Global Membership Organization of Professional Resume Writers & Career Coaches
Here at CDI we don't think it's coincidence that our first three resume writers to earn the Certified Career Storyteller (CCST) credential, from Kimberly Robb Baker's inaugural class in 2017, all went on to win highly coveted Toast of the Resume Industry (TORI) resume writing awards.
But this is much more than just a resume writing program.
When you participate in this program you will:
Gain a wealth of expertise in story-based branding while uncovering the unique brand map approach, which is like being handed career marketing gold.
Learn to successfully apply this branding approach to client information gathering, LinkedIn profiles, resumes, cover letters, and bios.
Gain access to Kim's creative winning resume design strategy, getting the very keys to her TORI resume kingdom with guidance on creative design and access to MS Word versions of her 2019 TORI entries and winners. (This is perfect if you've wanted to earn CDI's Certified Graphic Resume Architect and were looking for "more" training).
Launched in 2017 by TORI resume writing award dominator, Kimberly Robb Baker of This Little Brand, this writing course is unlike any other.
Our brains are wired for story.
A well-told story engages more parts of the brain and allows for better memory retention.
When reading or listening to a story, we enter into a similar brain state with the story teller.
So what if your resumes and supplementing docs were releasing love and attachment hormones when employers are reading them?
With story-based branding you can truly let each client's light shine, paving the way for win-win success for them and you.
As Kim mentions in her free webinar, Story-Based Value Propositions: The Career Writer's Key to Remaining Relevant, there is nothing like having people lining up with their credit card to hand you 4-figures because they are pre-sold on the success this model elicits.
Through this branding, clients will internalize the value expressed in their resumes and collateral because it is based on their stories.
This is organic branding that clients can immediately take ownership of, giving them language to confidently express their brand in the most compelling way.
Also, the world of resumes is always changing, but this course gives you an edge.
The demise of the resume has been predicted and debated for years.
Whether the resume lives or dies, the core work you do, defining and communicating your clients’ value, will never go away. (It won't matter if your title is resume writer, career storyteller or marketing super genius; this program will give you the agility to fluidly adapt.)
The value proposition statement, then, is at the heart of your worth as a career communications writer. Your ability to write it well will ensure the success of your clients today and your ongoing relevance—no matter what happens to the resume.
Therefore, introducing business storytelling elements to your writing process will enable you to quickly and effectively get to the heart of your clients’ most compelling assets.
Kim refers to this course as a "resume writer MBA" with its focus on ensuring you understand enough about business to ask the questions that get to the heart of the story—important context and details that clients wouldn’t think to reveal without your guidance. This knowledge also enables you to take your intake notes and organize them to present a compelling, story-based value proposition. You are going to fall in love with the Story-based Brand Map and the intense ROI it offers to both you and your clients.
According to some of the inaugural students, this is THE course you wish you had available when you started writing resumes.
But it's not Resumes 101. If you are just starting out or looking to earn your first resume writing certification, we recommend our Resume Writing Mastery course with CARW certification.
It's an intensive course -- really, it's like a "boot camp" in resume writing (and it's been totally updated for 2020 and CDI's next offering). In fact, Kim even uses some of her TORI entries as examples in this version. Better yet, she gives you MS Word files of those resumes to play with!
There are 17 total modules within the 6-part program. The content is VERY comprehensive and covers:
This module is first because you will be able to use it in your practice right away, as it creates the perfect foundation for your introduction to the story-based brand map and resume.
You will work with provided story-based brand maps and resumes as source materials to see what a story-based LinkedIn profile looks like and actually create one from the provided materials.
In this part you will:
Lack of business understanding and job search landscape often prevents excellent writers from “hitting the mark” with their documents. What this means is that beautiful documents are delivered and writer and client feel great—until the client comes back months later to report they’re not getting any interviews.
In this part you will:
The story-based brand map is where the gold is at guiding you through turning information gathered from a passive "intake" exercise to a collaborative brand coaching process that draws out the client and engages them in their own career story.
In this part you will:
What you've been waiting for: how the resume blossoms from all this story-telling magic. This is where you see that all come together.
In this part you will:
Will you really get design strategy and templates? The answer is YES!
Kim writes:
The design aspect is the focus of one of the sessions and covers how to incorporate the career story visually, how to create white space and direct the reader to critical information, and how to achieve impactful visuals using only Word. There is also a bonus video in that segment showing how I make graphs more compelling and attractive. You also get several of my TORI entries in Word, which you are then welcome to use as templates in your business and play with and build on as your skills develop.
With the brand mapped and the resume written, the heavy lifting is done! Now you will uncover how to translate this foundational work into other communications.
In this part you will:
In typical CDI course fashion, we want to make sure you can sell this program to your prospects. Therefore, Kim has created this bonus session.
In this part you will:
(No test on these concepts—but your financial planner will congratulate you on paying close attention here!)
This is an INTENSE, INTENSIVE course, designed for resume writers who want to seriously elevate their work and the types of clients they work with.
We think the graduate testimonials say everything about the high ROI you will receive.
If you want to ramp up your technical resume writing skill set with story-based brand mapping, double or triple your monthly income, and work deeply with clients who are excited to hire you, this is the program for you.
The takeaways for this program will allow you to:
Remember, Kim charges and gets $3997-$4897 per client.
You can too.
You can more than earn back your investment in this course with your FIRST client.
Polling former students, the feedback is that you will spend 1-2 hours a week reviewing materials and completing the lesson work. The total hours come in at 18-40 depending on your speed and learning style.
Since you are able to work through the materials at your own pace, you may choose to do more or less weekly or condense it all for rapid completion.
You will always have access to feedback and support via email as you progress through the course.
As you move through the program, you will complete lessons for each section and part (except for section six), and submit them for review, feedback, and credit. (As stated above, this averages 1-2 hours a week and 18-40 total for all work).
All submitted lessons must be approved before you submit your final story-based portfolio.
To do this you will grab a single client to tell their branded career story. (Who the client is and if/what they paid is totally up to you). Your story-based portfolio for submission will include:
o Recording and/or branding session notes
o Brand map
o Resume
o Cover letter
o Value proposition letter
o LinkedIn profile
o Long-form bio
o Short-form bio
Our goal is to keep review to 3-4 weeks for the final portfolio.
Upon successful completion and approval of the materials you will be awarded the credential and provided with a logo and e-certificate for your use. The CCST will also be added to your searchable CDI listing. We will also announce your new credential across social media, tagging you as we can.
If you haven't done so yet, please watch the free webinar, Story-Based Value Propositions: The Career Writer's Key to Remaining Relevant. In this presentation Kim shares:
While this is a longer single lesson, it is similar to the style of the course materials.
This deep-dive comprehensive course is normally $2997 but can be purchased this month for just $1997. That's 33% off at just $1997.
Discount shows in cart and is applied to both 1-pay and 3-pay options.
Get on the fast track to certification now and start learning what the top professionals know while nurturing your talents, boosting your confidence, and securing your place among the industry leaders.
Sign up below to begin learning the insider secrets and wisdom from a guru with 22 years at the top of the profession.
PS…to ensure you get personalized, quality coaching, we limit the number of clients we coach at any one time. Once the limit is reached, new clients are placed on a waiting list until we have space available. We will notate here if there is a current waiting list.
Sign up now to start on your journey to certification and more satisfied clients.
Non-member registration includes one year of individual membership ($347 value) to Career Directors International: Your Pathway to Success, rich with ongoing support, networking, and new information.
If you are not currently a CDI member, please select the Non-Member rate below as it includes mandatory membership.
For non-members who desire a 3-pay option, membership must be purchased first from the Member Benefits page. Afterwards, you can then select the 3-payment option above to purchase the course.
The CCST certification must be renewed every three (3) years by purchasing the program update modules. Depending on new content, there may be 1-5 modules released at $21.95 each. Average launch price for renewal content will be $197-297 for students and graduates.
(If purchased within 12 months of a launch, registrants will receive the new version at no charge).
All requirements of CCST certification, renewal, and CDI membership standards must be maintained in order to earn or retain a CDI credential. CDI reserves the right to revoke a CCST credential for any of the following: Renewal requirements are not maintained and completed within required timelines. Membership lapses due to non-renewal. Individual is found guilty in a court of law for a grievance within the industry (unprofessional, unethical, unlawful conduct and/or business practices).
For more information on the CCST credential, contact CDI at info@nullcareerdirectors.com.