Meet Michelle Dumas - One of the Nation's Top Professional Executive Resume Writers
Respected authority on executive resumes, personal branding, and career marketing strategy...

My Mission Statement
To exceed the expectations of the world's most discriminating executives, senior managers, and professionals - providing exclusive, personalized, full-scale executive career marketing services unrivaled for their quality, results, and return on investment.

If you are reading this page it is likely that you are already familiar with my work as an executive resume writer. Maybe you have been referred to me by a past client. Maybe you have read about me somewhere on the Internet. Or maybe you have seen my work in a book.
Over the past 25+ years, I have established myself as a nationwide leader in the field of executive resume writing and career marketing. My genuine caring, natural intuitiveness, and relaxed interpersonal style and demeanor has played to my advantage in getting my clients to open up and share the details of their lives, their careers, and their dreams - details that are absolutely essential to the work we do together. At the same time, my intense focus and goal orientation, strong strategic thinking abilities (enabling me to see connections where others just see clutter), and commitment to excellence in everything I do has made my work with executives and aspiring executives a natural fit for my talents.
In 1996, I opened the doors at Distinctive Documents with a mission - to position myself and my company as a leader in the field of resume writing and career marketing. I have always been a very ambitious and goal-driven person, but my success and the success of Distinctive Documents has far exceeded all of my targets and expectations. Today, I can honestly say that I have been privileged to work with literally thousands of fascinating individuals - many of the world's top executives, managers, political leaders, and celebrities, people in nearly all professions and industries, in both the public and private sector, and in organizations and companies of all sizes, from the smallest start ups to the largest global Fortune 100s. Working "virtually" has enabled me to build a loyal client base that spans the globe. Although I make my home in a small New Hampshire community about 1.5 hours North of Boston (where I live with my husband of 30+ years and close to our grown daughter), my clients come from all 50 U.S. states and numerous countries worldwide.
ExecutiveResumeWriting.services (originally 100kCareerMarketing.com) was launched in early 2007 as a strategy and vehicle to allow me to continue what I love doing! With a loyal client base that is growing exponentially every year (referrals account for more than 50% of our new business), Distinctive Career Services (www.distinctiveweb.com) has grown far beyond the original solopreneuer model. And so, determined to continue to provide services distinguished and respected for top-notch quality and service excellence, I sought out, recruited, trained, and continue to mentor, guide, and supervise a team top-talent writers in delivering the services of Distinctive Career Services.
But today, I limit my own one-on-one work to the services provided through ExecutiveResumeWriting.services. I accept only a small number of clients, and when necessary, keep a waiting list! This allows me to focus all of my time and attention on a single client at a time, providing very personalized, exclusive, detail-oriented services that meet the individual needs of my clients. In short, I deliver unrivaled first-rate service in creating customized executive career marketing portfolios and campaigns to meet the requirements of the world's most discriminating professionals and executives.
Recognized Top Executive Resume Writer
When you work with me, you can be sure that you are working with one of the foremost experts in the industry...a professional executive resume writer and job search strategist who doesn't just stay on top of trends and standards, but who sets quality standards nationwide for other writers and who is actively sought out for her knowledge when it comes to establishing industry standards and best practices.
With expertise spanning nearly all industries and proven success working with diverse clients at every executive and management level, I am exceptionally well-qualified to meet your individual needs. Recognized as a nationwide leader in executive resume writing, Fortune 500 executives from many of the top global corporations have entrusted me to promote and advance their careers.
Nationally Certified Professional Resume Writer
Writing certifications include both the CPRW and NCRW (Certified Professional Resume Writer and Nationally Certified Resume Writer). As one of only a handful (literally) of dually certified writers in the U.S., and as a Certified Personal Branding Strategist (CPBS), Job & Career Transition Coach (JCTC), and a Certified Employment Interview Professional (CEIP), I am well known as an industry authority and one of the leading executive resume writers and career marketing strategists in the U.S.
Featured in more than 12 top-selling books.
Sought out as a contributor to books that have included: “Executive Job Search for $100,000 to $1 Million+ Jobs” and “Resume Winners from the Pros”, Impact Publications, “Last Minute Resumes” from Career Press, “101 Best Dot.Com Resumes” from McGraw-Hill and “Expert Resumes from Computer and Web Jobs,” “Expert Resumes for Teachers and Educators,” as well as “Expert Resumes for Manufacturing Professionals,” and “America’s Top Resumes for America’s Top Jobs,” all from Jist Publications.
Published Author
Author of “Secrets of a Successful Job Search: 7 Simple Steps to Land the Job You Want in Half the Time” and “101 Before-and-After Resume Examples.” Additionally, my articles, essays, and other professional works have been useful in training other employment industry professionals, and have been published in a textbook for professional career coaches, in numerous college/university career centers around the nation, in the Career Planning and Adult Development Journal, and on countless employment web sites.
Multiple Award Winner in National Competitions
2x winner of “Best Resume” in a national competition sponsored by the Professional Association of Resume Writers (the only two times entered). Also 5X nominee and 4x winner of the national TORI (Toast of the Resume Industry) award sponsored by Career Directors International (again, wins are from both of the only 2 years I entered the competition).
Respected Professional Resume Writing Expert
Quoted in the media on resume writing topics, I also served for more than a decade, as a consultant on executive resumes for ExecuNet, the Internet’s premier career center for the $100K+ executive and have been a featured speaker on resume writing topics at national industry conferences. After spending more than 10 years on the NCRW Certification Commission (evaluating certification and exam submissions), since 2006 I have served as a member of the NCRW Advisory Board comprised of several top experts nationwide, collaborating in evaluating best practices and setting quality standards for resume writers nationwide.
Active Leader in the Industry
As an active member of The National Resume Writers’ Association (NRWA) as well as Career Directors International (CDI), Career Thought Leaders (CTL), and Professional Association of Resume Writers/Career Coaches (PARW/CC), I remain abreast of ever-evolving trends and the complexities of the employment market around the world. I am a current two-term Director of Industry on The NRWA Board of Directors and previously served as a Regional Representative on the Board. Recently, I was elected to serve as President Elect of The NRWA in 2016 and President in 2017.
Michelle's Clients Say It Best
- S.S., Virginia, Solutions Practice Management Executive![]()
I am extremely pleased and impressed with Michelle Dumas… Over the years, I have worked with some of the best writers, marketing, sales, and practice executives around the world. Michelle is definitely the best professional writer I have ever engaged.