Our Resume Writing Process
Our Head Resume Resume Writer provides you with a look into our professional process, guaranteed to deliver outstanding results for anyone seeking a new position or career advancement:
As the Head Resume and LinkedIn Profile Writer for my company, I am often asked about the process which I follow when creating materials for my clients. There are many good resume writers out there, but we each have our own approach to how we complete a project.
Let me draw back the curtain and allow a glimpse into how I create professional works of art for each of my résumé clients:
The Consult:
In most cases, and like many writers, I start with a free service consultation. This is usually completed by phone and allows me to gain insights into my client, his or her professional background, future goals, and potential employment targets. I discuss the processes, timelines, package options, and costs involved at this time as well. In addition, I am also happy to provide feedback on job search strategies and existing documents sent to me for review. To be successful, I believe the writer and client need to be a good match for one another, and that is what this initial conversation is all about. Some of my prospective clients are surprised to learn that I am also willing to provide referrals to other writers if it turns out that we are not the best match for a project.
The Proposal:
If a project is particularly complex, I often draft a project proposal which reviews information discussed during the consult. It also provides a review of the steps, timeline, objectives, cost structure, package options and more. As many of my clients are surprised to learn that resume and profile writing involves much more than simply writing a career history, the proposal offers clarity following the consultation.
The Selection Process:
Once I take on a client, I ask him or her to provide me with 2 to 5 job leads or descriptions for which they would be interested in applying. This provides a great deal of clarity and direction for the project, along with a starting point for my research. It also allows the client to be actively involved in the trajectory of the project. He or she can also be certain that the final product will be optimized to fit specific fields and targeted opportunities.
The Research:
Here is where much of the fun begins, as I must admit, I am a bit of a nerd when it comes to performing research. This is a crucial step often missed by do-it-yourselfers. As extraneous content is a big no-no in proper resume construction, and given that space is usually limited, it is critical to know exactly what information to include and accomplishments to emphasize. I typically start by researching the job leads provided by my client, then expand into researching the employers themselves, similar positions in my client’s geographic area, and learning about hiring trends in the target industry.
The Gathering of Information:
I like to err on the side of having access to the most information possible before I create a resume, so in addition to collecting a comprehensive professional history on each of my clients, I construct a detailed and industry specific list of questions for each to answer. These questions are formulated from my research, and my client’s answers to them provide the content required for the materials I produce. As every client and project is unique, the questions I develop are highly individualized.
The Draft:
Once the research is performed, it is time to start formatting a draft of the resume. Some may be surprised to learn that I, like most good writers, begin every resume from scratch. A resume’s layout is dependent on many factors, but in all cases pertinent information must jump off the page and grab the reader’s attention in about 6 seconds. This can present a challenge to some writers, and getting it right involves a series of drafting, redrafting, peer review, and performance testing.
The Vetting Process:
Although I have been writing resumes professionally for 11 years now, I am not an expert in microbiology, zoo keeping, political science, or criminal justice. Therefore, I include a unique step in my resume development process for many of the projects on which I work. If I am not intimately familiar with a client’s chosen vocation, I submit a draft of the resume (personal information redacted for confidentiality) to recruiters, HR professionals, and hiring managers who work in my client’s targeted field. For this reason, I maintain a large and diverse professional network. In exchange for constructive feedback, many of these contacts come to me to find potential candidates, which allows me to often assist clients with professional networking and lead development.
The Review:
In the final analysis, the resume I create ultimately belongs to and must produce outstanding results for my client. Therefore, I will work with my clients as much as is needed until he or she is completely satisfied with the product.
Presentation of the Masterwork:
The aforementioned process culminates in a final product with which all parties are satisfied and which will go on to assist my clients with landing the interview opportunities they seek. I treat each project with great care, and I love presenting a resume which is effective, powerful and elegant.
The Ongoing Promise:
I also provide my clients with another unique service after the project is complete. Having been trained in the school of thought which states that the most effective résumé is a highly targeted one, it is logical to deduce that a single document may not be right for each and every situation. Therefore, I include a free modification service with each of my résumé products. I simply tell my clients to email me a job lead they intend on applying for, and I will customize the résumé I previously created to that specific position. I offer 3 such modifications with all packages, thereby providing peace of mind and ongoing professional support.
I hope you enjoyed this peek into how the resume sausage is made. Happy job hunting and may each of you achieve your professional goals!
About the Author:
Adam Zajac is the Head Resume and LinkedIn Profile Writer and Senior Career Development Expert for Vocamotive, Inc. As a vocational rehabilitation and career placement professional for the last 11 years, he has successfully assisted thousands of job seekers and career changers throughout the United States.
Message or Follow Adam on LinkedIn at: www.linkedin.com/in/adamzajac
Contact Vocamotive via email at: info@vocamotive.com
Get assistance starting on your new Résumé and LinkedIn profile at: http://vocamotive.com/our-services/vocamotive-resume-and-job-search-document-creation-services/
Last Updated on March 25, 2022 by Voca_GC