By Khalilah Starks

When I think of DIY (Do it Yourself), I think of Home Depot. As you walk through that store, there’s a plethora of DIY kits for the home project enthusiast to create or repair just about anything in the home. When it comes to my home, I would definitely define myself as a DIYer – to a certain degree. I can paint just as good as the professional painter, but I leave electric and plumbing work to the professionals. I know and accept my limitations. Unfortunately, many do not accept their limitations with regards to their resume. Through the years, I’ve seen an alarming amount of ineffective resumes that made me think, “Clearly, you should have called a professional!” And then, the resume quickly landed in my “no thank you” pile.

Oftentimes, your resume is your first impression. Additionally, it is estimated that employers review resumes for about 30 seconds before tossing it in the “no thank you” pile. So, your resume has to gain the attention of a recruiter very quickly. Choosing to DYI or hire a professional to write your resume is a serious decision. My opinion – unless you’re an outstanding writer, have a professional write your resume. It’s an investment that can accelerate your job search process and open doors to higher paying opportunities.

Here are some things that you should do to ensure that you hire a resume writing professional that meets your needs:

• Make sure that the resume writer offers a guarantee that if you are not satisfied or your resume doesn’t get significant attention (interviews) within a specified period of time, they’ll rewrite it.
• Ask around to see if someone that you know can recommend a great resume writer, just as you would ask around for a physician reference. Most people don’t advertise the fact that they’ve had their resume professionally written, so it’s best to just ask your colleagues for references.
• Make sure that the resume writer takes a comprehensive approach. They should be asking you lots of questions about each position that you’ve held and your career goals to get a complete picture. You want to ensure that the resume is a great reflection of YOUR skill sets and credentials.
• Always review their sample work. A reputable service will provide samples of their work and will often provide examples of resumes before and after the work has been completed.

If you decide to DYI, you should at least have a trusted HR professional or resume service provider review your resume. Most resume service providers will provide you with a free consultation. Of course, their objective is to get you to purchase their service, which typically costs $150+, depending on the service. But, if you’re not in the position to pay for the service, you can take their feedback and revise it yourself. Additionally, most online resume writing services offer samples of their work – many of which are listed by industry and career level. You can use those samples to enhance your writing, identify industry buzz words and improve the style of your resume. A couple of my favorite internet resume writing services that feature great sample work are Resume Edge and Career Perfect. You can also find several resume writing books that include resume samples at your local bookstore. Check these sources out and you’ll be well on your way to creating an outstanding resume. And, of course, read my post about writing a great resume!

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