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Resume Writing Scams and Warning Signs

Jun 21 2015

All too often I see resume posts and articles with the some version of the title: “Resumes Guaranteed to Get You Hired.” In fact, no reputable resume writer would give such a guarantee and no company would hire you based on a resume alone. The company will interview you (maybe several times), check your references, and discuss how well you fit their requirements and culture. Your resume is one part of a complex hiring process.

Online resume writing sites that promise to improve your resume with a free online review often rely on the same electronic spellcheckers and grammar checkers that you use and may run the resume through an automatic applicant tracking system. It is one thing to ask to see your current resume; it is another to “improve” it without speaking to you first. Great resumes show off the skills, accomplishments and education that are valued in your field and by the companies you are interested in. No one can know how to write your resume for maximum impact unless they talk to you to find out your goals, accomplishments, skills and education.

Any resume writer who insists on hard and fast rules (no 2-page resumes ever, no more than 6 bullets in a section) does not have your best interests in mind. Proper grammar, standard spelling, clarity, standard formatting and concise writing are essentials in a resume but many other “rules” have either fallen out of use or should be re-evaluated based on your circumstances. Do take the recommendations of your resume writer to heart; a professional resume writer has years of experience and training and you are paying for good advice. But avoid a resume writer who believes rules are more important than a great resume.

Professional resume writers are happy to share their credentials with you. Avoid resume writers who do not belong to professional associations. They may be fine writers but the chances are they are simply writing resumes until a “real job” comes along. If you work with a resume writing company, make sure that you see the credentials of the person who will actually write your resume and make sure you have a chance to talk directly to that person. Even if the company as a whole sounds professional, you want to examine the writer’s credentials and ability to understand your field and career path.

As the owner of Robin’s Resumes®, I take a personal, professional interest in every resume that comes my way. Information on my credentials is proudly listed on my website and includes many industry memberships and honors. I speak with every client who contacts me; and I make sure that the resume each client receives is customized to that client’s background, industry and goals. I look forward to speaking with you.

What Not to Do: Countdown of Four Things to Avoid on Your Resume

Dec 01 2012

Number four in our countdown of things not to do on your resume is keyword spam. Modern Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)—the software that “reads” resumes to save humans work—are aware of context. If you are a chemical engineer, the terms “chemical,” “engineer,” “engineering,” and so on should appear naturally in the description of your career. That is a better way of handling keywords than listing them over and over with no regard for context.

Number three is sending your resume to a resume writer who is not qualified. The unqualified people include not only family and friends (no matter how well meaning) but those who advertise themselves as professional resume writers without any of the credentials. By way of contrast, I am a member of the top three professional organizations in the resume writing field, namely Career Directors International (CDI), Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches (PRWA/CC), and the National Resume Writers Association (NRWA); I speak at many resume writing conferences and webinars; and I have more than 20 years of experience. Those qualifications are the definition of “professional.”

Number two is focusing on skills instead of accomplishments. Take our chemical engineer example. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, 32,000 chemical engineers were employed in the U.S. in 2008 alone. A list of skills would be identical for all 32,000. None of them would stand out to a company as the perfect hire. But if they concentrated on accomplishments, on what they did with those skills, then some of them would clearly match the company’s requirements, culture, and expectations more closely than others. Want to stand out from your competition? Concentrate on accomplishments.

Number one on our countdown of things to avoid is lying. Companies will check the facts you give them. They will ask you questions during the interview to confirm what you’ve told them. Inconsistencies, hesitations, and confusion will alert them to problems they don’t want to deal with.

If you have trouble creating a strongly written resume that clearly and truthfully demonstrates your value to future employers, turn to a professional resume writer. Turn to Robin’s Resumes®.

Your Resume Is a Sales Document

Mar 18 2012

Businesses have brochures. People have resumes. Both brochures and resumes are a summary of experience, skills, credentials and achievements that differentiate the business or job applicant. Let’s break that last sentence down:

Summary. Brochures and resumes are not life stories. The customers who look at brochures and the recruiters who look at resumes are focused on what they need at that moment. In the case of resumes, the focus is on finding the right employee to fill a specific position.
Experience, Skills and Credentials. Like customers, recruiters want to know they are getting the best value for their dollar. If you lack the experience, skills and credentials—the requirements for handling the job—you are unlikely to be called in for an interview.
Achievements That Differentiate. Every dry cleaning establishment is the same, right? But suppose a dry cleaner’s brochure spotlights their experience preserving wedding gowns. Now that dry cleaner has a niche. Your resume should spotlight your niche, whether that is working in teams, bringing in more sales than your fellow salespeople, a willingness to travel, experience working with regulatory agencies in your industry—your achievements in your career set you apart from everyone else.

The best brochures let customers know that this company has what the customer needs. The best resumes let recruiters know that you can deliver what they need. With 15 years of experience as a resume writer for employees, managers and executives in private industry and in government, I can make your that your resume is a document that truly sells.