Over the last couple of years, our lives were drastically transformed and reorganized, largely as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
And the professional landscape has seen the most massive and consequential revamp. So much so, that according to Prudential, when the pandemic is over, over a quarter of workers plan to look for a new job. Moreover, 50% of those surveyed stated they are re-assessing the direction of their career path and re-thinking the type of job they want. The job market is hot, and it’s getting crazier by day. Many are taking advantage of the situation to land new positions with higher salaries, people are switching jobs, companies, and getting promotions that wouldn’t have been on offer before the pandemic.
All of this chaos, of course, means the majority of the applicants are facing very serious competition. Statistic shows that every online job offer receives at the very least, 250 applications, with jobs in the IT sector bringing that number closer to 400. Another bit of interesting trivia for you: 1 of 4 Americans now has a different employer than the one they had before the pandemic began. Moreover, 26% of those that switched jobs or carriers reported a 10% paycheck bump. Professional resume writing services, like ResumeWriters.com say that they see such salary increase quite a lot these days. And 68% of job seekers who have contracted with a professional resume writer found a new role in less than 90 days with the resume written by professionals, while boosting their earning potential minimally by 7%.
Now, having said that, let’s see how you can find yourself an experienced professional writer qualified to get you that dream job and a salary bump!
#TIP #1: Start with the credentials
Changing jobs or careers is very stressful. There’s a lot of anxiety and worry that surrounds this whole process. So, if you haven’t worked with a resume writing specialist before and feel overwhelmed with all of the info on the web – start by checking out the websites of Associations for Resume Writers. Affiliation with Industry Associations indicates the company’s commitment to the profession, shows active involvement, and advanced ongoing education. As an example: a quick scroll through the page of Resume Writers and Career Coaches (PARWCC) will give you a great idea of what to look for: you’ll quickly find information on certification your writer should have, their education, qualifications, etc. PARWCC is a well-respected international association and knowing that your professional resume writing service is hiring their writers in accordance with the standards of the PARWCC and following their Code of Ethics should put you at ease.
TIP #2: Apply the “Bigger is better” rule
If you’re choosing between a company and freelance workers, choose a company. Now, this doesn’t mean that you won’t be able to find qualified freelance help. But, if you go that route, you need to be present and in control throughout the whole process, given you are qualified to assess the quality of writers work. You need to make sure that Solopreneur you’ve chosen has excellent interviewing, writing, editing and coaching skills. They have to be tech-savvy, knowledgeable in marketing, and clearly understand how Applicant Tracking System (ATS) works. This doesn’t mean these professionals are non-existent, but, undoubtedly, they are booked for months in advance. To sum up: the chances of you finding a freelance resume writer that is advanced in all of the above are extremely slim.
So, opt for a mid-sized or a large company, which runs like a well-oiled machine. Big companies vet employees, they check the background, education, qualifications as well as credentials of their writers. They tend to hire people who are career counselors or former recruiters, those with HR hiring experience. Larger resume writing services can afford to hire resume writers that have different specialties. Larger companies usually make an effort to hire resume writers who specialize in different fields. Resume writers need to understand your work and know all of the industry ins and outs, they have to speak the language of your peers, and clearly understand the market demand. The need to properly conduct the interview, ask the right questions and be able to write a detailed resume that would impress HR in your particular line of work. Plus, with larger companies, there are always writers that have corporate or search firm recruiting experience, which is always a huge plus.
TIP #3: Ask for client testimonials and search reviews online
Most resume writing companies are highly qualified to create exceptionally engaging texts for their professional web pages and social media. Anyone can create a stellar user-centric website with an illusion of a very successful business and heaps of satisfied clients. Puffing and exaggeration aren’t considered lying and are absolutely legal. So, as they say: Buyer Beware! It is on you to find out whether you are being lied to. Thus, verifiable customer testimonials, online Google reviews, or LinkedIn testimonials are your best friend while choosing the resume writer. Especially LinkedIn testimonials: they can be easily verified just by clicking on a customer’s profile. If a company is unwilling to provide you with this information or is hesitant while sharing reviews, don’t give it a second thought, just move on to the next one.
TIP# 4: Be sure, that you will get what you pay for
Writing a good resume is hard. Writing a good resume that will get through ATS and will actually be read by an HR rep is almost magic. It takes skill, education, dedication, knowledge, and lots of experience for a written resume to get you the interview for your dream job. Most professional resume writers have spent years and thousands of dollars to perfect their craft. Moreover, this particular industry keeps constantly changing, so post-graduate education, course, and conference attendance are an absolute must. Meaning, you definitely should expect to be charged accordingly. The price range for these services ranges from $200 and can go as high as a couple of thousands. A friendly tip: if you come across an ad that offers to “get your resume in 24 hours for $50” just keep your money and write it yourself, you’ll be better off.
TIP# 5: Ask the company to give details about the process
It isn’t written in stone, but, usually, your journey with professional writing services will start with an interview. Sales or a customer service representative will explain the services they offer, as well as their pricing. They will acquire about your career history, education, your wants and needs in your desired position or a career change. Then they would analyze gathered information and assign you to a writer that specifically specializes in your field. You’ll go through a lengthy in-depth interview with your writer and usually, depending on the task, your resume will be sent to you in 1 to 3 business days. Professional companies offer to then discuss the final draft and make changes, if needed. Plus, field leaders usually offer an “Interview guarantee” with their services. This means that if you won’t get the interview, they will re-write the resume until you do. All of the above mentioned isn’t something extraordinary, it’s a process that should be expected when working with qualified resume writing services. Mainly, note, it is impossible to write a good resume without talking to the applicant directly. So, if the company doesn’t offer interviews with writers, it’s better not to offer that company your hard-earned cash.
TIP# 6: Years of experience is always a good indicator
In this line of work, your writer’s years of experience will get you the job and the pay bump. Don’t hire a newbie. Ultimately, people are often arrogant enough to think they know it all and can just edit the resume, if it isn’t up to par. Well, let us just disabuse you of that notion right away. It’s quite simple, really: you aren’t just looking for someone who can compose a resume, you are paying someone for the experience in your particular field of work, you are paying a writer who knows all the ins and outs of HR processes in your industry. You are paying for years of education and experience that will help your resume to bypass the Applicant Tracking System and get invited for the interview. Look for writers with at least 5 years of experience and ask how many people they have actually helped in your profession.
So, to conclude: take into consideration the six points outlined above and confidently start your search. If you actually take time to find a highly qualified resume writing service you will give your career an instant boost, not to mention, that very impressive 10% salary bump!