FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Julie Walraven (me) is the only writer you will work with at Design Resumes. I give you my personalized attention to ensure you will reach your goals.

While your industry may not be represented on our resume sample page, Design Resumes has vast experience writing for a wide range of career paths and industries. Julie Walraven's unique resume process uses Zoom's video technology to enable you to be part of every resume writing session. You provide the information during our live calls to enable Julie to understand not only your industry but your specific job and talents.

I write resumes for a wide range of industries. My interactive resume writing process allows me to capture your story during live sessions powered by Zoom's video technology.

Industries I have written resumes for include:

Accounting
Aerospace
Agriculture
Animal Health
Art & Culture
Automotive
Aviation
Beauty
Biotechnology
Coaching
Communications
Construction
Consulting
CPG
Defense
eCommerce
Education
Energy
Fashion Design
Finance
Food & Beverage
Geology
Government
Healthcare
Higher Education
Horticulture
Hospitality
Human Resources
Human Services
Information Security
Insurance
Law Enforcement
Legal
Luxury Brands
Manufacturing
Marketing
Mechanical Engineering
Media
Medical Device
Metaverse Creative Media
Mortuary Science
Music
Non-Profits
Outdoor Industry
Pharmaceuticals
Property Management
Public Relations
Real Estate
Retail
SaaS
Sports Marketing
Supply Chain
Technology
Telecommunications
Transportation
Travel

Throughout my career, I have written C-Suite resumes for CFOs, CEOs, COOs, CMOs, and more, as well as an abundance of executive, resumes for Vice Presidents. I have been a Certified Executive Resume Master (CERM) since 2015. When you earn the CERM you become one of less than 35 individuals worldwide (there are currently 32 to-date) who have become designated as a Certified Executive Resume Master!

As an executive job seeker, you need my personalized service to ensure that you are ready to compete in this elite career level. Your competition will be stiff, and you need to have all the tools. Let me write your Executive Resume!

Sign for CERM

Stripe drives the payment system at Design Resumes:

Stripe is a technology company that builds economic infrastructure for the internet. Millions of companies of all sizes—from startups to Fortune 500s—use Stripe’s software and APIs to accept payments, send payouts, and manage their businesses online.

APPLICATIONS
Sitting atop Stripe's payments platform are applications to manage revenue, prevent fraud, and expand internationally.

PAYMENTS PLATFORM
At Stripe's core is a powerful payments engine that makes moving money easy.

INFRASTRUCTURE
Stripe's cloud-based infrastructure provides reliability, scalability, and security.

You, the client of Design Resumes can be confident that your transactions are safe with Stripe driving commerce payments.

Today's job search is very different from job search in the 1980's, 1990's, or the first decade of 2000. In this job market, LinkedIn is a key platform used by recruiters and hiring managers to find and vet potential employees. You need to proactively use LinkedIn to create a complete presence and let the Law of Attraction bring people toward you.

Julie Walraven holds five career industry credentials and has been vetted by the global organizations that offer the certifications. The Certified Master Resume Writer (CMRW) and Certified Executive Resume Master (CERM) and the Certified Graphic Resume Architect from Career Directors International require renewal submissions every three years and Julie has already renewed both twice, passing the scrutiny of a global panel of experts. In addition, Julie holds the Certified Professional Resume Writer from the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches (PARWCC)

Sign for CERM

Resume Writer Certification: Certified Graphic Resume Architect

Certified Graphic Resume Architect

Color in resumes became popular in the early 2000's. Design Resumes started formatting resumes with color in 2003. I was listening to a training session from Career Thought Leaders featuring the well-known author and career expert, Louise Kursmark when she shared the benefits of color at that time. I welcomed color as a standard ever since.

If you look at my sample page, you will see a robust assortment of resume samples with an array of color. The client and I always select colors together with both the client's preference and any industry nuances evaluated to ensure that the color will fit the industry.

For example, I would not color an accountant or stockbroker in red because when we talk about red in finance, it is a negative mindset. Beyond that, we want to choose a color fitting the client's comfort zone as well as the industry.

No. I love the diversity of different career paths, industries, and career levels. Throughout my career, I have diversified my client base by working with students, entry-level, directors, and executives.

My unique working style of the interactive and collaborative process throughout our resume writing process is my differentiator. If someone doesn't care enough about their career to spend the time in writing and coaching sessions with me, they aren't my client.

My clients spend 8 to 20 hours with me depending on the investment level. However, I love anyone who is willing to invest their time into getting the best job possible for them.

I do offer resume updates for existing clients within a 5-year time frame. Starting fees are $100 for a resume-only update. However, each project is different and I need to evaluate the most recent resume to determine how much an update will cost.

After 5 years, the resume is typically so stale in style and content that we need to start over with a new resume. It doesn't help to brush up a document that no longer effectively markets you.

I don't offer resume updates to people who were not prior clients. No matter how recently your resume was written and even if written by another career professional, strategies and techniques differ. If you have never worked with me previously, you would need to select one of the resume packages.

References are just as critical as ever but you really need to think about who is the best choice for your references. Contact information needed today includes the cellphone and email because references will need to be checked quickly. No waiting for snail mail.

What should I tell my references?

Ask them before you add them to the list or used them in an online application, but if you missed this step, don’t use the references on resumes until you have their permission.

After your professional resume is complete, email or even meet with your references to give them a copy of your resume. Two things can happen when you do this:

Your references are able to respond with information you presented as your value and accomplishments in your resumes.
Your references after seeing your resume may realize you have talents needed by someone in their network. Hint: statistics still say 85% of available jobs are in the hidden job market.
My complete article on references can be found here.

ATS refers to Applicant Tracking Systems. I provide ATS-friendly resumes to every client who desires one.

Today, many job seekers and even some resume writers get so stuck on conforming to ATS and worrying about online applications that they fail to create a resume to attract the hiring manager.

However, I write presentation-style resumes first and provide these in Microsoft Word and PDF versions. I also teach and coach on ways to successfully use networking to get in front of decision-makers. I discourage using online applications as your only or primary means of finding your next job. If you don't deploy networking, your job search will be longer.

Just as I write executive resumes, I also write student resumes. Why? When parents invest 1000s into their son or daughter's education, they hope they will get a job. Hiring me to guide their students to write a resume that showcases their talent, teach them how to leverage the powerful LinkedIn network, and help them understand how to use networking to find that first job is critical.

Students who worked with me have landed new roles as Associate Software Engineer, Human Resource Leader in Development, Marketing Specialist, Television Promotions Producer, Underwriter, and more.

I believe everyone should also be prepared with an outstanding resume, but for individuals who are in need of a quality LinkedIn profile, I am now offering the LinkedIn Makeover Package.

This package is designed both for job seekers and anyone marketing their personal brand. If you think your online presence needs improvement, then LinkedIn is the quickest and easiest way to elevate your brand.

As a Certified LinkedIn Writer, I’ve helped hundreds of professionals improve their LinkedIn profiles and be noticed online. I will teach you improved LinkedIn strategies and work with you to write a customized LinkedIn profile. Together, we will improve your social media prowess and get you noticed.

Generally, I can start new projects within one to two weeks. It varies by the time of year, but my innovative, live resume writing process allows me to start you sooner than most other resume writers. You are the one who dedicates your time to working with me, so if you can match openings on my calendar, we can move your project along.

Yes, I have written numerous executive bios during my career for job seekers, speakers, authors, consultants, and entrepreneurs.

Each is treated as a unique document and formatted according to the client's brand and background. One of the options in the Design Resumes Ultimate Package is an Executive Bio.

In 2019, I was asked to be one of both the initial judges for Career Director International's Toast of the Resume Industry (TORI) resume writing competition as well as a final judge.

CDI introduced the TORI™ Awards to the industry in 2000 to celebrate a new standard in excellence through rigorous criteria requirements. While award standards have always been demanding, never before has the resume writing industry embraced the concept of a standardized criteria for resume judging.

In another FAQ, I explain that I am a triple-certified resume writer. The certifications ensure that I take the time regularly to verify my skills with a panel of global experts. This ensures you that I take my craft very seriously.

Yes, Julie Walraven (me) has partnered with multiple exciting career services to provide you with the highest level of tools to help you be successful in your job search.

Alex Freund (aka The Landing Expert) and I have worked together to provide interview coaching and salary negotiation coaching for my clientele. With three tiers of services, you select the one that fits you best. Alex's Interview Coaching is available in the Preferred and Ultimate Packages. You can find the Salary Negotiations Coaching in the Ultimate Package.

In 2021, Susan Barker, joined my team to offer a taste of her executive coaching in our Ultimate Package. Her leadership coaching may be purchased as an add-on to any package to ensure that you get a chance to evaluate the benefits of this amazing leader. As her website says, "I help corporate leaders succeed in their business goals and in the way they think about how to connect that to their purpose."

Every package includes comprehensive Behavioral and Communication Assessments provided by Profiling Pro. These assessments allow us to discuss your ideal work environment, behavioral strengths, value to the organization, and relationship strategies.

In the United States, the resume is more common. The CV or Curriculum Vitae is primarily used in the academic field but also may be used in healthcare or legal professions. The CV features added sections that can be expanded, such as publications, presentations, or teaching experience. While these items could be in a resume, the CV is generally much longer with 10 or more pages.

Outside of the United States, the terms CV and resume may be interchangeable and look very similar.

If you are curious about working with me, let's have a conversation!

I would love to speak with you on Zoom or over the phone. Until we talk, you don't know if you can work with me or I with you.

Let's have a conversation, no pressure, just a friendly chat about how I work and what you need to succeed. Bring your coffee, water, or drink of choice!

Talk Soon!

FAQ