What does a resume writer do?

In the simplest terms, a resume writer writes your resume for you – ideally in a way that is compliant with current requirements and best practices and catches the attention of recruiters/hiring managers for your target roles.

In order to do that, a good resume writer will:

• Spend time getting to know you and understand your career situation, strengths, and goals
• Ask investigative questions to uncover your most important achievements
• Research your target jobs to identify critical keywords and requirements
• Tell your career story in a way that showcases your unique value
• Craft a document that meets ATS* and recruiter preferences

When is a resume writer a good idea?

With the influx of technology in the hiring process, writing a resume is no longer simply listing out your career history. There are specific best practices that will help you get through the technology, and a certain story-telling finesse that helps elevate you above your competition.

Moreover, recruiters and hiring decision-makers are busier than ever, so it’s important to know how to show them exactly what they need to see and make it as easy as possible for them to find it.

From formatting to proper sections to content and keywords, resume writing is more complex than ever.

It can be really helpful to have someone in your corner who’s properly trained and knows how to take your scattered but brilliant ideas and turn them into an effective and interview-getting modern resume!

What’s the difference between a resume writer and a career coach?

A resume writer will work with you on the content of your resume, and will (usually) write that content for you. Resume writers are often skilled/trained in writing or grammar, certified in the best practices of writing resumes, and many will have a close connection to the world of HR, recruitment, or hiring.

(Using myself as an example, I’m a multi-certified resume writer, I come from a long line of English professors and authors, and my mom is an HR Rockstar so I grew up getting unofficial training from her.)

A career coach works with you on figuring out the direction of your career, what next steps to take, and how to get from where you are now to your ultimate career goal. Career coaches can be certified in many different areas or types of coaching (for instance, I’m a Certified Career Transition Coach), and can be helpful throughout many different stages of your career and job search.

Many resume writers are career coaches and/or vice-versa, and many job seekers will need one or the other at the same same or different times throughout their careers.

How do I know if I need a resume writer or career coach?

Many job seekers have said to me something along the lines of, ‘I know I’m good at what I do, I just don’t know how to explain it in writing’ or ‘I have a lot of great accomplishments, but I need your wordsmithing to make it sound good.’

A good resume writer can take your random thinking-out-loud thoughts and turn them into something that showcases your value, catches recruiter attention, and makes them want to know more about you.

Coaching clients have come to me saying things like, ‘I’m in a directional soul search in my career’ and ‘I want to find something where I feel like I contribute to the greater good every day’.

A good coach can lead you down a path of self-discovery and provide you with resources that will help you identify the right next steps for you.

What should I look for in hiring a resume writer or career coach?

The first thing you should do is check their credentials to determine what kind of training, certifications, and background they have.

You should also review their website to get a feel for their personality and approach, to make sure it aligns with your preferences and makes you feel comfortable.

Check products and services, and what pricing and deliverables to expect for each. Make sure you feel comfortable with the price range and the deliverables you can expect back.

For resume writers, determine whether you’ll be able to work directly with your writer, or if it’s a fill-in-the-form process where your answers are sent to a ghostwriter.

For coaches, make sure you understand what the expectations and deliverables are from them and from/for you.

*What is an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) and why does it matter?

An Applicant Tracking System, or ATS for short, is a software system that tracks job applicant information and files from the time they enter the hiring cycle to the time they exit – whether by getting interviewed/hired or by getting eliminated.

ATS are an important part of the job search process because many of them are used in the front end to sort and filter resumes.

This sorting and filtering is often based on keyword matching, which means resumes that don’t have a high enough percentage match of keywords are eliminated before ever reaching a real human being. 😲

I’ve applied to several hundred jobs without a response – why?

First, I’ll say it’s likely that either (a) your resume isn’t properly targeted, or (b) you’re applying very broadly to a lot of different jobs you may or may not be qualified for or interested in. While it may seem beneficial to extend your range as much as possible, it’s actually more effective to closely target a specific job or career area.

Beyond that, I’ll say that mass-applying to jobs online is not typically the best way to secure a promising opportunity. While it is possible to land an interview and even be offered a good job by applying online, it isn’t likely.

Now – more than ever – networking is vital to job search success.

Having a strong network is important and it can work for you on multiple levels in your job search.

For one, referral candidates have always been a preferred source for companies to find high quality candidates.

Networking lets you bypass the ‘anonymous submission’ phase of the recruitment cycle and go directly to a decision-maker with ‘referral’ status, which puts you in a way better position and gives you much better odds overall.

Effective networking includes continuous relationship building and development, consistent use of LinkedIn and other social media, and effective communication of your professional brand, your skills, and the value you bring.

What else do I need other than a resume?

To optimize your job search success, it’s best to develop:

• A clear career/job target
• A strong professional brand that aligns with that target
• Job search documents (at least a resume and cover letter, also potentially a portfolio, letter of interest, reference letters, or others) that support your professional brand
• A defined networking strategy (and, ideally, a strong network)
• Refined interviewing skills

Is a cover letter really necessary?

Success with your job search isn’t solely dependent upon the content of your resume and answers to questions in an interview. Statistics show that 40% of recruiters are looking for a cover letter from applicants.

While that may not be a majority, it’s enough to drastically affect your success rate in the application process.

Writing a cover letter shows, first and foremost, that you care enough about the position to write one. Many applicants don’t, and this simple act will set you apart.

Other benefits of writing a cover letter:

• Including a cover letter addressed to the hiring manager shows that you know how to go the extra-mile to get the job done.
• As mentioned above, referrals are often a preferred source of hire, and the cover letter is the best place to mention such a connection!
• Resumes don’t allow much room for expressing personality or passion, but cover letters are the perfect place to include the “human element” that hiring managers respond to.
• The cover letter is a formal part of the candidate portfolio, and including it shows that you understand and respect the full process.

Can my LinkedIn profile really improve my chances of landing a job?

LinkedIn is quickly becoming a critical piece of the networking puzzle, and with networking playing such a significant role in job search success, a well-crafted LinkedIn profile and an active LinkedIn presence are vital.

LinkedIn is also an extra place to showcase your skills, highlight your achievements, and be found by recruiters. Recent stats show that roughly 95% of recruiters use LinkedIn to source candidates and make hiring decisions.

LinkedIn is a great place to build your network – if you use it the right way. The trouble is, most job seekers don’t. Instead, they’re using it the Wrong Way.

The Wrong Way: log in every once in a while; scroll through your feed; maybe tap ‘Like’ on a couple things (usually not); answer messages (if applicable); log out; repeat monthly.

If you want to elevate yourself above ‘most professionals’, then it’s important you understand how to use LinkedIn the right way in your job search.

The Right Way looks more like: log in regularly; Follow companies, people, and organizations related to your target industry/roles; Like and Comment on posts from those profiles; seek out and maintain meaningful connections; create and share valuable content; repeat daily or multiple times per week.