“I just had my resume done by someone else, but I’m very disappointed with it.”
“I have no love for my former resume writer.”
In my practice, I hear words like these all the time. In fact, I heard them as recent as last week.
And without knowing any details, I can tell the person on the other end of the line right then and there what went wrong as it’s always the same thing, or a combination of things.
One look at their resume tends to confirm my suspicion.
If your resume looks cookie cutter – and it may not look that way to you, but I can spot these resume templates from miles away, I know you probably engaged a large resume-writing firm that offers fast turnaround (48 hours or so) and offers no personal phone time. You fill out a questionnaire and that’s it.
I get hired by many clients to rewrite these resumes.
By the way, this is not to say large resume-writing firms are always bad and small resume-writing businesses are by definition good!
Check out these 3 signs you may need to break up with your current or prospective resume writer. That is, if you were hoping to receive a quality resume:
1. You were charged or quoted a very low fee to have your resume completely revamped – say around $200 – and offered a very quick turnaround (48 hours).
(If you think $200 is an average fee for a resume rewrite then you need to read on, too!)
Why is this a bad sign?
Although we all want a great deal; with professional resume writers, you pretty much get what you pay for. Professional resume writers with years of experience, who have been published, who hold resume-writing credentials (especially the MRW and ACRW which are head and shoulders above all other resume credentials as they are hard to obtain and maintain), know the ROI and value they bring to the table, and they’ll charge you for that.
So, how much do they charge?
Roughly between $500 and $2,000+ depending on your level, industry, and the complexity of your project.
Writers who charge very little tend to have limited experience and are trying to compete on price alone. Because the field of resume writing is not regulated, many people thought they could make a quick buck off all those folks who got laid off due to the economy.
2. When working with your resume writer, he or she only asks for your current resume and refuses to get on the phone with you. Maybe they’ll use a questionnaire, but that will be it.
Why is this a bad sign?
One of the things you pay a resume writer for, is his or her knowledge of how decision makers review resumes. With this knowledge, a good resume writer will ask you specific questions to draw this information out of you. They will want to get a feel for you to accurately represent you on paper. In other words: data gathering should be a huge – and very important – part of the process.
3. Your resume writer cannot explain to you what the latest developments are when it comes to effective resumes and job search strategies.
A lot has happened in job searching and resume writing the past few years. Make that a LOT.
Just asking, “Can you explain the difference to me between today’s resumes and those ‘back in the days’ (aka pre-2008)?” will be a great way to qualify a professional resume writer.
The response you get should include some words about personal branding, about the need for tighter and crisper documents, and about the impact both social media and mobile technology are having on the job search and thus resume writing.
If you want a more in-depth answer to this question, head over to my blog for the latest resume-writing and job-search trends.
So here’s what I recently did in reaction to all my previously burnt clients…
I created a special for all the unsatisfied folks out there walking around with a so-so or flat-out god-awful resume along with a bad taste from their experience with another resume-writing firm. I’m one of the pricier resume writers out there so I wanted to help those who were going for a second round of resume development by giving them 20% off my regular resume-writing fee. For more details, click here.
What’s more – I’m asking for your input to create a whole series of specials as part of our 10-year CareerBranches anniversary. Name your own special and I might just give it to you! It’s all on my blog, you need just comment!
Ilona Vanderwoude, founder of CareerBranches, is a career designer who helps her clients fit a million passions into one lifetime while providing the tactical support to actually make it happen.
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About Ilona Vanderwoude
Hi Ilona,
This is a great article! It’s refreshing to see a well thought article that gives some practical advice. With so many resume writers out there it’s hard to know who to hire to help out. It’s also hard for people to understand the value the a resume writer or coach can bring because they think they can do it themselves. Your resume is your personal marketing material. Yes you can market yourself, but wouldn’t it be best to have some professional made marketing material? Excellent resumes land interviews with top firms paying top salaries. The difference between an ok resume and an excellent one can easy be $1000s a year, well worth the fee.
A note to Sandra (and other in her situation): The power of personal branding is to find the common elements in these diverse jobs and present that as your key strength. That you can succeed in a variety of environments can be a great strength.
Thanks Larry! : )
You bring up 2 very valid points: it’s hard to know who to trust and people have a hard time understanding the value we career professionals can bring to the table.
You’re right…resume-writing services can easily pay for themselves…and then some.
One thing I’d like to add though: resumes are very important tools, but they’re just one tool. To pull off a successful job transition, you need to look at all factors; how you interview, how you conduct your job search, your digitial identity, etc.
I write my own resumes. And I put my education first since that is what is going for me. My work background is all over the place from factory work (1994-1997) to retail (1999), to temporary work in offices (2001-2002) to direct care/at risk youth (2004-2007). I have no choice but to put my education first with a work background like that.
I know if I had a more stable (as in the same industry or same position) work background, and if I had more office experience, I’d probably get more calls for interviews for office work. At least I have an interview with the County of Riverside April 25th and I have another one with them early May. I can’t complain about that!
And if I ever go back to offering services for resume writing, I’ll make sure I don’t charge $45. . .but I never heard of companies having a 48 hour turn-around. That seems a little fast even for me, you can’t even get to know the person in 48 hours.
Hi Sandra!
Larry is right – there are definitely ways to position you other than listing your education first. Like he said, it’s finding the commonalities, and also what’s relevant to your current career focus.
How did your interviews go?
Yes, they’re there…the 48-hour turnaround companies. Tells you all you need to know about their service.. : )