We’re inclined to believe professional resume writing is worth the cost for most job seekers. Professional resume writing has proven to be immensely valuable to many people, but (like most things) it’s not for everyone.

An incredible resume might land you a great job, but it may also land you a raise and affect your pay scale favorably for the rest of your life.

Reasons to use a professional resume writer

100% confidence with your resume’s accuracy, consistency and design. A typo could be the difference between an incredible interview and the garbage can. How much is that peace of mind worth to you? Many resume writing companies (including Shiny New Resume) guarantee interviews if you purchase a professionally written resume and offer refunds if your resume doesn’t work.

You’d hire a resume writer for the same reason you’d hire a CPA to file your taxes. You could probably do it on your own, but it’s painful to do, you could forget something important and you need to be sure it’s accurate. Companies hire marketing firms to advertise for them; think of a resume writer like your own personal advertising agency.

No time to write your resume. If your time is limited, a professional writer can help get your resume in shape more quickly than you could yourself, but expect to spend some time answering your writer’s questions and reviewing the resume for accuracy. Resume writing isn’t rocket science, but if you write your own resume realize it’s going to take some time to get up to speed.

You want the best. You could probably write a “good” resume, but professional writers are trained to produce excellent resumes. Resume quality speaks volumes about you and your personality. Resumes are personal marketing documents: your single chance to brand yourself as perfect for the job before the reader decides to meet you.

Negative feedback on a current resume or no interviews. A good resume writer knows what recruiters want – and don’t want – to see in a resume. A professionally written resume will have a clear focus and quantifiable accomplishments that prove your worth.

Not sure what the modern format is, what to include and what to leave out of your resume. Yes, you could order a few books from Amazon and/or use templates you find on the web and probably create a passable resume for yourself. In the current job market, your resume needs to be better than “passable” to get a second glance though. A professionally written resume could be the difference that gets you that critical call back.

Don’t know how to articulate experience in the way employers want to see it. Professional resume writers write resumes every day. You write resumes much less often, if ever. Yes, you can wade through websites, books, and other people’s resumes before you start writing, but you’ll find a lot of conflicting information and spend a lot of time learning what a professional writer already knows.

Outside perspective. Most people have a hard time talking about themselves, they usually either come across as arrogant or timid. It’s difficult to brainstorm about work-related accomplishments, and a professional writer can help guide the writing process by asking the right questions. Your writer will use your answers to highlight your most marketable skills and selling points.

Obstacle(s) needing special treatment on your resume. (long employment gaps, no degree, changing industries, etc.) Don’t expect a miracle, resume writers can’t simply make these things “go away.” They do know how to highlight the positives and de-emphasize any potential red flags.

Writing isn’t your strength or English isn’t your first language. This one seems obvious, but sometimes it’s hard to admit what your strong suits aren’t. Even if you’re a great writer, resume writing is its own beast and unless you’re truly prepared for it, a professional writer is an excellent investment that will receive immediate returns.

Reasons not to use a professional resume writer

Your current resume is working: you’re getting interviews. No reason to fix something that isn’t broken! If you’re getting interviews for jobs that you’re interested in, the resume is doing its work.

You don’t know what you want. If you don’t know what you’re looking for, you might not be ready to work with a resume writer. The best resumes are tailored to the specific positions they’re targeting. If you don’t have a target, it’s difficult (if not impossible) for your resume to have a focus. Resume writers need clear, well-defined goals to create the best possible resume for you. Take the Shiny New Resume writing self-assessment here.

You don’t have any time to dedicate to the process. Writing your resume is a 2-way street. If you don’t have time to reflect on your accomplishments, consider your most important skills, clarify your goals and identify the quantifiable ways you’ve made a difference in your past positions, we recommend you do some soul-searching before you hire a resume writer.

Ready to make the investment in your future and start working with a professional resume writer today? Shiny New Resume offers professional resume writing and design online. Order your Shiny New Resume right here… we’ll make you shine!

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