Today’s post is blatantly self promotional; at the same time, I am aspiring to provide value in identifying critical traits, experiences and qualifications you should look for when setting about to hire a resume writer.
Revamping my website home page with a value-focused comparison of my (CareerTrend) resume services versus others, I realize, is a bold move. However, I desired bold as that is what helps me to distinguish what I do versus ‘everyone else’ out there in this I’ve-got-a-resume-business-because-I-can easy-to-start-a-business-on-the-Internet world.
I was inspired to articulate this information after realizing people who were contacting me for the first time (especially those who simply found me through an Internet search and/or who have never invested in a resume writer before) were not always reading deeply into my site and were doing quick, at-the-surface comparisons to other writers. As such, they were having difficulty understanding why others who appeared to be offering the ‘same thing’ were marketing it for hundreds of dollars (or even a thousand or more dollars) less than the investment required for my services.
Hiring a high-level and high-value resume strategist should not be taken lightly or as an afterthought, and certainly not looked upon as a cost. Done right, a professionally conducted resume strategy should be a project replete with introspection, targeted consulting and coaching that drives a multiple return on your investment! As New York Times Best Seller Martin Yate says, “Your resume is the most financially important document you will ever own!
I hope you will enjoy the comparisons, as follows:
| CareerTrend | Other Resume Services |
| Durable Experience. After 16+ years’ operating CareerTrend as my day-to-day sole-supporting income, I KNOW resume writing. I know HOW to help you help me focus your message to the RIGHT audience. My clients’ testimonials say it best: Client Testimonials. | Many people have flocked to the Internet to hang up a ‘resume writing’ shingle after their prior career tumbled. When pressed to define their collective experience, they often cannot verify a strong track record of of paid resume writing experience and results. |
| Passionate About, and Educated in Writing. My impassioned focus, my reason for rising and going to work every day is to create word stories. Early on, I earned a Bachelor of Arts in Writing, with a Journalism emphasis. I can tell a client’s nuanced story by going after your ‘who, what, where, when, why and how.’ My stories generate interviews. | Many Internet entrepreneurs are former human resource or recruiter professionals or life and career coaches who claim resume ‘writing’ expertise. Others cite a knack for reviewing resumes. While this may add texture to resume building, the key to exceptional, compelling resume writing is exceptional WRITING. |
| Perspective. Client engagements are exclusive and pre-qualified to ensure quality and success. 16 years collaborating with 780 job seekers equips me with a repository of strategic knowledge. I know intuitively how to help you get perspective on your job search. Career messaging is at the heartbeat of your transition or breakthrough role. Without focused perspective, everything else you do in your search will be like traveling without a GPS. | If someone claims they can complete your resume process in a few days, or even a week, then I would doubt their initiative to shepherd you to the focused perspective needed to communicate your value. In order to tune into nuanced notes of your orchestral career, a writer must a) require you dive deeply into your past; and b) take the time needed to strategize and review, before putting words to the page. |
| Unparalleled Results. I remain current on career marketing and communication trends while also setting you apart with an uncommon outcome. I do this by breaking from archaic and unsubstantiated resume regulations. As in all marketing, there are no hard-and-fast rules. While you don’t want to be ‘different’ just for the sake of being different, you also don’t want to mimic. Don’t let fear force you to follow everyone else. | Many bloggers beat the drum on resume rules and ingredients to the secret sauce recipe; e.g., 1- to 2-page limits, bullets versus paragraphs, black/white content, omitting color, avoiding charts, and the list goes on. The secret sauce is YOUR story. Hiring an objective 3rd-party writer will help you gain perspective on how your past connects to your future goals, propelling your story forward! |
| A Career Writer Who Writes Resumes. I write compelling copy that commands interest and gets job interviews! While I have been tapped by major media for my insights; e.g., Glassdoor and US News & World Report, my PRIMARY role — my working theme — is performing as YOUR career writing strategist. | While many talk about writing resumes, they often are immersed in telling others how to write and performing coaching. However, I invest my days in collaborative writing, so you get the best of both worlds – I shepherd you through the consultative/coaching processes to achieve focus and strategy, and then I perform as the strategic writing ‘do-er’! |
Jacqui,
I love how you spelled out what makes you different from other resume services…
This reminds me of how a well-known career expert [was it Martin Yates?] recommended that we address in our cover letters in a similar format how we meet and/or exceed all the requirements specified in a job description.
It is indeed a powerful way to differentiate yourself among other candidates. It also saves the employer [or in this case, the consumer] valuable time in the selection process.
That said, I would like to mention that you left out one important item from your list and that is your warm and friendly personality… this is an important factor and should definitely be added.
After all, it’s not enough to just be excellent at doing the work, the person seeking your services needs to feel comfortable opening up and sharing his/her career story, feelings, fears etc with you to enable you to then have the “diamonds in the rough” with which to work with. And you definitely have the personality to enable someone to feel that ease…
Dorlee,
My apologies the delay in responding to your thoughtful comment. It was an active week, and I wanted to have quiet time to think through my reply.
I agree with your great assessment that the layout of the comparisons is akin to the cover letter format you describe (in our industry, I believe we refer to it as the T-cover letter).
I was taken by your suggestion of what I may have left ‘out’ of the list, and am now considering a way to weave that item in. Most assuredly, clients who seek out my services and consultation must feel a culture fit – a true comfort and trust in opening up in such an intimate and detailed way. You are spot on in pinpointing the ‘feelings, fears’ that folks are filled up with when they reach out to me.
Finally, I am so flattered by your kind remarks about my personality and strive to be that person you describe for my clients.
Thank you so much for taking time to articulate these insights here this week. Most appreciated.
~Jacqui