Should You Hire A Resume Writer?

When you're looking for a job, it's hard to know if you should take a chance and hire a resume writer, or if you can get away with doing it yourself. It's a tough call. On one hand, I've seen many really great resumes that were self-written. On the other hand, your resume is too important to leave up to chance. So, what can you do?



If you prefer to write your resume on your own, don't just trust yourself to give it the polished look that you want. Go to your local library or bookstore and read books about resume writing. Often, they have samples you can look at and they can be an invaluable resource. Just focusing your energy on making your resume better is enough to get the wheels of creativity turning.



One thing you'll notice fairly quickly is that the suggestions will vary wildly from book to book and sometimes the advice from one book to another can be contradicting. It's important to know a little about what you want your end result to look like so that you'll be able to pick and choose the tips that work best for you. You should take into consideration your personality, your industry, your previous experience and the job for which you're applying.



Even if you write it yourself, it's a good idea to get a friend or someone you trust to read over your resume to look for grammar and spelling errors. Little mistakes are so easy to make and can be really tricky to find. However, if you ask for advice, be prepared to hear and accept constructive criticism. That isn't to say that you have to make every change that they suggest, but it does mean that you have to listen to their thoughts with an open mind. Thank them for their help and whatever you do, don't make them feel attacked or upset about anything they said about your resume. You don't have to take their advice, but you do have to hear it and be respectful. Don't forget that you asked for their help because they were someone you trusted. Maybe their opinion is worth giving some extra thought to.



If you have trouble with spelling and grammar, don't take chances. If you can afford it, hire someone to help you write your resume. You can usually find a resume writer online, in the classified and even in the phone book. You can even do a Google search and find people more than willing to help you make your resume really stand out. Before you choose a writer, you'll want to talk about work styles, what their time frame is, how much they charge and if they provide other services like cover letters and thank you notes. Be sure to get a sample of the writer's work to review before you make a decision. You'll want to select someone whom you are comfortable working with and who you think could have a voice sort of like yours. Since you want your resume to capture your personality, make sure that your writer is up to the task.



Whichever way you decide to go, your resume should be a reflection of who you are. Most of the time, it's the very first thing that an employer sees from you and it is the reason that you'll get invited to an interview. Make it count.



Do you write your own resumes or do you hire a writer? Please share your thoughts in the comments.