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 four award programs:

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: 


MP3 File

View 2008 Nominees.

View 2007 Nominees and Winners.

View 2006 Nominee List and Winners.

View 2003 & 2004 Lists of Nominee and Winners.

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.

  • Attend the annual awards banquet at the CDI convention (as part of convention registration).

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 2008 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 Retiree/Second Career Resume - encompasses any discipline, industry, or career level as long as the focus in on a career change for a mature adult.

  • Best Sales & Marketing Resume - encompasses any level of sales and marketing professional who focuses on 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
 
TORIs are only open to CDI members. First entry is free but due to the cost of shipping awards worldwide, each additional entry incurs only a $15 processing fee.

The entry deadline for submissions is May 15, 2008!

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

 
WORLD'S BEST RESUME WRITER COMPETITION (WBRW)

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.

    

Each registrant can contribute only one (1) entry. The deadline for entry is November 1, 2008.

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 will be announced March 1, 2009. Awards, certificates, and logos will be sent to winners.

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 ($150 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 for submissions is November 1, 2008!

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, CERW, 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, CERW, 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, CCRE, MA, MCD, MHROD, CLC, CEC – HR4Change

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

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.

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.

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.

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
  
     
Master Resume Writer™ Lifetime Achievement Award
 

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 who meets the following criteria:

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

 

  • CDI Continued Membership: Member of CDI for a minimum of four (4) 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.

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

Recipients:

  • 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
Career Innovator Awards

Coming November 1, 2008!

 
     
 
     

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