Caveat Emptor Buyer Beware When Selecting A Resume Writer - Pathfinder Careers

Caveat Emptor Buyer Beware When Selecting A Resume Writer - Pathfinder Careers Caveat Emptor: Buyer Beware When Selecting A Resume Writer Its an unfortunate truth that some job seekers have been bamboozled by unscrupulous resume writers who either offer cut-rate services on places like Craigslist or simply dont deliver the goods after talking a good game just to hook in a prospective client. The end result? Many are suspicious of writers, and this feeling has been amplified by similar horror stories (albeit rare) in the media. Most ethical writers, however, are active members in either Career Directors International or The National Resume Writers Association, and genuinely care about their clients success. Happy clients, after all, refer friends, family members, colleagues, and business contacts as new business to the writer.  Writers are very well aware of the power of referrals and how their service, quality of work, and overall performance factors into their company reputation, and will do anything to try and protect it. If you are considering hiring a career services professional to work on your resume, take a moment to ask yourself the following questions: 1) Does the writer have a professional online presence?  Resume writing is all about marketing, so being good at marketing clients should also mean that the writer is good at marketing themselves/their business. 2) Does the writer have a strong company/personal brand themselves?  Resumes today require a personal branding statement. Does the writer present a strong company brand themselves that would build your comfort level that they could do the same for you? 3) Are they certified? Not every excellent writer is certified, but having an industry designation means that the writer has met a certain criteria level to present themselves as experts in the field. 4) Do they have a strong portfolio of credentials that reassure you about their integrity?  Check and see if they are a member of a reputable organization or local business group.  What does their LinkedIn profile say about them? 5) Is there a culture fit?  Take the time to follow the rule of 3 call three different writers and get a sense of who they are as a person. Do you feel like you connect with any of them? This project, after all, will be discussing some of your most personal goals and career situations, and getting a feel of who the other person is will help you build trust in their ability to best serve you. Not every writer is the perfect fit for everyone. My advice: go with your gut! 6) Dont rule out virtual writers.  Many potential clients want to meet face-to-face, which is fine for local writers, but dont rule out the possibility of leveraging Skype or other video chats to make that connection with a writer.  7) Make sure you understand what the terms are.   Good writers have a project agreement form or contract that spells out the scope of services being provided.   It provides a clear statement of what you are being provided with and what you can expect in exchange for your payment. 8)You get what you pay for.  If you are thinking cost versus investment you might want to shift your paradigm.  Cost means that this is something you pay for and get nothing in return, whereas investment means that there is a return on what you do invest (to yourself).   Many people in the cost mindset are shocked at what writers charge but the truth is that if viewed from an investment perspective, youll see the value of shortening a job search with an updated and optimized document which can be easily recouped within the first paycheck of your new job.  So, if you get turned off by the investment required by professional writers and turn to some of the ads on Craigslist youll get exactly what you spent: a $35 resume that goes nowhere. Picking a career services professional to help you on this important project requires careful consideration and investigation in order to make the wisest investment possible!

Good Ear vs. Bad Ear A tale of two recent graduates, and their opposing views on job hunting

Good Ear vs. Bad Ear A tale of two recent graduates, and their opposing views on job hunting 0 Flares 0 Flares Recent La Salle graduate hands resumes out to passing cars in Philadelphia Corn on the Jobs feeling a little weird today.  There is a part of me thats very excited, impressed, and inspired by the creativity of a recent La Salle graduate, and his job search antics.  And there is another part of me thats feeling somewhat  disappointed, and maybe even bitter with a recent graduate from Monroe College.  In a terribly corny effort to keep the COTJ theme, Im going to present both of these recent college graduates situations in COTJs very first Good Ear vs. Bad Ear. Good Ear Sean Christman, a recent La Salle Graduate has done it.  He has gone, and done it!  Sean found a way to stand out against other job seekers without relying on his resume, social media, networking, or any other item on the list of normal job seeker tactics.  On Wednesday, July 22, Sean found himself wearing his finest suit, standing on the median of a busy Philadelphia street (presumingly during rush hour), holding copies of his resume for passing cars.  Brilliant.  Ive never successfully guessed how many jelly beans were in the jar, but Ill try to guess how many cars passed by Sean that day?  1,000?  2,000?  5,000?  Your guess is as good as mine, but the answer is, enough.  Lets just say that Sean gave out 100 resumes that day, well shoot low.  So, where did Seans resume go that day: His resume absolutely ended up in the hands of hiring managers, entry-level to senior-level professionals, and possibly executives of organizations in the Philadelphia area. Sean successfully reached multiple industries and organizations without needing an ounce of help from a search firm or the glorious world wide web. Lastly, his resume was picked up by those who could possibly refer him on to a company, friend, or co-worker. Sean may not see his actions from that day directly result in him receiving a job, but at least in COTJs opinion, Sean has proven himself way beyond an interview.  Many of us say, actions speak louder than words, correct?  Well, isnt an interview just a big pile of words?  Sure, some interview techniques can prove to be damn effective, but its ALWAYS a gamble.  Sean has proven himself to be creative, innovative, and in my mind hard working.  His strategy proves hes far from lazy, able to think outside of the box and carry out a plan.  When you think about it, Sean created his own social network that day, without even touching a computer, or attending a group meeting.  Amazingly, he found a way to completely randomize where his resume ends up, reaching an unknown number of Philadelphia area organizations and industries.  Again, brilliant!  Now, someone tell Sean to contact me so I can set up an interview with this chap.  Im beyond interested to see how everything turns out f or Sean. Bad Ear Trina Thompson has just recently graduated from Monroe College with a bachelors in Information Technology.  Trina Thompson has just recently sued Monroe College.  Trina Thompson is an idiot, but maybe not just recently. Trina cant find a job, so has decided to sue Monroe College in the Bronx for the cost of her tuition, $70,000.  Thompson is stating the schools Office of Career Advancement hasnt provided her with enough help to land her first job.  Jesus Christ, give me a break. Heres my advice to Trina: Get yourself on Linkedin.  I checked, and it looks like youve decided not to join in on the fun. Attend networking events, specifically for IT professionals like yourself. Read up on COTJ, Ill make you smile and prepare you for an interview.  Free of cost! If you need serious help with your resume, consider working with a resume writer.  Contact Elaine Basham at The Resume Group.  Her email is elaine@theresumegroup.com Dont be lazy, read up above about the Good Ear, and think of a creative way to market yourself. Ok, Im done for today.  Thanks for reading Corn Heads!