stephanie

As Executive Director of the Professional Association of Résumé Writers and Career Coaches (PARWCC), I understand the critical role career services professionals play in supporting individuals navigating career transitions. With the current shifts in the federal workforce, your expertise and guidance are more vital than ever. This blog post is designed to equip you with […]

By Stephanie Renk, MBA, CPCC, CERW, CPRW   The U.S. labor market closed out 2024 with impressive growth, signaling continued economic resilience. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ latest report released on January 10, 2025, the economy added a remarkable 256,000 nonfarm payroll jobs in December, far surpassing economists’ expectations of 155,000. This growth […]

Seven years ago last month, my brand was born – with a dream and a crappy clipart barbell to signify helping people “shape their careers.” It was as literal a brand as any former engineer could develop. While it makes a great joke now, that clip art logo launched Career Benders into the world. It […]

A recent MFA graduate specializing in screenwriting has taken a job in the mailroom at Sony Studios. His undergraduate and graduate internships allowed him to work in several independent studios, largely in “gopher” roles that were heavily clerical in nature. The whole time he has been creating original work as well, earning recognition at a […]

If you need more proof that most people don’t understand what a brand is and how to use it, consider LinkedIn. Originally, LinkedIn offered a very powerful brand. They promised its members an efficient and effective way to use genuine networking to move their careers forward. For the first time job seekers could reach out […]

I get it. I was one of the first to suggest that, in reality, we are not resume writers or career coaches, but marketing professionals. We are like Madison Avenue marketing pros for job seekers, responsible for packaging and presenting a product (job seekers) in such a way as they win out over the competition. […]

I discuss branding in the Certified Professional Career Coach (CPCC) program. A strong identifying personal brand and value proposition statement can significantly boost job search opportunities. It is a platform for a strong career management plan.  I ask my students to think about familiar brands, such as Coke, Mercedes, Target, and McDonalds. Some branded logos […]

  View in browser There’s only one more opportunity to learn from the experts at LinkedIn about how to Rock Your Client’s Profile! Join us Wednesday January 29th at 1pm ET to learn best practices for clients in senior leadership and executive roles. Check your registration – each webinar is a unique code so a […]

  View in browser   Gallup (the folks behind all those surveys) is hosting a special webinar for PARWCC about the CliftonStrengths tool and how assessments like it can benefit you and your clients. Grab your seat today and you’ll get a discount on this insightful assessment. This webinar will not be recorded so be there […]

  View in browser   Last chance! Sign up now for our first LIVE ONLY “Rock Your Client’s Profile” webinar presented by LinkedIn experts. This series will NOT be recorded so you have to be there!   Proud of your work? Show it off! The deadline for the Elite Circle Résumé Contest has been extended […]