When you decide to hire a professional résumé writer, you’re not only investing your time and money, you’re entrusting me to articulate your personal brand and shape how you’ll position yourself in your job search. I take this responsibility very seriously and offer these 10 tips to ensure a positive collaboration!
1. Communicate Clearly
I promise to keep you informed about what I need from you — and, at the same time, expect you to be responsive to my requests. Provide the information you want on your resume up front — if you give me information at the revision stage, it may change our strategy significantly.
I use information you give me to create your résumé, so quality is everything! Be honest with me in all the details of your career you share. Your questionnaire and Discovery Session are just between us. I won't knowingly place false information on your résumé, and your feedback is important to me.
2. Be Clear On Your Career Goal
A specific job target helps me write a more effective résumé to showcase your skills, experience, and accomplishments. I will not write a “general résumé”. It doesn't translate as well as a résumé written for a specific job target. Related to this: If I write you a résumé for a sales position, don’t use that résumé to apply for a different type of job. (Or at least discuss it with me before you do.)
3. Meet Your Deadlines
If I give you action items to work on — with a timeframe to return it to me — please meet that deadline. Two business days are allotted for reviewing your draft. When you miss that deadline, our project get pushed back for days. The sooner we finalize your project, the sooner you can start using your new documents!
If your timeline for needing your résumé changes — for example, there is a specific opportunity you want to respond to, please let me know, but there will likely be a fee associated with rush requests.
4. Invest In Yourself
Your new résumé is just one tool in your job search toolbox. If I recommend additional services to complement your résumé, consider the request carefully. Your income is your number one asset, and a small investment can land you a significant return. Spending 1-3% of your annual income on improving your career prospects makes sense when you are positioned to receive over 20% more.
5. Trust Me, I’m Your Résumé Writer
Please don’t solicit opinions about your résumé from your friends or family members. You hired me for my expertise. So, if you have any questions, don’t be afraid to ask me. Don’t believe everything you read on the Internet. For every article that talks about how your résumé should be one page, there are more that say it should be two pages. I will respect your boundaries, but encourage you to be open-minded.
6. Your Résumé is a Marketing Document, Not a Dissertation
I’m not going to include every detail about your life and work history on your résumé, especially if you have certain jobs that aren’t relevant to your career target. These details are important to who you are, but they are not necessarily important in this résumé for this job target. I will be selective in what information I include, because your résumé tells a story about who you are and what you can do.
7. Don’t “Lend” Your Résumé to Anyone Else
Your new résumé is a customized document developed just for you. Allowing someone else to use your résumé (format, design, and/or wording) may even dilute its effectiveness for you — especially if you “lend it” to a co-worker or colleague. If someone admires your résumé, send him or her my way, and I will create an equally awesome document.
8. If You’re Not Getting Results, Let’s Talk
Though I can’t guarantee you’ll land a job with your new resume, if you're not interviewing within 6-8 weeks, we can reconnect to develop strategies to help you increase the number of interviews and job offers you receive. Your satisfaction is my priority. If you're unhappy with your results after executing hidden job market strategies and applicable recommendations, allow me an opportunity to investigate further.
Tell your friends if you loved working with me. I love your testimonials, LinkedIn Recommendations, and referrals. Most of my new clients are referred to me by happy, satisfied former clients!
9. Let Me Know How You’re Doing
Sometimes I don’t hear from clients until they need an update to their résumé when it’s time to look for a new job. I'd love to hear from you when you get a job offer. We’ll celebrate together!
10. Keep Your Résumé Updated
Speaking of your new job, once you land a new position (and you’re sure you’re going to stay — usually, after the first 90 days, you know), get back in touch with me to add your new position. Keep an accomplishments journal to track your achievements in your new role, which makes it easier to respond to new opportunities that come up.
I look forward to partnering with you!
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