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Client’s Guide to Working With Your Résumé Writer (“10 Simple Things To Help Us Help You”)

Client’s Guide to Working With Your Résumé Writer  (“10 Simple Things To Help Us Help You”)

When you make the decision to hire a professional résumé writer, you’re not only investing your time and money, but you’re also entrusting us to articulate your personal brand and shape how you’ll position yourself in your job search. We take this responsibility very seriously, and are providing these 10 tips to help ensure we have a successful, positive collaboration!

  1. Communicate Clearly. We promise to keep you informed about what we need from you — and, at the same time, expect you to be responsive to our requests. We use the information you give us to create your résumé, so the better the information we get from you, the better your new résumé will be! Also, please be honest with us in all the details of your career that you share with us. We will not knowingly put false information on your résumé, and you shouldn’t either.
  1. Be Clear On Your Career Goal. Having a specific job target will help us write a more effective résumé to showcase your skills, experience, and accomplishments. If you ask us to write a “general résumé,” it will not be as successful as a résumé that is written for a specific job target. Related to this: If we write you a résumé for a sales position, don’t use that résumé to apply for a different type of job. (Or at least discuss it with us before you do.)
  1. Meet Your Deadlines. If we give you action items to work on — with a time frame to return it to us — please meet that deadline. If your timeline for needing your résumé changes — for example, there is a specific opportunity you want to respond to, please let us know, but there will likely be a fee associated with rush requests. And let’s close out your project on a timely basis. The sooner we finalise your project, the sooner you can start using your new documents!
  1. Invest In Yourself. Your new résumé is just one tool in your job search toolbox. If we suggest you purchase a new outfit for your interview, or we recommend additional services to complement your résumé, consider the request carefully. Your income is your number one asset, and as the saying goes, “sometimes you need to spend money to make money.” Spending 1-3% of your annual income on improving your career prospects is a wise investment.
  1. Trust Us, We’re Your Résumé Writers. Please don’t solicit opinions about your résumé from your friends or family members. You hired us for our expertise. So, if you have any questions, don’t be afraid to ask us. Related to this: Don’t believe everything you read on the Internet. For every article that talks about how your résumé should be one page, there are more that say it should be two pages. (For the record, there is no hard-and-fast rule about résumé length: It should be as long as it needs to be, and no longer.)
  1. Remember, Your Résumé is a Marketing Document, Not an Obituary. We are not going to include every detail about your life and work history on your résumé, especially if you have certain jobs that aren’t relevant to your career target. These details are important to who you are, but they are not necessarily important in this résumé for this job target. We will be selective in what information we include, because your résumé tells a story about who you are and what you can do.
  1. Don’t “Lend” Your Résumé to Anyone Else. Your new résumé is a customised document developed just for you. Allowing someone else to use your résumé (format, design, and/or wording) may even dilute its effectiveness for you — especially if you “lend it” to a co-worker or colleague. If someone admires your résumé, send him or her our way and we will create an equally awesome document customised for their job search!
  1. If You’re Not Getting Results, Let’s Talk. We might need to make some changes to make your résumé more effective, or we might be able to share some strategies to help you increase the number of interviews and job offers you receive. Tell us if you’re unhappy — but tell your friends if you loved working with us. We love your testimonials, LinkedIn Recommendations, and referrals. Most of our new clients are referred to us by happy, satisfied former clients!
  1. Let Us Know How You’re Doing. Sometimes we don’t hear from clients until they need an update to their résumé when it’s time to look for a new job. But we want to hear from you when you get a job offer. We’ll celebrate together!
  1. Keep Your Résumé Updated. Speaking of your new job, once you land a new position (and you’re sure you’re going to stay — usually, after the first 90 days, you know), get back in touch with us to add your new position. Keep an accomplishments journal so you can track your achievements in your new role, which makes it easier to respond to new opportunities that come up.

We look forward to working with you! Ready to learn EXACTLY how to advance your career? https://www.totalresumes.com.au or carolyn@totalresumes.com.au

Author Carolyn Whitfield

6X TORI-Winning, Multi-Certified Resume Master & Coach ★ 12+ Yrs Expertise ★ 98% Client Interview-Winning Success Rate. As an executive resume expert who has carved a strong reputation in the resume industry, I’ve helped thousands of rising stars and executives worldwide ascend to the next step on the career ladder.

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  • If you are interested in working with Carolyn Whitfield—an executive resume writer, Certified Advanced Resume Writer, and Expert LinkedIn profile writer, contact her today. Carolyn can help you get interviews for your dream job and bring the world of business to you by maximising your exposure and connections on LinkedIn.

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