A resume is a really important document and to write a really effective one, is vital during your job search campaign. The reason it is essential to develop a great resume, is that 99% of employers and recruiters require one and your resume is your ticket to obtaining interviews, warding off any competition and generating sufficient interest from employers and recruiters.
Since it is such an important document, the question is, should you use a professional resume writer? And if you are going to use a professional resume writer, how do you select a good one?
An experienced resume writer will invariably do a better job
As an experienced career professional, I have literally reviewed thousands of resumes within my inbox. Unfortunately the majority (over 95%) of resumes fail dismally, in that they fail to focus on the needs of the employer, are poorly laid out, contain spelling and typos, fail to generate sufficient interest and don’t focus on achievements.
In my experience, a credentialed and experienced professional resume writer will invariably do a better job than you can. A professional resume writer will be able to create a document that will market you more effectively and they are more objective about your experience, skills and qualifications, as well as knowing exactly what should, or shouldn't be included in your document.
However, top professional resume writers are in demand and are not that cheap, so if your budget is a major consideration, you can purchase some great resources on resume writing, so you can create your own professional resume. For example, the e-book ‘The Great Australian Resume’.
Warning - not all writers are created equal
Right, now that we have developed the case for using a professional resume writer, it is important to select a really good resume writer otherwise you could end up wasting your money and being bitterly disappointed with the end result. (There are a lot of so called resume writers out there, many of which know very little about resume writing and produce a low grade product).
To help you select the best possible resume writer, I have provided a check list for you below:
How long have they been in business?
Practice makes perfect and this applies to resume writing. The good resume writers are usually not the new kids on the block, but have had a number of years experience in resume writing. So ask them how long they have been in business.
Have they got resume writing qualifications, or industry experience?
The majority of the really top notch resume writers in Australia, have some sort of resume writing qualifications, such as a Certified Advanced Resume Writer, Certified Expert Resume Writer, Certified Professional Resume Writer, Certified Master Resume Specialist, or Master
Resume Writer. In order to achieve and maintain these qualifications, the resume writer had to submit work to an independent review panel of career experts, as well as pass a stiff examination.
If the resume writer is a certified writer, you can usually be assured that you are working with a top industry resume writing professional.
Are they located in Australia?
If you undertake a goggle search on professional resume writing, you will find sponsored links taking you to various resume writing organisations, including organisations located in other countries, in particular the United States. DON’T be tempted by the cheap online deals, as you won’t end up with a document that can be used in Australia, as Australian Resumes, are different from the resumes created in the United States.
On the question of locality, many of the top resume writer’s work from home, so whether they have a commercial office or not, is not an indication of the quality or professionalism of their work.
Do they belong to a professional organisation?
If the resume writer belongs to a professional organisation, then it usually means they are serious about keeping up-to-date about trends and current practices in resume writing. So check out whether they belong to any professional organisations.
Do they offer a guarantee?
Many of the top resume writers, guarantee their work, namely they will continue working with you, until you are completely happy with the end product.
By using this checklist above, you should be able to select a top notch resume writer, which will help transform you on paper.
Best of luck!
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