Are you playing tug of war with your resume writer?

When you are looking for a resume writer or career professional, you need to make sure that you are willing to work in their business model.

You really need to spend some time studying resume writers’ websites to find the right one for you.

The Design Resumes Business Model

As I have said before, business models and delivery styles differ. I am one of the few resume writers who has client meetings in her home. Wausau is certainly not crime-free but I do live in a residential area where I know my neighbors and they know me. I also have Buddy, the German Shepherd, as the office dog and before him, Teddy.

When I started using Skype in late 2009 and learned about the Skype share screen tool, I realized I could offer the same business model to my clients virtually. The screen share option allows the client to feel more like they are sitting across the desk from me. You can read more about my business model, here.

I write LIVE while the client watches.

An executive-level resume client this week in Europe loved this process. We wrote his resume in about 3 1/2 hours but to be fair, I wrote his LinkedIn profile first and also knew him online. As a business consultant currently, he has a good grasp of business models and he felt that my process is unique and perfect for him and people like him. He is articulate, listens well, and could easily respond to my inquiries.

How resume writing intake models differ

Other resume writers use worksheets to gather data. The client who is good with responding in writing will be an excellent candidate for this model. Still others do extensive phone interviews and fill out their own worksheet or take extensive notes after asking very specific questions.

In all business models, you have to participate by communicating with the writer or the screening process. If you think giving an old resume or a list of where you worked will get you a resume, think again.

If you like thinking about your accomplishments and then filling out a worksheet, that’s fine. If you would rather be interviewed by a resume writer who conducts phone interviews and you are articulate and can respond to questions with more than a yes or no, then hire a resume writer who works this way.

These professional resume writing experts will write from their notes or your worksheet.

If you like to watch the process happen, can speak clearly and articulately, and like to be challenged by tough questions because you think well on your feet, you are my client!

All of these models work for the resume writer and for the clients who best fit their business model. What doesn’t work is for you to hire someone and expect them to change their business model to fit you.

And one thing that never works is to drop random information, refuse to work with the resume writer to clarify your accomplishments and super stories, and then expect to have a product that matches what you think a resume should look like.

Don’t play tug of war with your resume writer

Resume writers and career professionals are one of the tightest knit competitive industries I know. We all complete globally but we share information with each other daily. I’ve heard so many stories lately of clients who hire someone and then tries to change everything. One resume writer said she knew she was in trouble when a client tried to rewrite her contract before they started.

If you hire an expert, do your homework and hire one who works in a way that works for you. The person who best fits my client model are people who want to learn. They love working in a live process, ask the best questions, contribute quantified accomplishments when we talk, and those who really get it, rapidly get the jobs of their dreams.

Julie Walraven can help you achieve results through using a personalized job search and resume writing  strategy to take the mystery out of the process. To find out how, simply click here!

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