How to Work Successfully with Your Executive Resume Writer

© Can Stock Photo / alexmillos

When you make the decision to hire a professional resume writer, you’re not only investing your time and money, but you’re also entrusting that person to articulate your personal brand and shape how you’ll position yourself in your job search. As an executive resume writer for over four decades, I take this responsibility very seriously, and suggest these 10 tips to help ensure you have a successful, positive collaboration with your resume writer.

1. Communicate Clearly. I promise to keep you informed about what I need from you — and, at the same time, I expect you to be responsive to my requests. I use the information you give me to create your resume, so the better the information I get from you, the better your new resume will be! Also, please be honest with me in all the details of your career that you share with me. I will not knowingly put false information on your resume, and you shouldn’t either.

2. Be Clear On Your Career Goal. Having a specific job target will help me write a more effective resume to showcase your skills, experience, and accomplishments. If you ask me to write a “general resume,” it will not be as successful as a resume that is written for a specific job target. Related to this: If I write you a resume for a sales position, don’t use that resume to apply for a different type of job. (Or at least discuss it with me before you do.)

3. Meet Your Deadlines. If I give you action items to work on — with a timeframe to return it to me — please meet that deadline. If your timeline for needing your resume changes — for example, there is a specific opportunity you want to respond to, please let me know, but there will likely be a fee associated with rush requests. And let’s close out your project on a timely basis. The sooner we finalize your project, the sooner you can start using your new documents!

4. Invest In Yourself. Your new resume is just one tool in your job search toolbox. If I suggest you purchase a new outfit for your interview, or I recommend additional services to complement your resume, consider the request carefully. Your income is your number one asset, and as the saying goes, “sometimes you need to spend money to make money.” Spending 1-3% of your annual income on improving your career prospects is a wise investment.

5. Trust Me, I’m Your Resume Writer. Please don’t solicit opinions about your resume from your friends or family members. You hired me for my expertise. So, if you have any questions, don’t be afraid to ask me. Related to this: Don’t believe everything you read on the Internet. For every article that talks about how your resume should be one page, there are more that say it should be two pages. (For the record, there is no hard-and-fast rule about resume length: It should be as long as it needs to be, and no longer.)

6. Remember, Your Resume is a Marketing Document, Not an Obituary. I’m not going to include every detail about your life and work history on your resume, especially if you have certain jobs that aren’t relevant to your career target. These details are important to who you are, but they are not necessarily important in this resume for this job target. I will be selective in what information I include, because your resume tells a story about who you are and what you can do.

7. Don’t “Lend” Your Resume to Anyone Else. Your new resume is a customized document developed just for you. Allowing someone else to use your resume (format, design, and/or wording) may even dilute its effectiveness for you — especially if you “lend it” to a co-worker or colleague. If someone admires your resume, send him or her my way and I will create an equally awesome document customized for their job search!

8. If You’re Not Getting Results, Let’s Talk. We might need to make some changes to make your resume more effective, or I might be able to share some strategies to help you increase the number of interviews and job offers you receive. Tell me if you’re unhappy — but tell your friends if you loved working with me. I love your testimonials, LinkedIn Recommendations, and referrals. Most of my new clients are referred to me by happy, satisfied former clients!

9. Let Me Know How You’re Doing. Sometimes I don’t hear from clients until they need an update to their resume when it’s time to look for a new job. But I want to hear from you when you get a job offer. We’ll celebrate together!

10. Keep Your Resume Updated. Speaking of your new job, once you land a new position (and you’re sure you’re going to stay — usually, after the first 90 days, you know), get back in touch with me to add your new position. Keep an accomplishments journal so you can track your achievements in your new role, which makes it easier to respond to new opportunities that come up.

Whether you decide to work with me or another executive resume writer, following these tips should help you to have a productive and successful partnership.