Meet Carolyn Whitfield
Need to talk? I may not be able to answer your call because I work with clients by appointment throughout the work day.
If you’d like to chat, check when I’m free and book your time here
The fact you’re here means that you’ve probably realised (the hard way) that landing your dream job in today’s competitive market isn’t that easy.
You may be confused, exhausted, anxious, and uncertain about HOW to leverage your career …
As a former recruiter turned career storyteller and executive resume writer, I take your career seriously. My clients land top jobs – quickly – with a combination of powerful personal branding, job search strategies and interview coaching.
☛ Warning: All résumé writers are not equal ☚
Would you entrust the safety of your loved ones with an unqualified mechanic? No WAY! Similarly don’t put your career, potential earnings and future in the hands of an uncertified writer.
I write and design story-based, achievement-driven and interview-winning resumes and career marketing documents for executives, aspiring leaders and professionals…
- Triple-Certified, Published Resume Writer
- Certified Career Storyteller
- LinkedIn Optimisation Expert
- Certified Job Interview Coach
- Certified Online Job Search & Reputation Management Professional
- Outplacement & Career Transition Consultant & Partner
- Qualified Workplace Trainer & Assessor
- I GET RESULTS!
Don’t take my word for it. Here are some REAL client success stories:
A Customer Service Manager received a call for an interview for her ultimate job just 15 mins after emailing her NEW resume—WOW!
A Graphic Designer landed his absolute dream job as a Photographer / Graphic Designer with Australia ’s leading online fashion retailer—LIFE-CHANGING OUTCOME!
INDUSTRY CERTIFICATIONS, MEMBERSHIPS & AWARDS
Australia’s first and only certified career storyteller.
1 of Australia’s leading executive resume writing strategists.
1 of only 3 Certified Executive Résumé Masters in Australia.
(1 of 20 CERMs worldwide)
The only resume professional Australia wide to hold all 5 certifications.
98.8% interview-winning success rate for executives, managers and professionals.
Client Testimonial
“Hi Carolyn, I just wanted to let you know that the revamped resumé worked wonders. I applied for 3 roles since it was updated, and was offered interviews for all of them. I decided to accept a Training and Development Manager role at XXX (name withheld) within the Department of XXX (withheld). I will be in charge of a team that works with stakeholders in other government departments and with the public, delivering bespoke training around dispute resolution, negotiation skills, and court-ordered mediation. Thanks for the resume revamp.”
(Posted / Emailed 3 Resumes; Invited to 3 Interviews; Received 1 Job Offer)
D Telford, Training & Development Manager, Melbourne, VIC
My Story
“I’ve been successful in getting a new role as Head of Technology and Innovation with a Mental Health and Disability Support NFP.
I truly believe that your work on these resumes made this happen. To be honest, I have been very successful in getting interviews with this resume and ended up turning down two other roles for this one!”
–David
I’m Carolyn Whitfield, Australia’s first and only Certified Career Storyteller.
Client feedback like this always reminds me why I love what my team and I do for executives every day.
12 years ago, I made a career transition that unlocked a wealth of opportunity- after a successful career in business management, I began a new career in professional recruiting and training.
I quickly discovered how challenging it is for professionals looking for executive roles to land leadership positions with ideal-fit companies.
The vast majority of Australian executives are competing for the same handful of published job listings – and wondering why they’re still searching months or years later.
In fact, less than 4% of résumés submitted nationally result in an interview at all.
This is an enormous amount of wasted effort that ultimately harms professionals who deserve financial, career, and personal success… as well as companies who actively need and want their expertise.
This is why I founded Total Résumés.
You might be looking for a new challenge, an income upgrade, or both. Or perhaps you’re not actively looking, but something’s telling you to be prepared for future opportunities.
Whatever the case, your résumé is either opening doors… or locking them.
Crafting a resume that satisfies automated résumé scoring software AND appeals to human decision-makers is no simple task.
It’s not something you’ll get from a typical résumé writer.
Unfortunately, because these people do not have industry certification training, the résumés they produce often contain elements that are “flagged” by automated scoring software.
Because they work on volume, they also lack the time and expertise to weave a detailed story that resonates with any humans who happen to read it.
Expertise and focus makes the difference.
My team and I deliver résumés that achieve results, because I know what automated and human resume reviewers are looking for.
That doesn’t mean fitting you into a “formula,” though. Your résumé should be an accurate, relevant representation of your unique experience and value.
That’s why we only work with 4 clients at a time. This allows my elite team of TORI-award-winning and CMRW/CERW-certified career experts and storytellers and I to focus on presenting you and your compelling story, instead of filling your résumé with the same surface-level info recruiters and hiring managers see every single day.
The result? A 98.8% success rate.
It feels amazing to know that so many of our clients are getting unstuck thanks to Total Résumés. They’ve gained the power to land dream jobs and increase income by up to 40% – even when other professional résumé writers have failed them.
If you’re ready to become unstuck too, click here to compare our done-for-you Total Résumé Packages.
WITH A 98.8% SUCCESS RATE, WE HELP EXECUTIVES & ASPIRING LEADERS WORLDWIDE, TO LAND THEIR DREAM JOBS & INCREASE THEIR SALARIES UP TO 40%
Total Resumes Testimonials
Feedback From Our Valuable Clients
There are Many Resume Writers in the Market...
Why Me?
I’m glad you asked because I can assume that you are actively researching resume writers and rank quality service highly.
As a career storyteller, I take an ineffective resume and turn it into a power-packed personal campaign–using your unique career stories to define your brand and showcase you as the obvious choice.
I’m focussed solely on client success (quality over quantity) and only work with 4 clients at a time. In addition to working exclusively with clients, I lead and mentor a small, elite team of TORI-award-winning and CMRW/CERW certified career experts and storytellers. When selecting a service, professional-level clients have the choice of working with me, or a member of my world-class, multi-certified team.
As the Founder of Total Resumes, I guarantee professional quality work, effective and customised career marketing documents, and personal customer service. Documents produced by Total Resumes are achievement-based and results-driven, positioning our clients as highly qualified interview candidates for positions they want to target while instilling the confidence and mindset of knowing they ARE one step ahead of their competition.
As you are vetting resume writing professionals, I encourage you to read my article “What you NEED to Know BEFORE Investing in a Resume Writer.”
Are You Ready for a High-Level Branded Executive Portfolio?
You’re a good fit if…
… you are a high-level executive, professional, entrepreneur, or rising star who is truly passionate about what you do and ready to dedicate time and resources to advancing your career.
… you would benefit from an efficient, proven process that has worked for thousands of elite careerists.
… you recognise the power of story and have the sense that there is a better way to express your value than in a collection of disjointed (if impressive) accomplishment bullets.
… you appreciate that the people reading your resume and LinkedIn profile will be in the best position to help you if every aspect of your career marketing is imbued with your brand, and each word is carefully chosen to concisely convey what you bring to the table.
Let me put powerful job search tools in your hands quickly and at a tremendous value! Check some samples of my award-winning resumes.
My Unique Value Offering
Resume Writing and Document Development Certifications:
- Certified Master Resume Writer – 1 of only 6 in Australia and 41 worldwide
- Certified Executive Resume Master – 1 of only 3 in Australia and 36 worldwide
- Certified Career Storyteller – The 1st and only 1 in Australia and 1 of 5 worldwide
- Certified Graphic Resume Architect – The 1st and only 1 in Australia and 1 of 8 worldwide
Career Services and Coaching Certifications:
- Certified Employment Interview Consultant – 1 of only 4 in Australia and 37 worldwide
- Certified Professional – Online Job Search & Reputation Mgmt. – 1 of only 2 in Australia and 12 worldwide
International Industry Recognition: Toast of the Resume Industry (TORI) Award Wins
- 1st Place: Best New Graduate Resume, 2021
- 2nd Place: Best Healthcare Resume, 2021
- 3rd Place: Best Executive Resume, 2021
- 3rd Place: Best High Tech Resume, 2021
- 3rd Place: Best Sales Resume, 2021
- 1st Place: Best Executive Resume, 2020
- 1st Place: Best Healthcare/Medical Resume, 2020
- 1st Place: Best Marketing Resume, 2020
- 2nd Place: Best Sales Resume, 2020
- 2nd Place: Best Hospitality Resume, 2019
- 3rd Place: Best Sales Resume, 2019
Each year, the Career Directors International (CDI) hosts the resume writing industry’s most prestigious Toast of the Resume Industry™ (TORI) resume writing competition.
This is an international competition in which contestants submit their best work in a category. Winners are selected by a blind panel of global industry experts. Nominees are selected, followed by first, second, and third place winners in each category.
CDI members are eligible and encouraged to strive for writing and creative awards, which benefit the general membership, members’ clients, CDI, and the industry as a whole.
CDI introduced the TORI™ Awards to the industry in 2000 to celebrate a new standard in excellence through rigorous criteria requirements. While award standards have always been demanding, never before has the resume writing industry embraced the concept of standardised criteria for resume judging.
Learn more about these prestigious awards here: https://careerdirectors.com/learn-grow/awards/toast-of-the-resume-industry-awards-tori/resume-award-winners/
Why Should You Choose my Resume Practice Over Others?
Not only do I create outstanding, story-based resumes recognised by my peers, executive recruiters, clients, and hiring managers for a remarkably analytical and powerful style, I also understand the job market and the intensity of a job search – having worked in employment services and recruitment for many years.
In addition, I’ve elicited information from even the most restrained of clients… resulting in resumes that provide clients just like you with a competitive edge by capturing your particular vision, work style, brand, energy, and accomplishments.
I offer you outstanding credentials and a global reputation, with these advantages.
- Award winner and nominee in the international Toast of the Resume Industry (TORI) Awards.
- Thousands of successfully employed clients at start-up, fortune-ranked and mid-sized firms.
- High success rate (98%) landing interviews for CIO, CEO, CTO, COO, CFO, GM and other job hunters.
- Multiple certifications and master-level training through Career Directors International (CDI).
As I am sure you are aware, the resume writing industry is unregulated in Australia and the marketplace is FULL of self–appointed resume writers. My skills have been assessed by the Career Directors International and found to be of a high standard. - Published in career bestsellers.
- Qualified Workplace Trainer and Assessor with experience in one-to-one and group facilitation.
Career Investment
I encourage you to invest in your career – the one area of your life that makes all other wants and needs possible–so you can take control, get what you want, and avoid wasting time. You will be presented with an eye-catching, cutting- edge and modern resume to assist with your career endeavours. Your professional resume and letter is your stepping stone to gaining an interview to get the job you seek.
The return on investment for our services can be profound. If you can shorten your job search by just 1 week, our packages have paid for themselves! Explore the Total Resumes website to learn more about our services, client testimonials, unique industry credentials and view samples of my work. Additionally, I am available via direct email for any queries.
I look forward to hearing from you!
Executive Resume Writing Services – Anchored in Hobart, Tasmania Servicing Australia: Sydney | Melbourne | Brisbane | Canberra | Adelaide | Perth | Darwin | Hobart
Not in Australia? We have assisted clients worldwide including: United Kingdom | United States of America | United Arab Emirates | India | East Africa | Saudi Arabia | Hong Kong | New Zealand | Egypt | China