Resume FAQs (What You Need To Know)
Choosing which career professional is right for you can be overwhelming. These are a few things you should consider before making your decision.
Once you’ve reached the executive level or are targeting executive roles, your resume needs to demonstrate impact.
Lists of responsibilities and duties don’t convey impact. Neither do passive phrases about managing departments and developing budgets. Employers want to see strong action words.
To command a recruiter’s or hiring manager’s attention, you need an eye-catching, results-driven, executive-level resume that clearly shows the positive effect you’ve had on your team, your department, and your company.
Early careerists may be able to get by using a basic employment history. However, once you’ve reached the executive level or targeting those roles, differentiating yourself from other professionals with similar backgrounds is essential.
Resume pricing runs the gamut. You can expect to pay anywhere from $49 to $3000 for a resume. At the low end are resume mills who will make a few adjustments to your existing resume, jazz up the formatting a bit, and little else.
Resume writers who are certified or multi-certified, who invest in professional development to stay up on the latest trends and maintain their certifications will cost more. Thus, a resume writer’s background, experience, certifications, training, etc. will be a factor in their price structure.
If you think hiring a resume writer is expensive, think about how much it’s costing you to be out of work.
Hiring a professional to write your resume and/or LinkedIn profile is an investment. So it’s a good idea to conduct some research before hiring anyone and speak to to 2 or 3 before making a decision.
There are several ways to find out about a resume writer’s qualifications and to see if he or she is a good fit for you.
Get Referrals
Talk to your friends and family. Ask them who they’ve worked with, whether or not they were happy with the results. Find out what they liked and didn’t like about the resume writer they hired. Even if you don’t get a recommendation, you may find out who to avoid.
Look for Certification(s)
A resume writer who is serious about his or her craft will likely have at least one certification. Why is this important? First, to earn a certification resume writers will have to go through a grading process of tests and coursework. In most cases they have to create a resume, and sometimes a cover letter, based on the written profile of a client supplied by the certification body.
Most certifications require a certain number of Continuing Education Units (CEU) over two or three years to maintain certification. This practice helps to ensure that the resume writer is continually learning. Certifications include, but are not limited to, Certified Advanced Resume Writer (CARW); Nationally Certified Resume Writer (NCRW); and Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW).
Professional Development
As with any profession, those who want to stay on top of their game invest in professional development. Resume writers are no different. There are many learning opportunities for resume writers including national conferences. There also are many online courses on resume and LinkedIn profile writing. Some carry additional certifications; others do not.
Before hiring a resume writer ask how they keep up with industry trends. Find out if they’ve completed any training or attended any conferences in the last few years.
Initial Consultation
Look for a resume writer who offers an initial complimentary consultation. A brief chat will give you a chance to ask questions and get a “feel” for the resume writer. Talk about your needs. Ask about the process.
Many writers use some combination of questionnaires and phone consultations. Some work strictly by email. Some work only over the phone. Make sure the writer’s process works for you.
A reputable resume writer will happily refer you to another writer if you have conflicting styles. For example, you prefer to work one-on-one over the phone, but he or she uses questionnaires with clients.
Clearly Defined Process
Save time by reviewing the writer’s website before your initial call. Most will have a clearly defined process outlined somewhere on the site. It will include whether consultations are done in-person or over-the-phone.
Many resume writers work from a home office, but there are still some who maintain or have access to office space. Be aware that meeting a resume writer in person may incur additional costs. Again, ask about these things during your initial consultation.
Once you’ve made your investment level decision, visit our site to pay for your selected services. After payment is received, you will be asked to submit your resume. Annette will use your old resume to help her further personalize the strategy worksheets.
When you return your worksheets, your project is placed on Annette’s writing schedule. During the writing process, Annette may contact you to clarify details or request additional information. From there, turnaround time is generally 10 to 15 business days.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to popular demand, we now also offer a verbal intake for an additional fee. Instead of completing detailed worksheet, you will have a 90-minute consultation with Annette. (Ask for details during your introductory consultation.)
After receiving your resume, you will have the opportunity to suggest any changes or refinements to the document. Most clients have only minor changes before finalizing their documents, however, 2 rounds of edits (plus a quality check) are included with your resume.
Once your resume is finalized, other documents LinkedIn profile, Executive Bio, etc. will be completed.
If you think you can’t afford to hire a professional resume writer, consider how much a poorly written resume may be costing you.
According to Salary.com, a resume that demonstrates value can command a higher salary.
If you’re out of work, a poorly written resume may be hurting you even more.
The higher your salary the more you’re losing when you’re out of work. Executives making $160K lose $4,045 each week they are out of work and $14,045 for each month they are unemployed.
Click here for our complete How Much Does It Cost You to Be Out of Work? chart.
If a resume writer guarantees that he or she can get you a job run away. And don’t look back. A solid achievement-based resume can open doors, but it’s unlikely that you will get a job based solely on your resume. The job search itself is up to you.
The resume writer has no control of the jobs to which you apply. (As a former recruiter, I can say that most job applicants are not qualified for the jobs they are pursuing.) Nor is he or she going on job interviews on your behalf. You are the one who needs to sell yourself to the recruiter and the employer.
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