Do transfer of skills and career transitioning get your attention? Likely so, if you work with O*NET in any capacity. Then you will want to learn this story of the chemical engineer turned business owner. That's right. Robin Schlinger was an excellent chemical engineer. Armed with an MIT degree (and a minor in writing—get the hint?) every place she went engineering, for 20 years, "I was a great engineer. I got a couple of patents. Every place I worked, I ended up writing people's copy. I went to graduate school and got an A+ in the writing class!" Robin laughs. It shouldn't surprise anyone that when Robin Schlinger hung out her business owner shingle, it read Robin's Resumés. Robin combines her extensive knowledge of a wide array of occupations with her excellent writing skills, to deliver an outstanding service—crafting resumes that accomplish their objectives.
Robin maintains certifications as a Certified Federal Resumé Writer and a Certified Advanced Resumé Writer. But "I don't know the job duties of every single occupation," explains Robin. "That's where O*NET becomes so valuable. In my resumé writing process, I develop a set of questions for a discussion with my client. O*NET gives me the right questions to ask, around skills, tasks, activities, tools and technology. Not only in the words, the correct language. Also, in the subject of the questions: What regulations did you have to comply with? Did you do these tasks? That way, I can get at what my client knows and knows how to do. O*NET is especially helpful in this process around the lower-level occupations. Sometimes clients are not able to be fluidly verbal about what they have done. I can go into O*NET and learn the duties of their occupation, and form the set of appropriate questions, to craft their resumé." With her client's responses in mind, Robin can tell the story of their knowledge sets, skills, and abilities, written especially with a target occupation in mind.
Another component of O*NET that Robin uses successfully is the Crosswalk Search, with Military Occupational Classifications. She helped a client find a job as a machinist, after he had worked on tanks in Iraq. By using O*NET features, Robin was able to translate that veteran's knowledge and experience into matching skills, abilities and knowledge needed in machinist's work.
Robin's Resumés is based in Atlanta, GA. Robin grew up in New York, and lived in Macon, GA, for more that 10 years before she relocated to Atlanta. She played the violin, and was quite musical.
Spotlight sought Robin's perspective about what occupations people should pursue, since her own career path and the paths of her clients are especially interesting, sometimes incorporating unusual turns. "I say to people, ‘Target what you love. Figure out how to make money at it. And then take the necessary steps.'" She gives the example of a fine biologist who lacked the singing heart. Eventually she became the certified midwife with a singing heart. "It's my belief for everybody," she continues. "I am such a firm believer in doing what makes your heart sing. Create the steps to get there, and follow through. But keep it realistic."
|
