NAFE Enewsletter

NAFE Regional Coordinator Robbie Motter (left) and For You network director June Davidson (right) traveled to Tuscany with 34 other women for a memorable vacation. Man in the middle is their new best friend Marcello, proprietor of Villa Fattoria Mansi Bernardini, where the group stayed.

Recession Special: Want to promote your business? For NAFE members for a limited time only, a banner or skyscraper ad in one issue of the NAFE E-Newsletter will cost you just $75.00. (Regular rate is $150.00.) Contact newsletter editor Paula Damiano to place your ad. [Note: you must be an active NAFE member to receive this special rate.]

Workplace Wellness. For the past 20 years, the Wellness Council of America has been studying and promoting the efforts of America’s Healthiest Companies. The membership organization’s website includes case studies, Well Workplace Protocol, and the all-important seven benchmarks for achieving workplace wellness.

Victorious Woman Essay Contest. Are you a Victorious woman? Have you survived an illness or addiction, broken through a glass ceiling, survived abuse, or successfully navigated a difficult divorce or personal transition? If you have, NAFE member and author Annmarie Kelly invites you to enter the 2009 VICTORIOUS WOMAN ESSAY CONTEST. Deadline: May 13.

Gender Wage Gap: More Bad News. The Women’s Institute for Policy Research reports that the ratio of women’s to men’s median weekly earnings for full-time workers was 79.9 in 2008, the third consecutive annual decline since the historical high of 81.0 in 2005. Read the Fact Sheet here.

New Member Profile on nafe.com. We’re always adding new website content – be sure to visit nafe.com frequently. Read Janet Ferrari’s Member Profile and learn how this Californian developed a simple business idea – window cleaning – into six-figure annual sales.

Working Mother Turns 30! In celebration of its 30th birthday, Working Mother magazine will select and honor 30 Working Mothers of the Year. These notable women are being profiled at workingmother.com and in the May 2009 issue of Working Mother magazine. They will be congratulated at a Gala Birthday Luncheon at Cipriani's in Manhattan on May 8th. Click here for further information.

NAFE Discount on Whirlpool Products. Through a special arrangement with Whirlpool, NAFE members can reap big savings on Whirlpool appliances, accessories and other Whirlpool items. You and your family can purchase up to 12 products a year under the VIPLINK program and get substantial savings on everyday retail pricing. Go to the NAFE website to sign up for the discount program – just click on the Whirlpool banner at the top of the NAFE home page.

Annemarie Kelly invites you to attend a meeting of the fledgling Brandywine Valley Professional Women’s Dangerous Dining Book Club. They’ll meet on May 12th at 6:30 PM – and they’re reading Crucial Conversations. Contact Annemarie for all the details:info@skillbuildersystems.com, 610-738-8225.

NAFE member Selita Boyd, whose stage name is the ConSoulTant (see her pages on Facebook, MySpace and Twitter), has released her adult contemporary debut album "Spend the Night." This family-oriented performer will donate $1 to Making Strides Against Breast Cancer for every album purchased by NAFE members on CDBaby.com. Enter NAFE for the question "Where did you hear of the music you're buying?" If purchased on iTunes, proceeds will be shared among Making Strides, UNCF, & the Cami Anderson Foundation. Her album is on sale now at CDBaby.com and iTunes.

5 Tips for a Competitive Resume

This issue’s 5 Tips come from Geraldine Garner, a former associate dean in Northwestern University’s School of Engineering and now president of STCS, Inc., a company that works with organizations concerned with retaining key talent.

Have you sent out lots of resumes, with minimal results? Your resume might not be representing you effectively to potential employers. For example, you’ve been a line manager for 4 – 5 years and are ready for a higher-level management; however, your resume only reinforces the image of a line manager. It doesn’t speak to your abilities to assume larger scopes of work. Your next employer not only wants to know how you manage people and projects, but how you get things done beyond your unit. Therefore, you need to describe more than duties – you need to describe the scope and impact of your work. Here are 5 tips for doing that.

1. Quantify the impact of work whenever possible. Never exaggerate qualifications but do put them in context. If your project goal was to increase revenue, state how you achieved the goal: “Reconfigured product line to increase market share by over 15%.” Phrases such as “approximately,” “ranging from…,” and “estimated decrease/increase of x%” keep data honest, when exact numbers aren’t available.
2. Give examples of how skill sets have been utilized on the job. Don’t assume people “know” your skill set because of your job title. Show how you use a skill on the job. You might have project management certification but it’s important to describe how you use these skills. A potential statement might be: “Scoped, scheduled and budgeted 6 construction projects ranging in value from $500,000 to $10M. All completed on time and within budget.”
3. Remove words like “assist” and “help.” Replace them with descriptions of precisely how you assist or help. A potential statement might be: “Researched, recommended and implemented supply chain improvements for the Vice President of Manufacturing.”
4. Select nouns and verbs carefully but write concise and impactful statements. Today, employers search resume database for qualified candidates. Nouns and verbs need to be accurately aligned with job descriptions and your experience. Also, edit long sentences (more than 16 words) to short clear statements that convey as much information as possible. Make sure they’re still understandable to both professional colleagues and reviewers outside your profession.
5. When applying online, follow all directions. Many job applicants are disqualified because they e-mailed resumes directly, instead of submitting them online or they left off requested information, without explanation. Show that you can follow directions.

These five tips can help you gain a competitive edge in today’s job market!

What are YOUR views on the current economy? Let the world know what you really think. Connect with others; learn and share. Have YOU blogged today? Visit the NAFE blog page today.

Are You Taking Full Advantage of Your Membership?
Click HERE to view the complete list.

From insurance and business services to discounts on computers, travel, flowers and more, NAFE members are eligible for special savings. Offers change frequently, so keep checking our Member Benefits section to see what’s available.

NEW! Discounts on Godiva Chocolate: 15% standard discount plus limited-time specials – like 20% off on Mother’s Day gifts.

For a complete list of events, see our online Calendar!

Bryn Mawr, PA
May 20, 2009
The Bryn Mawr Film Institute is the venue for “Leadership at the Movies,” presented by The Leader’s Edge and Susannah Cobb. Susannah says, “Movies can often demonstrate realistic leadership situations and reveal a dearth of leadership characteristics (both good and bad!) much more powerfully than facts and statistics.“ Click here for more details.

Irvine, CA
May 21, 2009
The Orange County Business Journal hosts its 15th Annual Women in Business Awards, honoring Orange County outstanding professional women. Meg Whitman, former eBay CEO, is the keynote speaker. Read more here.

Go to the NAFE website to view our ever-expanding Calendar of Events for opportunities around the country. The new Search function makes the Calendar even more useful and accessible.
Use the Event Submission Form online to let us know about events in your area. Events submitted for the website will also be considered for the NAFE E-Newsletter - twice the exposure for one listing!