Should you have your resume professionally written?
Truly, the question is more about: Can you afford NOT to have your resume professionally written?
Think about it for a moment.
Your resume is one of the most important documents you will ever create. This one document creates an image of you as a professional and is often the primary factor in how an employer forms their first impression of you. Whether you like it or not, image counts, perception is reality, and first impressions are almost always lasting impressions.
A resume can make all the difference—in either a positive or negative way—in how quickly your career progresses, how easily you are able to achieve your career goals, and even in how much you are paid.
Not realizing that there are options, many people try to write their own resume. Sadly, most bungle the job terribly, and as a result spend far more time unemployed, and when they do land a job it is often below their true potential and pays a salary lower than they would like.
When it comes to your resume, is adequate good enough? As a growing number of job seekers will testify, the answer is no. These job seekers have made an investment in their future by hiring a professional resume writer.
How can a professional resume writer help you to create a superior resume that conveys a competitive image? There are many ways, but here are just a few of the most dramatic ways.
Many Job Seekers Get Bogged Down in the Details & Try To Include Everything In Their Resume
You might relate to this problem. It is tempting to include everything in your resume when you aren’t sure what the hiring manager might want to see.
Afraid that you might miss a relevant detail, you decide to go in the opposite direction and include everything.
But what you leave off your resume is often just as important as what you put in it. We are all busy, and a hiring manager who is tasked with reviewing hundreds of applications for a job opening is especially busy. Sending in an “everything-but-the-kitchen-sink” resume is disrespectful of their time. If you don’t take the time and make the effort to determine what is important for the job and tailor your resume down to those key facts, what makes you think they will? Well, guess what? They won’t.
When you have your resume professionally written, the resume writer provides expertise and objectivity when it comes to what to include in your resume and what not to include. The professional resume writer will make these tough decisions for you and this will make a huge difference in the effectiveness of your resume. The ability to communicate your most relevant qualifications concisely is powerful! The resume example below shows just HOW powerful this is.
Many Job Seekers Have the Opposite Problem and Have Trouble Knowing What to Include in Their Resumes
This is a common problem too, and if you are wondering whether you should have your resume professionally written, this is a major area where you will benefit.
We use a proven process at Distinctive Career Services that helps to draw out the career stories of our clients who come to us for professional resume writing. The best resumes tell a compelling story of your successes and achievements, and the value you have produced for past employers.
One of the most common responses from clients when we show them the draft of the resume we have written for them is happy shock. Shock that we have been able to take what they thought of as the disjointed facts that they’ve given us, and weave them into compelling, persuasive stories. These resume stories are 100% true and factual, and yet they didn’t recognize it themselves. They were simply too close to the material.
The following before-and-after resume example illustrates this benefit of having your resume professionally written.
Most Job Seekers Do Not Have the Graphic Design Experience to Create an Eye-Catching Resume
While content is always the most important part of every resume, the content won’t matter if your resume design doesn’t catch the attention of the hiring manager to begin with.
Most job seekers do not have the skills to design their own resume. At Distinctive Career Services we know how important modern resume trends are. Not only do we write your resume when you hire us, we create a beautiful and eye-catching design for your resume too.
The advertising agency resume example below shows what a remarkable difference attention to resume design can make.
Most Job Seekers Don’t Fully Understand Modern Resume Trends and Requirements
You’ve likely read how critically important it is that your resume is compatible with applicant tracking systems (ATS). You probably also know how important it is to include the right keywords in your resume.
But do you know how to meet either of these requirements? Most job seekers don’t. But “good enough” isn’t good enough when it comes to either of these two resume requirements. If your resume misses the mark on either of them, it is possible that a hiring manager may never even see it.
How about resume formats? Do you know how to choose the best format for your resume?
Of course, when you work with a professional resume writer, they will consult with you and help determine the best resume format. But beyond that, the professional resume writing team at Distinctive Career Services knows how to use industry and profession-specific language and keywords to get you the best possible results from your resume. We also know how to create an ATS-friendly resume that is also attractive and eye-catching to the human reader. The example financial planning and analysis resume below meets all these standards: it is attractive and eye-catching, ATS-friendly, and keyword-optimized.
As shown by all our resume examples, most individuals simply do not have this knowledge and expertise and struggle in the job market far longer than necessary.
How Much Does It Cost to Have Your Resume Professionally Written?
Having your resume professionally written is an investment. Like any investment, the most important factor is what you will get in return for your money. In other words, the ROI.
Hiring resume writing help will make you the immediate beneficiary of that resume pro’s expert writing skills, their objective focus for your situation, and the knowledge that comes with writing resumes every day to make a living.
- You spend less time job searching
- You put your best foot forward for every opportunity
- You get a clear competitive edge
Invaluable experience and knowledge that has worked for others in the past will work for you. You just need to tap into resume writing services for your next job search. The result will be a resume that opens the doors to better job opportunities, in a shorter time frame, with the potential for a higher salary package.
Back to ROI: you are looking for the greatest ROI, correct?
This means that once you land that job and work for a short time, the service has probably paid for itself. Is that not worth the price?
Here’s why. Looking for a job is not only a job in and of itself, it’s expensive.
It’s estimated that a job search can cost a job seeker as much as $15,000.
If you are unemployed, it’s possible to calculate the cost in lost wages for each day you remain without a job. In fact, it’s quite simple.
There are approximately 250 working days per year. If your most recent job (or the one you’re pursuing) pays, for example, $75,000 per year, then you will lose $300.00 per day for each day you remain unemployed ($75,000/250=$300.00).
If, rather than being unemployed you are underemployed, then each day you remain in a job that pays you less than your target income costs you money. For example, say you make $70,000 per year, but you should be making $90,000. For each day you remain underemployed, you are losing $80.00 ($20,000/250 days =$80.00 per day).
Now that you know how to calculate how much each day of unemployment/underemployment can cost you, are you still questioning whether you should have your resume professionally written?
How many days of reduced wages is it worth to save a little money?
If professional resume writing reduces your job search period by even just one week, how much extra money would you earn?
Next Steps When You Are Ready to Have Your Resume Professionally Written
Don’t gamble with your livelihood or give a half-hearted effort on an attempt to write your own cover letter and resume. It just isn’t worth it. As we started this post with, you can’t afford NOT to have your resume professionally written.
When you hire resume help, services usually include:
- Understanding what employers are seeking
- Uncovering your most marketable skills and value proposition
- Conducting an objective analysis on how to package and brand you for the greatest impact
- Ensuring that your resume includes the most essential keywords
- Identifying and presenting your accomplishments
- Writing your resume with powerful, compelling, and clear language
- Designing an eye-catching layout and format
- Polishing your resume through editing, writing, and rewriting
Working with a professional resume service is a collaborative process, but the Distinctive Career Services’ team of resume pros will do all the labor-intensive work to get a great finished product.
If you are ready to explore the difference a professionally written resume can make for you and your career, we invite you to book a free resume-writing consultation today.
Originally published on August 5, 2011 on this blog, this post has been significantly updated and refreshed as of 2022.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why should I have my resume professionally written?
Your resume is crucial in forming the first impression an employer has of you. A professionally written resume highlights your skills and experience in the best possible way, increasing your chances of landing the job you want. It also reduces the risk of underemployment or extended periods of unemployment.
How can a professional resume writer enhance my resume?
A professional resume writer brings expertise and objectivity to your resume. They can decide what to include and what to leave out, helping to create a resume that is concise, compelling, and relevant to the job you’re applying for. This can make a big difference in the effectiveness of your resume.
What's wrong with including everything in my resume?
Including too much information in your resume can be overwhelming for hiring managers. They’re busy and don’t have time to read through everything. A professional resume writer can help you focus on the most important details that align with the job you’re applying for.
What benefits will I get from hiring a professional resume writer?
Professional resume writers can help tell a compelling story about your career achievements. They understand modern resume trends and requirements, including making sure your resume is compatible with applicant tracking systems. They can also help with design, choosing the right format for your resume, and using the right language and keywords to make your resume stand out.
How much does it cost to have my resume professionally written?
Having your resume professionally written is an investment. The exact cost can vary, but the potential return on investment can be significant. It could help you land a better job, reduce your job search time, and potentially lead to a higher salary.
How do professional resume services work?
Professional resume services usually involve a collaborative process. They work to understand what employers are seeking, uncover your most marketable skills, ensure your resume includes essential keywords, present your accomplishments effectively, and deliver a resume with a powerful, compelling language and design.
Is the cost of professional resume writing services worth it?
Considering the potential cost of unemployment or underemployment, investing in professional resume writing services can be worthwhile. Even if it helps you land a job just a week sooner, the service could easily pay for itself. Plus, a well-crafted, professional resume can open doors to better job opportunities and higher salary packages.
About the Author: Michelle Dumas
