This will be the first in a series of two Q&A blog posts about leveraging your resume in your job search. I hope they are helpful to you!
Here is a great article that our certified resume writer, Jasmine Marchong, shared with me recently (thanks Jasmine!). People often come to us wanting their resume updated but don’t fully understand how involved the process is – and how involved they need to be in order to get the results they want! Here’s the article, and what you need to know before you hire a resume writer in order to make the process successful for you.
Hallie: What are 3 things a resume client needs to do and understand in order to effectively work with a resume writer and get the end result they want – a fantastic resume they are proud of?
Jasmine: I would say the three most important things a client needs to do/understand to get the most out of their resume writer and facilitate in the development of that winning resume is:
1. Know which area, position, and/or industry you would like to move in. For some, this can be half the challenge, however, knowing your target position will help your resume writer develop a targeted resume, highlighting those relevant skills and experience applicable to the position of interest.
2. Understand that developing your resume is a process which involves taking a deep dive into your career to mine out and identify your value proposition. Remember your resume writer has not walked in your shoes, therefore open communication / collaboration is vital in helping your resume writer understand what you’ve done and how you have excelled in each position.
3. Realize that you do have successes and accomplishments and that you’ve not just “done your job!” Taking the time to answer the questions asked by your resume writer can help them identify those achievements and help you understand your marketable skills.
Hallie: How involved does the client need to be, meaning how many hours do they need to anticipate putting into this kind of project?
Jasmine: The client needs to be very involved. Of course there is no magic number for the amount of hours needed to invest, however, full cooperation and effort to answer your resume writers questions thoroughly, can and will be reflected in the results of your resume.
Hallie: What questions do they need to be prepared to answer during a preliminary conversation with a resume writer, to be prepared?
Jasmine: Questions can include: What is your next position of interest? How many years experience do you have?
What is your current salary? What are your concerns with your current resume? Why are you looking to change positions? How soon will you be starting your job search?
Thank you Jasmine for your responses! We hope this is helpful to you everyone to assist you in effectively working with a resume writer.
Hallie Crawford and Jasmine Marchong
Certified Career Coaches
P.S. Are you in the ideal career for you? Find out if you’re in the right career with our Ideal Career Quiz.
