News from PARWCC!
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According to the Insight Global 2025 AI in Hiring Report, 99% of hiring managers now use AI in at least one stage of their hiring process, from résumé screening to interview evaluation. As one-way video interviews and algorithm-driven assessments become more common, job seekers often encounter technology before they ever interact with a human. For interview coaches, this shift means preparing clients for new formats, building camera confidence, and helping them understand how to succeed when AI plays a central role in evaluation.
The first step is education. Many job seekers don’t realize that AI interview platforms can analyze not only what they say but how they say it. Systems may evaluate tone of voice, pacing, word choice, eye contact, and even facial expressions. Coaches can break down how these tools work, what employers look for, and where candidates need to focus their preparation.
Unlike traditional interviews, one-way video interviews don’t provide visual or verbal feedback. This lack of interaction often makes clients feel uncomfortable or robotic. To prepare them, encourage practice in front of a camera, reviewing recordings to improve posture, clarity, and delivery. Teach simple techniques like speaking directly to the camera lens, smiling naturally, and pacing answers to stay concise but complete.
AI interview platforms often reward responses that follow consistent patterns. Encourage the use of frameworks like the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to keep answers focused and measurable. Structure helps clients avoid rambling, ensures they cover key points, and makes it easier for AI systems—and eventually hiring managers—to recognize qualifications.
While algorithms score delivery and language, employers may still review recordings. Help clients avoid sounding robotic or rehearsed. Encourage authentic storytelling, personal examples, and enthusiasm for the role. Remind them that the goal is to pass the algorithm while still impressing the human reviewer who will ultimately make the decision.
AI-driven interviews are still evolving. Interview coaches should stay current on the platforms employers are adopting, the criteria algorithms use, and the ethical debates around bias in AI hiring. By remaining an informed guide, you can position yourself as a trusted partner for clients navigating the future of job interviews.
Technology is reshaping how résumés are written and how interviews are conducted. Strengthen your practice with the PARWCC Interview Institute and learn strategies to prepare clients for success across the hiring process.
By 2025, 83% of companies will use AI to screen résumés before a human ever sees them. For professional résumé writers, this means creating documents that not only capture human attention but also satisfy applicant tracking systems (ATS) that rank and filter candidates. If your client’s résumé can’t get past the algorithm, it won’t reach the hiring manager. Here’s how you can ensure résumés are both ATS-friendly and impactful for human readers.
AI systems struggle with graphics, tables, columns, and unusual fonts. Stick to:
A visually complex résumé might impress in print, but it can confuse algorithms and lower your client’s chances of being selected.
ATS software scans résumés for keywords directly from the job posting. To maximize alignment:
The goal isn’t keyword stuffing; it’s keyword relevance, matched to each target role.
Résumés must balance machine readability with human readability. To do this:
This dual focus ensures that once the résumé passes the algorithm, it resonates with hiring managers.
Not all ATS platforms are the same. Some now analyze phrasing, context, and even formatting beyond keywords. Professional résumé writers should stay updated on:
The better you understand the tools employers use, the better you can tailor résumés to succeed.
Your clients may be tempted by AI résumé generators or quick-fix templates, but these rarely account for nuanced strategy. Use your expertise to:
This positions you not just as a writer but as a trusted advisor who can skillfully guide clients through an AI-driven job market.
AI-driven screening isn’t going away, it’s expanding. For professional résumé writers, the challenge and the opportunity lie in blending technical precision with storytelling. A résumé that satisfies both algorithms and humans is the one that gets interviews.
Want to strengthen your expertise in creating ATS-proof résumés? Explore PARWCC certifications and resources to stay at the forefront of career services.
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Being a great résumé writer isn’t just about formatting a document or choosing the perfect action verbs. It’s about understanding what your clients are really hiring you for and delivering that with confidence.
Whether you’re just getting started or looking to elevate your services, knowing what clients value most can help you attract better leads, increase referrals, and raise your rates. Here’s what job seekers are truly looking for when they hire a certified résumé writer and how you can exceed those expectations every step of the way.
Clarity and Confidence About Their Value
Most job seekers come to you with one core question in mind: “How do I position myself so someone wants to hire me?”
They want someone who can look at their work history and can connect the dots between what they’ve done and where they want to go. Your job as a résumé writer isn’t just about listing tasks and titles. It’s about telling a story that feels both true and compelling.
How to deliver:
A Process That Feels Professional and Supportive
Even the most qualified professionals can feel nervous about hiring a résumé writer. There’s vulnerability in handing over your career story. Clients want a process that feels organized, professional, and respectful of their time.
How to deliver:
When your process feels smooth and predictable, it builds trust before they ever read a word of your writing.
A Document That’s Strategically Written for Today’s Market
Résumés today have to work hard. They need to pass through applicant tracking systems (ATS), catch a recruiter’s eye in seconds, and make a clear case for why someone deserves an interview. Clients often don’t understand these nuances, so that’s where your training and certification give you a real edge.
How to deliver:
A Feeling of Readiness
What your clients want most isn’t just a résumé, it’s confidence. They want to feel ready to apply for jobs, talk to recruiters, and say “yes” to new opportunities. That emotional payoff is what keeps people coming back and referring to their friends.
How to deliver:
Real, Measurable Results
While no résumé writer can guarantee a job offer, clients do want to see that your work makes a difference. That’s why social proof matters: testimonials, success stories, and repeat business all help validate your value.
How to deliver:
Final Thoughts:
You don’t have to be the cheapest résumé writer or the flashiest. You just have to be the one who listens well, communicates clearly, and delivers documents that work. When you approach your business through your client’s eyes, you’ll start to attract more aligned clients and you’ll enjoy the work more too.
Want to strengthen your process, boost your credibility, and grow a résumé writing business that clients trust? The Certified Professional Résumé Writer (CPRW) program from PARWCC gives you the training and recognition to stand out in today’s market.
You started your career services business on the side, but now you’re wondering what it would really take to turn it into your full-time income. The good news is that many résumé writers and career coaches are earning six figures. Reaching that level, however, requires more than great writing or coaching skills. Here’s how to scale strategically.
Looking to build a sustainable, full-time career services business? The PARWCC Business Academy (PBA) gives you the systems, guidance, and support to grow with purpose. Learn how certified résumé writers and career coaches build profitable practices with clarity and confidence.
Marketing a career coaching practice can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re trying to balance client work with content creation, outreach, and business development. The key to growth in 2025 isn’t doing everything; it’s doing the right things consistently. Here’s what does and doesn’t work when it comes to marketing your coaching services.
What Works: Thoughtful LinkedIn Presence
LinkedIn remains the top platform for career service professionals, but blasting your availability isn’t enough. What works: posting weekly content that offers job search tips, celebrates client wins, and shares your unique approach to serving clients. Stay visible and offer real value.
What Works: Clear Website Messaging
Your website should answer three questions within seconds: Who you help, what you offer, and how to book a consultation. Include real client testimonials, simple service descriptions, and a frictionless booking form.
What Works: Email Nurture Sequences
When someone downloads a lead magnet or attends a webinar, follow up with them. A series of email follow-ups that deliver value and introduce your service offering helps convert warm leads into paying clients. Use automation to stay in touch with your potential client pipeline at scale.
What Works: Targeted Collaborations
Partnering with recruiters, college career centers, or even résumé writers can unlock a steady stream of referrals. Look for professionals or organizations who serve the same audience with different skills and make the relationship reciprocal.
What Doesn’t Work: Spamming Facebook of LinkedIn Groups
Posting your services in every job-seeker or coach group may feel active, but it rarely converts. Focus on building relationships, not dropping links or pushing your services directly.
What Doesn’t Work: Copying Other Coaches
There’s no shortage of generic templates online, but what sets you apart is your voice, story, and framework. Borrow ideas and learn from others, but don’t blend in.
What Doesn’t Work: Ignoring Your Analytics
If you’re putting time into content, track what works. Are people clicking your call-to-action? Booking consults? Reading your posts? Without data, you’re marketing blind.
Want to grow your coaching practice with marketing that actually works? Explore the Certified Professional Career Coach (CPCC) program and get the tools, frameworks, and business guidance trusted by top career coaches.
As AI Reshapes Hiring, PARWCC Launches Interview Institute to Professionalize Coaching in the Job Market’s Most Critical Moment
[St. Petersburg, Florida] — September 8, 2025 — Artificial intelligence is changing how people get hired. From AI-generated résumés to automated screening tools and asynchronous video interviews, much of the hiring process now happens without human interaction. That reality has elevated one moment above all others: the job interview.
To meet this shift, the Professional Association of Résumé Writers & Career Coaches (PARWCC) has launched the Interview Institute, a first-of-its-kind hub dedicated to elevating interview coaching with shared standards and best practices.. The Institute marks a restructuring of PARWCC’s educational programs, reflecting a belief that interview readiness is no longer a “soft skill” — it is the decisive factor for job seekers.
“We’re seeing an AI doom loop in recruiting,” said Lili Foggle, Director of the Interview Institute. “Job seekers use AI to mass-apply, employers respond by using more AI to filter, and the interview becomes the only authentic validation point. That’s why well-trained, human coaches are more essential than ever.”
Employers increasingly distrust application materials that could be machine-written. As a result, interviews, often asynchronous or AI-scored, are emerging as the most reliable way to judge a candidate’s credibility, communication, and presence.
“AI can be a great tool, but it’s not a good coach,” said Margaret Phares, Executive Director of PARWCC. “Candidates need human expertise to help them communicate with confidence and authenticity. Interview coaching is what lands the job.”
The Interview Institute will offer structured training, certifications, and a professional community to raise the standard of interview preparation across industries. Among its first initiatives:
For the first time, interview coaches will also have a monthly peer forum called “Interview Insights” to share strategies and adapt to evolving hiring practices.
Career development has long emphasized résumés and job search strategies, but as AI continues to permeate hiring, experts warn that interview skills may become the most critical and most overlooked area for job seekers. PARWCC’s Interview Institute aims to fill that gap with credible, evidence-based education at scale.
“AI can spit out a script,” said Foggle. “But effective interviewing is about authentic communication. Only a human coach can teach that.”
About PARWCC
Founded in 1990, the Professional Association of Résumé Writers & Career Coaches (PARWCC) is the premier credentialing and professional development organization for career services professionals worldwide. Through certifications, training, and community, PARWCC equips résumé writers and career coaches to guide job seekers with integrity, expertise, and impact.
Career professionals can explore the Interview Institute at https://parwcc.com/interview-institute/ and register for the October Master Series via LinkedIn Live Event Registration.
Pricing your résumé services isn’t just about what others are charging. It’s about what your time, expertise, and outcomes are worth. As the demand for job search support continues to grow in 2025, résumé writers who understand pricing strategy are better positioned to increase income, attract quality clients, and avoid burnout. Here’s how to price your services with confidence.
Move Away from Hourly Rates
Hourly pricing makes it hard to predict income and tends to undervalue your expertise and efficiency. Shift to flat-rate pricing based on project scope and value. Clients prefer that level of clarity, and you benefit from greater consistency.
Create Tiered Packages
Offering multiple tiers allows clients to choose what best fits their needs and budget. A basic tier might include just a résumé. A standard tier could add a cover letter. A premium package might include everything from résumé and cover letter to LinkedIn optimization and a coaching session. Tiered pricing creates opportunities to upsell without pressure.
Price Based on Market and Outcome
Your pricing should reflect both the audience you serve and the results you help them achieve. Résumés for executives, veterans, or federal job seekers require more strategy and time. Clients aren’t just paying for a document, they’re investing in their next career move.
Match Pricing to Your Capacity
Figure out how many clients you can realistically support each month, then calculate what you need to earn from each to reach your income goals. This approach ensures your pricing aligns with your workload and lifestyle.
Account for Add-Ons and Rush Requests
Set clear prices for additional services like “thank you” letters, LinkedIn updates, or rush delivery. Transparency makes upgrades easier for the client to understand and for you to deliver.
Review Rates Regularly
Don’t let your rates sit unchanged for years. Reevaluate every six to twelve months based on experience, demand, and market trends. Adjusting your pricing keeps your business aligned with your goals and the value you provide. Most résumé writers increase their prices after earning credentials like the Certified Professional Résumé Writer designation to reflect their professional achievements.
Say No to Discounting, Say Yes to Bonuses
Frequent discounting can devalue your brand. Instead of slashing prices, offer time-sensitive bonuses like a free coaching call or follow-up edit. This strategy helps drive conversions while maintaining your perceived value.
Looking to raise your rates and grow a more profitable résumé writing business? Join PARWCC to access pricing insights, business resources, and certification programs that boost your credibility and income.
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If you’re a résumé writer relying on Upwork, Fiverr, or general job boards to find clients, you’re not alone. However, you may be leaving money and high-quality leads on the table. The most successful résumé writers attract consistent, high-value clients through channels that position them as experts rather than vendors. Here’s how to build a client pipeline that doesn’t depend on job boards.
Build a Referral-Ready Business
Referrals are still one of the most powerful ways to get new clients. They don’t happen by luck; they happen because you make them easy and appealing. Follow up with clients after delivering their documents. Ask for testimonials and remind them that you’re available to help their friends or colleagues. Consider offering time-sensitive bonuses like a free coaching call or follow-up edit for successful referrals.
Use LinkedIn to Show Your Expertise
Rather than simply announcing that you’re open for new clients, use LinkedIn to demonstrate your value. Share practical tips, results from client transformations, or insights on job search trends. Comment on relevant hiring news and engage with your network. You may even consider creating a LinkedIn “Services” page to market directly to job seekers. Over time, you’ll build visibility and trust. People are far more likely to reach out when they view you as a helpful expert.
Partner with Other Professionals
Think beyond individual job seekers. Partner with career coaches, outplacement firms, college career services teams, and HR consultants. These professionals serve the same audience but in different ways. When you build strong, collaborative relationships, you create a steady stream of referrals. Offer to contribute to a webinar, provide a joint discount, or simply stay on each other’s radar for client needs.
Optimize Your Website for Visibility and Action
Your website should be working for you around the clock. That means it needs to be easy to find and easy to navigate. Use Search Engine Optimization (SEO) to show up in searches like “professional résumé writer” or “executive résumé help.” Make sure your service pages clearly describe what you offer. Include strong testimonials, visible calls-to-action, and an easy way for people to book a consultation.
Turn Content Into a Client Funnel
Give potential clients a reason to stay connected with you. Create a simple lead magnet like a checklist or tip sheet in exchange for their email address, then send a short sequence of helpful messages that educate and gently introduce your services. Webinars, free workshops, or résumé critiques can also serve as strong entry points for building your list and generating warm leads.
Join a Professional Community That Supports Growth
Being part of a respected association gives you more than a badge on your website. Certification-based communities like PARWCC offer networking, referral opportunities, and ongoing education. Other résumé writers may refer clients when they’re at capacity, and you’ll stay connected to hiring trends and best practices.
Publish With Purpose
You don’t need a huge audience to grow your business. You need consistent visibility and proof that you know how to solve your clients’ problems. Show up, share value, and be specific about how you help. That clarity will do more for your business than any job board ever could.
Want to attract more clients without bidding for work? Get certified with PARWCC and unlock the tools, training, and network that help résumé writers grow thriving businesses.
You’ve worked hard to support your clients. And it’s a wonderful sign when they come back and ask for your help in updating the document you wrote.
But how easy it is to fall into the routine: Adding a new job or new credential is straightforward. But it is the context that really adds the power.
Go beyond just the new information. Find ways to enhance the power of the material in the original document. Let’s start with the job history.
Was your client hired away by another firm? What level sought your client out? How many other eligibles might have been considered? Here’s what such an entry may look like
Of course, you folded in success stories. You used the challenge, the actions, and the results. But let’s not overlook the context. Consider this example with the context words in green:
Optimizing Financial Data
Payoffs: Designed and delivered new financial forecast reporting tool in only one week. What once took days, now done in about four hours. Near perfect accuracy right from the start. Done without spending one extra dime. Saved $1K in manpower costs.
Add even more power by showing the context of the credentials your clients have earned. When your client earned a degree, were they working? Were they carrying a full academic load? Who paid for the degree? Did they attend under a full or a partial scholarship? Did they graduate with honors? Be sure to show how competitive these achievements were. Here’s an example:
BS, Marketing, Central University, Central City, Iowa
In the top one percent to graduate magna cum laude. Earned this degree while working 50+ hours a week and carrying a full academic load. One of very few to attend under a partial scholarship. Paid the remainder myself.
You can get similar power as you document recent continuing professional development. If the name of the course isn’t specific, show what your client was able to do at the end of the course that they couldn’t do at the beginning. Did the employer pay for this training? How competitive was it to attend under those conditions?
Most employers recognize the top performers are members of professional organizations, just like you. Get all the impact you can. Was membership by nomination only? Did your client serve as an officer at a local chapter? How long have they been a member of the organization?
Compliments can add a great deal of weight, but only if they meet these conditions. The most impactful come from customers, not supervisors. After all, customers determine the brand. The best compliments are recent and specific. Here’s an example:
“Americans were better served thanks to your environmental protection policies.” Barack Obama, Rose Garden Ceremony, April 2019
How easy it is to assume IT literacy. Yet this is another area where you can get even more impact. If your client is an executive you can assume they have basic proficiency in the most common office software. If they have experience with proprietary software be sure to mention what the software does rather than what it is called. Pay particular attention to AI-related software. In every case it’s helpful to show a comfort level. Consider these three: working knowledge, comfortable, expert.
In today’s interconnected world, language proficiency counts. Let’s expand the heading to show the full impact. Consider subheadings like this: “Cultural Literacy.” You’ll get even more impact when you describe your client’s abilities measured by two factors. The first considers all the elements of communication. Can your client read a foreign language? Can they write it? Can they speak it? And most importantly, can they think in that language? The second element reflects efficiency using these three levels: working knowledge, generally capable, and can speak with near native fluency. Here’s an example:
Cultural Literacy:
Most people see reminders to update their résumés. Especially since this month, September, is officially recognized as International Update Your Résumé Month.
Now you can add even more value for your clients. It’s nice that others update their résumés. You can do more. You update their career potential for the rest of their work lives.