When you are job seeking, especially if you are unemployed at the time, it can be very exciting to have a recruiter call you with a potential job. However, you must diligently research the recruiter before giving them too much information.
There is a scam going on where a recruiter contacts you and requests your resume – of course they say you are perfect for the job. Then they say that your resume does not upload into their ATS. They are doing this for one of two reasons. Either they are not a recruiter and they just want to convince you to hire “a resume company they know of” that they say they have no affiliation with, but they do. There is no job – they just want you to think there is a job, and that your resume is not up to par, and get you to pay for a below average company to redo your resume.
The second reason is even more alarming. Although the recruiter may have a website, and even press releases or other social media, it is all fake! They are trying to steal your personal information. Here is a link to a Fortune magazine article that probes further into this issue:
The Ghost in the VC Machine
There are many legitimate recruiters. Just make sure to do your research: carefully check their website (some websites list when they were created at the bottom of the home page). Look at consumer review sites like Yelp and if there are no reviews or only recent reviews for this year I would be very cautious. Look at their personal profile on LinkedIn. Even google their mailing address to see the physical building. Lastly, you can check the Better Business Bureau to see if there are any complaints.
A friend of mine recently asked me why there was such variation in resume writing prices. It was a good question and I decided to turn her question into a blog entry.
There are three categories of resume writing companies and corresponding pricing structures.
The first is the part-time resume writer. These are often editors, writers, English majors who write resumes “on the side.” They often work from home, advertise on craigslist and typically charge from about $50 to $150 for a resume package. They are rarely members of a professional resume writing association so they may or may not produce a decent product at a low price point but they are not professionally trained. Don’t expect much customization, or in-depth inquiries into your experience or skill set. These part-timers might be acceptable for someone on a really tight budget, but better options for most may exist.
The second is the small business who is professionally trained and certified (like us). These are often 1 to 2 person businesses, working from a small office, or a home office, and specialize in writing professional resumes. They have a web presence, may advertise in their regional area and charge from $200 for entry level positions to $1000 for C- level executives. Their services and price points are often categorized into entry level/new grad, experienced employee, manager, VP, and executive. You will interview with the actual resume writer that will be writing your resume. This category guarantees their resumes and will re-write and edit them for a time period. Generally speaking, many feel this category offers a superior mix of value, with the one-on-one communication and full support. Certified Professional Resume Writers (CPRW) write the bulk of resumes written each year in the United States.
The third is the large, resume “farm.” These corporations, often market nationally, have tremendous web footprints, and employ dozens of resume writers, often from foreign countries. They typically have a webpage that encourages a form to be filled out and emailed in. It is then assigned to a resume writer, and a resume is emailed back to you within a week. Often, there is no communication between you and the resume writer. Some edits are allowed, but there is not the one-on-one direct communication. These large resume corporations also “guarantee” their resumes will be effective, but there are many hoops you have to jump through to get a refund. In all fairness, the refund requirements are listed in the fine print, but they are not acceptable to most clients and sadly they often don’t read them before buying. Prices range from “come-on” $49 packages (that rarely end up at $49), all the way up to $1,000 and more. These resume farms often produce a substandard resume.
All three types of resume writing companies have their pros and cons and it is up to you to decide which one is right for you.
Good luck, and if you want a free resume critique by a San Diego based, Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) with 12 years of experience, please contact us at by emailing your resume to sdresumes@yahoo.com or calling 858-414-9603.
15 years ago you probably mailed or faxed your resume to an employer in response to a job ad. Ten years ago you e-mailed it. Most recently, companies want you to e-mail your Microsoft Word document or upload it to their website. If your resume is not “computer friendly,” there is a chance the Human Resource Manager or the Hiring Manager won’t find it if they conduct their resume search via a computer program known as the Applicant Tracking System or ATS.
A resume needs to highlight your qualifications and showcase your talents and value. It cannot simply be a listing of your job duties. Your resume is a marketing tool to SELL your skills to the company so they want to bring you in for a job interview. If your resume has worked well for you in the past, that doesn’t mean it will work well in today’s competitive job market. I spoke with some HR Managers for leading companies in San Diego and whether small or large companies, they used to get 25 to 75 resumes in response to an ad. Now, some of them are getting up to 500-1000 resumes for one job. The simple truth is if your resume is too long, not visually appealing or worse, doesn’t have the “right” information in it, you won’t be called for an interview.
A professionally created cover letter and resume will not only contain keywords or buzzwords that a recruiter or computer program is looking for, it will include the keywords with a description that demonstrates your experience and understanding of the subject matter. The reason for this is that if you have 10 years of experience as a Project Manager your resume needs to focus on your core competencies so that you are not compared to someone just out of school from a certificate program.
Visually, if you have a poorly organized resume, too many font types or sizes, overused italics, bold, underlining, etc, even if your resume is selected to look at, a human won’t want to read it. Graphics and pictures are rarely recommended as they often cause you to be excluded from a computerized search.
Whether you are seeking a Professional Resume Writer to write your Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV), whether you need an Entry Level Resume, Professional Mid-Career Resume, Executive Resume or Federal Resume you need to invest in having your cover letter and resume professional written to ensure you are maximizing your time in your job search and investing in yourself and your career.
