Is it worthwhile to hire a resume writer?

This was my reply:

Thanks for asking for my opinion! Without seeing your resume or knowing more about what you’d like to do, I cannot say if you, in particular, would benefit from hiring a professional resume expert (that is the right term). It’s possible that your resume is great, but it is equally likely that you have not highlighted the key points your next employer requires.

Depending on whom you have asked for feedback, you may or may not be learning how recruiters or hiring managers will see your resume. It’s possible your friends and family members may think your resume is great, but they probably aren’t familiar with how employers (and applicant tracking systems – the computer systems that screen resumes) will view your document.

The biggest test is if you land interviews as a result of your resume. (Of course, you’ll want to be sure to network at the same time as you submit resumes, as networking and referrals are the best ways to land jobs.)

I would suggest, if you are confident in your resume, you should seek opinions from hiring managers in your field and see how things go with your applications. If you land interviews, your resume is doing its job. If you don’t hear back, consider consulting with an expert to help so you don’t waste time and effort applying until you have the strongest document possible. (Don’t forget — you also lose money every day you are not employed. Depending on the cost of the resume and your expected salary, you may be able to easily make back the cost of the resume expert by landing a job just a day or two sooner than you otherwise would have landed.)

I’ve written some posts exploring this topic:

Should you hire someone to write your resume?

Why hire a career coach?

photo by practicalowl

The post Should I hire a resume writer? appeared first on Keppie Careers.

Have you looked at your resume lately? Really looked at it with a critical eye? Does it highlight your skills and accomplishments? Or, is it a laundry list of “stuff” you’ve done? Are you sure it demonstrates all that you have to offer a potential employer?

Sure, you’ve shown it to your friends, maybe even a colleague or two. They think it looks fine, even great! When is the last time they studied the art of resume writing? Do they realize that, in some cases, human eyes will not even see your resume until after it is screened by a computer? Did they explain that you’ll be lucky to get a 10-second glance for your resume on a first go-around?

The fact is, most people are not resume writing experts. While everyone has an opinion, we all know how useful an uninformed opinion can be.

Have you been sending your resume out but not getting any response? Blaming it on the economy or your experience level? Those factors certainly have a role, but it is more than likely that a professionally written resume would yield better results. Do you really want to face the job market with documents that are not optimized?

Many job seekers donâ€t stop to consider how much money a less-than-optimal resume costs them. Consider, if you are unemployed, how much money do you lose for every day that you are out of work? If your resume isnâ€t top-notch, you may not appear qualified for the salary that you seek or deserve. A professionally written resume will help shorten your job search and may qualify you for a higher salary. Your return on investment in yourself may pay off substantially!

Does everyone need to hire someone to write their resume? No, I don’t think so. If you are a great writer and have kept up with resume trends, understand how to focus the reader on the key points and can objectively assess your document to ensure that you aren’t letting misplaced modesty prevent you from incorporating your very best accomplishments, you might be a great candidate for writing your own resume.

On the other hand, who has the energy or the inclination to keep up with “resume-ology?” I do! Helping people successfully navigate their job hunt is my passion. I keep up with the market, learn about new technology and approaches and stay plugged in because you donâ€t have the time, expertise or desire to do it.

Do you want to achieve your career goals and save money? Your career is one of your most crucial financial investments. Whether you are actively engaged in a search, underemployed or unhappily employed, it makes sense to hire an ally for your job hunt. An ally tells it like it is and helps you get where you need to be. Are you committed to discovering what you have to offer an employer?

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photo by mailophobia

The post Should You Hire Someone to Write Your Resume? appeared first on Keppie Careers.