Sharon McCormick, at CareerTreasure.com, assists professionals and executives who want to change jobs or advance in their fields. She works very quickly and thoroughly to identify their “career treasure” and assists them in achieving their career and job goals.
She has a “sixth sense” about people’s occupational skills and translates that into the types of companies and jobs desired by clients. She also has an outstanding track record in job placement by assessing, motivating, and locating the specific kinds of jobs her clients want.
1. What led you to write resumes? Do you have a background that made you an ideal fit for the industry?
Sharon: At a very young age, I began reading two newspapers a day because my parents did, and that was one of our daily household activities.
We had plenty of books and magazines too, but it was the newspapers that gave me daily exposure to the want ads, and I was hooked!
It fascinated me to see what companies were hiring, what job skills were needed, what the different jobs paid, and what employers did to attract job applicants. I knew at a young age I wanted to be a professional Career Counselor, and I did what the advice was at the time to become a fully-qualified Career Counselor.
I obtained my Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and my Master’s Degree in Counseling. I worked for many years with clients of all ages in all types of human services settings until I was nationally certified as a Counselor, and then I worked for years to become nationally certified as a Career Counselor.
I also completed the necessary requirements to become a national Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW), and I completed Career Management Coach (CMC) and Leadership and Talent Management Coach certifications.
Today I have 15 national certifications in the career, employment and workplace arena. I love to learn and stay on top of cutting-edge information and best practices.
2. How long have you been in the industry? Would you recommend it to others? Why?
Sharon: I have been in the industry for 15+ years, and I would certainly recommend it as I’d like to see more qualified Career Counselors and resume writers become available to assist our nation’s job seekers.
3. What is the single best tool you recommend for building client relations? Building your business? Improve efficiency?
Sharon: The single best “marketing” tool is to get your clients a job.
Then they recommend their family and friends, and they also come back to you as needed, so you can enjoy building and maintaining productive relationships.
That is the best thing for my job satisfaction and since I am very motivated and competitive, it drives me to succeed for my clients.
I believe in them and I achieve their career vision by getting results.
4. If you could share one learning experience/great lesson, what would it be?
Sharon: Applicant tracking software technology has impacted the job selection process as equally as legal considerations.
It is very difficult to apply online and hear something back from employers; so I have to push clients out of their comfort zones and reach out to those employers to get the results I want for my them.
It is not enough to apply and wait around to hear something from employers.
5. Looking back, what would you have done differently? Done the same?
Sharon: Good question. I can’t think of anything I would have done differently.
I would still work as much as I have over the past 15+ years with the diverse clients that I have had the pleasure of assisting in most industries, as there is no substitute for experience.
All that experience allows me to assess clients with great accuracy and precision, and work quickly to move them into new opportunities with faith and confidence.
6. What advice would you give someone just entering the resume-writing industry?
Sharon: I would advise them to not sacrifice quality by keeping resumes to one page.
I work in Human Resources getting senior executives promoted too, and a one-page resume does not have enough information for hiring managers to get excited about or know the candidate with any depth.
Do what is best for illuminating your client’s “career treasure” on paper, even if it means writing longer resumes.
7. How do you see our industry transforming over the next 12 months? 5 years? What do you think resume writers need to know in order to survive?
Sharon: I believe career counseling and resume writing will continue to be mobile, portable, and accessible to everyone such as global clients, and the venues for accessing our services will continue to be very exciting.
Resume writers need to know that they will spend quite a bit of time reading and researching resume trends to keep current.
The internet brings a world of information right to us wherever we are, so self-education is barrier-free.
