue wants to position individuals for the
success they deserve by providing them with state-of-the-art technology
to capture, develop, and communicate their professional stories in a
dynamic and interactive way
2. Why do you consider your innovation
to be innovative?
There are two things
that set intRvue apart from all of our competitors. The first is the
level of interactivity and depth that intRvue sites provide. IntRvue
sites include interactive keywords which allow viewers to click on a
specific word and pull up only the bullets that relate to that word -
essentially a functional view of a person's experience.
IntRvue’s
interactive storyboards present a user’s stories in a way that no other
site offers. Storyboards can have multiple pages of text, images and
video. They can be displayed in multiple ways: in a portfolio, on
sidebars, and they can be connected directly to resume bullets so that
an interested viewer can dig deeper into that specific accomplishment by
clicking the more button behind the bullet.
The value of these
features is that they make the user more credible - by providing the
details of a specific accomplishment readers can see that the bullet is
not just 'fluff'. Likewise, interactive keywords back up a person's
claimed 'core competencies' with specific examples from their
experience.
The other thing that
sets intRvue apart from all others is the robust content management
system built in to our tool. Our content management system allows users
to enter their information one time and then generate infinite numbers
of custom resumes and websites. They can store multiple versions of
resume bullets, summaries, and keyword tables to make customization
quick and easy. Our maintenance tools make it simple to manage the
differences between resumes and if they find a typo, they can use one
click to correct it across all of their resumes.
IntRvue's WebBuilder
tool makes creating completely customized websites simple and very
quick. Users select which pages to include, which resume they want to
use, customize their preferences, add stories by dragging and dropping,
and can even add a custom personal message to each site they create.
An additional
differentiator for our product is the fact that we have no advertising
on our user's websites. Even our logo appears only on the bottom of the
page. We keep the focus on the individual so that their unique value can
shine through.
3. 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.
There are some
existing products that at first glance look similar to intRvue; the most
well known of these is VisualCV (www.visualCV.com). Another is GigTide (www.gigtide.com).
Both these products allow a user to create online resumes and to add
images and video to them. There are also some ‘online portfolio’ tools
available to universities that allow users to have an online profile and
attach files such as Word docs and PDF’s to it. However, intRvue not
only has a far richer and more interactive output than any of these
options, our powerful content management system sets us apart and makes
intRvue completely unique.
Unlike other sites,
where each resume needs to be created individually, IntRvue allows users
to create a library of elements (resume bullets, versions of bullets,
summaries, keywords and keyword tables, etc) from which they can select
to create completely customized resumes in minutes. Resume bullets and
resume sections can be easily re-arranged with drag and drop. Resume
bullets can be linked to keywords to provide interactivity and a
functional view of experience on the website output.
We have created
space for users to capture their stories and experiences (and images and
video) over time in a private journal so they will not lose the details
that will give their stories and resume bullets credibility. We provide
the ability to turn journal entries into published blog posts at the
push of a button.
Our storyboarding
tool is a user-friendly system that creates dynamic, interactive,
multi-page, multi-media storyboards where users can fully develop and
present the stories of their accomplishments. Each page can include any
combination of images, video and text, and pages can be easily
re-arranged by dragging and dropping. Users end up with a library of
multimedia stories. These stories can be linked directly to resume
bullets to provide an expanded view of the experience via a 'more'
button. They can be displayed in an online portfolio and on the
sidebars of the online resume and blog.
Once all the
elements have been created, our WebBuilder allows users to quickly and
easily create multiple custom websites in minutes. They select a
template, choose which pages to include in their site (choices include a
Dashboard page, interactive Resume, Portfolio, Blog, and Contact page),
choose which version of their resume to include and which page they want
the viewer to land on. Next, they select display preferences, choose
their profile photo, and can upload a custom background image. From
their library of stories, they choose which storyboards to include on
their sidebar and which to include in their portfolio. A personal
message can be added to each site in the form of text and/or video.
Each website created
has its own unique URL which can be emailed directly to a specific
contact or opportunity. We recommend users create one general site to
link to their LinkedIn profile and other social media sites. Users can
also add one site to intRvue's public directory which can be seen by
search engines. The remainder of their sites remain private to everyone
except those who have the specific URL.
4. What influence or benefit does your
innovation have on the careers industry? Who does it help and how
(career professionals, job seekers, etc.)?
Career professionals have a new and powerful tool to help
their clients create beautiful and dynamic websites without needing to
know any programming. IntRvue makes it simple and quick to create an
impressive web presence for their clients and to help them customize
multiple resumes. It provides the space to tell more of a person’s story
and to highlight their transferrable skills.
Career professionals can help their clients develop
compelling stories to include in their intRvue sites. Job seekers have
the ability to manage their information over time and to quickly
customize for new opportunities. They have a way to share the depth of
their experience with their networks in a way that is professional and
impressive and that eliminates the awkwardness associated with
distributing their resume to their network and the worry about taking up
too much of people’s time or talking too much about themselves.
Our users have told us that going through the process of
creating their stories has boosted their confidence, reminded them of
their unique value, and has made them feel much more prepared to
articulate that value by sharing their stories in-person in an interview
or networking situation.
Career professionals who have used our tool have appreciated
its user friendly design and thoughtful features. They appreciated the
built in templates such as the situation/action/results template in the
bullet edit form, where they can have their clients input the basic
information which they can then turn into well-written bullets.
There are two pieces of advice that seem to be standard in
the careers industry:
1.
Customize
your message for your audience, and
2. Tell your story.
Before intRvue, there was never an easy way to do either of
those things. intRvue makes it simple to customize both resumes and
websites, and allows people to tell their story in a compelling and
engaging way. We help people truly demonstrate their value and stand out
in a crowded marketplace.
Mary Elizabeth Bradford of
Career Artisan:
The Job Search Success System -
www.job-searchsystem.com
Where information can be found:
www.job-searchsystem.com
Landing page with free webinar:
http://www.job-searchsystem.com/freewebinar.html
1. What is your innovation? Please
describe what it is, its purpose, etc.
The Job Search Success System provides job seekers a home
study course they can access (instantly) electronically, and learn how
to set up a turnkey job search to tap the hidden job market.
The Job-searchsystem.com teaches, at its core – how to tap
into the hidden job market. However it also acts as a “job search in a
box”, providing total job search support with every hurdle a job seeker
could possibly encounter during job search – from getting focused to
negotiating the best offer – and everything in between.
The system is delivered electronically thought a series of
60-minute coaching calls (organized by topic), and includes companion
worksheets, templates and phone scripts. Access is granted via a
password-protected, members- only website page.
Coaching calls are very tactical and break down exactly what
steps to take for each task and troubleshooting – alleviating guesswork.
Jobseekers take what they need when they need it, and can download and
save the rest of the information to their business library for future
reference.
Below are a list of main modules. Some modules contain 3 or 4
coaching calls and multiple worksheets and attachments depending on how
detailed the topic is.
·
Module One:
How to Create Your Career Plan and Get Focused on Your Branding, Your
Goals, and Your Job Search Strategy
·
Module Two:
Internet Job Search Techniques
·
Module Three:
Secrets to Tapping into the Hidden Job Market
·
Module Four:
How to Ace Your Interviews
·
Module Five:
Secrets to Negotiating Bigger and Better Salaries
·
Module Six:
How to Network without Asking for a Job
·
Module Seven:
How to Find and Work with Recruiters
·
Module Eight:
The Amazing Benefits of Associations
·
Module Nine:
Putting it all Together—How to Create a Turnkey Job Search
·
Module Ten:
Six- and Seven-Figure Executive Strategies and Resources
·
Module Eleven:
Resume and Cover Letter Tips (and templates)
·
Module Twelve:
Social Networking and Using LinkedIn
·
Module Thirteen:
Everything You Need to Know to Successfully Change Industries and
Careers
·
Module Fourteen:
How to Collect and Use References
·
Module Fifteen:
Troubleshooting—Overcoming Job Search Challenges
·
Module Sixteen:
Time Saving Tips—Get More Done in Less Time
·
Module Seventeen:
What to Say When . . . Communication Techniques and Phone Scripts for
Following Up
·
Module Eighteen:
How to Keep the Green Flowing—Land Project Work, Consulting Gigs, and
Develop Additional Streams of Income During Your Job Search)
2. Why do you consider your innovation
to be innovative?
Product Content and
Pricing:
As a past executive
recruiter and high level job search coach who has taken over 600
executives through their entire job search, I posses an intimate
knowledge of “what works and what doesn’t” as well as a deep
comprehension of a wide range of job search topics and a solid
understanding of what it takes to motivate people to take action in
their job search. The Job Search Success System delivers on all these
points. I can’t say I have seen anything quite like it for the price in
the market.
Because of the
electronically delivery membership model – I am able to keep the
investment low (at $97 without coaching and $429 with support coaching)
– which makes the system not only effective but an unprecedented value
for the job seeker.
Hidden Job Market:
It’s difficult to
find deep-level tactical information on the hidden job market. Studies
show an average of 300,000 6-figure jobs are filled each month in the US
and 85% of those are not advertised…or, are filled before they are
advertised. Tapping into this huge pool of jobs by going direct (using a
variety of different methods depending on the job seeker’s personal
goals) generally results in diminished competition, increased interest,
bigger salaries, more quality interviews, a better targeted job search
and an overall shorter interview process.
Job seekers that
learn how to tap the hidden job market find it’s a great confidence
builder – they are taking initiative – essentially putting themselves
back in a place of leadership and control versus the forced “passive
receiver” role of submitting to job boards and recruiters which can
result in so much negative feedback that the job seeker can quickly lose
confidence… causing unnecessary frustration and sometimes leaving them
open to be victimized by unscrupulous outfits which prey on jobseekers
in this position.
Innovative
Technology:
The medium of
internet marketing combined with delivering this product electronically
is functional, is “green”, allows me full leverage to help job seekers
all over the globe. My prediction is that we are only a couple years
away from witnessing an explosion of this type of product delivery in
the career services market.
Another innovative
aspect to this product is the fact that it has a very personal touch and
feel that I believe job seekers want. I believe the trends show that
this is the way information, business and technology will continue to
unfold.
Affiliate Program:
Officially set up in
2010 through 1shoppingcart (a robust shoppingcart, list manager and
affiliate management system) I have offered affiliate partnership with
generous commission. I have had significant success forming joint
ventures with other internet based career professionals who have a list
of subscribers in excess of 10,000.
Proven System and
Results:
For 3 years I have offered the “JSS” to
hundreds of job seekers with great results. Below are just a few
examples of the testimonials I receive on a weekly basis. Notice they
come from CEO’s, recent grads and everyone in between. The JSS is backed
by a full money back guarantee and my refund rate has remained less
than 1%.
"By applying Mary
Elizabeth's coaching strategies, I found a job in the hidden job market
in under 30 days and the company called ME! What's more, through using
Mary Elizabeth's interview and negotiation techniques, I secured an
agreement with my new employer to share in 30% of the net profits of
both new and existing clients. I never dreamed an opportunity like this
would have come along in this market. I refer everyone I know that is
currently in a job search to Mary Elizabeth, The Career Artisan . . .
she can help you meet and even exceed your career goals. Thank you!!"
—A.M., Construction Executive, Pennsylvania
"After using your
system I received three interviews in a single week in the hidden job
market! I was offered an ideal position with a 10% compensation increase
over my previous job. On top of that, I used your “monthly email day” to
ask you about negotiation techniques and, with the coaching and feedback
you gave me, I was able to negotiate a $23,000 signing bonus and full
relocation package into the offer I received! It is a great job
opportunity that is in line with my objectives, and one that I never
went out to the job boards to try to find. I also have a new set of
tools to help my personal networking and business marketing activities
moving forward. Thanks again, Mary Elizabeth, for your efforts in
developing a well-thought-out, easy-to-follow program . . . it works!"
—B.G.,
Operations Executive, Florida
"Though I have only
been a member of your coaching group for a few weeks, I am already
seeing amazing benefits from your services. The instruction is easy to
apply and makes my job search turnkey, just like you promised. I have
already recommended your services to three other people. You give a ton
of value for a very modest investment. I like your comprehensive,
no-nonsense approach."
—R.R., Senior Engineer, Silicon Valley, CA
"It's easy to tell
Mary Elizabeth loves to help people find their dream career. I love her
sincerity and honesty, and her ability to provide such in-depth and
profound information and contacts. If you are a job seeker and you want
to find the exceptional opportunities today—then you have to have the
best mentors, research, and strategies. That is what I see in Mary
Elizabeth—the best mentor for finding the best career opportunities.
Thank you and thank God for you!"
—G.C.,
Marketing Professional, Chicago, IL
“Life presents hidden blessings with a job change. Nobody really wants
to go through it, but a job search and change can yield wonderful
results and life changing benefits. One of the best ways to go through
this change is with Mary Elizabeth. I was displaced out of my dream job
and had to not only find a new job, but change careers within my
industry. Mary Elizabeth helped me find hidden qualities to search for a
new dream job and transfer skills from my previous experience to make me
competitive for a position I had never done before!
In the end, her networking ideas and excellent career transition
experience got me connected and I found a new job. Mary Elizabeth stayed
by my side throughout the whole process. When I found a new job, she
helped me to negotiate the best package. I am now getting a paid move to
a new state where I wanted to live, in a new job I have never done
before, making more money than I did in my old job!
Rough economy,
complete e job change, new state, more money,
networking! My success is Mary Elizabeth's goal and program. I
enthusiastically recommend Mary Elizabeth to anyone who needs even the
most challenging help! She's different than the corporate programs
because she makes your case personal. Your business becomes her
business!"
-R.K. -
Aerospace Industry – California
“The Job Search Success
system has transformed my approach to seeking consulting work and a full
time position. The homework that Mary Elizabeth had me perform enabled
me to distill my elevator pitch to its most powerful essence. The
process she lays out for the job search is a straightforward marketing
campaign, yet is sufficiently comprehensive to be tailored to my
specific needs. Her coaching advice on interviewing and negotiating is,
even for a veteran of sales like me, insightful beyond what I expected.
I am confident that relying on her experience and wisdom will be
rewarding.”
-Jay Liebowitz, COO, -
Colorado
"
Your job search coaching audios have VERY GOOD info I had never thought
of! Your insight keeps me motivated. I wish I had heard about you 3
months earlier, I would have saved a lot of money and probably be
working by now."
- Jeremy C.,
Construction Executive, North Carolina
“I graduated from school with
my master’s degree in February and have been searching for the right
industry to go into. I have tried many programs and yours has been the
most successful. I have actually been able to meet with people at
different companies for informational interviews, something the other
programs did not coach me adequately on. Thank you!”
- D.E., Recent Graduate, VA
“After retaining Mary Elizabeth to design my resume and
provide me with job search coaching, I secured a position with one of
the top companies in the world and increased my salary by $40,000! My
previous commission-driven salary took a hit in 2009 and I was really
afraid that was going to result in a (long term) step backwards. Thanks
to Mary Elizabeth I had the savvy, the strategies, the resources and the
marketing material to reach my goals. Thank you!”
- M.B.
Executive Recruiter - Portland, OR
“I saw Johnny today and
I told him I was working with you and I want to tell you what he said:
"The money I spent on JSS was the best money I have ever spent for
improving my self confidence. From working with Mary Elizabeth, I have
transformed the entire way I think about myself. I have never believed
in myself more."
- Mike Smith, CIO, CO
“Thanks for
your help. I think I've covered more major ground in the last two weeks
working with you than in the past few months. My resume is almost done.
I have new, updated testimonials with a few more on the way, I have
several alerts set up (I still have to tweak them), I started a list of
companies I want to send my resume to (only 20 on the list but I'm still
searching), I figured out how to get more done and stay focused (work
from starbucks or the library, not home), and I am on track to take
action. Good stuff. Accountability works!”
- Luke S.,
Graphic Artist, Manhattan, NY
“Mary Elizabeth has
created some of the most supportive and informative job search materials
I have run across in the last 25 + years in HR! Lots of professionals
have great materials but fail to make the "human" connection with their
client....but not Mary Elizabeth. She strives to get to know YOU and
your experience and talents so she can create the perfect resume
highlighting your best skills. Thanks, Mary Elizabeth!”
- Mary Jean George, HR Director, TX
“I spend a few of hours
preparing for my second interview which is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
tomorrow afternoon. I listened and took lots of notes on Module #4
Interviews: How to ace your interviews. You provided such incredible
advice on how to handle potential questions: weakness, compensation,
closing questions just to name a few topics. I'm walking through the
other documents from Module #4 to hone in my answers a bit more. I'll
let you know how my interview goes tomorrow. Thank you for being my
coach!”
- Harriet Olmer, COO, San Antonio, TX
“You are a terrific coach! I have listened to your audio
modules several times and often find the answers to my questions. It's
like you are reading my mind. Your call yesterday on web presence was
excellent as usual.”
- Sue Cook, Houston, TX
“I've been listening to your audios, and I'm pretty
blown away by all great information I'm picking up. In fact, I am
getting so much value for the $, I almost feel like I am 'ripping you
off.' I am telling everyone I know about you and your Job Search System.
Thank you!”
- Brian
R., Senior Software Engineer, IL
“I had a
really great phone interview today that came from a growth letter! The
thing that was most interesting about this was they actually
emailed me before I was
able to call them and follow up, and I had an interview within days.
Thanks for the advice and information!”
-
Marcus Manning,
Senior Engineer, UT
"I attended Mary
Elizabeth's webinar on March 1 and chose the Job Search Success System
without coaching. I really like the worksheets supplied and the audio
presentations. Mary Elizabeth makes job search planning and preparation
painless, and her conversational coaching style is very pleasant and
presents how straightforward the system actually is."
- Susan P. Ohio
“I was contacted by the xxxxx
(57th on the PII top 400) after sending a value proposition letter to
the CEO. The CEO passed it to the president who I talked to for 1/2 hr
and then had two subsequent calls with the VP of Operations over the
past two days. Thank you!”
- Matt Henderson,
Aviation Dir., Orlando, FL
“Your content is amazing. I
have been searching for a good career coach for a year and I have been a
little cautious. Your style is so authentic, and trustworthy."
- Noula Bryant, Manager,
Boerne, TX
Endorsements by Colleagues:
“Through my
work and through my participation in industry associations I come in to
contact with hundreds of job search and career coaches. I am always
very, very careful about who I refer my clients to. For the past two
years, Mary Elizabeth has received ALL of my referrals when I have
clients that would benefit from executive job search coaching. I
personally think she is amazing, and my clients agree. I've heard
nothing but positive feedback! I give Mary Elizabeth my highest
recommendation."
- Michelle Dumas, CPRW, NCRW, CCM, CEIP, JCTC, CPBS
President of
Distinctive Documents and 100K Marketing,
recognized resume writing expert, advisory board member and
industry leader featured in more than ten top-selling books
“I am just blown
away and amazed by the detail and extraordinary value of Mary
Elizabeth’s Job Search Success System. I am 100% confident that the
combination my marketing collateral and Mary Elizabeth’s Job Search
Success System gives my top clients (that I refer to her program) the
most powerful and effective market leverage possible.”
- Michelle Dumas, CPRW,
NCRW, CCM, CEIP, JCTC, CPBS
"Searching for a new job? Do yourself a favor: stop spending your time
surfing the job boards, and invest your time participating in Mary
Elizabeth Bradford's coaching group. I've interviewed hundreds of career
coaches. Mary Elizabeth is the real deal. If you've been going it alone,
you know this is a brutal, hyper-competitive job market. Here is a
golden opportunity to learn from someone with the right skill-set and
knowledge. Mary Elizabeth will help you take weeks (maybe even months)
off of your job search campaign."
-
Peter Clayton, Total
Picture Radio
"Mary Elizabeth
Bradford’s Job Search Success System is packed with insider secrets,
useful resources, handy templates, and cutting-edge strategies for job
seekers at all levels. It’s a step-by-step blueprint to identifying
ideal opportunities, developing powerful job-search strategies, and
penetrating the hidden job market. If you are serious about doing what
it takes to reach your career goals, then Mary Elizabeth’s coaching,
guidance, and comprehensive system will get you there. Highly
recommended!
-
Robert Mandelberg, CPRW,
CEIP
Creative Edge Resume & Writing Service, LLC
Certified Professional Resume Writer and Certified Employment Interview
Professional
3. 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.
I haven’t personally seen anything like the Job-searchsystem.com,
which is build around tapping the hidden job market but provides total
job search support – both with and without coaching.
4. What influence or benefit does your
innovation have on the careers industry? Who does it help and how
(career professionals, job seekers, etc.)?
This system has the ability to help both job seekers worldwide and
career professions who wish to leverage themselves to a wider audience,
integrate internet and web based marketing into their business model,
easily capture a passive stream of income and feel good about providing
their clients with fresh, tactical information that will help them
tremendously in their job search if they apply it.
Camille Roberts of CC Career
Services:
Free e-book: Create an Effective Federal
Résumé with the USAJOBS.gov Online Resume Builder (http://www.job-hunt.org/guides/Job-Hunt-USAJOBS-resume.pdf)
Where information can be found:
URLs where innovation can be found:
http://www.job-hunt.org/guides/Job-Hunt-USAJOBS-resume.pdf
http://www.cccareerservices.com (scroll down and follow left column
under links)
1. What is your innovation? Please
describe what it is, its purpose, etc.
It
is a FREE step-by-step eBook for federal job seekers called: Create
an Effective Federal Résumé with the USAJOBS.gov Online Resume Builder.
Its purpose is to guide federal job seekers through the resume-building
process to apply for a federal position on
www.USAJobs.gov using screen captures and precise instructions—if
carefully followed, will help the federal job seeker shorten their job
search and maximize results.
2. Why do you consider your innovation
to be innovative?
It
is a step-by-step guide that helps to decipher the government language
and explains each step in the process. The job seeker or career
professional can either print the guide, or view it on a second monitor
(if they have one) as they step through the process of using the Resume
Builder on
www.usajobs.gov.
It
utilizes user-friendly terminology complete with screen captures,
instructions, and job-winning tips. It is a FREE eBook for
do-it-yourself federal job seekers. It is also extremely useful for
those who have had their marketing materials (federal resume,
narratives) prepared by a professional to guide them through the
builder-by-step guide in completing their online application in
www.usajobs.gov.
Job seekers have commented on how it has motivated them to continue with
the process and gave them confidence to apply to federal positions using
this guide. One job seeker said it provided the missing pieces of the
puzzle as to why he was not being selected to be referred to the hiring
official. He said he would be happy to pay for the eBook because it
helped him land his federal job. Instead he has become an evangelist for
me and the eBook and I have received too-many-to-count referrals from
him!
3. 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.
The eBook is unique in a few ways: it contains the most updated
information on the Resume Builder on
www.usajobs.gov; it guides the job seeker or career professional
through each step of the Resume Builder by showing screen captures; it
includes crucial tips and secrets to an effective federal resume offered
by a Certified Federal Resume Writer/Coach with 23 years of expertise
and a consistent record of success in helping people get jobs in Federal
Government.
4. What influence or benefit does your
innovation have on the careers industry? Who does it help and how
(career professionals, job seekers, etc.)?
One of the most valuable benefits to job seekers and career
professionals is that the eBook is FREE, especially in this economy with
such high unemployment. Even though it is free, it contains valuable
information that helps the job seeker and career professional. It is
very popular and is found on one of the Web’s most trusted sources of
FREE award-winning employment portals—www.job-hunt.org—which
links to 18,375+ employers and job search resources!
The eBook benefits career professionals and job seekers alike. There are
professional resume writers, including my competitors, who have called
me or and emailed me with extremely positive comments on how it has
helped them understand the intimidating process. They have also asked my
permission to provide it to their federal clients. Other career
professionals have asked if they can send it to their clients who are
considering a federal job search. Professionals from career services
within universities and colleges have asked if they can provide it to
their students. Personnel in federal agencies, including the Veterans
Health Administration and military career centers, are providing it to
transitioning military and veterans.
I
have received numerous emails and comments from job seekers who have
hired me to help them after they have read the eBook because they were
impressed at the level of detail and chose to seek professional guidance
based on this eBook. I also get continuous praise from my clients who
receive the eBook as part of my federal packages and that it is one of
reasons they were confident with “the process” that made their
application effective!
However, even more rewarding, are the do-it-yourself job seekers
who cannot afford professional fees that tell me the eBook has helped
them more than any other book or resource. They thank me for writing the
eBook and making it a free resource and easy to follow. One person said
it was like having someone sitting next to him guiding him along. Some
even say they have bought numerous other books, yet the most critical
information is missing. Here is one example of an email: (screen capture
of email; CDI is unable to display here).
Here is another fact about how it is influential in our industry and
with job seekers:
According to Job-Hunt.org, this free eBook has been downloaded
116,392 times from April 2010 to April 2011. Based on current
monthly statistics, it is projected and on track to reach at least
375,140 downloads by December 31, 2011!
It
is the most popular eBook on
www.job-hunt.org with record-breaking downloads. More important, it
is helping career professionals and job seekers through the daunting
federal hiring process with success!
Barbara Adams of CareerPro
Global Inc.:
Introduction of the International
Organization for Standardization (ISO) to the Resume Writing/Career
Services industry and bringing quality assurance and accountability
to the forefront of the careers industry. (www.careerproplus.com)
Where information can be found:
www.dnvcert.com
– copy of registration attached.
1. What is your innovation? Please
describe what it is, its purpose, etc.
Barbara Adams,
President of CareerPro Global, Inc.’s innovation is the introduction of
the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) to the Resume
Writing/Career Services industry and bringing quality assurance and
accountability to the forefront of the careers industry.
ISO is the world’s largest standards developing organization, and since
1947 has published more than 18,500 International Standards, ranging
from standards for agriculture and construction to mechanical
engineering, medical devices, and the newest information technology
developments. The ISO International Quality Standard is known as the ISO
9000 series.
ISO certification represents a set of accepted standards for quality
management, used to define the basics of how to establish, document,
implement, measure, and improve a Quality Management Model. This
standard provides a framework and systematic approach to managing
business processes to produce a product/service that conforms to, and
exceeds, customer expectations.
The ISO Technical Committee (TC) 176, Quality Management and Quality
Assurance, was established in 1979. The first standard was issued by
ISO/TC 176 in 1986, which standardized quality management terminology.
It was followed in 1987 by ISO 9001, ISO 9002, and ISO 9003, which
provided the requirements for quality management systems operated by
organizations with varying scopes of activity. These standards were
completed by ISO 9004, providing guidance on quality management systems
development. This marked the beginning of a long journey, with the ISO
9000 family of standards set to become the most widely known standards
ever.
Registration: Resume Writing, Career Coaching and Training
2. Why do you consider your innovation
to be innovative?
CareerPro Global, Inc. (CPG) is the first resume and career services
organization in the careers industry to achieve this widely acknowledged
standard of business performance. The career services field, while
offering valuable services to job seekers and career achievers, has an
assortment of privately sponsored writer and coaching certifications,
but nothing that is universally accepted or that provides a consistent
performance standard industry-wide. By meeting rigorous ISO 9001:8
standards, CPG has achieved accountability in an industry that to date
has been unregulated by any formal, accepted quality management system
measurement. Quality, customer service, and a standardized, repeatable
process have been proven to be the ingredients to successfully assist
civilian, military, and federal clients more easily obtain employment.
This is the goal of all career services providers. CPG has pioneered the
process and has forged a path through a complex myriad of unknowns to
document what works for its clients and identify and correct what does
not work to increase applicant success.
In
2004, CPG launched one of the newest and most robust system
architectures in the industry, integrating and customizing portfolios of
collaborative and communication services designed to connect people,
information, processes, and systems both within and beyond CPG’s
firewall. It is a secure, scalable enterprise server that acts as a
collaboration platform, allowing interface with information and
applications within our organization. We continue to upgrade and expand
our systems to allow for corporate growth and technological innovation.
Within this “virtual office,” CPG currently contracts with 25 writers
located throughout the nation who are supported by an administrative
team of eight members, three company copy editors/proofreaders, graphic
designers, and webmasters. We are the first resume company to support
its writers with staff proofreaders and copy editors to add another
dimension of quality assurance to delivered products. CPG also houses
its own onsite computer room/center and IT Director of Technical
Support.
The pursuit of ISO 9001:8 registration followed shortly thereafter, and
CPG’s subsequent registration in July 2010 is a first in the careers
industry. Many organizations in various industries require an
organization to be ISO registered before awarding contracts for products
and services. No such requirement exists in our industry, as we provide
services primarily to individuals. However, CareerPro chose to implement
and sustain the demanding requirement of ISO in recognition of the
importance of standard measurable processes and the customer
satisfaction approach dictated by ISO.
In
the course of CPG’s first and decisive audit, the ISO auditor expressed
his surprise at the level of sophistication of CPG’s systems for an
organization of its size. He was thoroughly impressed by the interaction
between CPG’s corrective action function, the process for internal
audit, and the customer survey system. The following items were included
in the final report:
1) Personnel Competency: “It was noted during the audit process that
each employee’s biography is provided on the organization's Internet
site, thus providing the customer confidence that individuals have the
required competence to provide acceptable service.”
2) Customer Satisfaction: “It was noted that the process for seeking
information regarding customer satisfaction involves not just a
selection of customers for a given period, but rather the entire
customer base for the period.”
One resulting impact of CPG’s ISO registration is the development and
organization of an infrastructure comprised of a team of professionals
dedicated to ensuring continuous improvement and sustained customer
satisfaction. The combination of more than two decades of resume writing
experience, a defined set of ISO procedures and measurements, and the
most advanced technology in the industry empowers CPG writers to produce
job-winning resume presentations. This is reflected in our documented
ISO metrics: 48% of new clients were referred by satisfied customers,
contributing to a 99.6% customer satisfaction rate. This high rate of
satisfaction is directly attributable to our commitment to sustaining
ISO compliance, which results in providing clients with personalized and
cutting-edge career services, and ultimately, the achievement of maximum
results in a highly competitive employment environment.
3. 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.
ISO 9001:8 is an internationally recognized standard, used by almost
every industry. Our registration is unique to the careers industry. No
other organization in our industry has developed such a comprehensive
process for all areas of business, including planning, recording, and
measuring quality processes for HR, Customer Service, Writer Quality,
Sales, Database Administration and Warehousing, Writer Training, Career
Coach Training, Customer Feedback and Satisfaction, Internal Audits, and
Corrective and Preventive Action. Each of the aforementioned areas of
business are continuously monitored and measured.
Many organizations are regulated by oversight and industry quality
standards imposed by the government and other organizations with which
they associate or offer products and services. CPG’s achievement of
ISO-9001:8 is unique in that the careers industry is under no such
oversight or regulation. With the exception of a very few states in the
U.S. that require licensure, there are no degree programs, official
licensure, or government oversight of the practitioners of resume
writing and career services. There are certifications that are
voluntary, and their completion is completely at the discretion of the
practitioner. CPG elected to pursue this demanding and costly
registration because of our dedication to our customers and to bolster
the integrity of the careers industry.
ISO requires the development and documentation of every function
performed that is related to quality and customer satisfaction. The
pursuit of ISO is arduous: the first stage is the development of
ISO-required systems, such as internal audit, corrective action, and
management review. Defined and formal process-oriented and systematic
review of the above is not something that is commonly, if at all, found
to be performed in the careers industry. The next stage is the
development of formal documentation of the system via written procedures
and instructions, forms and formats, and records. Finally, an ISO
applicant must manage and continuously improve its systems in the
pursuit of quality and sustained customer satisfaction. This process is
extremely demanding, time consuming, and costly in terms of resources,
research and development, and monetary investment.
Achieving ISO registration required CPG’s Quality Management team to
perform a painstaking review of best practices and lessons learned over
the course of two-plus decades, and then the conversion of those best
practices and lessons learned into formal policy and procedure. The team
then conducted detailed training to all CPG end users on the ISO
process, and maintained continuous scrutiny of all writers,
administration, and sales staffs’ compliance with said requirements. A
solid case of evidence was built and then presented, after five years’
work, to the registrar that all policies and procedures had been upheld
and resulted in continuous improvement and customer satisfaction.
There are many career service providers in the careers industry that do
excellent work, justifiably earn excellent reputations, and maintain a
trove of satisfied customers. As industries go, however, the careers
industry is still in its infancy. Twenty-five years ago, the thought of
going to a professional writer for a resume was considered “cheating.”
Only increasingly difficult and multitiered hiring practices, especially
the federal government’s, has developed a need for this service. There
are several excellent professional associations dedicated to the
education of career service providers and the growth of the industry.
The individual service practitioner, however, can be fairly isolated in
proprietorships or small partnerships, learning “on the job,” and
struggling with every project to ensure they have done all they can do
to assist the clients who have put their future in their hands. The
introduction of a standardized process will only increase client trust
and practitioner success.
ISO registration has the capacity to be viewed as the industry’s “seal
of approval.” CPG has forged the path and has set the stage for industry
accreditation as recognized and formal as a college accreditation or a
hospital’s Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations
(JAHCO).
4. What influence or benefit does your
innovation have on the careers industry? Who does it help and how
(career professionals, job seekers, etc.)?
CareerPro Global, Inc. is committed to promoting the professionalism,
integrity, and accountability of the careers industry. This commitment
extends to the production of premier resume products, providing service
excellence, and remaining abreast of global employment and hiring trends
through continuous improvement of the quality management system.
ISO-9001:8 registration brings accreditation to the careers industry,
which, up to this point, was an industry without regulation or official
accountability. Clients can rest assured that the development of their
presentations is compliant with globally accepted reference documents.
This, in turn, provides customers with world-class presentations that
will be highly competitive and successful in job markets worldwide.
CPG has put its quality model into practice through the development and
release of the Certified Military Resume Writer (CMRW) and Master
Federal Career Coach (MFCC) certifications to the careers industry to
assist our peers and colleagues in understanding all of the intricacies
of military transitions and federal hiring practices and reform. Being
trained by an ISO-accredited organization will improve marketing
opportunities for those carrying the CMRW and MFCC designation. They
will enjoy increased sales and improved business processes, and ensure
quality products, as most companies implementing ISO 9001 certification
report increases in business process efficiencies, reductions in waste,
and improved product quality. This is important to the careers industry
because Career Coaches, Resume Writers, Career Trainers, and other
industry peers will join CPG in acting as gatekeepers of industry
integrity and credibility.
CPG has put the careers industry on the map by spending more than five
years in research and development of a streamlined Quality Assurance
process. By setting such a high standard, CPG has raised the collective
quality of our industry and positioned it for future success and
relevance in a changing, modernizing workplace. Customers can feel
confident that by hiring an ISO-registered organization, their career
documentation will be produced in compliance with processes and
procedures that were based on best practices and lessons learned over 25
years and refined into a seamless process that will elevate success in a
highly competitive job market.
We
continue to measure our processes on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis
through system-generated measurements on overall product quality and
customer service by each writer, career coach, and trainer.
Additionally, CPG is required to be audited annually by third-party ISO
auditors to ensure the integrity of our systems, measurements, and
processes. Our goal is to continue to look for ways to improve our
quality process. Every member of the CPG team and its contractors are
required to comply with our ISO quality system and standards, and they
receive ongoing training. The cost to develop and implement this
innovative process has taken more than four years at a substantial cost.
The value of establishing a viable process for each area of business has
successfully fast-tracked CPG’s growth, increasing business volume and
substantially boosting revenue while maintaining and exceeding product
quality and customer service. Our ISO certification is for resume
writing, career coaching, and training. A copy of our ISO certification
is provided with this nomination.
Janine Moon of Career
Ownership:
Book: Career Ownership: Creating ‘Job
Security’ in Any Economy (http://CareerOwners.com)
Where can your innovation be found?
I’ll be sending 10 copies of my book,
Career Ownership: Creating ‘Job Security’ in Any Economy to the address
noted above. My website,
http://CareerOwners.com has information as well.
1. What is your innovation? Please
describe what it is, its purpose, etc.
My innovation, Career Ownership,
turns the traditional career development model inside organizations on
its head. Career Ownership is a model for career management that
repositions responsibility for career resilience, growth and direction
with the individual.
In the Industrial economy, economic
stability, top-down structure and the American dream of “moving up” made
“career ladders” a sensible, low-risk solution to steady business
growth. Workers, accustomed to “cradle to grave” employment, deferred to
an organization’s career pathing plans and structured development
agendas. If an employee’s path was to a
Director position, career steps and training
were prescribed…little, if any, career thinking was involved.
Today’s Information/Conceptual/Service
economy has few of the characteristics that forged such structured
career paths. Organizations’ response to the 21st century economy has
been to chip away at traditional career thinking leaving broken ladders,
little or no security and expense cutting strategies that include both
human resources and development plans. At the same time, organizations
attempt to “align” the survivors with the business’ strategic
directions, in order to maximize the value of those people assets.
Organizations’ major resources are
focused on competitors, innovation, and challenging business models;
trying to efficiently or effectively align all the chess pieces is an
impossible task—the pieces are always moving! Major “change initiatives”
often attempt to create an alignment…and often result in outcomes
similar to herding cats.
Career Ownership shows individuals
how to take responsibility for aligning their growth and career
direction with the strategic direction(s) of their #1 customer, the
organization; it is the most direct and effective approach to
aligning a person’s work value with their organization’s needs. In doing
so, a worker defines his/her value, learns about the organization’s
reality, determines the strategic directions where his/her value is
greatest, takes initiative to capture learning opportunities, and builds
a business case for career direction and increasing professional value
to the business. The individual becomes responsible for showing the
value of career development and direction, knowing exactly how and why
that direction is a win-win: the organization gets a committed,
change-agile worker and the individual moves along a dynamic development
curve that consistently feeds motivation and increases his/her value.
Although many purport to take
responsibility for personal career direction, the reality is that most
employees do not. For the great majority, the easiest and expected
approach to career development is through the organization: for younger
workers, dissatisfaction means jumping ship and for the more
experienced, dissatisfaction means less engagement and connection.
2. Why do you consider your innovation
to be innovative?
1) The Career Ownership mode
provides a map for anyone to define a best work direction based upon
personal foundation. Personal foundation then becomes the “benchmark”
for career and life decisions, something that many (maybe most)
employees don’t consciously use. Educational and business institutions
reinforce the traditional career approach in which management defines
paths for “high potentials” … even as the approach fades from
inactivity. If an employee isn’t chosen, then a typical “career
development” plan might include an annual training…short, inexpensive
and more for lip service than for true development. Most often, growth
and development are expendable in a tight economy.
2) The Career Ownership model focuses clearly on “knowing your #1
customer,” i.e. the employer. The premise of the model is that a person
cannot define authentic work unless s/he discovers the work activities
that align closely with personal foundation (values, strengths,
energizers, etc.). Only knowing the employer’s needs makes this fit true
and strategically
valuable.
3) The model shows the ‘how’ and the ‘why’ of aligning one’s strengths
and abilities with the strategies of the organization, providing a
win-win and a much surer path to business success. A connected workforce
that continually realigns itself to the changing needs of the
organization is priceless: it’s the only resource investment with the
agility to ‘dance’ to a highly competitive, moving-target tune. This is
the opposite of how most organizations approach
alignment, using outdated methods that attempt to lead the “many” to the
“one.”
4) Career Ownership includes the creation of a business case for
one’s professional development and career path. Using business language
and thinking, career owners make a case for aligning their foundation
with the business’ strategic direction, showing the organizational value
of development direction and initiative, and the resulting
change-agility.
3. 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.
Career Ownership is unique in how
it organizes aspects of career thinking, activities and 21st century
business needs into a coherent model that empowers individuals and
provides incredible benefit to organizations. In a client organization
application of the Career Ownership program, outcomes for the
organization include knowledge transfer between leadership generations,
recruitment of mentors and informal learning opportunities, 3-year
career paths
that align with strategic direction and individual 12-month development
plans.
Aspects of the model that exist elsewhere include a “defining your
foundation” aspect within the Authentic Vocation approach of Marcia
Bench, founder of Career Coach Institute (http://www.careercoachinstitute.com);
the Strengths work of Clifton & Buckingham of the Gallup Organization (http://www.gallup.com);
the concept of “organization research” included in many job-search
discussions; the concept of “mentoring”; and the business case as a
respected discussion format within organizations. Similar thinking and
behavior shifts are in William Bridges’ Creating You & Co. (http://www.wmbridges.com).
Career Ownership uses the “Foundation” concept more broadly and
includes the strengths-based approach to work as a significant part of
Foundation. The model provides thoughts on what and how to research
within an organization, as well as templates for recruiting mentors and
developing those relationships.
Perhaps the most unique aspect of Career Ownership, in addition
to its distinction as a model, is 1) its thought-leading approach to the
career issues of today that workers can no longer ignore and 2) the
value to organizations of refocusing career development. [While Bridges
identifies these issues, the impact on employers and employees has
increased tremendously in the 15 years since his book’s publication.]
Career Ownership places the responsibility for professional
development and value-provided squarely on the shoulders of
individuals, encouraging them to move from a victim mentality to a place
of strength. While “job security” no longer exists for most people, the
concept of “security” continues to be a psychological driver. Career
Ownership gives people an option for increasing their security and
resilience in today’s workplaces, while giving organizations a model
that maximizes the value of
and return on human assets.
4. What influence or benefit does your
innovation have on the careers industry? Who does it help and how
(career professionals, job seekers, etc.)?
Career Ownership gives employees
and job seekers an alternative to traditional career development, so
those open to a realistic approach to their growth and progression have
a tangible model to follow. The model also provides career professionals
with effective and behavioral approaches for career guidance/coaching
relevant to the business reality of today’s workplaces.
Beyond the careers industry, the model
benefits the economy—in a very real way, the state of the workforce and
workplaces is a mess. More than half of workers continue to be “seat
warmers” ready to find greener grass when the economy improves. They
continue to search for the elusive “job security” which cannot co‐exist
in a global marketplace of constant change. We are remiss if we continue
to show job seekers only how to find their next job, and not how to
become aware of and a contributor to the bigger pictures—both theirs and
organizations’. We are not going back to the safe, secure times of the
late 20th century because the world has passed that by. Now is the time
for all of the brains in an organization to be tapped: for all the lip
service we give to the importance of “innovation” and “great customer
service,” most businesses are doing things the same old way. They budget
more for building and equipment maintenance than they do for people
development and maintenance—even though it’s the people who are the
assets.
We continue to turn out college graduates
who are learning the 20th century way of jobhunting: have a resume, go
to a job fair, learn how to respond to interview questions, wait to be
picked and get an offer. When that job is finished, go through the same
process again. College career centers badly need a new model to equip
their students for the change‐agility they must have for lifelong work
in a new-age world…so very different from even twenty years ago.
JUDGE RECOGNITION
Special thanks to our 2011 judges, who
were comprised of prior Career Innovator winners and CDI Board members.
Director of the Career Innovator Awards:
Robin Schlinger, Robin's Resumes
Judges:
Val Matta, CareerShift, LLC
Robert Shindell, ILostMyJob.com LLC
Joan Murrin, University of Iowa, Dual Career Network
Chandlee Bryan, Best Fit Forward
Susan P. Joyce, Job-Hunt.org
Aricia LaFrance, AriciaLafance.com
Laura Labovich, Aspire! Empower! Career Strategy Group |
