I recently came across an online posting of someone seeking a resume review and numerous responses of others attempting to provide some guidance. One of the suggestions was to use an online resume review system from a resume writing business.
I know there are many individuals searching for a new job, pursuing a promotion, or even just passively open to a better position who would like their resume reviewed. For this reason, I would like to shed some light on this topic. A great number of online automatic resume reviews provide superficial reviews and focuses on whether you’ve included proper names, word count, and whether you omitted references.
You do not need a resume review to see this information. Moreover, you surely do not need a Resume Writer to fix them for you. A good resume review is one who compares your resume to your target position and specifically notes what is wrong with the resume and how to improve it. This type of review takes time, which is why people / businesses will not provide it, as they might as well take that time to start creating a new resume.
Instead, they use ‘resume critique’ software to provide some type of review and persuade the prospective customer to purchasing their services. Beware of low-end resume writing services. You might spend more money in the long run by trying to make a poor investment now. Buying cheap things is false economy. I think the best thing you can do is send your resume out to your target jobs and take note of how many interview calls it attracts.
If it does not attract many interviews, then that is a strong indicator of possibly needing a new resume instead of a resume review. You can also see some samples of professionally written resumes from high-end resume writers and compare those to your resume. See the difference in the content development and strategies used. This can be a good review you can engage in yourself.
After having a good branding resume and fully optimized LinkedIn profile, make a list of your top 30 target companies. Identify the key decision maker (the person you would report to) and send them a value proposition letter. Connect with people in your target companies. Network with them. Take any opportunity that will lead you to your target jobs. Connect with recruiters in your target industry. There are so many things you can do.
The new year is quickly approaching. Grab the bull by the horns and be assertive in your career search. Properly brand yourself to attract and present yourself for your target career.
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Yuleni Pulido ► Executive Resume Writer
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Thank you for your honesty and sincere advice. I have been wrestling with this exact question and potentially using a resume writing service, after numerous submitted applications with only one interview. After reaching out I was told that my resume needed work. I have never had an issue getting interviews based on my resume but things have been different when applying to the federal job market. Is there a particular more preferred format that is different than what contractors typically accept/use? I did get a free online review that seemed straight forward and made sense. The question now is do I pay to have someone not in my line of work write a resume for me? I believe it always helps to get a fresh look at things, but how much is too much?
Hi Jeff, thank you for reading and commenting on my article. Yes, there is a difference between the requirements and format for civilian and federal resumes. Federal resumes follow a more complex and detailed content development and format that differs from civilian resumes. Professional Resume Writers, like myself, work with people in a variety of industries even though we have not necessarily worked in their industry. When partnering with a Resume Writer, I recommend seeking one whom you will be able to work with directly (one on one) and someone who is skilled in writing, branding, marketing, careers, and the like. I am currently working with a couple of professionals who are targeting the federal industry. You can reach me directly at OrganicResumeCreations@gmail.com.