Complaint Review: Laura DeCarlo Career Directors International

The author of this post is so misinformed! I am a paying member of Career Directors International and as one of the top resume writers in the country have Laura to thank for much of my success.

You will find my work published in "Gallery of Best Resumes - 5th Edition", "Step-By-Step-Resumes", "Step-By-Step Cover Letters", and numerous website publications including bankrate.com, etc.

My recommendation for a disgruntled resume writer is to take responsibility for their own business failure and not blame others. 

Angela Jones, CPRW, CEIC

www.ANewResume.com

Definitely slimy spammers at career directors international. Is there anything less credible than a company who spams people? It speaks volumes about Laura DeCarlo and the others who make these kind of decisions.

Who develops a marketing campaign that involves spamming the world like a bunch of pathetic losers? Of course, losers. The only people that join this org are people that don't know what they are doing and are looking for a possible edge to build some credibility. Why? Because they suck. Unfortunately form them, it does not work. The resumes produced by these people stink and no designation will change that. Spend your money on something useful, like a nice meal. Don't waste it on this org. Spammers, garbage website, useless pretty much sums it up.

Addendum...

Based on the rebuttal by the author stating that the writers should "eat more salad..." sums up the logic of this individual and his/her allegations. No more energy expended.  All the best!

The allegations stated  regarding Career Directors International and Laura DeCarlo are grossly incorrect.

More than likely, the post is from an individual who is ill-informed and perhaps dealing with his/her own job related anger. With the unemployment rates being as high as they have been in the past 3 years, it is not uncommon for individuals to lash out at the resume industry, HR professionals and even spouses.  This sort of behavior is better served seeking a psychological evaluation in lieu of trying to drag a trustworthy organization and it's leader into the ground through ripoff report.

My objective position on CDI, Laura DeCarlo and the resume writing industry has been superbly supportive to individuals seeking services, support and worldwide career knowledge for a broad scope of situations.

My recommendation to anyone doubting CDI or Professional Resume Writers/Coaches, etc is to discern for yourself whether you have the knowledge to compete with today's candidates on your own or with the support and knowledge from a trusted industry advisor.

CDI is a premier organization. Period!

Way to post replies that will ensure this content will always be in the forefront on the Internet forever. These orgs that take your money and administer these incredibly useless "certifications" are beyond useless. I've seen endless resumes from "certified" writers and they are horrible resumes. Certs are not worth the paper they are written on in terms of ensuring a well done resume. That's indisputable. What you have at CDI are a bunch of people trying to get an edge because they lack the real tools to have a successful resume service. That's who joins useless Orgs like CDI.

Just because you use Constant Contact (a disgraceful spam promoter) for purposes of spam (sending unsolicited email) doesn't somehow make it legitimate and okay. DAH. The only people who reduce themselves to spam are slimy companies who don't care how they are perceived in the marketplace. These companies have nothing useful going on to generate honest business, so they reduce themselves to a lowly bottom dwelling spammers. Nice.

The only other advice I have for Laura and the gang of stay at home mom resume writers is to eat a salad once in a while, and stop spamming. Losers.

I find all aspects of this report unfounded and incorrect. Career Directors is the most progressive, fastest growing careers organization in the world. The annual fees ($180) are far from outrageous. If someone thinks that is too high then they cant afford to operate a business. And yes, as a matter fact, being part of CDI makes me and every member I know extremely successful. Clearly, the web site looks fine. My hunch tells me that this was written out of spite by some resume writer who couldnt make a go at the industry. Anybody who knows Laura, and many, many well respected people from around the world do, knows she is first class all the way.

This email is a rebuttal to the complaint notice provided from a very misguided person. Emails sent by CDI are informative and helpful to those in the careers industry and those looking for a job. They are also easy to unsubscribe to by simply clicking unsubscribe at the bottom of any email.

Obviously you unfamiliar with Constant Contact and their removal policies, no malware at all! This is why CDI and other reputable organizations use their services.

I have been in the careers industry for 10 years and a member of 3 different resume associations and can honestly say that by far, CDI has the best writer information and help that I have ever encountered. The assistance, opportunities, and information on the member website alone are worth the competitive investment to be a member.
 
You probably just dont realize what youre missing because youre not a member; maybe you should give it a try!

I am quite frankly, shocked at this person's allegations. And they are without merit and with malice (though why this person's attitude, I can't imagine).

Laura DeCarlo is one of the most sincere and ethical leaders I have ever known and CDI has been a most valuable resource for resume writers and a diverse set of career professionals.

There are strict ethical guidelines. A rich pool of professional development tools  and resources. It is a professional association that has been around more than a decade, and has grown because it provides value to its members. It is a professional association!!

Neither Laura or CDI rely on spam; that is simply outrageous. If this person did not want to receive emails, a simple "unsubscribe" would have worked well.

This lashing out against CDI and Laura is completely unwarranted. One need only google to find the deep credibility both have earned. It's very sad to see such unwarranted claims. Just not a bit of truth in this report.

I am completely dumbfounded that the good name of Ms. Laura DeCarlo and her incredible organization, Career Directors International, is on the line. Ms. DeCarlo is a true pioneer in our industry, and the work she does--and the contact she maintains with the society's membership--is utterly invaluable to hardworking professionals who work with job seekers across the world.

The e-mails that Ms. DeCarlo regularly sends to the professional resume writing and career coaching membership are opt-in (and opt-out) and provide exceptional information to those of us who work as career professionals. None of the e-mail is spammy, and Constant Contact is a reputable e-mail newsletter source whose "unsubscribe" links are neither dangerous nor malware-laden.

As to the web site, those of us who regularly take advantage of the paid content provided therein know the value that this content provides. Every one of CDI's members choose to pay the fairly inexpensive membership fee every year because we get VALUE from the content. Also, those who pay for membership know that the content is updated frequently with information that we need to know.

I don't know what an "Internet collection site" is exactly, but rest assured, all memberships to the organization and visits to its web site are completely voluntary.

Overall this complaint is completely baseless and should be retracted to support the very good names and ethical practices of both Ms. DeCarlo and Career Directors International.

I completely disagree with this report and find Career Directors International to be the respected gold standard of the resume writing services industry.  Top resume writing industry thought leaders have been long-time members of this organization and are happy to speak to any interested parties about the integrity of this organization, contrary to this individual's false claims. Additionally, Ms. DeCarlo makes every effort to provide quality return on investment in terms of the membership benefits offered. 

Consumers of the services offered by this organization learn how to set up professional operations, add more value to clients, and hone their knowledge in order to keep on top of industry trends... which then means that  this knowledge is transferred to clients in need of career help.

As someone who is very guarded about what groups I join, my own experience with Career Directors International has been one of sincerity, authenticity, integrity, value, and professionalism.  I would not spend time or money on any organization that didn't adhere to those strict standards if the issues cited by the poster of this report were actually true. 

Finally, "spamming" as this person claims, does NOT take place, and instead provides well-timed, helpful (and malware/adware-free) links to one of the biggest treasure troves of industry resources and top-tier knowledge than any other related organization. 

Knowing what care goes into every facet of Career Directors International's professional offerings and benefits to members, I find this report completely false and misleading. I would urge RipOff Report editors to take this information down.

This report is completely FALSE. I have known Laura DeCarlo and have been a member of Career Directors for many years. The number of emails from CDI (just one per week with informative information [with an OPT IN list on Constant Contact] - along with one or two others per YEAR) is less than most other organizations. The membership fees (which are the same as or less than other similar organizations) are normal and reasonable.

Through my relationship with CDI I have grown my business through the years. The information I have gained using the three separate online boards (CDI separates resumes, career coaching and general so we only get the information WE want), along with the friendships and business partnerships I have developed through meetings and the boards, has DEFINITELY contributed many tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of dollars to my revenues.

I cannot begin to express my thanks to Laura DeCarlo for "saving" me and finding me a subcontracting arrangement to continue my work during my time of need several years ago. That act alone shows me the true character of Laura.

Every year I choose to go to CDI conferences. They are one of the best in the industry and the friendships and business information I have gained through going are extremely important to me. CDI presents the MOST up-to-date information in the industry - with information generally AHEAD of other organizations. CDI seeks the top experts in the field and is cutting edge.

Besmirching the good name of an established association made up of hard-working people, is quite frankly, beyond low. One can only imagine the motivations of an individual to post such a rant, which is entirely without out merit and clearly vindictive. Laura DeCarlo is a leader without peer in the resume writing industry; her pioneering efforts in raising the profile of the industry are legendary. CDI, the international association for resume writers, has been in existence since 2000. The association continues to grow daily as professional resume writers are attracted to the opportunities to enrich their professional practice for the benefit of job seekers everywhere. 

That this individual would consider making an unfair target of Ms DeCarlo and CDI is indeed mystifying. But to get it on record, I'll happily dispel the information presented as fact. Members of an association generally don't believe that "belonging" will be a passport to untold riches and business success. There are no outrageous fees to join the association and this assertion is ill-informed. Membership fees are listed on the website clearly and many professionals -- accountants, doctors, lawyers just to name three, have professional bodies and are required to pay dues. If this individual is indeed some sort of professional writer and does not wish to pay dues, then he does not need to be a member. There is nothing mandatory about belonging to a professional resume writing association, as is obvious by some of the resume mills out there.  

Spamming? The writer exaggerates to the extreme. Weekly newsletters to members and limited communications to those who opt-in are the only communications sent. Regarding clicking on links, the writer is also uninformed. Constant Contact is a well known and respected third-party service for communications used by millions of people worldwide. Of course clicking on an unsubscribe link when you don't know the source, is and can be dangerous. But even a cursory glance would tell the writer that the newsletter is from Constant Contact; a service used by corporates and ethical businesses everywhere. There is no danger in clicking on an unsubscribe link from Constant Contact. 

Why the individual concerns himself with the design of another's website is curious and inconsequential to consumers. This can be easily overcome if the writer just doesn't click on the URL. 

In short, the allegations cited in the report appear to have been presented with malice and have no merit whatsoever. 

This complaint is completely without merit. 

CDI is a very ethical organization, and this email list is managed by ConstantContact which does  NOT tolerate spam being sent from any of the lists they manage. 

Nor does ConstantContact distribute malware to anyone who clicks on an unsubscribe link - a foolish excuse to avoid responsibility for not using the appropriate method of unsubscribing.

Nor is CDI in the business of sending spam.  It is a professional organization of hundreds of career professionals with a stellar reputation.

If this person had requested to be removed from the email list, they would have been - a far more productive use of their time than creating this kind of irresponsible complaint.