There’s no “right answer” to this one. Some recruiters and career coaches feel strongly that only you can write your resume. You’re the one with the best understanding of your skills, preferences, and experience. Others acknowledge that not everyone has the same writing ability and you only have one chance to make a great impression, sell yourself and get the interview. And… not everyone is up on the latest best practices using keywords and structuring your resume to take advantage of the automated resume-screening tools employers are using.
So, what should you do? Ask yourself a few questions:
- Is there a great opportunity happening right now and do you need to get your resume in shape ASAP? (…and you know don’t have time to do a great job)
- Are you a bad speller and often have grammatical errors when you write?
- Is your resume too long and you just can’t seem to pare it down?
- Are you unable to objectively highlight your skills and achievements and not just list duties and facts?
- Have you been staring at this resume/cover letter for days and just can’t get started?
If you answered mostly “no,” you probably don’t need help. There are plenty of free templates and sample resumes available to guide you if you decide to go it alone. What’s really important is to be sure the information on your resume is focused on the skills and requirements for each job application. Make sure you’re tailoring each letter and resume to a particular job, using the keywords and the title found in the job description.
Make sure it’s clear and concise and easy to read. Proofread it more than once and have someone else read it to ensure you don’t have any typos or grammatical errors. It should be easy to understand and not contain any buzzwords or false statements.
If you answered “yes” to most or all of these, you likely need to reach out to a professional writer. When you’re searching for the right one, ask a couple of questions: What industries do they typically work in? Do they have experience in the hospitality industry? What is their process for getting all the information from you? What is the turnaround time? What’s the cost?
Although it may seem costly to have someone assist you with writing your resume and cover letter or developing your social profiles, it can pay off in the end. When you get that great job with the big money and potential for growth, it’ll all be worth it. Consider it an investment in your future.
If you decide to go ahead and hire help, think of it this way: You hire people all the time to do the kinds of things you don’t have the skills or time to do. You pay to get your car repaired, your hair cut, fix your computer, etc. You’re better served by focusing on the other aspects of your job search and letting the pros handle what they do best.
Whatever you decide, be aware that you’ll be competing with others for this job and need to be sure your resume, cover letter, and social profiles are making you shine. And…if you are just starting out, it’s even more important to put your best foot forward so the hiring manager is getting exactly what he/she is looking for and can see the value in hiring you.