Many people ask: What is the benefit of hiring a professional resume writer when I can probably do it myself?
The truth of the matter is that each of us have our own unique set of professional skills and qualifications. Discovering, building, and articulating a compelling story to convince a prospective employer that you are the right candidate is a skill best executed with the expertise of a professional resume writer.
Keeping your resume up-to-date is more critical now than ever! This is particularly true as many job seekers, changers, and furloughed workers navigated uncertainty during the COVID-19 pandemic and continue to face current hiring challenges today. Hiring a professional resume writer to develop your next resume might seem expensive until you compare that investment against the inevitable return of tens of thousands of dollars in annual earnings.
Back in the 1990’s, an organization called the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches (PARW/CC) decided to create the first professional certification for resume writers. This allowed resume writers to distinguish themselves and share their knowledge, dedication, and commitment to excellence. The newly created Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) credential has since become the gold standard of quality work and one of the most widely recognized and respected designations in the resume writing industry.
In order to earn the CPRW designation, a professional resume writer must undergo rigorous study and examination in addition to having considerable resume writing experience.
Hiring a CPRW means that you will have the skills and subject matter expertise of a resume writer at your disposal. A professional resume writer is also committed to upgrading their skills, pursuing ongoing professional development, and networking with peers to remain abreast of latest trends and technological innovation.
So what does a professional resume writer bring to the table? In order to write an effective resume, it’s essential to have an unbiased outlook. This is difficult when trying to assess one’s own skills and experience. An experienced certified resume writer’s expertise lies in creating a clean and precise document detailing your career path and goals; they can more easily distinguish between information that is pertinent to your job search and that which can be eliminated for clarity and impact.
Think of your resume as more than just a piece of paper; it’s actually an investment in your future.
You only get one chance to make a first impression and your resume is the first thing a potential employer will see. This early engagement builds the groundwork for perception and awareness of your skills, abilities, personality, accountability, and credibility.
A professional resume writer knows what questions to ask about your background to highlight the most relevant aspects of your job history. They are also be well-versed in current trends in resume design as well as the Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) software that businesses use to streamline the hiring process. They are also trained to use keywords, formatting, and other industry techniques to create a document that will grab the attention hiring managers.
Resume writing is much more than just building a well-written list of your jobs and skills.
While it may be tempting to write your own resume, a professionally written resume may be one of the most important investments you can make in yourself to advance or jumpstart your career and achieve your professional goals.