Should I Hire a Resume Writer?
It’s a question resume writers hear all the time. Their first response is somewhere along the lines of, “Well, if you have to ask, then you may want to at least explore the option.” The truth is that there’s a lot of gray area between doing it yourself and hiring a pro, so it’s a very valid question.
“I usually take the time to consult with a potential client,” says a friend of mine in the business, “A 20-minute conversation can tell me whether a person really needs my services or not.” Sometimes it’s only a matter of answering a question. Small things - like deciding what information to include - and where to draw the line, can be a tough call. “Too much information can cause as much harm as providing too little.”
The career consulting pros say it really doesn’t matter if the resume is for a first job or an executive level position – the need to present yourself in the best possible light is the core function of any resume. Some job hunters are more than competent to do the writing themselves. Others fall into a group where they’re simply not sure of themselves. If that’s the case, it might be a good idea to ask a few colleagues or mentor to look it over and give you an honest assessment. If you’re still in doubt, it’s time to take it to the next step and consider a professional.
Another friend in the resume writing business says he always suggests leaving it to the pros under certain circumstances. And what are those? One of those times, for instance, is when a job hunter has all the credentials needed to succeed in his or her given field but just doesn’t know how to communicate it.
He says he also sees resumes filled with grammar and punctuation errors that he knows won’t make it to a decision-maker’s desk. Changing careers, or transitioning into a completely new line of work, may require some resume writing expertise, too. Then there’s the client who doesn’t have the time to dedicate to the task – to produce the one document that needs to be perfect.
Good resume writing is an art that demands meticulous attention to detail and should be a part of a solid career plan. When you think about a resume as a piece of paper that can affect your livelihood with such great impact, the decision to bring in a pro is worth some careful thought.
It’s a question resume writers hear all the time. Their first response is somewhere along the lines of, “Well, if you have to ask, then you may want to at least explore the option.” The truth is that there’s a lot of gray area between doing it yourself and hiring a pro, so it’s a very valid question.
“I usually take the time to consult with a potential client,” says a friend of mine in the business, “A 20-minute conversation can tell me whether a person really needs my services or not.” Sometimes it’s only a matter of answering a question. Small things - like deciding what information to include - and where to draw the line, can be a tough call. “Too much information can cause as much harm as providing too little.”
The career consulting pros say it really doesn’t matter if the resume is for a first job or an executive level position – the need to present yourself in the best possible light is the core function of any resume. Some job hunters are more than competent to do the writing themselves. Others fall into a group where they’re simply not sure of themselves. If that’s the case, it might be a good idea to ask a few colleagues or mentor to look it over and give you an honest assessment. If you’re still in doubt, it’s time to take it to the next step and consider a professional.
Another friend in the resume writing business says he always suggests leaving it to the pros under certain circumstances. And what are those? One of those times, for instance, is when a job hunter has all the credentials needed to succeed in his or her given field but just doesn’t know how to communicate it.
He says he also sees resumes filled with grammar and punctuation errors that he knows won’t make it to a decision-maker’s desk. Changing careers, or transitioning into a completely new line of work, may require some resume writing expertise, too. Then there’s the client who doesn’t have the time to dedicate to the task – to produce the one document that needs to be perfect.
Good resume writing is an art that demands meticulous attention to detail and should be a part of a solid career plan. When you think about a resume as a piece of paper that can affect your livelihood with such great impact, the decision to bring in a pro is worth some careful thought.
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