The Truth About Resume Writers

The Truth About Resume Writers I didnt hire a resume writer when I was in a job search.  Why?  Because I couldnt afford it. And, because I was smart enough to write my own resume.  Heck, I had worked my way through a CIS degree, and an MBA, and by that point, had had a great career.  SELF MADE.  I was smart, motivated, etc. Why should I hire someone, for hundreds of dollars, to write a one or two page resume? One or two pages.  Bleh. I had written papers in college that were many times that length. So I wrote my own resume, and I spun my wheels in a depressing job search, when the economy was strong.  I got nowhere.  And I didnt understand why. I didnt understand that an experienced resume writer would have been able to help me understand why. What Ive come to learn is that a resume writer, many times, is much more than a resume writer.  Let me rewrite that: A resume writer is much more than a typist. When you hire a resume writer, you are hiring someone who is in your corner, rooting for you, cheering you on, and sometimes, coaching you.  Im not saying they are a coach, but if you email them and say I am not getting anywhere what am I doing wrong?, they might put on their coaching hat and say something like my other clients are doing this thing, have you tried that? If I had hired a resume writer, I know that writer would have said Jason, you are doing this thing wrong fix it! Resume writers are in the trenches with you.  And they have been in the trenches hundreds, maybe thousands, of times.  They have seen many successes, and many failures.  They learn from job seekers that have gone before you.  Many have seen the cycles of great economy/cruddy economy.  They have an understanding of the past, and a vision of the future, and can be your lighthouse helping you navigate a seemingly hopeless and dangerous journey. Resume writers get a thrill when you email them and say you landed a job.  They share that huge win with their Facebook friends (Im friends with many on Facebook, and see these messages shared regularly).  Its a second payday for them.  Sure, they charge money, and they should.  This is not charity work. They are experts at what they do. More important, they bring value to you. and they should be rewarded for that.  Their first payday is when you pay them money.  Their second payday is when you say I landed!!  Honestly, Im not sure which is worth more to a resume writer.  In many cases, the second payday is more meaningful. Think Im blowing smoke yet?  Im not. I know these people.  Ive been to conferences with them. I email them.  I have broken bread with them.  They genuinely care about your success, as much as they care about being experts in their field.  They want to bring their best game to you, so you can move forward in your career. Recently I saw a Facebook message from my friend in Wisconsin, Julie Walraven.  This message shows her passion and excitement, and level of concern that she puts into her client relationship.  This message could just have easily been shared by Charlotte Weeks in Chicago, or Adrian Kelly in Australia, or Dawn Bugni in North Carolina or Shahrzad Arasteh in Maryland or Kelly McClelland in Florida or Robyn Feldberg in Texas or Ann Brody in Chicago or Carrie Luber in New York or the list could go on and on.  These career professionals are not mere typists (although they do that very well).  Heres Julies Facebook post: Find the right resume writer, career coach, or career counselor, and I guarantee they will echo this same enthusiasm and commitment to your success. The Truth About Resume Writers I didnt hire a resume writer when I was in a job search.  Why?  Because I couldnt afford it. And, because I was smart enough to write my own resume.  Heck, I had worked my way through a CIS degree, and an MBA, and by that point, had had a great career.  SELF MADE.  I was smart, motivated, etc. Why should I hire someone, for hundreds of dollars, to write a one or two page resume? One or two pages.  Bleh. I had written papers in college that were many times that length. So I wrote my own resume, and I spun my wheels in a depressing job search, when the economy was strong.  I got nowhere.  And I didnt understand why. I didnt understand that an experienced resume writer would have been able to help me understand why. What Ive come to learn is that a resume writer, many times, is much more than a resume writer.  Let me rewrite that: A resume writer is much more than a typist. When you hire a resume writer, you are hiring someone who is in your corner, rooting for you, cheering you on, and sometimes, coaching you.  Im not saying they are a coach, but if you email them and say I am not getting anywhere what am I doing wrong?, they might put on their coaching hat and say something like my other clients are doing this thing, have you tried that? If I had hired a resume writer, I know that writer would have said Jason, you are doing this thing wrong fix it! Resume writers are in the trenches with you.  And they have been in the trenches hundreds, maybe thousands, of times.  They have seen many successes, and many failures.  They learn from job seekers that have gone before you.  Many have seen the cycles of great economy/cruddy economy.  They have an understanding of the past, and a vision of the future, and can be your lighthouse helping you navigate a seemingly hopeless and dangerous journey. Resume writers get a thrill when you email them and say you landed a job.  They share that huge win with their Facebook friends (Im friends with many on Facebook, and see these messages shared regularly).  Its a second payday for them.  Sure, they charge money, and they should.  This is not charity work. They are experts at what they do. More important, they bring value to you. and they should be rewarded for that.  Their first payday is when you pay them money.  Their second payday is when you say I landed!!  Honestly, Im not sure which is worth more to a resume writer.  In many cases, the second payday is more meaningful. Think Im blowing smoke yet?  Im not. I know these people.  Ive been to conferences with them. I email them.  I have broken bread with them.  They genuinely care about your success, as much as they care about being experts in their field.  They want to bring their best game to you, so you can move forward in your career. Recently I saw a Facebook message from my friend in Wisconsin, Julie Walraven.  This message shows her passion and excitement, and level of concern that she puts into her client relationship.  This message could just have easily been shared by Charlotte Weeks in Chicago, or Adrian Kelly in Australia, or Dawn Bugni in North Carolina or Shahrzad Arasteh in Maryland or Kelly McClelland in Florida or Robyn Feldberg in Texas or Ann Brody in Chicago or Carrie Luber in New York or the list could go on and on.  These career professionals are not mere typists (although they do that very well).  Heres Julies Facebook post: Find the right resume writer, career coach, or career counselor, and I guarantee they will echo this same enthusiasm and commitment to your success.