I would like to continue my discussion on writing resumés, in part because I have received a large number of resumes lately that attracted my attention for the wrong reasons in spite of the fact that they were very professionally formatted and printed.
Less is best, more affordable and effective
What was wrong?
They were too professional, too slick, overdone. It was obvious that these resumes, and in most cases, the cover letters, were not prepared by the job searchers they represented, and it would be obvious to employers and human-resource professionals, as well.
Don't misunderstand, there is nothing wrong with having a professionally written resume; I performed those services for years.
But when the resume writer overdoes the graphics or creates a portfolio that is more professional looking than many major corporations' annual reports, then you begin to wonder if the job searcher really needs to work for a living (these packages don't come cheap!), or is the information in the resume really truthful, and does the job searcher have any organizational or writing skills to offer.
I am not referring to every resume-writing service out there, but the buyer should beware. |
There are individuals and national chain operations that are more interested in selling you a high-priced, glitzy resume package than in providing you with what you need to get hired. Let's talk specifics:
- Insist on meeting and talking with the person who actually will write your resume. Your personality and individuality must show in your resume, and that cannot happen from a computer program and someone else's way of thinking and talking.
- Insist on the right to proofread and make changes before accepting the finished resume.
- Ask for a service that includes minor changes in your resume at a minimum extra cost. You might want to change your objective or other wording after a couple of interviews.
- Do not accept preprinted "form" cover letters. If you want to get hired, cover letters must be individually prepared for each employer.
- Stay clear of presentation folder formats that open like a book. They are difficult to file and photocopy. Save money and pick a simple one- or two-page format that sells.
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