“I just had my resume done by someone else, but I’m very disappointed with it.”“I have no love for my former resume writer.”
In my practice, I hear words like these all the time. In fact, I heard them as recent as last week.
And without knowing any details, I can tell the person on the other end of the line right then and there what went wrong as it’s always the same thing, or a combination of things.
One look at their resume tends to confirm my suspicion.
If your resume looks cookie cutter – and it may not look that way to you, but I can spot these resume templates from miles away, I know you probably engaged a large resume-writing firm that offers fast turnaround (48 hours or so) and offers no personal phone time. You fill out a questionnaire and that’s it.
I get hired by many clients to rewrite these resumes.
By the way, this is not to say large resume-writing firms are always bad and small resume-writing businesses are by definition good!
Check out these 3 signs you may need to break up with your current or prospective resume writer. That is, if you were hoping to receive a quality resume:
1. You were charged or quoted a very low fee to have your resume completely revamped – say around $200 – and offered a very quick turnaround (48 hours).
(If you think $200 is an average fee for a resume rewrite then you need to read on, too!)
Why is this a bad sign?
Although we all want a great deal; with professional resume writers, you pretty much get what you pay for. Professional resume writers with years of experience, who have been published, who hold resume-writing credentials (especially the MRW and ACRW which are head and shoulders above all other resume credentials as they are hard to obtain and maintain), know the ROI and value they bring to the table, and they’ll charge you for that.
So, how much do they charge?
Roughly between $500 and $2,000+ depending on your level, industry, and the complexity of your project.
Writers who charge very little tend to have limited experience and are trying to compete on price alone. Because the field of resume writing is not regulated, many people thought they could make a quick buck off all those folks who got laid off due to the economy.
2. When working with your resume writer, he or she only asks for your current resume and refuses to get on the phone with you. Maybe they’ll use a questionnaire, but that will be it.
Why is this a bad sign?
One of the things you pay a resume writer for, is his or her knowledge of how decision makers review resumes. With this knowledge, a good resume writer will ask you specific questions to draw this information out of you. They will want to get a feel for you to accurately represent you on paper. In other words: data gathering should be a huge – and very important - part of the process.
3. Your resume writer cannot explain to you what the latest developments are when it comes to effective resumes and job search strategies.
A lot has happened in job searching and resume writing the past few years. Make that a LOT.
Just asking, “Can you explain the difference to me between today’s resumes and those 'back in the days' (aka pre-2008)?” will be a great way to qualify a professional resume writer.
The response you get should include some words about personal branding, about the need for tighter and crisper documents, and about the impact both social media and mobile technology are having on the job search and thus resume writing.
If you want a more in-depth answer to this question, head over to my blog for the latest resume-writing and job-search trends.
So here’s what I recently did in reaction to all my previously burnt clients...
I created a special for all the unsatisfied folks out there walking around with a so-so or flat-out god-awful resume along with a bad taste from their experience with another resume-writing firm. I’m one of the pricier resume writers out there so I wanted to help those who were going for a second round of resume development by giving them 20% off my regular resume-writing fee. For more details, click here.
What’s more – I’m asking for your input to create a whole series of specials as part of our 10-year CareerBranches anniversary. Name your own special and I might just give it to you! It’s all on my blog, you need just comment!
Ilona Vanderwoude, founder of CareerBranches, is a career designer who helps her clients fit a million passions into one lifetime while providing the tactical support to actually make it happen.Read more » articles by this approved career expert | Click here » if you’re a career expertPhoto credit: Shutterstock
Bigstock
Is your job search turning into a grind with no end in sight? It may be time to take a step back and reevaluate your entire approach.
In cold weather climates, the beginning of spring is a time to clean the house and get organized—a practice known as spring cleaning. Through the years, spring cleaning has taken on a larger meaning with people using the time to organize and declutter things in their lives.
For professionals on the job hunt, a little spring cleaning (metaphorically speaking) could be a great way to reinvigorate your job search. Here are a few strategies your job search spring cleaning should include.
Reevaluate Your Job Search Approach
BigstockMake a list of the last handful of jobs you applied for and see if you can identify any positive or negative trends. Consider things like:
- How did I learn about this job?
- How did I apply for the job?
- Did I earn an interview?
- What was the ultimate result?
A lot can be learned about your job search approach just by answering these questions and identifying patterns. For example:
Negative Trends
You discovered five jobs through job boards, applied to all of them via the job boards, and never heard back from any of them.
The common pattern here is applying through job boards. This isn't to say that job boards don't serve a purpose in the job search process, but they have their limitations, and you can't run your job search entirely off of them. When you apply through a job board, there's a good chance that your materials will never get past the applicant tracking system (ATS) and never be seen by an actual person.
One simple fix is to research who the hiring manager or recruiter is that posted the position and email your materials to them directly.
The more efficient fix would be to take a proactive approach by putting together a bucket list of companies that you want to work for and start making connections on LinkedIn with people who work at those companies. You may already know some people who work there or have connections that can refer you to some individuals.
This is a great way to network your way onto a company's radar.
Positive Trends
You applied to three jobs via referral, were invited to two job interviews, and made it through multiple rounds of interviews for one of the jobs before being passed over for someone with a little more experience.
The pattern here is that getting referred to a job by a professional acquaintance is a great way to land a job interview. This indicates that you're leveraging your network well and you should continue to focus on your networking efforts.
The next step is to review the interview process and determine what went well and what needs to be improved. Sometimes the interviewer will provide feedback, and that feedback can be valuable. However, not everyone is comfortable with giving feedback.
Chances are you probably have a good idea about areas of improvement and the skills you need to gain. Put together a plan for addressing those shortfalls.
The good news in making it deep into any interview process is that it indicates that the company likes you as a potential employee (even if the timing just wasn't right) and the experience could be a roadmap to a job with that company at a later date, or another similar opportunity elsewhere.
Give Your Resume & Cover Letter Some Much-Needed Attention
BigstockAre you continuously sending similar resumes and cover letters to each job opening with only minor adjustments? If so, your strategy needs some serious spring cleaning.
Let's start with resumes!
Every resume should be tailored to the position in order for it to stand out to recruiters and hiring managers. It may seem like a lot of work, but it's actually less work than submitting the same resume over and over again and never hearing back.
The reason why it's so important to tailor your resume is that throughout your career, you acquire numerous skills, but the job you're applying for may only be focusing on 6-8 of those skills. In that case, those skills must rise to the top of the resume with quantifiable examples of how you successfully used those skills at previous jobs.
Remember, recruiters go through hundreds of resumes. They need to be able to tell from a quick glance whether or not you're a potential candidate for the position.
While updating your resume, you could also spruce up your LinkedIn profile by highlighting the skill sets that you want to be noticed for by recruiters.
As for writing a good cover letter, the key to success is writing a disruptive cover letter. When you write a disruptive cover letter, you're basically telling a story. The story should focus on how you connect with the particular company and job position. The story could also focus on your personal journey, and how you got to where you currently are in your career.
If your resumes and cover letters aren't unique, now is the time to clean things up and get on track.
Build Your Personal Brand
Just because you're looking for work doesn't mean that you don't have anything to offer. Use previous career experiences and passions to build your personal brand.
Ask yourself, "How do I want other professionals to view me?"
Pick an area of expertise and start sharing your knowledge and experience with your professional network by pushing out content on your LinkedIn and social media accounts. Good content can include blogs, social media posts, and videos.
By sharing content about your experiences and passions, you slowly build your personal brand, and others will start to notice. The content could lead to good discussions with others in your network. It could also lead to reconnecting with connections that you haven't spoken to in years, or making new connections.
You never know when one of these connections could turn into a job lead or referral. The trick is to get on people's radars. So, when you're cleaning up your job search, be sure to build a plan for personal branding.
Maintain Healthy Habits During Your Job Search
BigstockYour job search is important, but it's even more important to know when to pull back and focus on personal health and spending time with family and friends.
There are actually things that you can do for your own enjoyment that could help your job search in the long run, such as:
- Grab coffee with a friend - It's good to engage in light conversation with friends during challenging times. And if your job search does come up, remember that most people have been through it themselves and you never know when a friend may provide you with a good idea or lead on a job.
- Volunteer - Volunteering is a great way to get involved in the community and help others. In addition, if you develop a little bit of a career gap while looking for a job, you can always talk about how you filled that time volunteering, if you're asked about it during a job interview.
- Continue to focus on other passions - Are you a fitness nut? Blogger? Crafter? Continue to do the things that bring you happiness. And if you're in a position to profit from your passion through a freelance job or side hustle, even better!
Spring is the perfect time to clean up and improve your job search so you can land the job you want. If you're struggling to find a job, follow the tips above to reinvigorate your job search—and watch your career blossom!
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This article was originally published at an earlier date.
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