Executive & Professional Resume Writing Services

How to Identify a Great Resume Writer: No Rip Off!

A very good friend of mine Dawn Bugni who is a certified resume writer has written a great post  in response to a “resume-writers-rip-you-off claim.”  I began to comment on her blog, and, well, you see here how long that comment became. To summarize,  someone scornfully advised job seekers that resume writers are all ripping them off. Instead of sharing their unfortunate experience and perhaps advising job seekers to perform due diligence before hiring a resume writer, they chose to scare job seekers away from resume writers (and probably closer to something they are offering). Tsk, tsk. No. I am not linking to their post; I don’t want to do them any favors. :-)

Here is what I have to say about that: You cannot pile all resume writers into one category. Unfortunately, it is true that there are resume writers who are not providing stellar documents. Every industry has its slackers but that should never discredit the entire industry. But then again, who are these less-than-perfect resume writers? Are they top-tier writers in our industry or some who just recently self-proclaimed themselves resume writers?

To add another layer to this discussion, allow me to remind everyone that the resume is ONE tool. No resume, not even if it could literally fly onto the desk of a hiring manager—can capture a job for you. The strategy is that the resume compel the reader over other qualified candidates and open doors to opportunities. The rest is up the job seeker. Hence, you may need a job search /interview coach also.

Another layer: remember when you receive your new resume that you are not the best judge of whether you received an effective resume or not (neither are your friends). I recommend you actually allow your new resume to penetrate the job search market for a few months and then cast your judgment. A truly talented resume writer is trained and committed to crafting documents that will gain you an interview by catering to the needs of your future employer and NOT yours. STOP...Again. By catering to the needs of your future employer and NOT yours.

If the resume writer can knock-your-socks-off prior to you attaining interviews, excellent! However, the ultimate person to please is your future employer. Your satisfaction with your resume writer should initially be determined based on the quality of services and the construction of a document that is notches above yours; eventually and ultimately on whether it brought more positive attention to your job search.

Questions to Ask Your Resume Writer Before Hiring Them

With that said, the best steps a job seeker can take before hiring a resume writer is to research and interview the resume writer:

1. How many years of experience does this resume writer have?

2. What kind of professional training?

3. Any certifications?

4. Which organizations provide these certifications and what is the process? Research the organization also.

5. Does the resume writer have testimonials with more than just initials?

6. Is this resume writer published in career books? Testament that they are committed to the career industry.

7. Has the resume writer written articles to inform job seekers? If so, read their content and identify quality.

8. Will the resume writer be the one writing the resume and not someone else who is new? While many successful resume writers need assistance with workload, credible and seasoned resume writers usually hire competent and experienced help; and they are usually involved every step of the way, approving, guiding, and editing at the very least.

9. Send the resume writer a copy of your resume and ask for a consultation to determine if you two are the best fit (not tips to improve your resume on your own).

10. Does the resume writer have an online presence on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Blogs? This speaks of their passion, qualifications, and involvement.

11. Google them! Do you find any negative news about them?

12. Call them. Don’t just limit your search by email unless you are the type of person that does not like phone calls (but in this case you are in real trouble when it comes to job searching so you will need interview coaching too).

To reiterate, once you have performed your research and hired an expert --you have to trust them. If you request hundreds of drafts based on what YOU think is best, you have guided your writer back to your original resume; then, who can you blame but yourself for the end-result?

If I find that my clients need changes that I don’t agree with I usually will warn them before proceeding and may request they sign a contract, which states they have been advised and wish to continue with their expert techniques and not mine. Many choose not to make changes and thank me later for being so upfront. But, some writers may not  push back that much. They may just give you what you want which is not to say they don’t care but they just have a different customer service style. So trust the expert. 

Professional Resume Writing Brings Success

I cannot tell you how many times a client has come to me with a mediocre resume and NO job leads. After I transformed their resume into a compelling marketing document (instead of a history report), they not only captured interviews—but also attained a job in a tough job market and could pay their bills and take care of their families. That type of peace of mind is gained by ensuring you have marketed yourself the best you can. That is worth a little research and investing in the right job seeker marketer (a professional resume writer).

Summary: Why a Resume Writer and NOT You

In closing this long post (sorry), you have to ask yourself the following: Can I write a better resume for myself than someone who has trained, been tested by a panel of judges, writes resumes daily, has access to a network of resume writers, resources to craft my resume, enters resume contest (yes. We actually enter contests), nurtures ongoing training, and has seen my competition’s resume? I bet the answer is… no way! And guess what. You cannot afford to take that chance. While you contemplate if you can write a better resume for yourself than someone who does it for a living can—your competition hired a professional and they are interviewing already. 

As always, my contact information is below:  

Rosa Elizabeth Vargas
Master Resume Writer

Resume Security: Protect Your Digital Documents

So many of you have wisely taken the job search online but are you implementing measures to protect your private information plus career marketing content? Here are a few steps I take to ensure my clients’ resume copy and personal information is only accessible by those that are serious about evaluating their candidacy.

1. When creating a web page, web rez, web portfolio, place the following meta tags inside the page’s header:

<META  NAME="ROBOTS" CONTENT="NOINDEX, NOFOLLOW">

This will help (not guarantee since technology is ever evolving) avoid the indexing of any links to your downloadable resume or cover letter. Hence, abating your resume come up in Google queries.

 

2. Don’t repurpose your entire resume online. When you set up social media profiles, just copy and paste portions of your resume and indicate somewhere for them to contact you for the entire resume. Not only is this a wise way of protecting your resume copy but it makes for a more interesting social networking profile. If you make the entire resume available for download, perform the next step… 

 

3. Protect your MS Doc with a password and qualify the inquiries received online/ via social networking sites. Instructions for MS 2003 protection; Instructions for MS 2007. Perhaps you have linked or uploaded your MS doc to any of the numerous online social networking sites such as LinkedIn or  perhaps posted it on VisualCV; only provide your password to those that seem honest and serious about learning about your candidacy. If they go as far as to email you to attain the password, they most likely mean business.

 

3. Set up a temporary free email with Gmail or Yahoo. Once your job search is over, you can just get rid of that account.

 

Don’t get discourages or concerned about job searching online. The point is for you to execute steps that will abate any unfavorable use of your documents.

As always, if any questions, please email rvargas@creatingprints.com

 

Rosa Elizabeth Vargas
Master Resume Writer
Quadruple Certified Resume Writer (NCRW, ACRW,CERW, MRW)

Life Happens: Dealing with Gaps In Employment on Resume

Dear Rosa:

“I worked as an account manager for XXX Brands for nearly 9 years but was laid off in January 2007 as part of a divisional reorganization. I wasn't expecting this and had not really thought about where I would go next. So instead of jumping into something I wasn't sure I wanted, I decided to take this opportunity to try the stay-at-home mom routine with my 2 boys. The oldest had just turned 5 and the other was about to turn 2… However now I have this 2 year gap on my resume and it appears to employers as someone that nobody wants to hire. I am getting a very poor response rate and when I do get a response it is geared towards entry-level sales.

How can I get beyond this on my resume and let employers know that this was my choice? I have an excellent track record, was a top-performer, etc. but I am not getting the chance to prove it because I get weeded out as soon as they see I have been out of work for more than 3 months. I would greatly appreciate any advice or input you might be able to provide.
Thank you again for responding.”

 

The above came to me via LinkedIn. To protect the privacy of the job seeker, we are going to call her Marla (I like that name).

I am sure that Marla’s situation is similar to what many of you are experiencing. Okay, listen up…you cannot hide, deny, embellish the fact that you have been out of work. Even if you were to remove dates (let’s just say), during the application screening process this will be indentified and guess what; not only will you now be the candidate who has been out of work for a couple of years but you are the candidate that tried to camouflage it. (This is not what Marla is asking but I just wanted to broach this subject because I know many of you try to hide gaps.)

 

The best way to overcome any flaw on a resume is to outshine it by deflecting the spotlight on to why/how you are more than qualified!

 

How can you do this?

• Apply a different format than the chronological order. Instead of listing Name, then Objective (please don’t use an objective) or Summary, and then your Employment --- go a different route and list your Name, Summary, and Career Highlights and then Employment. Why? Because this allows you to make your case, promote yourself, convince and compel before your career chronology and  your employment gap. The idea is that by the time they notice your employment gap, you have made such an impression, they are interested enough to call you.

• Do not omit dates.  You can downplay your employment gaps (flaws) but don’t completely avoid it. List your dates but ensure it is not the first thing they see.

• Fill in the gap. What did you do during this time in addition to taking care of your family? Perhaps you took up a training course? Did you volunteer? Were you active in the community? If so, list it above your latest employment but don’t exaggerate (like calling yourself the CEO of your home. I know sometimes it feels like a just title but it really does not translate to the business folks). Also, if you only volunteered once, don’t list it. When listing volunteer, you must state where, how often, and the difference you made as a volunteer. In addition, being able to add a part-time job or volunteer work with dates, will help technically fill that gap so that you at least make it through the online computerized sorting and have an opportunity to reassure an actual human being that taking a chance on you is not as risky as they might think.

• Create a dynamic cover letter. This is why I am a big advocate of cover letters. Many have admitted to me, when they are on the fence regarding a candidate, they read them. That is enough for me! 

Cover letters should be created in a more personal manner. This is where you would convey to your new employer that your sabbatical from work was voluntary and why you chose to do so. Then, convince them that although you have been out of work you still remember how to produce.

In Marla’s case,  I would suggest you convey that you are still a sales and customer service expert; you can overcome objections and close; you can cultivate relationships and retain accounts long-term. Tell them why you are so good at it and highlight how well you have done.  Face your issue of employment gaps head on in the cover letter.

 

"Marla," you need to sell yourself in this cover letter and resume by highlighting benefits over features! You stay away from the negatives and you focus on the takeaway. Promise them the results they seek, substantiate it with your achievements, quantify your claims with numbers, jargon, specifics, and prioritize your points. Your resume is a selling tool and you must sell yourself above and regardless of any "flaw" or gap.  There is no magic trick for getting rid of employment gaps but when a resume and cover letter is prepared strategically (PRIORITIZATION being key) your justification for employment gaps will be well received.

 

Hope this helps. As always if any questions rvargas@creatingprints.com

 

Rosa Elizabeth Vargas

Master Resume Writer

A Resume Critique You Can Benefit From

I was asked to provide a job seeker feedback and I thought it would be helpful if I repost my advice as many may benefit from the tips I shared. Of course, each resume’s weak areas vary but if you ensure you have at least covered these basics, your resume will be a more powerful one. Here is part of my feedback to that job seeker.

(Please know I was much nicer to the job seeker. The instructions below may seem too straight to the point and perhaps a tiny bit cold. To protect the job seekers' privacy some of the 'friendlier' interaction was removed. So, I am really not this mean...)

 

Feedback begins below:

Marketing: First know that a resume is a marketing tool. This resume falls very short in that arena. What are you proposing as a result? What is your branding statement? What sets you apart from others?

Visual Appeal: The job market is tough right now. With unemployment rate in double digits, you need to make an impression immediately. This resume could use a ‘face lift.’ Understand that while the content of your resume is king, you must first attract in order to give your resume a reading opportunity. So work on visual appeal.

Achievements:  Where are the achievements on resume? If they are there, they are hiding. A few simple strategies like bulleting your achievements and separating the job description from results will help you tremendously.

Format: You don’t have to keep your resume in this layout (traditional/chronological order). This layout only emphasizes your “job-hopping experience.” You can create an Area of Expertise or Career Highlight in order to bring attention to your best accomplishments. Additionally, why have you set off your employment dates toward the right side? This only brings even more attention to your short-term employment.

In all honesty this resume needs much work. You said it has been rewritten, professionally? I understand that job seekers may be worried about investing in a resume prep when they have to manage their funds – but I implore you all to seek professional assistance.

There are many certified resume writers that can help you –- all with different fees. I am sure you can find someone within your price range. It is worth the investment to secure a job!

 

As always, if I can be of any assistance, please email me at rvargas@creatingprints.com

Master Resume Writer

Curtain-Raising Cover Letters: Full Disclosure

Cover Letters Get Tossed. Haven’t You Heard?

Quite a conundrum--creating an alluring and candidacy strengthening cover letter without reciting your resume. 

So why do some dislike the cover letter? I’ll tell you what I’ve heard and why sometimes I too don’t like them...

Many underestimate the cover letter and write it as just a formality; others write cover letters with futile marketing attempts because they just recount what will be on the resume. So, I ask you, what is the point of a cover letter when 1. It’s a pretty boring read? I already know you seek the job and this is why you are submitting your resume; 2. Why should I read your resume if you just summarized it in the cover letter? 

Humor me. let's say I read your cover letter, I'm interested, and I proceed to read your resume and…déjà vu…didn’t I just read this in the cover letter? Seems pointless--don’t you think?

Spellbinding and Curtain-Raising Cover Letters

Bottom-line is, a cover letter’s purpose is to lure the reader to, well, read your resume and call you for an interview. Now you may be dying to ask me, why then can’t I only submit my resume? My answer is, you can—but how do you know your competition didn’t submit a persuasive cover letter that just about nudged you off the top spot? Hmm? Worst-case scenario, they can set your cover letter aside but it’s available if they need more convincing.

So, how do you create cover letter that is not tossed? I’m glad you asked…

1. Break a leg with your opening act: Don’t begin cover letters with an ordinary and boring statement. You really want to 'have them at hello' (Sorry. Couldn't help it.) Really, captivate with the very first sentence. Exude sincerity, offer specific value, spin it, and make sure it's employer-oriented. Here is one of my favorite openings:

Dear Mr. Bradley:

“Offering to drive pharmaceutical sales growth by generating qualified leads, penetrating territories, and closing the toughest sales, consistently!” Please allow me to introduce myself...

 

2. Make a personal connection: You can tell a personal story that further positions you as the best candidate. You can provide statistical insight, reinforcing your industry knowledge. You may opt to walk your employer through your process. In other words, you can communicate more personally than you would on your resume and leverage that 'ace in your pocket.'

See an example I used in a cover letter:

“I am an avid golfer (with a pretty good handicap) and golf at least twice per week—I have closed many sales on the golf course over a weekend. Clients consider me a trusted friend and have even helped me form golf teams for charity events, which is an excellent way to network and gain new business...”

Do you think I would have been able to add this golf example in the resume for my client –- no. Now, let’s say candidate #1 is a stellar sales person and candidate #2 (my client) is also an outstanding revenue producer--this example is helping my client promote an added value. This 'sign-on benefit' clues the hiring manager that my client initiates and develops fruitful relationships through personal networking strategies that will be advantageous to the company. Besides, it’s memorable. In a pile of hundreds of resumes and cover letters –- memorable is a winner!

3. Become a tease: Foreshadow what will be listed on the resume; what they will discover when they read your resume--but don’t repeat. Piqué interest! Save some fresh content for your cover letter.  This is a strategic career marketing plan, part of which what goes on your resume or cover letter is determined--a real choreography! Example:

“Please refer to my resume which summarizes more than 15 years of experience increasing revenue for top corporations such as IBM. I have aggressively launched unique sales strategies that have produced up to $8M annually. You will find a full account of my projected sales plans and exceeded goals by percentage per year.”

Now we have asked the hiring manager to review the resume and we have provided a bit of information to spark interest. It is important to add quantifiable information and be specific, as you don’t want to seem vague. However, there is no need to provide all the details in the cover letter, especially if it will be on the resume. While I urge you to tease -- the teasing must be done with actual facts and specific references not generalities that mean nothing.

4. Mesmerize them and get'em to say, YES: There is a physiological connection that goes on when you get a person to think or say yes. So, when you craft your cover letter try to envision the reader nodding their head in agreement with your statements. In order to do this you must validate their needs. You can cast this spell through reinforcing statements or questions. Take it easy on the questions though—you don’t want to come across too sales-driven. (The art of career marketing is a delicate balance.)

5. Ask for the interview: In sales, they always direct you to ask for the sale. Well, ask for the interview. Just ask for it!

The point here is that your cover letter is a supporting influencing tool. It must be unique, inviting, compelling-- a prelude to a well crafted resume in order to provoke action. Your cover letter is part of a marketing package and so merely writing it as you would any other communication letter is not going to generate the interviews you seek.

True story: I had a client tell me that when they were interviewed they were told the cover letter clinched the interview and the resume was used as a guide for an interesting interview. Here is a beginning part of that cover letter:

"Music and entertainment is my passion. I am lucky to have realized so early what I was born to do! I have known I wanted to work in the entertainment industry since I was 11 years old. At age 4, I already had an affinity for music and entertainment...I loved to perform, watch all the award shows on TV, memorize the choreography to music videos, and I always wanted to know how it all worked behind the scenes."

Client landed a job with Universal Music Distribution. There you have it. Market yourself as the ideal candidate via a purposefully created cover letter, which augments the resume, convincing the employer you’ve got what they need…in a very special way.

Rosa E. Vargas

Does Your Cover Letter Stink?

If when you read your cover letter it begins in a balanced tone and you feel as if you have safely addressed your reader--it STINKS!

Understand that recruiters and hiring managers are receiving hundreds if not thousands of cover letters soliciting employment. How many of those cover letters do you think begin with...

As advertised in…
In response to…
Allow me to…
As a professional that…
I heard you…
 
[image credit: striatic on flickr.com]

The above are all mundane ways to begin a cover letter and so, just imagine yourself reading the 100th cover letter for that day. What besides your third cup of coffee might keep you from taking a nap over the bulk of resumes and cover letters?  Perhaps an energetic, unexpected, memorable, and striking opening!?

Rewrite your cover letter; begin with a proposition, a question, a quote, an exclamation, a statistical report, even a poem. (Well, the last would be a bit hard to pull off –- but you get my point –- I hope.)

If you find that as you read your cover letter's opening sentence, you smile, you get a bit excited, you feel a bit shy or you blush -- then that is a unique and attention-capturing cover letter! (That is how I always know I have created a really great and different cover letter).

WARNING! Just be sure you don’t go too far and label yourself a moron! Be courageous, be different, be creative, BUT be tactful!

Here are a few cover letter openings I like and have used…

Knowing firsthand what type of assistance you are seeking, I am confident my qualifications position me to make immediate impact to your organization.

Exploring your needs further seems like a great idea as my qualifications perfectly match your requirements (it literally could not be more ideal)!

Would you recognize the perfect candidate if his cover letter was right in front of you?

To catapult business success, you need assistance from a manager who is not afraid to roll up her sleeves and courageously direct from a new perspective!

I must confess, I have saved the best cover letter opening statements for my resume and cover letter writing tool kit. : - )

Can you share a few cover letter openings that you like or maybe a few of the worst openings you have read?

Rosa E. Vargas
Certified Resume Writer

The Best Time to Have Your Resume Professionally Prepared?

Taking action and preparing your resume while you are still employed is always a great idea!

So, most people wait until they have no job to get a resume! While this is probably the most important time to hire a professional resume writer, you should hire a resume writer even when you are employed! Why?

1. You have the income to pay for an expert!

2. You can gather all the information you need with no pressure.

3. At work, you probably will have access to data that can be incorporated into your resume.

4. Because you have a job, you can take your time and partner with your writer.

5. The information will be fresh in your mind and if you need a refresher, you are in the perfect place.

6. Being prepared is always -- ALWAYS -- A GREAT idea!

7. It will feel great to see your value on paper, even if you want to remain at your current job!

8. Why not?

I am sure there are more reasons -- if I have missed any let me know; would you? The bottom line is that we really have to start realizing that our career life is as important as other parts of our lives and if we take preventative measures to ensure and plan ahead of time for everything else -- why not your career?

 

Rosa E. Vargas
Master Resume Writer - Career Management Alliance
Nationally Certified Resume Writer - National Resume Writers' Association

www.careersteering.com

Should I Hire a Professional Resume Writer?

During my online research, I came across a post that solicited advice on whether or not this person should hire a professional resume writer and if we (readers) think the professional resume writer could do a better job than he had done. Now, I have heard this question before, but this time, I decided to provide advice.

Here is part of my post to help the job seeker…

A certified professional resume writer will certainly help you above what you can create yourself. As a certified resume writer myself, I ask you to think of it this way: unless you write resumes for people in your industry, with varying histories, and potential screen-out factors, on a daily basis, then hiring a professional resume writer will help you target and condense your resume into a powerful marketing tool. We, professional resume writers, have honed the craft of writing targeted marketing tools (resumes) that sidestep negatives, promote relevant information, and strategically place your qualifying points to provoke action from your prospective employer.

How do we prepare? By writing resumes daily, training for certifications, reviewing samples, comparing to effective resumes, and nurturing resume-writing knowledge through continued education and practice. In addition, many of us belong to organizations that conduct surveys, cultivate information sharing, and update us on the latest effective strategies.

I suggest you check out resume writing organizations such as National Resume Writers’ Association, Career Management Alliance, and Career Directors’ International to find a professional and experienced resume writer based on your needs. Hope you decide to seek assistance. it sounds like you need help focusing that resume. Good luck!

Now I add in this post the following thought-provoking question: During a time when the competition is growing because of many job reductions, can anyone really afford not to have a professional with more experience writing their resume?

I learned a similar lesson myself when I tried to prepare sushi in my kitchen. Now, I always dine out for sushi and leave a really generous tip, every time!  It is not that my sushi was no good...it was just not as good! :-)

Please feel free to email me at rvargas@creatingprints.com, post a comment in this blog, or visit Resume Service.

Ask The Resume Expert!

 

 

 

Hello. Because so many of you are seeking different answers, I ingeniously decided (or not so ingeniously, depending on the results) to allow you to Ask! So, if you are looking for a specific answer or need a bit of help with a particular resume/job search problem, feel free to post your question/challenge. Your email is not required; all I ask is a little patience as I try to answer you ASAP!

Take advantage as with two distinguishing resume writing certifications, I am confident I can assist you. No consultations fees via this blog! : - )

I hope that your question will help others reading these posts.

Sincerely,

Rosa E. Vargas
Nationally Certified Resume Writer
Master Resume Writer