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The Importance of a Professionally-Written Resume

By Wendy J. Terwelp, CCMC, JCTC, CPBS

When your golf swing isn’t working, you hire a pro. When your product needs changes, you contact an engineer. So, when you’re résumé isn’t working, why not contact a professional résumé writer? Writing is their expertise. They are wordsmiths who can put the right spin on your achievements and experience to get the interviews you seek.

As our clients already know, it’s extremely important to hire a professional to write your résumé. Paraphrasing columnist and career expert Joan Lloyd: A résumé is a first impression. Having your résumé professionally written shows that you are willing to invest in yourself. If you are willing to invest in yourself, you will be willing to invest in your future employer.

In recent survey by the Society of Human Resource Management, 76% of executives polled stated they would eliminate a candidate from consideration who has one or two typographical errors in his/her résumé. Pretty scary.

Even scarier still are the results that can happen if a candidate lies or “over exaggerates” on a résumé. You may have heard of situations where senior executives were terminated from high-paying positions for lying about their college education. In response to these types of situations, there is a trend in the industry called “résumé policing.” Several security firms in the Milwaukee area have “résumé police” departments that specialize in investigating the information stated on a person’s résumé. Employers hire these firms to research résumé data prior to hiring a potential candidate. And don’t forget about employment agencies. Recruiters are required to check references prior to submitting candidates to potential employers.

These are just a few reasons why it’s important to have your résumé professionally prepared. When having your résumé professionally written, be sure to find out information about your résumé writer. We recommend finding a person with a background in Journalism, English or Public Relations. This educational background helps the writer ask you the right questions, prepare a résumé that markets your experience and achievements to get interviews, and make sure everything is grammatically correct (in the résumé style).

Our key writer possesses a degree in Journalism with additional education and training in the areas of career management, recruiting, public relations and marketing.

However, while our writers can ask tough questions, they do expect honest answers. They cannot assume responsibility for fantastic fiction provided by the client.

Since Opportunity Knocks’™ professional résumé writing staff has been in the employment industry for more than a decade, the staff knows what employers are looking for in order to present you in the most professional way possible. Having a writer objectively ask you questions about yourself can also help build your confidence, determine your strengths, and qualify or quantify your achievements. This will help you be better equipped for an interview.

Finally, the most important reason for hiring a professional to write your résumé — you have a greater chance of doing what you do best and enjoy most, while getting paid what you’re worth! Your professionally-written résumé and cover letter get you interviews, you’re prepared for the interview, and you’re hired! Clients who have obtained new positions have significantly increased their salaries while others have more than doubled their income! Many have secured their “dream job.” The vast majority have been able to get a job that lets them do what they do best and enjoy most, while getting paid what they’re worth.

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