We are so excited to introduce our 2021 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, a career professional who truly deserves the recognition. This is an award that, while announced annually, has not had a recipient meet the criteria since 2015!
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 the past three (3) consecutive years.
Certification: Earn and maintain the Certified Master Resume Writer (CMRW), Certified Executive Resume Master (CERM) 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*. Consideration will be made for a Director of Awards who serves 3+ years and who would thus be ineligible to enter.
* In lieu of an award, the following may substitute (completed in last 3 years):
- TORI Competition Judge – 2 years
- Earn two additional CDI certifications, not listed in any of the other award criteria. (Certs available)
- CDI Committee Director – 1 year (Learn about volunteering with CDI)
- Author approved CDI blog posts – 100 (Learn about becoming a blogging guest expert)
- Win CDI President’s Award
- Produce approved CDI Presentation (Teleclass, Webinar, Summit) – 1
- Participate in development of approved Best Practices Tip Sheets – 2
Continuing Education: Complete a cumulative 45 hours of industry training such as conference attendance or teleclasses over the past four (4) years. Must include at least one CDI course/certification or Annual Summit.
Industry Contribution: Sit on a CDI committee for the past one (1) year with approved active participation in at least one major project (course, certification, survey and report).
Membership: CDI membership is required.
CDI’s 2021 Recipient
Please help us to congratulate:
Carolyn Whitfield of Total Resumes
Her attained criteria:
Industry Longevity:
I have worked in the career services industry for more than 15 years. I was initially hired as a recruiter for an employment services provider managing a large number of jobseekers in receipt of government unemployment benefits. After training to become a workplace trainer and assessor, I shifted into training our unemployed cohort in all aspects of job search training. I also authored and facilitated a range of job search and targeted training programs to assist jobseekers in finding, securing and retaining employment. After 10 years with this organisation, I left to pursue my passion for writing resumes.
Certification:
I have earned and maintained the Certified Master Resume Writer (CMRW), Certified Executive Resume Master (CERM), and Certified Graphic Resume Architect (CGRA) credentials through CDI. I have also completed other CDI courses leading to certification which are listed below.
Awards & Recognition:
I have been fortunate to have my work recognised through 10X CDI TORI nominations and 6 awards in the last 3 years.
Continuing Education:
Over the last 4 years I have completed many hours of industry training, including CDI’s Certified Career Storyteller (CCST) course, Certified Employment Interview Consultant (CEIC) course and the Certified Professional – Online Job Search & Reputation Management (OJSRM) course.
Industry Contribution:
I am a proud contributor to CDI’s Certification Committee and have assisted in upgrading the CARW Resume Certification Guide.
Membership:
I have been a CDI member since 2016.
A job well done for Carolyn as our newest career pro lifetime achievement award recipient!
Past Lifetime Achievement Award Winners
Carolyn joins the ranks of some of the highest-achieving career professionals in the industry:
- Damali Curry Edwards, Conscious Recruiting, Inc. – 2015
- Laura Labovich, A & E Consulting, LLC – 2013
- Robin Schlinger – Robin’s Resumes® – 2013
- Sharon Williams – JobRockit.com – 2013
- Barbara Safani – Career Solvers – 2012
- Darlene Dassy – Dynamic Résumé Solutions – 2011
- Patricia Duckers – CareerPro Global, Inc. – 2011
- Gillian Kelly, Career Edge – 2008
- John Donovan, CRS Resume Service – 2008
- Tony Deblauwe, HR4Change – 2008
- Don Skipper, Career Beginnings, Inc. – 2008
- Mary Elizabeth Bradford, Career Artisan – 2008
- Gayle Howard, Top Margin Resumes Online – 2007
- Annemarie Cross, Advanced Employment Concepts – 2007
- Susan Guarneri, Susan Guarneri Associates – 2006
Learn More About CDI Award Programs
CDI offers the Toast of the Resume Industry (TORI) awards, Career Innovator awards, World’s Best Resume Writer awards, President’s award, Lifetime Achievement award, and the Pat Schuler Kick Butt award.
