Be Careful When Hiring 'Professionals'

Two bad resumes came across my desk today. Neither did a good job of selling the person they represented. In fact at first glance, I couldn't even tell what type of positions either of these people wanted.

I see a lot of resumes like this, but what made these two stand out is that they were both 'professionally written.' Both job seekers had paid good money for their resumes and both had been ripped off.

It makes me so angry to see that. Many resume writers do truly excellent work and we hold ourselves to exceptionally high standards. We see ourselves as marketing consultants, not typists. We take great pride in our work and - while we may not be cheap - we work very hard to ensure that our clients get true value for money.

I go one step further than most writers and offer a full money-back guarantee if my resumes don't get results. I feel that's only fair. 

So it just makes my blood boil to see resumes like the ones I saw today. These people have no qualifications to call themselves professionals and no right to take money from people for shoddy work. And when they do, they hurt all of those writers who work hard at their craft, not to mention the poor job-seekers who hired them.

So how can you choose the right person to help with your resume?

1) Gain knowledge: The phrase 'knowledge is power' might be so over-used it's become a cliche, but it's also true. You can't choose the right resume writer unless you know what to look for. Do some research and reading to understand what makes a strong resume. Check out resume books in the library or the local bookstore. Read about resume writing on freeresumehelp.net. Familiarize yourself with what's important before you start looking for a writer.

2) Check resume samples: Any writer worth her salt will let you see samples - preferably 'before' and 'after' so that you can evaluate her work. Look for a clear marketing message - do you understand what makes this person valuable to employers? - and look for variations. If all the resumes have the exact same structure, that's a good indication that the writer doesn't vary her style, but uses the same template over and over again.

3) Check for professional qualifications or association memberships: Just being a member of a professional association or having letters after your name doesn't make you a great writer, but in combination with the other criteria, it can be a helpful factor to consider.

4) Understand the approach and make sure it's right for you: All writers have different styles and approaches. Some make the process very easy for the client, conducting a short phone interview and then creating the resume using the information gathered.

My style is not for everyone. I make my clients work hard for their resumes! I believe that a strong resume is only one element of a successful job search and I put my clients through a rigorous self-assessment process using my proprietary worksheets. I use this information to create the new resume, but my clients also use it for interview preparation and even to guide them in targeting their search. If you hate to write, or don't have time, you won't like my approach. That's why it's important to choose a writer whose approach suits your needs.

5) Don't choose the least expensive: If budget is a concern - and I can certainly understand that as I'm no Bill Gates! - don't hire a professional writer. You truly do get what you pay for when it comes to something as skilled as personal marketing, so if you can't afford to hire a quality writer, you'll get better results by learning as much as you can about writing a resume and doing it yourself.

A good resume is one of the wisest investments you will ever make - so be careful to choose someone who can deliver what they promise.   

Cross-posted at Blue Sky Resumes Blog