A consultant I know asked me whether she should agree to write her client's resume for him. She was really asking if it's a good idea to get your resume written by someone else.
You might think since I'm a career strategist, I'd say yes - by me! But I said no. Not by anybody.
I believe the challenge of formulating a resume is the crux of career management -- analyzing yourself, noting what possible markets you may fit and crafting your best positioning. And so, that it is worthwhile working through that, rather than buying resume writing services.
I think putting a resume together is a thinking ground, a very valuable process that for all too many people is the only strategizing they do when they want to make a career move.
And then, a resume should seldom be released, because past career history facts are a liability unless the person wants the very same work they had last.
Don’t take “send me your resume’ or “dust off your resume’ literally.
The right content to present out there is dynamic, and next-company centred. Go get a forward looking understanding of the other guy, don’t give static old history of yours.
Nothing from the past that does not match what you want to do next, should be shared.
Career Equity™ clients are making complete career changes (i.e. they had no ‘experience’ to show), while
maintaining or increasing their pay -- using no resume at all.
There are much savvier ways to become visible and trusted as the one most credible person to hire, for the work you want next - - even if at a higher level of your current field as opposed to a career change.
Think modular info package instead, revealing only an overview of strengths first, then giving out achievement stories (industry-agnostic), then once a meeting has already been held or at least booked, supply as an appendix a historic account cast to fit, and likely a job proposal too.
We have over 20 kinds of documents and actions clients use in lieu of a resume to come to the attention of their best potential bosses, through channels such bosses actually use – and maintain bargaining power in a way that people who’ve already given out their raw old facts, or branded themselves before knowing what is valued, can’t. There are ways to do this so that when invited to ‘send your resume’ what you do instead leapfrogs you further forward, and they thank you for what you did differently. Impossible to get away with? No -- shrewd, relationship-forming and far more informative and quick for them as well as you.
I believe relevance flows from about talking more about the boss and company, than you. Asking them questions, more than gambling on a positioning before you know what is valued.
Very light, selective use of resumes is one of the 15 ways Career EquityTM gives you a different, better experience of your career value and freedom.
