By Joan Axelrod-Contrada, Globe Correspondent, 9/15/02

Ten years ago, Bill Fortin of Northampton set out to write his own resume and ended up on the path toward becoming a CPRW -- certified professional resume writer.

''I read everything I could about resume writing,'' said Fortin, 59, who at the time was trying to move from military recruiting to human resources. ''Obviously, it worked. I got the job. But I would never use the same resume today. I'd make it more hard-hitting.''

Fortin eventually became one of more than 1,000 certified professional resume writers nationwide. He runs his own part-time business and Web site, PrizeResume.com.

Resume writers benefit both from the opportunities created by a good economy and the competitive challenges in an economic slowdown. And in an era of layoffs and cutbacks, job hunters are looking for resumes that ''sizzle'' in an employer's hands, specialists say. While many people still write their own resumes, others believe a professional can do a better job. But finding the right professional can be tricky.

''Prior to certification, anyone could hang out a shingle, and the public had no way to tell [one resume writer from another]'' said Frank Fox, 57, founder and executive director of the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches (PARW/CC). ''Certification provides a minimum standard of qualification.''

Certification is important because anyone with a computer can set up shop, say resume writers. Sally McIntosh, certification chair for the National Resume Writers' Association, knows of only three states -- New York, Arizona, and Texas -- that have criteria for the profession.

Resume writers are among the many professionals who have recently added certification programs.

''They want the public's confidence that the profession is operating in an ethical manner and that people know what they are doing,'' said Cookie Cottrell, director of credentialing services for the American Society of Association Executives in Washington, D.C.

The modern resume profession dates to the 1970s, when employers discovered job applications were not giving them enough information to make good hiring decisions. At the same time, many print-shop operators who helped customers with typesetting and resume preparation began to find they had a knack for writing them.

Two professional associations now offer certification programs for resume writers. PARW/CC, based in St. Petersburg, Fla., implemented its CPRW program in 1991. The National Resume Writers' Association, a nonprofit offshoot of the for-profit PARW/CC, formed in 1997 and established its own member certification program -- the Nationally Certified Resume Writer (NCRW).

Both programs are administered by fax to members only ($150 a year membership for PARW/CC, $125 for NRWA) and include study guides. The CPRW program costs $225 and contains segments on industry knowledge, grammar, strategic thinking, and resume and cover-letter writing. Applicants for NRWA's certification must first meet a continuing education requirement, then submit a sample resume and cover letter ($30). If the sample resume and cover letter meet NRWA standards, the candidate can proceed to the association's two part-certification exam ($70 each). If not, NRWA refers the candidate to its online training program ($100).

Members of the profession include not only entrepreneurs like Fortin but also individuals affiliated with outplacement firms, state employment agencies, and college career offices. The Franklin/Hampshire Career Center, one of the state's nonprofit One-Stop Career Centers, for instance, has paid for four or five staff members to get certification training as a way of providing quality services to the public, said director Michael Truckey.

Many other individuals pay for their own training. McIntosh said that resume writers often get hands-on experience working for family and friends before joining a professional association. From there, they might get more experience on a voluntary basis for an organization such as a women's crisis center.

Resume writer Michelle Dumas, 33, of Somersworth, N.H., holds certifications from both PRWA/CC and NRWA. ''Certification builds credibility with clients, and it's a selling point,'' she said.

Not everyone, however, believes that resume writers should be certified.

''Certification is only one among many possible credentials a resume writer can have,'' said Shel Horowitz, director of Accurate Writing & More in Northampton. Horowitz, who is not certified, uses other credentials, such as publication credits and awards, to attract clients. He keeps his rates relatively low -- $50 an hour.

Rates vary considerably, with fees generally determined by the complexity of the task: Resumes for entry-level workers are less involved than those for career changers or people with considerable experience. Fortin charges by the resume -- generally $125-$350 -- not by the hour, although he said he generally works between three and five hours on a resume. Dumas's company, Distinctive Documents, charges $245-$800 per resume.

Specialists have seen a marked increase in the number of resume writers offering their services on the Internet. Many online career sites offer links to professional resume writers. Dumas, for instance, is the resume expert for ExecuNet, a career site for executives.

''It's a win-win,'' said Dumas about such partnerships. ''They're able to offer their clients a 'value-added' service. The benefit to me is increased exposure.''

Professional resume writers commonly talk about the resume as a ''marketing tool.'' Often, they say, do-it-yourselfers make the mistake of underselling their accomplishments. ''If there's a place to brag,'' said Dumas. ''It's on your resume.''

By ''bragging,'' Dumas and Fortin do not mean tooting one's horn. ''Some people have resumes loaded with personal pronouns,'' said Dumas. ''It's all about them. What we need to do is make it about addressing the employers' needs.''

Fortin offers up the hypothetical example of a resume for a cabdriver. Instead of simply describing everyday tasks like picking up customers and collecting fares, said Fortin, a cabdriver's resume should mention specifics such as ''200,000 accident-free miles'' and ''customer service award.''

Among Fortin's resume pet peeves: sloppiness (crossing out an old address and writing in the new one in pen) and overuse of the phrase ''responsible for.'' He and other resume professionals recommend changing passive constructions to active verbs like ''managed'' or ''developed.'' And, they say, some resumes need to be more than one page long.

''Anyone in the business a long time knows these rules are meant to be broken,'' said Dumas.

Professional resume writers also emphasize the importance of accuracy. ''If I feel uncomfortable that someone's misrepresenting themselves, I won't work with them,'' Dumas said. ''We're dealing with some very personal aspects of life.''

Before going to a professional resume writer or composing a resume on a home computer, Dumas recommends giving deep thought to one's accomplishments in the workplace. ''Make notes on that,'' she said. ''Brainstorm.''

One final tip: Give the resume a clear focus. As Dumas put it: ''The reader needs to come away with a clear understanding of who this individual is and what he or she is offering.''

Joan Axelrod-Contrada is a freelance writer and author of the forthcoming book Career Opportunities in Politics, Government, and Activism (Facts on File, Inc., 2003). She can be reached at axelrodcon@aol.com.