Should you Hire a Professional Resume Writer? The Pros and Cons

Many people would rather prepare their own taxes than write their own resume. It is often a daunting task that we procrastinate. However, everyone needs a well-written resume at all times – even if you are happily employed.

So, should you write the resume yourself or should you hire a professional? You can do it yourself, but can you do it well? To be fair, I must tell you that I am a professional resume writer. However, I want to offer you both the positive and negative aspects of hiring someone to write your resume for you.

Pro:
Having your resume professionally written can save you tremendous amounts of time.

Con:
You must be willing to participate in the process by providing the writer with personal information and approving the final product. Otherwise, you may end up with a resume that is full of information and skills that you can’t support in an interview or that is written in language or terms that you would never use. Don’t let someone write your resume FOR you, they should write it WITH you.

Pro:
A well-trained professional has the ability to assist you in identifying your marketable skills and will create a sales-focused document that attracts employers’ attention.

Con:
Beware of the “resume factories” that don’t take the time to get to know you personally. Whether the information is gathered via worksheet or personal interview, the important thing is that you define and market how you can benefit an organization. A well-written resume should be a personalized representation of what makes YOU the right person for the job.

Pro:
Having your resume written for you is one less thing for you to worry about in the hectic job search process. A certified professional resume writer is required to stay on top of the latest job search trends and methods and will provide you with updated documents that are suitable for the current job market.

Con:
Most anyone can hang a shingle and call themselves a resume writer. There are several reputable associations of professionals such as the National Resume Writers Association at www.thenrwa.com, Career Directors International at www.careerdirectors.com, and the Professional Association of Resume Writers at www.parw.com. Before hiring a professional, verify their qualifications, experience, and reputation by doing your due diligence.