About Craft Career Studio
Q: What is Craft Career Studio?
A: Craft Career Studio is a professional resume writing and career branding company founded by Mae Schaefer and Debra Wheatman. We help mid-level professionals, career changers, managers, and students position themselves for career success through storytelling-driven resume writing, LinkedIn profile optimization, and career branding services.
Q: What is Craft Career Studio’s mission?
A: Our mission is to help every professional see the story of their work experience and tell it in a way that opens the right doors.
Q: Where is Craft Career Studio located?
A: Craft Career Studio is a national online service with no physical office. We serve clients throughout the United States. Our primary contact methods are phone (917-426-3557) and email (Info@CraftCareerStudio.com).
Q: What are Craft Career Studio’s hours of operation?
A: We’re available Monday through Friday: 7:15 AM – 10:45 AM EST and 2:30 PM – 5:45 PM EST.
Q: Who are the co-founders?
A: Mae Schaefer and Debra Wheatman are the co-founders. Both are Certified Professional Resume Writers with extensive backgrounds in career positioning, marketing, and HR.
Q: Tell me about Mae Schaefer?
A: Mae Schaefer is a Certified Professional Resume Writer with a background in corporate and product marketing in the tech and media sectors. She holds a Master of Arts in English from Seton Hall University and a Bachelor of Arts in English from King’s College.
Q: Tell me about Debra Wheatman?
A: Debra Wheatman is a Certified Professional Resume Writer and Certified Professional Career Coach. She has HR experience at leading financial services, advertising, and media companies. Debra holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Adelphi University.
Q: Does Craft Career Studio use AI to write resumes?
A: No. Craft Career Studio never uses AI-generated copy. Every document is written by a real person — Mae or Debra — who takes the time to understand your background and craft something that genuinely represents you.
Services
Q: What services does Craft Career Studio offer?
A: Craft Career Studio offers three core services: (1) Resume Writing ($799), (2) LinkedIn Profile Optimization ($199), and (3) Resume + LinkedIn Bundle ($899).
Q: What is included in the Resume Writing service?
A: The Resume Writing service ($799) includes: a real conversation about your background, goals, and career direction; a professionally written, story-driven resume customized to your experience; ATS keyword alignment that reads naturally to hiring managers; strategic positioning for your target role; and revision rounds.
Q: What is included in the LinkedIn Optimization service?
A: The LinkedIn Optimization service ($199) includes: strategic headline writing, About section written as a personal brand narrative, experience summaries aligned with your career story, keyword optimization for recruiter visibility, and consistent positioning across your profile.
Q: What is the Resume + LinkedIn Bundle?
A: The Resume + LinkedIn Bundle ($899) combines both services — resume writing and LinkedIn optimization — written together so your story stays consistent across every platform where a hiring manager might find you. This saves $99 compared to purchasing separately.
Pricing
Q: How much does resume writing cost?
A: Professional resume writing costs $799. This includes a conversation about your background and goals, a custom-written resume, a keyword strategy, and revision rounds.
Q: How much does LinkedIn optimization cost?
A: LinkedIn profile optimization costs $199. This includes headline refinement, About section writing, experience summary revisions, and keyword optimization.
Q: What is the best value option?
A: The Resume + LinkedIn Bundle at $899 is the best value, saving you $99 compared to purchasing separately ($799 + $199 = $998). Both materials are written together for consistency.
Q: Are there any hidden fees?
A: No. Craft Career Studio pricing is transparent. Resume writing is $799, LinkedIn optimization is $199, and the bundle is $899. No hidden fees or surprise charges.
Q: Do you offer rush service?
A: Rush turnaround options are available. Contact us at 917-426-3557 or Info@CraftCareerStudio.com to discuss rush pricing and availability.
The Process
Q: How does the process work?
A: The process begins with a real conversation about your background, goals, and career direction. Mae or Debra writes your custom materials with care and strategy. You’ll review the draft and work through revisions to ensure it feels authentic. Finally, you receive your polished, ready-to-use resume and/or LinkedIn profile.
Q: How long does resume writing take?
A: The typical timeline is 5–7 business days from start to final delivery. This includes the initial conversation, writing, and revision rounds. Rush options are available for faster turnaround.
Q: What is the first step after I place an order?
A: After you order, Craft Career Studio will reach out to schedule a conversation with you. This initial discussion about your background, career goals, and positioning is the foundation for everything we write.
Q: What information do I need to provide?
A: During your conversation, you’ll discuss: your current role and experience, career goals and direction, key accomplishments and impact, industries or roles you’re targeting, and any specific messaging you want reflected. You may provide your current resume as a reference.
Ats & Strategy
Q: What is an ATS?
A: An Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is software used by employers to scan and organize resumes. The ATS looks for keywords, formatting, and structured information before a human recruiter sees your resume. Many candidates are filtered out if their resumes aren’t optimized.
Q: Why does ATS matter for my resume?
A: If your resume doesn’t pass through the ATS system, a hiring manager will never see it, regardless of how qualified you are. ATS optimization — through keyword alignment, clear formatting, and strategic structure — ensures your resume reaches human readers.
Q: Does Craft Career Studio optimize for ATS?
A: Yes. Every resume we write is structured and keyword-aligned to move through ATS systems while maintaining a natural, persuasive voice. ATS optimization is one of our core strategies.
Who We Work With
Q: Who should use Craft Career Studio?
A: Craft Career Studio works with mid-level professionals ready for growth, career changers building a case for a new direction, managers stepping into leadership, recent graduates, professionals returning after time away, and anyone at a turning point needing their experience repositioned.
Q: What industries does Craft Career Studio serve?
A: We serve professionals across all industries: tech, finance, healthcare, nonprofit, education, media, government, and beyond. Our writers’ expertise spans corporate and marketing backgrounds, so we understand how to position ourselves in competitive fields.
Q: Can Craft Career Studio help if I’m changing careers?
A: Absolutely. Career changers are an important part of our client base. Our writers specialize in helping professionals reframe their experience to make a compelling case for a new direction.
Q: Can you help if I have employment gaps?
A: Yes. We specialize in helping professionals present their experience in the strongest possible light, whether you have employment gaps, are early in your career, returning to the workforce after a career break, or transitioning into a new field.
Comparisons
Q: Why should I hire Craft Career Studio instead of using a template?
A: Templates are generic. We create a custom, story-driven resume that reflects your unique experience, positioning, and goals. A template might get you in the pile; a custom resume gets you the interview.
Q: Should I use ChatGPT or AI to write my resume?
A: AI can generate text quickly, but it often produces generic, template-sounding resumes that don’t stand out. AI can’t ask the questions needed to uncover what makes you unique. A human writer creates something authentic, strategic, and memorable.
Q: How does Craft Career Studio compare to other resume services?
A: Many resume services focus on formatting or keyword optimization alone. We focus on storytelling as the foundation. Your resume should communicate who you are, what you bring, and where you’re headed—not just list what you’ve done.