Saturday, August 06, 2005

Professional Resume Writer or D.I.Y.

I promised more information on relocating for a job in my last post. However, I read a short response to a reader's question, in the local daily newspaper, that I thought needed to be given further consideration. I promise, there will be more on relocating in future posts.

Now back to the aforementioned article. The reader was questioning whether it was necessary to spend money on a professionally written resume, or do it yourself. The very short, and I feel poorly thought out response was: “Go to the library…find a book…and do it yourself.” The response came from a journalist, who is promoting a new book about finding and keeping a job. Obviously, she was never a hiring manager or worked in the real world, where the right resume, is the difference between getting interviews or reject letters and notices.

The truth is that for some people writing their own resume is a viable option, while for many more, it is just bad advice. People, who are well motivated, organized, and very knowledgeable in the job market, may be able to develop a good resume. But, there has to be a willingness to spend time researching and identifying information that should and should not be included in a resume. Then there is the actual process of writing the resume, using the right words in the right places to get prospective employer's attention.

When you work with a professional resume writer, you have someone who has all of these resources, to use in presenting you and your SKA's (Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities) in the best way possible. Truthfully speaking, most of the people who use my service lack some part of the successful equation, given above.

Many clients do not have time to research and think through the necessary steps to creating a great resume. Others, realizing how important a resume really is, do not want to risk a mistake, that will stop them from getting interviews, and eventually cost them a job opportunity.

The fear of failure has probably been the greatest reason for using my service. Writing a resume can be confusing and seem like a huge task, when you’re facing the challenge alone. However, under the knowledgeable guidance of a resume professional, each step in the process is accomplished methodically and with a minimum of confusion.

Additionally, during the process, the client has gained many new insights into what they want in a job and the type of job they are honestly qualified for. Several have realized that they had more than one career track available, and have multiple resumes, optimizing their job opportunities. Some have found that their original job desires did not match as well with their personality type as did other jobs, for which,they were equally qualified.

I have edited and expanded resumes, originally created by the client, resulting in their complete satisfaction. Primarily these clients no longer had doubts about accuracy, style, or form. Also, I do know that in almost all cases, when a client gets the final version of the resume, there is a new confidence in their ability to get interviews and a job. From a hiring managers perspective, confidence is one of the most important benefits, when you are interviewing for a job.

Part of the question, posed by the reader, included the concern about spending a “lot” of money on a resume. While it is true that you may not have money for anything but essentials, when you consider what is at stake, a resume becomes an essential. Some resume services are expensive, but shop around. You can find resume writing services that offer reasonable prices and will give you a definite edge in the highly competitive job market.

I suppose for each person using my service, there is a unique set of reasons for their purchase decision. You will have to determine whether or not a professionally written resume is an option, and how much you can afford, if you choose to use one. It’s your choice but a professionally written resume can be a great investment in your future.

Many more benefits of using a professional resume writing service can be found by clicking here.

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