About Us
A-Plus Career and Resume is on the cutting-edge of Career Coaching and Resume development techniques and trends. We are committed to individual, personalized service. Your career documents are crafted especially for your needs, not a cookie-cutter template with a questionnaire, but through an in-depth interview process. All coaching sessions are tailored to your specific needs, whether career exploration and transition, interviewing, career management, or business coaching.
Whether face-to-face, phone or video, our Kansas City based firm is dedicated to providing you with the best career, business and resume services available.
Let us market your career or business, or help you determine your career or business goals for the future.
Karen Silins
Karen Silins is President and Owner of A-Plus Career and Resume, LLC, and dedicated to individualized, tailored services, and providing a realistic approach to the clients’ goals through a variety of career coaching competencies or in career document preparation. Karen’s desire for continuing education, and active status in resume and career industry organizations are well represented by her multiple certifications, memberships, and variety of professional credits, including membership in the prestigious Forbes Coaches Council.
“When making their choice for a career coach, business coach or resume writer, I believe people will gravitate towards those who continue to excel within their profession. If I expect clients to trust my advice, then I need to continually educate myself in all facets of this business, and maintain presence in the forefront of my industry.”
Karen believes that the greatest reward she receives from her work is “helping clients frustrated and disheartened in today’s highly technical and overly difficult job search or in the throes of career transition, to realize their professional goals and dreams,” and that “developing the client relationship, is all-important to obtain the necessary information for a successful resume or coaching experience.” Karen originally pursued a career path in opera performance, vocal education, and choral directing but experienced her own career transition into Human Resources, eventually finding true vocational fulfillment in resume development and career coaching. Presently, though she first envisioned performing on the world stage, Karen now serves as director, and facilitates her clients’ next career act!
Recent Honors
2021 and 2020, Selected to provide online seminars by Johnson County Library during COVID outbreak to assist those struggling in job search. Seminars permanently archived for viewing through library and all programs listed under my Events page.
2021 and 2020 Published in Forbes Online/Forbes Coaches Council on career, resume, and business topics.
2020, 2019, 2018 and 2017 Authority rankings, varying monthly in the categories of Employment, Human Resources, Career, Microblogging, Social Media, and Recruitment-Agilience Index: Agilience Authority Index
March 2019 Interview on KCUR (local NPR Affiliate) for Steve Kraske’s Up to Date show on Finding a Second Career (Karen’s interview starts at 27:45)
Awarded 2019 Kansas City Small Business Award – Career Counseling Classification, and Best Business Services
2019, multiple KMBZ morning show, short format interviews on job search (veteran specific), career management, and dealing with downsizing, position elimination or dismissal.
Featured in National Resume Writers Association (NRWA) “Ask the Expert” forum, 09/10/18
2019, Selected to provide multiple career seminars for Johnson County Housing Services.
2018 and 2017 Talent Management Expert Post for MarTechExec
2018, Guest Speaker for Kansas City Chapter of Project Management Institute (KCPMI) Monthly Dinner Meeting
Named Top 38 Career Experts to Follow in 2018 on Twitter:
Awarded 2017 The Kansas City Small Business Award – Career Counseling Classification
2017 Career Coaching & Interview Expert Posts for Off the Clock Resumes Blog
Selected for membership in Forbes Coaches Council, November 2016
Awarded 2016 The Kansas City Small Business Awards – Career Counseling Classification
Awarded 2016 Best Businesses – Best of Kansas City: Career Counseling
2016 Hiring Expert – Guest Blogger for Udacity.com
Awarded 2015 Best Businesses – Best of Kansas City: Career Counseling
Certifications
Additional Credits
20+ Years Experience in Resume Development, Career Coaching and Small Business Coaching
Appearances on local television networks for career and resume advice, including KCTV5 Morning Show (featured speaker), KMBC Morning Show (featured speaker), KSHB-TV (featured speaker), KMBZ (featured speaker), and WDAF for afternoon and evening news segments. 2009 – Present
Published in Print and Internet media including: Forbes Online/Forbes Coaches Council, LinkedIn Pulse, CareerBuilder.com, The Kansas City Star, Career Carnival/Career Sherpa/Elephants at Work, Lawrence Journal-World, and The Examiner.
Speaker for local Corporations, Libraries, Organizations, and Charities, including the upcoming American Volleyball Coaches Association Conference in December 2017, and Mid-Continent Public Libraries, Baker University, National APICS Supply Chain and Operations Conference-Kansas City, New Landings Speakers Series, Enterprise Center of Johnson County, The Urban League-KC, Northtowne Arts Coalition, The Junior League of Kansas City, Kansas City Chapter of NACM-CFDD, Crossroads Career Network, Lenexa Job Club, North Kansas City Job Club, Hope Center-Operation Breakthrough, and Johnson County Public Library.
Author and Presenter of six-week, 12-session program – Marketing You: Equipping You for Today’s Job Search.
Author and Presenter of six-week, 12-session program – Your Business Plan: The Entrepreneurs Compass.
Participated in research preparation for Career Thought Leaders Job Seeker Success Survey Research Project, 2012.
Featured in Martin Yate’s Knock-Em-Dead book series for resume writing and career coaching.
President and Executive Board Member, Association of Online Resume & Career Professionals
National Career Fairs, KansasCityHires.com and OverlandParkHires.com Resume and Coaching Expert, 2009 – 2013
CDI-PRWRA Region 7 Representative, 2002 – 2005
2003 Membership Chairperson, Kansas City Chapter – ACPI
Career Masters Institute Member Advisory Committee (2003 – 2008)
NRWA Resume Writers’ Toolbox Contributor
Winner of 2002/2003 TORI Award
Nominated for 2003/2004 TORI Award
Nominated for 3-2002/2003 TORI Awards
2000 PRWRA Best Cover Letter Award, International Competition, 3rd Place
International Coach for “Get Hired Now” Program (2002 – 2009)
Published in multiple “Knock ’em Dead” Resume and Cover Letter books
Published in “America’s Top Resumes for America’s Top Jobs”
Published in “Best College Resumes-Jump Start Your Career”
Volunteer: Volunteers for Careers
Memberships & Certifications
Member of Forbes Coaches Council
Member of National Resume Writers’ Association
Member of National Career Development Association
Member of National Association of Workforce Development Professionals
Member of HR.com
Community Member of Human Capital Institute
Member of International Membership of Professional Advisors, Coaches and Trainers
Member of American Management Association
Member of Internet Marketing Association
Member of 24-7Coaching.com
Member of The People Development Network (and contributor of blog articles)
Member of the The Coach Exchange
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Certified Advanced Resume Writer – Career Directors International
Certified Career Management Coach – Career Coach Academy
Certified Electronic Career Coach – Career Directors International
Certified Employment Interview Professional – Professional Association of Resume Writers
Certified Career Transition and Assessments Coach – CareerIntel
Certified CareerIntel Affiliate – CareerIntel
360º Reach Personal Brand Assessment Certification
Certified Print Coach – Hertz-Reeder Print Strategies, LLC/The Paul Hertz Group, Inc
Certified Master Resume Specialist – Association of Online Resume & Career Professionals
