Hints on How to Choose a Resume Writer

Over the past few months at First Impressions (http://firstimpressionsresumes.biz/) I have reviewed dozens of resumes for free from fellow Linked In members, and I will continue to do this for anyone in the USA who emails a copy of their resume to me at review@firstimpressionsresumes.biz.

Sadly, nearly 70% of the people I spoke to were extremely disappointed in the resume produced by an alleged professional resume writer for which they paid anywhere from $100 to $500, and to make matters worse they paid an additional fee to have it re-written by someone who was eminently more qualified.

So today I chose to discus some pointers I consider relevant before you spend your hard earned money on what may very well turn out to be a worthless piece of paper. I can tell you now that not everyone will agree with me on some of these points, but you can be the judge if what I have to say is worth considering, and I will be happy to discuss this with anyone personally if you call me.

1: Watch out for the internet sites that rank the so called Top Resume companies.
These sites are for the most part bogus websites where ratings are paid for not earned. The same as many shopping comparison search engines have bogus 5 Star rating for grey market online camera stores, this is how many of these sites operate.

2: Beware of resume mills.
You can trust them like you can trust a used car salesman, even if he is your best friend.
They deal in speed and volume and this is no way to produce a quality resume, even if you have very little experience and limited skill sets. My advice is, unless you want your resume to look and read like a clone of everyone else in your field with similar skills sets you should stay away from these services that proliferate the web.

3: Don’t be fooled by resume writing certification credentials.
It’s true that you want your accountant to be a CPA, however being certified as a resume writer does not come anywhere close to holding the same weight. Most certification tests focus on the academic rather than the business side of resume writing, and today there is a new breed of out of work writers and academics who think because they can write a thesis they are qualified to write a resume; so they take the test and get certified. The results are the 70% of the people I referred to above. Before you make your choice query the certified resume writer not on how many resumes he or she has written but on how many resumes they have screened for actual employment opportunities and on how many people they have hired, and in which industries and at what levels. This is critical if you are a professional or employed in a managerial or executive role.

4: What is the cost based on, is it a standard rate or do they offer you a custom quote.
You have a right to expect your resume to be a custom piece of work, and therefore it should be priced accordingly. Just like a top flight building contractor bases his charge on the preexisting condition of the project and the time and materials it will take to obtain perfection, a good resume writer will operate in the same fashion. From what I have seen, you get what you pay for and with custom pricing you get a higher quality product.

5: Check references.
Ask for and check references with prior customers over the phone or on sites like Linked-In where they can not be faked. Don’t just accept website testimonials at face value.

6: Take the time to get to know the resume writer before you begin.
I suggest that you spend at least 15-30 minutes on the phone getting acquainted and discussing you current resume and how the writer will improve it before you make any commitment. Make sure there is chemistry between you and the writer, and that the writer asks the right question to find out what makes your special. Don’t be misled by samples of other peoples resumes they have written, because that resume is not representative of who YOU are. Most important, find out what their policy is if you are not satisfied. This will tell you a lot about the person or company

If you follow these suggestions your chances of being overwhelmed with the final result will be far greater.

Author:

Perry Newman, CPC, is President/CEO of First Impressions Resumes and can be reached for a no cost consultation at 646-894-4101.

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Perry Newman

Perry Newman is a nationally-renowned job transition specialist who develops branded resumes and is a career coach for executives, professionals and MBA’s seeking six- figure positions in multiple industries within the USA. As a Certified Placement Consultant, Certified Social Media Strategist and founder and former Managing Director of a NYC-based executive search firm, Perry has a rare combination of talent and experience that is essential for your success in today’s job market. Acknowledged as a subject matter expert in his field Perry is a sought-after public speaker for radio, TV shows and career services seminars and his articles and blog posts are published in national newspapers, magazines and blogs throughout the nation and the world.