|
Why Use a Resume Writer or Resume-writing Service?
Here are some of the questions we have been asked by our clients or potential clients in the past, together with our answers to them. We hope you find them useful, and that they help you to make an informed decision. However, it may be that you have a question we have not answered. If so, then please contact us (mailto:info@top-pro-cvs.com) to discuss it. Just give us your first name and an active email address to respond to. Finally please note that the terms Resume and CV (or Curriculum Vitae) are interchangeable for the purposes of this article. Resume is the norm in the US, Australia and elsewhere, while CV is the widely accepted document in UK. Questions: 1. Why have my resume written by somebody else? I know what I have done and where I've worked, so why go to a third party? 2. Surely I can just list my achievements, qualifications and experience. Isn't that enough? 3. I have registered with an agency. They have offered to write my CV free of charge. Why should I pay for one? 4. I have seen a CD-ROM based programme for producing resumes. Why not use this? 5. My friend has just got a job with a CV he wrote himself. I can probably do the same, can't I? 6. Why use Top Professional Resumes Limited? And the answers to those questions: 1. Why have my resume written by somebody else? I know what I have done and where I've worked, so why go to a third party? This is probably the most frequently-asked question we get. There are a number of reasons to have your CV or Resume written by a professional.Firstly, the majority of people cannot be objective enough to do it properly. What you regard as your greatest strength or achievement may not be relevant to the target employer or job you are applying for, and you will almost certainly not appreciate the degree of weighting to apply to those strengths and achievements if they are relevant. Unless you keep abreast of changing trends in presentation and format, the layout and emphasis on the various aspects of the information you give will be "hit and miss" at best. Secondly, with specific regard to format. Selectors and HR Professionals carrying out the recruitment process expect the CV's or Resumes they receive to be in a "standard" format. This allows them to quickly sift and prioritise those individuals they want to interview and discard the rest. This format needs to be known and fully understood so that within this fairly narrow benchmark the Client can be best presented so as to stand out from the crowd. Having said that, a good resume writer will be able to write the Resume in such a way that the relevant strengths and skills are maximised, while any weaknesses are minimised or eliminated, and encapsulate all of this within a format that is calculated to maximise the chance of selection for interview. Which brings us to the third point, which is that none of us can be good at everything. Whatever our strengths or skill-set, that's why the majority of people use a solicitor to draw up contracts, a builder to carry out structural work to their homes or offices, an accountant to minimise their tax liability and a mechanic to fix the car. They employ professionals. Because we can all operate a word processor many of us think we can therefore write a Resume or CV for ourselves. While it is undoubtedly true that we can list achievements, qualifications, previous employers and so on, and maybe have a flair for artistic layout (which is incidentally the WORST thing you can apply to a CV), only a Professional has the ability to collate this information and present it in such a way as to get you through the door with a head start on any competition. It would be folly to entrust something as critical as getting you your next job or career change to anyone other than a Professional. 2. Surely I can just list my achievements, qualifications and experience. Isn't that enough? This is really linked to, and partially explained by, the answer to Question 1. But to elaborate a little, this is like saying that it is sufficient to present the specifications of a new car to a prospective purchaser and expect that alone to sell the product. Compare a Hyundai motor car with a Mercedes. Both have engines, a gearbox, 4 wheels and internal upholstery for the driver and passengers. Both will get you from where you are (geographically speaking) to where you want to go, and in the same time if you obey the speed limits. However there is a massively different perceived value between them, which accounts for the huge price differential. That price differential and difference in perceived value is derived primarily from the way the vehicles are marketed and sold, rather than any real physical disparity. It is almost certainly true to say, I think you will agree, that most people, if all other things such as price, were equal, would prefer and buy a Mercedes. This buying decision is made based on the benefits of the product (reliability, comfort, kudos) rather than on the features or specification (4-cylinder engine, synchromesh gearbox, 16 inch wheels etc). It is just so with a professionally-written CV or Resume. All other things being equal, do you think your future employer would prefer a Mercedes or a Hyundai? The only way he will perceive any difference between two candidates he hasn't met before, particularly if their qualifications and experience are similar, is by comparing the look and feel of their Resumes. Unfortunately this initial appraisal is over in approximately 8 seconds, so he or she needs to be sold the relevant factors in that brief interval. In Sales language, the selector needs to be presented with the benefits of employing you rather than just the features of your previous experience and qualifications. Your Resume is your Sales and Marketing Document; your Product Brochure. Just as all cars are not created equal, neither are two individuals. However, unless the benefits to the organisation of employing you rather than the next person in the pile, are presented quickly and credibly to the "buyer", then he won't even consider the features. 3. I have registered with an agency. They have offered to write my CV free of charge. Why should I pay for one? Agencies exist to provide a steady stream of traffic to interviewers. It makes no difference to them whether the company placing the vacancy with them hires you or the next person they send. The agency doesn't care - they get paid anyway. With regard to the Resume or CV they produce for you, the quality will reflect this "scatter-gun" approach. Usually you will fill in a form or have a brief interview, and that information will be inputted by a data-entry clerk into a software package or word-processor. A document purporting to be a Resume will then pop out of the printer. Then the process is repeated for the next candidate, and the next, and so on. Agencies might "handle" hundreds of new candidates in a week, all of whom need to be processed and have a CV "written". Compare the resumes produced by any agency and they will all look almost identical. How will that help you, as an individual, get through the door? It's more likely to be chance and good fortune than design. With your Resume, like most other things in life, you get what you pay for. As the saying goes: "The bitter aftertaste of poor quality lingers on the palate long after the sweet taste of low cost (or no cost) has gone forever" Are you prepared to leave such an important issue as getting your next job to a mass-produced, unfocussed and indiscriminate word-processed specification sheet? Or would you prefer a targeted, tightly-focussed, purposeful, dynamic and relevant Personal Sales Brochure? 4. I have seen a CD-ROM based programme for producing resumes. Why not use this? Today there are more software tools for automating and labour-saving processes (labor-saving if you're from the other side of the "Pond") in the marketplace than there are computers - and that's a lot! They are almost all of value to somebody, and Resume-Writing software is no exception. If you have the expertise and objectivity to write your own CV (but see the answer to all 3 earlier questions also), then such software can make the job easier. They will give you a choice of formats or layouts (do you know whether to use a Chronological or Functional format, and in what circumstances), and will inject pre-formatted and pre-written blocks of text describing generic jobs or tasks etc etc. At a price. However, what none of these packages can do is take your personal qualities, experience and circumstances into account. They will not - cannot - be objective with regard to the preferences and aspirations of the Client or the target employer. They will not have industry-specific terminology built into spell checkers, and cannot give advice on which skill-set to highlight, which weakness to minimise or eliminate (and these can be particularly problematic or subjective, dependent on the position applied for ), nor can they help you get around periods of unemployment or similar "blanks". For these you need human intervention - the services of a Professional. 5. My friend has just got a job with a CV he wrote himself. I can probably do the same, can't I? See the answers to all of the above ! Either he was lucky, or he had the expertise. Give us his contact details - he can come and work for TPR! Ed - one of our writers came to us in exactly this way, which is why we included the question. You never can tell . . . . . . ;-} SHAMELESS MARKETING PLUG! 6. Why use Top Professional Resumes Limited? There are many other resume or CV writing services around today, which gives you, the customer, a great deal of choice. We would always recommend a potential client has a look at them before making the obvious selection However, we feel we give a service that is second to none, and our clients endorse this. At the end of the day you basically have to decide on just two things: A. Who do I feel will do the best job and get me an interview quickly? B. Which organisation, having evaluated all the options available, represents the best value for money? As with all things, the cheapest is seldom the best! Of course we are a little biased, so won't answer the rhetorical questions above. However, we have been doing this for a while, have many satisfied customers, are members of the Professional Resume Writing and Research Association (PRWRA), and have a genuine desire to help you get that all-important next job. If we can be of any assistance with any aspect of your quest, then please do not hesitate to contact us. We would obviously prefer you to become a valued client. However, should you for any reason decide not to use our services, please take a few minutes to complete our feedback form so that we might improve our services to others. Who knows, you may come back! The website (http://www.top-pro-cvs.com) also gives a lot of extra detail if you have not yet been there yet. Good luck with your job-search. I hope this article has been useful to you. Copyright Top Professional Resumes Limited 2005 Stephen Thompson is an HR professional and the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Top Professional Resumes Limited (TPR), a company registered in England which specialises in Resume and CV Writing Services, Career Guidance and Interview Preparation. Its Clients are mainly drawn from the professions (accountants, lawyers, engineers, teachers, board-level directors etc.). TPR has been around for just over seven years but has just (in February of this year) launched a website (http://www.top-pro-cvs.com/warning.html) to market its services on the internet. TPR are members of the Professional Resume Writing and Research Association (http://www.prwra.com) and Stephen Thompson is an Authorised Administrator with Profiling Pro (http://www.profilingpro.com), who provide online individual Behavioral Analysis reports for individuals wanting to better understand themselves and their relationships with others
MORE RESOURCES:
Jobs City of Rochester (.gov)
Careers Washington State University
Careers Freedom of the Press Foundation
Careers Gwinnett County Public Schools
JobFeed NSW Department of Education
|
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Inside Sales Jobs: A Job Worth Seeking?
Are you interested in inside sales as a career? Inside sales can be a very rewarding job if you so choose. What is the difference between inside and outside sales positions? If you think the difference is staying out of the sun, read on and discover if or why an inside sales job could be for you.
The Big Mo : Momentum and the Hiring Process
Momentum as defined by Webster's is: strength or force gained by motion or through the development of events. For our purposes, the interview process is a "development of events".
Answering The What Are Your Weaknesses? Interview Question
One of the trickier questions an interviewer might put to you is "what are your major weaknesses?"What are you meant to say? If you list all your weaknesses, aren't you just giving the interviewer reasons to think that you aren't up to the job?If you read most other interview advice guides, they will say that you should list some weaknesses that are just as much strengths. Things like "I am a perfectionist" or "I work too hard".
How To Pick The Best Career For You, Part 1
In Part One we'll look at how Positioning or "Coming to a Theater Near You" simplifies and expedites your employment hunt by reinforcing employer buy-in through justification of the sale.Rapidly gain employer agreement that you're the right person for the job by proving how their organizational needs are met through your specific abilities to solve their identified problems.
Using The Internet For Job-hunting
The Internet is a very useful tool for job seekers as it is a great source of information. Also, taking into account of a more wired world, getting online has never been easier.
Look in the Mirror
Take a moment to step outside yourself. Now, be honest with me here? If you could be your own boss, how would you rate your own performance in the last three months? Would you get a raise, a day off as a treat, or would a big and brawny security guy kindly escort you to the parking lot?In order to be an effective marketer and a progressive human being for that matter, you have to take a breather and look in the mirror.
Career Tips: How To Start A New Career
These days most people accept that jobs are not for life anymore. People are more mobile and much more likely to change jobs every few years and even careers a number of times throughout their lives.
Can Nurses Be Entrepreneurs?
Yes, Nurses can be entrepreneurs. In today's market place nursing has a unique service to offer not only to hospitals but nursing homes, private care and doctor offices.
How To Become A Computer Consultant
Have you ever wanted to become a computer consultant, but you weren't sure if you could cut it? Do you have a basic understanding of computer-systems, strong problem-solving skills, and a desire to help other people? If so, then you already possess the main abilities and traits that you need to become a computer consultant.In this article, we'll look at the business opportunities for computer consultants, the reasons why there will almost always be a strong need for good computer consultants, and what it takes for you to achieve success if you want to become a computer consultant.
Preparing For An Interview
When preparing for an interview, you need to know your skills, experiences and achievements, and how to answer interview questions.Your SkillsBecome an expert about yourself.
Phone Interviews: Prepare to Ace Them!
More companies are saving time and effort by doing initial telephone interviews before committing themselves to hours of time assessing and evaluating applicants. They are doing this because, frankly, it's a good way to save a team's time from interviewing obviously unqualified people.
How To Conduct A Successful Job Search Campaign
1.Define your objective: Know what kind of work you most enjoy and perform the best.
Integrity At Work - How Do You Show Up?
As the business sections of today's papers and magazines read more and more like the police blotter, ''Integrity'' is fast becoming a hot topc of conversation in business boardrooms, around water coolers, and in today's business best-sellers. Integrity is defined as walking the talk when it comes to living one's true values, being authentic.
Build New Habits -- Payday Will Come --
Feeling that it never works is not a good excuse. You may even remember last year not getting past February.
Out Recruit The Competition
We hear from our clients that they "hope the candidate takes the job." Hiring a candidate shouldn't be a guessing game.
10 Key Career Success Questions
At some point in every professional or managerial career, there is a time when one start thinking: Is it time to move on or do something else? However, before you quit your job and take a fling at something else, realistically evaluate your career and potential options by asking yourself these ten career success questions:Do I really like my work or am I hanging on marking time?Am I promotable or am I seen as a disposable commodity?Am I visible to potential employers, as well as my current boss?Am I growing or stagnating or just standing still waiting for the next wave of change? How smooth are my interpersonal relationships with my boss and co-workers?Am I being rewarded at my true worth? Have I recently checked out my value in the marketplace?How valued and diversified are my skills and competencies?How can I distinguish myself from competitors?What will it take to get where I want to go from the place I am right now?While setting distinct goals is a critical factor in career advancement, remaining flexible is important too. Climbing the career ladder with blinders on could mean missed opportunity.
American Idol Syndrome
I like Simon, one of three judges on American Idol. I find his feedback refreshingly honest.
The Executive Resume - Moving Beyond Accomplishments
There is a major difference between conventional resumes and executive resumes. Accomplishments are usually the center point of a conventional resume (i.
Electronic Resume Writing Tips That Boost Your Interview Appointment Success
Electronic Resume Writing Tips That Boost Your Interview Appointment SuccessBefore you write your resume in a word processor, print it, and hand out copies to prospective employers, you should consider formatting it for easy scanning and retrieval from a computer database.As you can imagine, dozens, maybe hundreds of resumes bombard employers for a position they would like filled.
Nuts and Bolts of Effective Cover Letters
As a job seeker, you shouldn't overlook the importance of a cover letter. If written strategically, a cover letter increases your chances for consideration, and provides an opportunity to highlight your individuality.
|