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How to Evaluate a Resume Writer—Before You Hire

Apr 03 2022

Many individuals are happy to take your money for a “professional” resume; but how do you know that you are truly dealing with a professional resume writer?

Ask for their certifications. Career Directors International is the premier organization offering certifications for resume writers, such as Certified Master Resume Writer (CMRW).
Ask for their memberships. Among other notable industry organizations are the National Resume Writers Association (NRWA) and Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches (PARW/CC).
Ask for samples. Resume writers are creative; therefore, two individuals with the exact same credentials will approach the same resume differently. By looking at examples, you can determine if the writer’s style meshes with your own.
Pay attention to the intake. Does the writer ask intelligent, probing questions or simply throw a fill-in-the-blank form at you? Does the writer seem familiar with at least one of the following: your industry, your field, or your level of experience?
Find out about the process. Does the resume writer have a process that seems organized and efficient, giving you enough time to review but not dragging on for months?
Find out who you will be working with. Some large firms will have a qualified person interview you but then parcel your resume out to whatever writer happens to be next in line, whether or not that writer meets your expectations.
Look for reviews. Go beyond the resume writer’s own website to seek out online reviews of the service. Invitations to speak or participate in events for job seekers are also good indications that the writer has the respect of clients and peers.
Read the contract carefully. Make sure you are getting what you need, whether that is a resume capable of passing through an ATS system or a complete package including resume, LinkedIn profile, and cover letter(s).
Be leery of online resume builder services. A live person will create an individual—not generic—resume and will display expertise in grammar and proofreading—not merely the ability to hit the spellcheck button. A live person will give depth to your resume that singles you out from your competition.
Be reasonable in your demands and budget. If you want a resume writer who works for free; who agrees with every decision you make on what to add, delete, or say in your resume; and who guarantees that this resume will get you a job, then you want a magician, not a professional resume writer. A professional resume writer is worthy of their fee, keeps abreast of the latest trends in resumes, and knows that a professional resume is just one step in a long process.

For over 20 years, Robin Schlinger has met every standard of professionalism in resume writing and career coaching. Contact Robin’s Resumes® today.

Top 3 Reasons for Adding a Resume Writer to Your Job Search Team

May 23 2021

You may not realize it, but you do have a job search team. That team consists of all your personal, company, and professional contacts, along with anyone else who supports you through your job search, including your social media and LinkedIn connections. With a team that vast, why do you need to hire a resume writer?

Professional Skills

The top reason for adding a resume writer to your job search team is the exact reason why you hire a professional plumber, electrician, or car mechanic. You may be an excellent writer, yet lack the knowledge to:

Meet the expectations of hiring managers and recruiters.
Conform to the current standards for resumes—what is allowed and what is discouraged.
Format to ensure that applicant tracking systems do not automatically discard your resume.
Create a LinkedIn profile and cover letter that complement your resume.

Objectivity

The rest of your support team may be free with advice, cautions, and praise but lack the objectivity to:

Organize your experience for maximum impact.
Relay the facts that make you stand out from the competition.
Open up your resume for wider opportunities in your industry or field or focus it more tightly.

Experience

Everyone has applied for a job sometime in their life, but that does not make them an expert right now, in your field or industry, applying for the particular job you want with your skills, education, and experience. By adding a resume writer to your job search team, especially one with coaching credentials, you add someone who can:

Suggest avenues for finding a job that you might not have considered.
Advise you on aligning your background to the marketplace, including transferrable skills.
Provide practical hints to improve your networking and interviewing skills.

As a credentialed, professional resume writer and career coach, Robin’s Resumes® would be proud to join your job search team. Contact us today.

Certified Resume Writers: Why Certification Is Important

Feb 18 2018

I came to resume writing after graduating from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, with a concentration in writing, and working for many years as an engineer. Certifications are vital in many engineering careers—and they are vital for a resume writer as well.

Certification is important because:

It indicates that the holder has passed certain courses, stayed up to date in the field, continued to meet high standards, and shown a dedication to growing in the profession.
It protects the public from individuals who claim to have experience and knowledge but do not reach the levels of skill and service delivery that are expected from a professional.
It confirms that the certified person has been objectively evaluated by other professionals through rigorous testing and has agreed to their code of ethics.

As a professional resume writer and career coach, I have 8 certifications: Master Career Director (MCD), Certified Master Resume Writer (CMRW), Certified Federal Resume Writer (CFRW), and Certified Electronic Career Coach (CECC) from Career Directors International; Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) from the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches (PARW); 360 Reach Branding Analyst and Social Branding Analyst from Reach/Career Thought Leaders (CTL); 5 Steps to Rapid Employment Coach from The Jay Block Companies; and Job and Career Transition Coach (JCTC) from the Career Network.

In addition, I have mentored other resume writers, received awards from Career Directors International, and directed and served as a judge for their international resume and career innovation competitions. I have been an invited speaker many international and local meetings and conventions to share my expertise with professional resume writers and job seekers about the structure, content, goals, strengths, and pitfalls of resumes.

But perhaps most important for you, the client, is that only a certified professional resume writer will write your resume. When you trust your resume to a certified resume writer, you expect that a certified professional will write your resume. At Robin’s Resumes®, you know that will happen.

Please contact me about your resume; I’m here to help, and I am fully certified.

Resume Mills versus Resume Writers

Aug 27 2017

The internet is filled with resume mills that promise low-cost (or even free) resume reviews. What is the difference between employing a resume mill and employing a personal, professional resume writer?

Resume Mill

Usually a resume mill will run your resume through a spell- and grammar-checker (something you could do yourself) or through a single applicant tracking system. They come up with generic comments about your resume based the results, comments that do not add value to your resume but simply correct common mistakes.

Some resume mills are led by a certified, professional resume writer but the actual work is performed by someone you never meet. That writer, who may have no credentials or experience, does not interview you or find out about your goals, achievements, and preferences. The writer simply takes the resume you sent and spruces it up with a little reorganization and reformatting.

Personal, Professional Resume Writer

When you speak directly with your resume writer—when you know your resume writer—then your resume writer also knows you. Together, you discuss strategy and goals, not just whether a comma belongs before “and” or whether your resume is “too long” or “too short.”

A professional resume writer interviews you to understand and bring to light your most important experiences and achievements. Instead of merely rehashing your past, your personal resume writer ensures your content focuses on your qualifications for the job you want. The writer may examine job postings for positions like the one you want, to make sure your resume emphasizes the key words that applicant tracking systems will look for and the information that will impress hiring managers and recruiters.

You have the confidence of working with someone with credentials in the field and knowledge about the expectations of hiring managers and recruiters. For example, I am a member of the top four organizations in the resume writing and career marketing business, including the National Resume Writers Association and the National Career Development Association. I speak at conferences for other resume writers, am a Certified Master Resume Writer, and have over 15 years of experience.

The Real Difference

Generic resume writing companies produce resumes that may not have any mistakes, but also have no value. They position you as another generic applicant in a faceless crowd. At Robin’s Resumes®, you always know your resume writer. I take pride in collaborating with you one-on-one, to create a resume that shows your individuality and true worth to future employers.

Questions to Ask Your Resume Writer

Dec 18 2016

Before you sign up with any resume writing firm, you should ask these five essential questions:

Can I see examples of your work? Chances are, if you do not like what you see in the past examples, you will not like the resume they prepare for you.
How long have you been writing resumes? While length of time as a resume writer is no guarantee of quality, you do not want to trust your resume to someone who is completely new to the resume writing field.
Will you be writing the resume yourself? Many resume companies present a professional front but then hand your resume off to a writer you have never spoken to. At the best, that writer is ignorant of your needs; at worst, the writer is a struggling newbie. At Robin’s Resumes® I write all resumes myself, which the best way I know of ensuring quality.
Have you written resumes for people in my field and at my level before? If a resume writer is unfamiliar with your field—at least, the broad industry—then he or she cannot possibly know what questions to ask you and what recruiters and hiring managers are looking for. The same goes for resumes at your career stage and level, whether you are a recent graduate or C-level executive.
What are your credentials? Having founded Robin’s Resumes® after a career in engineering, I am a member of the top four professional organizations for resume writing and career marketing, plus I have additional credentials as a subject matter expert and speaker on resume writing.

In general, you should feel that the resume writer you choose is a professional who understands the employment marketplace and technology, is genuinely interested in you and is able to understand your career goals. In the pressure of a job search, you may overlook or downplay information that could greatly strengthen your resume, and the writer should know what information to look for and how to draw it from you.

After all, your resume is a marketing document that markets you. A resume writer has to communicate with you directly and clearly in order to write a document that truly shows off your strengths and value.

For over 20 years, Robin’s Resumes® has been helping job seekers at every level to find that perfect job. Contact us today.