Frequently Asked Questions
Below we have compiled the most common questions we get from clients throughout the resume writing process. It is our hope that by sharing the answers to your questions up front, you will have a better understanding of the process before we begin and will have many of your concerns addressed.
What is your resume writing process? How will you learn about me and my goals?
To start, you may wish book a call with a writer for an initial consultation. This will give you a chance to ask questions and get a “feel” for the resume writer while discussing your needs and gaining an understanding of what to expect. You can schedule an appointment if you would like to speak with us before placing an order. View process overview.
The average resume, from creation to finalization includes time spent consulting with the client, additional research, drafting a cover letter, and often crafting a LinkedIn profile. The research we perform for each client exceeds what most resume companies do. Our process includes a consultation and/or a detailed questionnaire that seeks to extract information regarding the client’s employment history, career goals, and accomplishments. We research each company the client has worked for, the positions held, and the positions of interest to ensure proper keyword matching.
Our US-based writers will generally use a combination of a questionnaire, email correspondence and a phone consultation to gather your work history and achievements as well as discuss your career goals. We will use whatever method you feel comfortable with. Some clients prefer to speak by phone while others may decide to work strictly via email due to differences in time zones or work schedules. We do ask, however, if you prefer to work by phone, to please send us a copy of your current resume or fill out our questionnaire with the basics, so we can spend more time on the phone discussing your accomplishments, rather than taking down employer names, titles and dates. Your writer will want to use this document to take notes on during your call.
The average resume, from creation to finalization includes time spent consulting with the client, additional research, drafting a cover letter, and often crafting a LinkedIn profile. The research we perform for each client exceeds what most resume companies do. Our process includes a consultation and/or a detailed questionnaire that seeks to extract information regarding the client’s employment history, career goals, and accomplishments. We research each company the client has worked for, the positions held, and the positions of interest to ensure proper keyword matching.
Our US-based writers will generally use a combination of a questionnaire, email correspondence and a phone consultation to gather your work history and achievements as well as discuss your career goals. We will use whatever method you feel comfortable with. Some clients prefer to speak by phone while others may decide to work strictly via email due to differences in time zones or work schedules. We do ask, however, if you prefer to work by phone, to please send us a copy of your current resume or fill out our questionnaire with the basics, so we can spend more time on the phone discussing your accomplishments, rather than taking down employer names, titles and dates. Your writer will want to use this document to take notes on during your call.
Are your writers involved with any professional associations for career/resume services and what type of educational background will my writer have?
Our writers are members of and hold certifications from the three largest and most respected organizations in the industry: National Resume Writers’ Association (NRWA), the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches (PARW/CC), and Career Directors International (CDI). To maintain the Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) Certification, writers must pass a four-part timed exam that tests knowledge of employment topics and resume writing ability. Additional certifications also require that writers maintain Continuing Education Units (CEUs) through ongoing professional training and development.
The majority of our writers are also in possession of Bachelor and Masters level education. You can also schedule a call with your writer to learn more about their background and verify education, credentials and/or memberships. We are committed to the profession and stay up to date on trends in resumes, job searching, and LinkedIn.
The majority of our writers are also in possession of Bachelor and Masters level education. You can also schedule a call with your writer to learn more about their background and verify education, credentials and/or memberships. We are committed to the profession and stay up to date on trends in resumes, job searching, and LinkedIn.
Do you have expertise in incorporating keywords into resumes, and optimizing resumes for employers’ automated candidate screening software?
If you’ve been applying for jobs and are not getting interviews, it’s probably because the employers’ applicant tracking system (ATS) software is screening you out based on keywords, or lack thereof. We have expertise in designing resumes that meet ATS guidelines in terms of formatting and keyword optimization. Think of it similar to how websites rank on Google. Just as web developers Search Engine Optimize websites to get them to show up higher in search results, our writers will optimize your resume and LinkedIn profile to get you ranking higher in the results provided by the ATS system and by LinkedIn recruiter searches.
Will my writer specialize in my industry or profession?
Yes! We will pair you with a writer that is most knowledgeable in your industry. Additionally, we are equipped with the right knowledge, skills and tools to conduct whatever background research is necessary to ensure you have a resume that highlights your strengths while including the necessary qualifications to help you stand out for the position you are targeting. Resume writers are experts in learning about your background and industry and writing your resume relative to your unique goals, not just a specific industry.
How long will it take to complete my resume?
General turnaround time for first draft delivery is about three to five business days from the date of receiving all client information, whether it be via questionnaire, prior resume and other documentation or a consultation call. We do offer a 24-hour rush delivery service available for clients in need of a resume quickly.
How does your revision process work? Is there a time limit?
We generally will go out to about three, sometimes four revisions. Most clients do not require revisions beyond v3. We try to wrap up and finalize all projects within a week, but we do understand that some clients have other obligations and cannot always get back to us with their revisions right away. Most projects are wrapped up in about two to three weeks at most. The most important thing is to remain in communication with us. As long as you are in regular communication with your writer, we will continue making tweaks, within a reasonable amount of time, as needed until you are satisfied. However, we cannot offer free revisions for clients who fail to respond to us after draft delivery and then decide to come back four months after receiving their documents to work on changes. If we hear nothing after a period of three weeks, we will assume you were satisfied and moved on with your job search and we will close out your file and send over finalized documents in Word, PDF and plain text formats.
Some clients ask how they can go about submitting their revisions. We request that revisions be sent back to us either via email or using the track changes feature on your Word document. You can also make edits on the document and highlight them to show us what changes you are proposing. This will allow us to review the changes and, if we disagree, we can explain our strategy, so you have a good understanding why something was or was not done. If you prefer, you may also schedule a call with your writer to walk through or discuss any changes by phone.
Some clients ask how they can go about submitting their revisions. We request that revisions be sent back to us either via email or using the track changes feature on your Word document. You can also make edits on the document and highlight them to show us what changes you are proposing. This will allow us to review the changes and, if we disagree, we can explain our strategy, so you have a good understanding why something was or was not done. If you prefer, you may also schedule a call with your writer to walk through or discuss any changes by phone.
Do you provide assistance with LinkedIn strategy and LinkedIn profiles?
LinkedIn.com is an important tool for most job seekers today, but to maximize your chances of success with it, you need a profile with advanced search optimization. Our team of resume writers are up to speed on LinkedIn and are familiar with these advanced strategies and techniques to help give your profile the edge that it needs while optimizing it for recruiter searches. Having a LinkedIn profile also can make it easier for you to apply to open positions, as many employers post openings through LinkedIn where you can just click on the Apply with LinkedIn link and your profile will automatically be forwarded to the recruiter or hiring manager.
Do you provide career coaching, interview preparation or resume distribution services?
Yes! We currently offer career coaching, interview preparation and resume distributions services. Please go to Services menu at the top of this page to learn more!
Can I use my resume to apply for several different jobs or will I need a separate resume for each job posting?
Employers hire people for specific jobs. Each job comes with its own duties and responsibilities. An employer needs to know that you are qualified to do the specific job properly. Some jobs need people who are generalists, such as General Laborer or Handyman, however, most jobs are best suited to workers who are specially trained and have the necessary credentials in that line of work. Some jobs are similar enough that you can use the same resume with slight modifications. For example, you can use an Administrative Assistant resume to apply for jobs such as Project Coordinator, Office Manager, Executive Assistant or Receptionist, however if you are an Admin that has dabbled in accounting and want to go into more of a full-time accounting role, you will likely want to get a second resume just focused on accounting. If you are interested in two unrelated fields such as sales and technical support, you will need to have a resume geared towards each role. You could likely use a sales resume to apply for a marketing or business development job with minor changes because these roles are similar and have many transferable qualifications.
What should be put on my resume and what should be left off?
Your work history, education and certifications, career summary, and contact information are must-haves on your resume. However certain information should not be revealed to employers, on the grounds you might be exposing yourself to potential discrimination. Your age and marital status should be left off. Also, your religion and country of origin should also not be included. Unless it is relevant to a position you are targeting, you may not want to list the time you volunteered at your church or made calls on behalf of a particular political candidate.
To avoid showing age, we recommend that most candidates not show work history beyond 15-20 years unless there are significant experiences between 20-30 years old that are relevant or show transferable skills that support a career change. We also recommend only including dates in the education section when you have graduated within the last five years. While these dates may be required to be revealed during the background check, it is ideal to leave them off for the initial screening process.
It is also becoming more common, particularly for privacy and identity theft concerns, to leave off your full street address and only list your city, state and zip. Some clients who are open to relocation or travel may only want to include their phone number and email, however we advise against this practice. Applicant Tracking Systems will look at your zip code to see if you are in a commutable distance. Be mindful that some employers avoid job applicants who are not local to the job. Some simply don’t want to deal with a job applicant that will have to relocate. Some employers use zip codes to search for appropriate job candidates. So, if you are looking to move to a new area or are open to traveling to get to work, consider modifying the zip code to the area you will look for work.
Other things that should no longer be included on your resume include photos of yourself (except for international CVs), objective statements (this is now replaced with a professional summary), and hobbies. Save your hobbies for your biography. Most hiring managers are not interested in them this early on in the process and ATS systems will not have keywords focused in this area.
To avoid showing age, we recommend that most candidates not show work history beyond 15-20 years unless there are significant experiences between 20-30 years old that are relevant or show transferable skills that support a career change. We also recommend only including dates in the education section when you have graduated within the last five years. While these dates may be required to be revealed during the background check, it is ideal to leave them off for the initial screening process.
It is also becoming more common, particularly for privacy and identity theft concerns, to leave off your full street address and only list your city, state and zip. Some clients who are open to relocation or travel may only want to include their phone number and email, however we advise against this practice. Applicant Tracking Systems will look at your zip code to see if you are in a commutable distance. Be mindful that some employers avoid job applicants who are not local to the job. Some simply don’t want to deal with a job applicant that will have to relocate. Some employers use zip codes to search for appropriate job candidates. So, if you are looking to move to a new area or are open to traveling to get to work, consider modifying the zip code to the area you will look for work.
Other things that should no longer be included on your resume include photos of yourself (except for international CVs), objective statements (this is now replaced with a professional summary), and hobbies. Save your hobbies for your biography. Most hiring managers are not interested in them this early on in the process and ATS systems will not have keywords focused in this area.
Should I use a chronological or functional resume format?
A reverse chronological resume is the typical style most employers expect to see. The functional resume is popular with career changers, people with little work experience (like students and recent grads), or those who’ve been out of the work force for an extended leave. Mixed (combined format) resumes combine the chronological and functional formats. A Curriculum Vitae (CV) is mainly for professors, teachers, lawyers, scientists and related professionals.
How long should my resume be?
This is probably one of the most asked questions of all. We would be lying if we said that we never had a candidate question why they received a two-page resume instead of a one-pager. There is still some advice floating around that recruiters prefer a one-page resume. While some recruiters do want to see only one-page resumes, it is not the norm, unless you are a recent college grad with very little experience. We have had clients come to us and insist that they have a one-page resume despite having 15+ years of experience. There is no way to successfully highlight a 15-year career history on one page without limiting your chances of getting past the ATS systems. For clients with more than 5 years of experience, a two-page resume is acceptable. If you have a particular recruiter asking for a one-page version, we recommend having a secondary resume that omits some of the less important bullets and maybe only lists older experiences without bullets. That way, you are equipped with a one-page summary resume as well as a complete resume that can be used for online applications.
The recommended length for a resume should be one to two pages. Candidates applying for C-level executive positions, information technology roles, academia & research, federal/government jobs or those outside of the US (CVs) will often go to a third or maybe even a fourth page, however for all other US-based roles, your resume should stay within the two-page limit.
The recommended length for a resume should be one to two pages. Candidates applying for C-level executive positions, information technology roles, academia & research, federal/government jobs or those outside of the US (CVs) will often go to a third or maybe even a fourth page, however for all other US-based roles, your resume should stay within the two-page limit.
What do I do if I don’t have much work experience?
If you lack experience or skills, you have to make up for it in other ways on the resume. Consider adding information about school coursework and specific projects that will highlight your knowledge and skills applicable to the job. There’s also volunteer work you can highlight that may speak volumes about your character. Also note any awards or achievements and you can even pepper the resume with quotes and testimonials from managers and customers.
What is your pricing?
WHAT IS YOUR REFUND POLICY?
We cannot provide a refund after a document has been created, however we may agree to a partial refund, depending on the circumstances of the order and the refund amount is determined on a case-by-case basis. Please note that if an order is placed and the client decides to cancel prior to the commencement of work on the project, a refund will be provided minus a $25 fee that is taken from the credit card processor at the time the order is placed. The reason for this is that the credit card processor does not return fees taken on an order even in the event of a refund. This $25 will be provided to the client as a credit in the form of a coupon code toward a future purchase.
I have placed an order. What happens next?
Once your order is placed you will receive an email from your writer within the same day or the next day if your order was placed later in the day. We have had a significant amount of clients find this email in their SPAM. Please double check spam for your intro email and next steps before calling in.
