Katie Roberts Career Consulting

Using a professional Resume Writer to help prepare a winning Resume is a wise investment – after all most people source the majority of their income from their job so it’s a logical first step in securing the ideal role.

If you are sitting on the fence regarding using a professional Resume Writer to prepare your next job application, now could be just the right time to progress. It’s a highly competitive job market across most industries today and you need every advantage to stand out from the crowd. The fact is that most people still write their own Resumes, so if you engage a professional – you will stand out from the crowd. A good Resume is like a sales proposal – and not many people have experience writing those.

The most important values a professional Resume Writer brings to the process is professionalism and neutrality. They know what potential employers are looking for and they can look at you and your experience and how to best present it in a way that’s going to appeal. That can be difficult for individuals to do themselves. In fact, most people find it almost impossible to be objective when working out what to include and exclude from their Resume.

So you’ve decided to go for it, but what’s next? How can you get the best result from the process?

• Gain Clarity – knowing what you want is an important first step to achieving the best possible end result. No matter how good your writer is, it’s difficult for them to write a Resume if you have vague career goals. Do some research using online job sites and select two or three advertised roles that really appeal to you. They don’t have to be in your preferred geography or industry – but should provide an ‘example’ of the type of roles that really appeal to you.

• Trust – your Resume Writer is a professional, this is their job so if you’ve chosen well, you’re in good hands. Trust their approach, listen to any advice they provide, and you should end up with a great end result.

• Participate – developing your Resume is a two way street. I always involve clients up front for an initial chat about what their goals are, and then along the way to provide feedback and input to the content I’ve prepared. Your Resume Writer isn’t a mind reader, so share whatever you can with them and provide any information requested, as well as asking questions if you’re not sure about anything along the way. It’s not ideal to wait until the end of the project and then decide you’re not happy with the result – participate along the way to ensure success.

• Critique – don’t be afraid of offending your Resume Writer. Providing constructive feedback and appraisal is an important part of the process to ensure you end up with a great Resume. Make sure you spend the time to review what they’ve written and provide your feedback and comments in a timely manner.

Engaging a professional Resume Writer can be extremely rewarding – they know what employers are looking for and can help clearly articulate your previous successes in a way that makes you stand out from the crowd.

Are you still sitting on the fence about engaging a professional Resume Writer? If so, please see our Resume, Cover Letter and Selection Criteria Writing Services for more information.