Adriana Modersitzki
There’s a bit of stigma around professional resume writing and whether it’s even ethical to engage someone to write your job application for you.
I’ll say it up front. It’s not wrong, cheating, or being dishonest to hire a professional resume writer. Here’s seven reasons why…
Is getting someone to write your resume for you like a student paying someone to write their school or university assignment? No. That’s because a resume isn’t a test or assignment. Although the resume includes a description of your skills, the writing itself doesn’t demonstrate your ability to do the job.
The only time your resume might be a legitimate test of your skills is if you’re applying for a job like… resume writing.
No, really. That’s about it. Even if your job involves written communication, writing resumes is a really specific skill. Unless you write resumes for a living (like me), your employer won’t make assumptions on your ability to do the job based off how well your resume is written.
Side note: On the flip side, a badly written resume will impact your ability to get an interview, no matter how talented you are.
Your resume writer isn’t going to make things up about you. They’ll take your experience and qualifications and match them to the job requirements. The facts won’t change, but they’ll be communicated professionally and clearly to improve your chances of getting an interview. It’s that simple.
Getting someone else to write your resume is, quite simply, outsourcing.
If the idea of outsourcing this specific task is causing you concern, let’s think about it another way.
Do you have…
If so, you’re already all over outsourcing! You’ve realised that other people can do some stuff quicker and more easily than you because they have the skills, equipment, and experience to get the job done. It’s well worth paying them instead of trying to DIY all the time.
The same thing goes for writing your resume. Don’t spend days or weeks trying to figure it out on your own when a professional can use their specialised skills and experience to create something of the highest quality… while you spend your time doing something you actually enjoy.
Besides, I’m willing to bet that you’ve already spent a good chunk of time searching for the perfect job before it finally appeared in your inbox or job search. It would be a tragedy to spend more time, only to send out a resume that doesn’t showcase your absolute best.
Side note: The ability to outsource and manage a team is a valued skill in most companies. Choosing to hire someone to help you with your resume is proof of your management skills. So, if you happen to be asked about whether you had help with your resume, you can confidently tell the truth. You’re too busy and talented to spend your own time on writing the perfect resume, a smart mentality that translates through to your job.
If you’re a truck driver, you need to be able to safely drive big vehicles over long distances. If you’re an engineer, you are probably quite good at figuring out how things work, or optimising something to meet certain functional objectives.
If you’re an accountant, you’re all about the numbers. So, why would you be expected to struggle through writing your own resume when it has nothing to do with your actual employable skills?
You can’t be good at everything, and let’s be real… at best, you’re probably an average resume writer.
It takes a lot of time and experience to reach the top of your specialised field… and the same thing goes for resume writing. You don’t need to struggle with this or put up with an average resume. You can have an AMAZING resume if you get the right help from a professional resume writer.
I’m looking at the people with highly technical roles! If that’s you, from experience I can just about guarantee that your resume is full of jargon, acronyms, and specialised language.
This would be okay if your resume was going directly to the hiring manager who understands your role and all the language that comes with it, but most of the time (especially in big companies), your resume first goes to a HR advisor. This person reviews every application that comes in and forwards the best ones to the hiring manager. If your resume can’t be understood by an average person, you risk being left out along with all the applicants that don’t have the skills or experience (even if you’re the best one for the job).
A professional resume writer will know what’s jargon and what you can say instead so that your resume includes all the relevant experience in terms that can be easily understood.
Have you tried to write your resume and ended up with a massive (6+ page document) because you can’t decide what to include? Including everything is not the answer. That paragraph about your six months of hospitality experience 15 years ago (for your legal administration application) is not helping anybody. And a document that is impossible to scan is going to end up in the too-hard pile for whoever is screening applicants because they just don’t have time.
Or perhaps length isn’t the issue for you, but you aren’t sure how to explain something like:
A good writer can pick out information that you might not have realised is relevant and use your skills to bridge a gap between where you are now and where you want to go. They’ll be able to identify objectively the most important bits of information to include on your resume so that it is the perfect length to sell your best skills. And just as importantly, they’ll know exactly what information to leave off your resume so that it tells the right story without distracting the reader from the most important bits.
The resume on its own isn’t going to get you the job. A resume is the first point of contact between you and the hiring manager. It’s an introduction to who you are, a tool that markets your strengths, and hopefully gets you an interview. But that’s as far as it will go.
Side note: If a writer guarantees you they will get you a job if you engage their services, run a mile.
That’s not their job, and it’s not the purpose of a resume. If they make this guarantee, they’re not the kind of person I’d want writing my resume.
A well-written resume will increase your chances of getting an interview, and therefore, improve your chances of getting the job, but once you hop on the phone or end up in the interview room, it’s all up to you! It’s the QA process, reference checking, and demonstrating your skills and experience that will decide whether you get the job.
Side note: No matter how well-written your resume is, it won’t change whether you can do the job or not. So, if you are a beauty therapist applying for a water cart operating job (true story), you probably won’t get an interview, no matter how well written your resume is.
Now that we’ve established that not only is it ethical, but it’s also SMART to hire a professional resume writer, let’s talk about how to find a GOOD one.
Here are three signs of a good resume writer…
Look for a resume writer who has a background in hiring, making hiring decisions, working with hiring managers, or recruiting. They’ll know exactly how to match your skills and experience with the details of the job you’re applying for. They’ll use language that makes sense to the people who are going to read your resume.
A good resume writer should offer to target your resume to the job you are applying for. It’s fine to have a generic resume and cover letter ready to go, but when there’s a specific job or position you’re up for, it’s essential that your resume is tailored to meet the requirements of the job.
The best way to know if a professional resume writer is any good is a bunch of glowing testimonials from past clients who confirm that they can meet your deadlines, write well, and get their clients job interviews.
At the end of the day… the job market is hard. It isn’t going to change any time soon.
You need to use every tool that is available to help you get the job, including a professional resume writer.
Remember that no one can be an expert at everything. Focus on doing what you’re good at and let somebody else make your skills and experience shine on paper with a properly written resume. It’s a worthwhile investment in your future.
If you’re ready to progress your career and get in front of decision-makers faster, we can help you. We create professional, highly converting resumes, cover letters, and pitch documents for career-driven professionals. Our team of professional writers will draw out your skills and experiences to help you stand out from the competition. Why wait?
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We acknowledge and respect their continuing culture and the contribution they make to the life of this city and this region, and extend that same respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
2 comments
Thanks for sharing the useful information. It was really helpful for me to hire a CV writer.