How to Choose a Resume Writer

How to Choose a Resume Writer How to Choose a Resume Writer I published a version of this article last year before I moved my blog, but given the current situation I wanted to reiterate my advice about choosing a professional resume writer.Too often I take on clients who are unhappy with the writer they originally chose, couldnt get a refund and now have to pay me to rewrite the resume that already cost them money. That situation could be avoided with some careful vetting upfront.I understand how it happens. There are so many resume writers advertising their services, and if you cant get a personal referral, it can be hard to sort through the sales copy, which is why Im offering my best advice on making the choice. How to Choose a Resume Writer1) Compare services.Dont just choose the first resume serviceyou find even if its mine Its important to contact a couple of other services just to be sure that you made the right choice.2) Examine resume samples. All good writers should displa y samples on their site preferably in before and after format so that you can see what changed. Look for quality, but also look for variation. Does each resume have a different structure? Does each one use different words? Or are they all the same, as though a template was used. And finally, do they impress you personally?3) Ask about guarantees.Personally, I think all writers should offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee. But most are not willing to go quite that far so you may have to settle for less at the very least, your writer should promise to rework your resume as many times as possible to ensure your satisfaction. Dont accept limits on the number of revisions that is just unacceptable although you can expect some limit on the amount of time its OK to come back for revisions (you cant really come back after 2 years and ask for changes)4) Check qualifications.Why are they qualified to write your resume? Have they ever recruited or worked in HR? If not, do they have other exp ertise in those areas that gives you a sense of comfort? (Perhaps they have written books, or have lots of certifications, or come highly recommended by other people in your field).5) Ask what they DONT do.We turn away clients who want to work for the federal government or academia because none of our writers have expertise in these areas. Any good writer should be turning away clients it proves their honesty.6) Assess their web presence?Is their website modern and well maintained? Have they conveyed their brand well? Do they blog? Do they have a Linked In, Facebook or MySpace page? Do they use Twitter? You are hiring someone to help market you make sure they know how to market themselves effectively in todays world.7) Check testimonials on LinkedIn. LinkedIn testimonials cant be fudged because the site allows you to click through as see who wrote the reference. To see them, you must be a member but its quick and easy to sign up. Dont hire a writer who doesnt have glowing testimon ials.8) Ask who else refers their services.If youre totenstill unsure, ask who refers clients to them. Do they have affiliations with career counselors, recruiters or other websites? Such relationships especially with recruiters are indications that their work is respected by the people who count.9) Learn how they work. Resume services have different approaches to writing a resume. Some require the completion of worksheets to develop a career history and value proposition. Some utilize phone interviews. Some do a combination of both. I personally prefer worksheets and weve developed a very specific proprietary worksheet that helps us develop a truly compelling resume- but not every client is comfortable with this process and its important to know that upfront.10) Dont make the decision about price.I know that price has to be a consideration, but dont make it the be-all and end-all. Those cheap services advertising on the web are cheap for a reason in most cases they will outsourc e your work to underpaid writers who have to work quickly just to make a living. In other cases, the fee is low because the person is in no way qualified to do this but saw a chance to make some money from home. If you cant afford to hire a good resume writer, take the time to learn about resume writing from books or articles and do it yourself. Youll get better results, believe me.Choosing the right resume writer can make all the difference to your job search, so dont be afraid to ask questions and dont make the decision without some research. If you have any questions, feel free free to ask in the comments. Or shoot me an email (lfletcher at blueskyresumes dot com). If I think the answer will be helpful to others, Id be happy to address it in a future post.