Resume Help Blog

Posts Tagged ‘resume writers’

We have all heard the Boy Scout motto Be prepared. That is a good motto for all of us, it’s also great career advice. You never know when the perfect career opportunity will present itself. If a recruiter called you today with your dream job, would you be prepared to send out an up-to-date resume right away?

There are four times that it critical to update your resume:

Update Your Resume Every Year

This is where many people fall short. You may not think you will change jobs soon and put it off but then that recruiter calls with the perfect job, you may suddenly find your resume is years out of date, and you’ll have to scramble to catch up. Keep it up to date; don’t put it off.

While things are fresh in your mind, keep your resume current by including your best accomplishments each year. It’s easier to write things down as they occur by keeping a diary. You are very likely to overlook critical achievements and contributions.

Update Your Resume When Your Career Focus Changes

Anytime you want to change your career path you also need to change your resume. There are several ways to shift the focus toward your new career.

By focusing on the skills that will be useful in your new career, you can position yourself as a stronger candidate for the job. Highlight those transferable skills in your new resume. By bringing them front and center you have the advantage.

In addition to highlighting your transferable skills also make a list of accomplishments that will support those skills. Accomplishment statements give you credibility to prove your ability to cross industry or occupational lines. If you do this well it will make a big difference in whether you win the interview or are passed over.

Do You Anticipate A Layoff? If You Have Reason To Believe This A Possibility Then It Is Time To Update And Be Ready

Corporate downsizing is a harsh reality of today’s economy. Layoffs and losses are becoming more and more common. But you can be prepared by keeping your resume up-to-date.

Don’t make the mistake of being overly optimistic. Remember we started this article with the motto Be Prepared. It’s safer to assume that you are on the “out” list. You may think you are  indispensable to your employers. Get your resume ready as soon as you see any indications that downsizing is on the way.

Don’t mistake company loyalty for a fear of change. Many people would rather take their chances with a potential layoff than make proactive steps toward finding a new job. Once they’re laid off, it’s already too late. Remember, as a candidate, you are always more marketable while still employed. Avoid this by starting your job search early with self-marketing tools (resume and cover letter) that are up-to-date and top quality.

Update Your Resume When You Are Dissatisfied With Your Current Position

I have been there and I know that job dissatisfaction leads to feelings of frustration, worthlessness, and often hopelessness. But there is no reason to stay in a job you hate. However with the unemployment rate as high as it currently is being prepared with an updated resume can help you feel better in your current job. By having your resume updated you can respond to job opportunities with confidence. If you will Take proactive steps toward a new career it will give you back your optimism and feeling of self worth.

If it’s time for you to update your resume, first decide whether your resume requires a simple update or a complete rewrite. If you have been using the same resume format for several years  it’s possible that you have outgrown the old look. Resume formats are like automobiles they change. And if you’ve simply been “tacking on” to your old resume, it may start to resemble a house with too many additions, with little sense or direction.

Get a professional resume critique. This can help you decide exactly what you need to move forward. A well-written professional resume can make an incredible difference in:

• The length of time it takes to make your career move
• The quality of your next position
• The income potential of your next position

Your resume is your best sales tool in finding a new job, and it deserves the investment of your time and commitment. With the high number of layoffs we are facing the best investment you can make in yourself is a professionally written resume. That will prepare you for anything that comes your way – and be well on the path to your next great job.

Why should you spend good money to hire a professional resume writer? According to Louise Fletcher the President and CEO of Blue Sky Resumes; “Most resumes are ineffective because they don’t communicate a clear value proposition”.

The real advantage in having a professional resume writer prepare your resume is the professional has developed a resume writing system based on how actual hiring decisions are made.

A few years back, I owned a family upholstery business, the business did reasonably well but we were always cash poor and I decided to apply for an SBA loan. If you have ever known anyone who applied for one of these you know how much paperwork can be involved. A friend gave me the name of a professional loan writer and I got the loan without any trouble. It was explained to me that the loan writer knew from training and experience what the SBA wanted to see and prepared the paperwork accordingly. Incidentally the final paperwork was two inches thick.

A professional resume writer is exactly the same. A professional resume writer working with you one-on-one will give you a definite advantage over someone else with identical experience. Their resume writing process is rooted in the real world and is centered around the importance of developing a clear picture of how hiring you will add value to their company.

Don’t waste any more time sending out resumes that don’t fully communicate your unique value. Let one of our professional writers give you a leg up on your competitors.

Whether or not to have someone write your resume for you is a personal decision.  Based on experience, however, very few people who have had their resumes professionally written have regretted their decision.  Why?  Because after they saw how big of a difference their revamped resume was compared to their original one, they realized they made the right decision. 

So what is at stake?  Your future!  Some people are willing to spend hundreds of dollars on a new wardrobe to look good during interviews, yet they are not willing to spend money on a resume…  Agreed, a resume is only a piece of paper… but that piece of paper holds the key to the job interview and to your future.

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