By Caitlin Gonzalez, NCRW & NRWA Newsletter Staff Writer
Based in Birmingham, AL, Alison Simpkins Smith is the founder of Radical Resumes, LLC, where her mission is to impact job seekers’ lives by helping them “find their greatness within.” Between her vast achievements and active presence in the NRWA, she is an inspirational gift to all in the career services industry.
While getting to know Alison over the phone to create this article, I immediately understood the special ingredient to Radical Resumes’ success—her genuine care for clients’ career growth. She has a warmth that is unwavering and unmistakable. “Writing resumes is more than a business to me,” she explained. “It’s my ministry.”
A Technical Career Path: From Engineering Manager to Professional Resume Writer
Alison started writing during childhood by journaling – “before it was cool.” In her late teens, she began writing resumes for young adults in college. As a professional, she wrote for newsletters and served as a leader in communications across various organizations. And, throughout all of this, she acquired expertise in the technical domain, a fortifying value-add to her target clients.
Growing up in a family of mechanics, Alison pursued a career in engineering. With a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Alabama, she crafted a 34-year legacy at Southern Company, one of the United States’ largest energy providers. Starting as a co-op and plant engineer, Alison was promoted continuously throughout various leadership positions. Her favorite part of working at Southern Company was partnering and communicating with people while working towards a common goal.
Her engineering and leadership background equips her with deep project management and operational knowledge, as well as first-hand experience on the other side of the hiring desk.
Radical Resumes, LLC
While working at Southern Company, Alison started Radical Resumes in 2011. Then, upon retiring as Manager of Engineering Enterprise Projects in 2016, Alison decided to devote herself full-time to her resume business.
Today, Radical Resumes is known for its exceptional client relationships and supportive business model. After the resume is delivered, Alison regularly checks in on her clients to see how their job search is going. She is always available to clients, even if they only need a little encouragement. “Sometimes a kind word can give a client the confidence they need to move forward…I love seeing their progress.”
Additionally, Alison is a resume optimizer and reviewer for Indeed.com, where she trains clients on resume writing best practices. See her previous article on this topic here.
National Resume Writers Association Membership
Alison tells her clients that when they work with her, they are not only receiving her expertise but the expertise of the NRWA network. “The NRWA’s major success is that it brings people together.” She has been a proud member since 2017 and has amplified her skillsets through the Writing Excellence course, virtual webinars, and the annual conference. You will also find her volunteering to support the organization’s social media efforts.
To get in contact, you can reach Alison on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/alisonsmitheng.
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Caitlin Gonzalez is a resume writer and the founder of Career Over Coffee, LLC in Raleigh-Durham, NC. She specializes in writing for technical professionals after seven years of hands-on IT experience in Corporate America. Find her online at linkedin.com/in/caitlinagonzalez.
