“We are what we know. My mother was an English teacher. I’d sit with her at the kitchen table while she graded — her red pen a trusty sword shining in the midst of a stack of papers a mile high. She taught me her tricks and tips, her shortcuts and symbols, and as writing became a passion of mine, I began to realize that editing was one too.

​Throughout high school and college, I was always that girl with three of my friends’ papers wedged into my purse. I was the one in the café scanning college essays, cover letters, and resumes. I love assisting in creating that final product — the freshly printed, mistake-free masterpiece that is black words on a white page.

After years of writing and editing, I founded Red Pen Wench in 2014 with the desire to continue assisting clients on their academic and professional journeys. I understand that the job search can be an agonizing process, but I also know that it can be a rewarding one.

In an effort to serve more job-seekers, I became a PARWCC Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and began expanding the Red Pen Wench team in 2018. I built a team of exceptional resume writers with a shared passion for working one-on-one with clients to elevate their job search.

We remain devoted to offering a highly personalized and collaborative experience, and we take the time to truly listen, research, and strategize so as to create the best possible resumes and career materials for every single client we serve.”

—Jillian Kinsey, CPRW

“What I love about resumes is their poetry.

I don’t mean to say that an effective resume is lyrical or floral. It’s just the opposite.

A powerful resume is brief and clean with one idea occupying one line. There’s a refreshing pause in every breath of white space.

The adjectives are few, the adverbs fewer. What counts is the details, namely, the quantities.

‘How many? How much?’ I frequently ask.

‘What exactly did you do?’ A simple action verb that clearly conveys an achievement reverberates.

Every preposition that follows a verb demands deletion. ‘Carried out’ becomes ‘executed.’

I suppose there is a role for jargon. We must demonstrate comfort with marketplace terminology, but there’s a place for plain language, too. ‘Management’ becomes ‘manager,’ better yet “manage.” A ‘collaborator’ is dicey, but ‘collaborate’ is fine, even if the word is growing tired now.

However, there is one way a resume surpasses a poem. That is, a resume achieves the alchemy of language when it becomes a pathway to a better job, for growth, a ticket that, if worded well, opens office doors to those who always found them shut.”

—Dena Marks, PhD, CPRW

“Office doors spring open for a well-crafted resume and compelling cover letter, but only a successful interview ensures those doors close — with the job seeker inside, arranging their family photos and a vase of roses on their new desk.

Athletes, musicians, and politicians continually employ coaches who optimize their performance, help them level-up, stay relevant, remain influential. Building a gratifying career in the current job market requires the same ambition, so does it make sense to conquer it alone?

I have a talent for unearthing the extraordinary. As a 20-year classroom teacher, I’ve learned that it’s the equivalent of mining for precious metals. Discovering how clients can excel gives them power; it’s a version of prospecting. Most job seekers merely focus on requirements posted by the hiring company and their corresponding list of qualifications, but that becomes ineffective when there are a multitude of candidates who also match the job description. The component they miss is their added value, those unique traits and experiences that make them stand out, make them a perfect fit for their desired job.

A strong interview must be a balanced and lively conversation, not an awkward inquisition. There are techniques that applicants can apply to take charge. Positivity and eloquence can be coached; everyone from executive level applicants to recent college graduates benefit from practicing how to present themselves. Let’s face it — talking about one’s self is never easy, but with guided preparation, consistent rehearsal, and a skilled interview coach, anyone can reach their personal gold standard.”

—Dana Kinsey, CIC