So, why should you hire a professional resume writer / career specialist? Think about this: Would you perform your own surgery if you were not a physician? Would you try to represent yourself in a criminal trial? Would you try to fly an airplane without specialized training? No, you would call a professional who specializes in these fields. The same principle should apply to your career.

When an individual is a specialist, he/she works hard to be a subject-matter expert in his/her profession. They do not try to be all things to all people; they learn their craft, participate in continuing education, and put their expert knowledge to work every day in their industry.

The same can be said for professional resume writers and career specialists. They focus on resume writing and career issues on a daily basis. These individuals most likely have experience writing thousands of resumes for either a variety of different industries or they may specialize in certain fields.

Having an expert prepare “marketing” documents for you is possibly the most critical step in your job search. Professionally written resumes, cover letters and associated documents play a key role in successfully gaining new employment. Many job seekers consider the resume as a simple documentation of their job histories. However, the resume is not meant to be an obituary of your career. It should be a document that serves as a personal advertisement for a product -- the product is you.

What can professional resume writers or career specialists do for you?

The answer is simple -- they author documents which market you to potential employers. Professional resume writers are not just typesetters, their real skill and expertise is marketing your job skills.

Utilizing the services of a professional resume writer / career specialist has many advantages over the standard do-it-yourself resume prepared by a job seeker:

• A good resume writer knows what recruiters / hiring managers want -- and don't want -- to see in a resume.
• A skilled and experienced resume writer is abreast of new ideas and concepts in recruitment and can put those techniques into action
• A professional resume writer will create a resume using optimized ‘keywords’ that will aid and ensure that your resume receives maximum exposure in database searches.
• A professional resume writer can tailor your resume to suit a variety of industries and job postings.
• Your experience, qualifications and achievements will be shown in the most positive light for maximum effect.
• Your resume will be free of typos, misspelled words, grammatical errors and any resume faux pas.
• A professionally prepared resume will ultimately result in more job interviews.
• You will approach a prospective employer with confidence knowing your resume represents your career in the best possible manner.

A professional resume writer / career specialist will do the following:

• Analyze your previous employment history / current job target and develop strategies for composition of a compelling resume to meet that goal.
• Determine which associated documents will be necessary in your job search.
• Create a format or style that's most suitable to your specific situation.
• Produce a strong and compelling introduction to your career that targets your objective.
• Design creative statements with powerful verb usage and ideal sentence structure.
• Ensure the document meets professional standards.

Each individual service or writer will be different. Some will only offer resume writing and associated career document preparation services, while others will offer add-on services such as career coaching, interview coaching or resume distribution. Your individual situation will determine what extra services you might require. A true professional in the careers industry will help you determine the services which will best suit your unique circumstance.

Choosing Your Professional Resume Writer / Career Specialist

Choosing a professional resume writer / career specialist who will meet your needs is very important. Here are some methods to use when selecting an individual who has the expertise needed to prepare your resume:

• Contact the writer via telephone and get a feel for his / her knowledge and expertise.
• Ask about his/her background and training, and how he/she stays abreast of changes in the employment industry.
• Have the writer explain how he/she can help you and guide you through the resume service process.
• Choose a professional who belongs to professional organizations. The National Resume Writers’ Association is the premier organization for education in the resume writing field.
• Consider selecting a professional resume writer / career specialist who holds certifications his/her industry. To earn these certifications, professionals must participate in continuing education and pass rigorous examinations. The National Resume Writers’ Association offers the Nationally Certified Resume Writer (NCRW) credential, which is difficult to obtain. There are many other certifications offered by other resume industry organizations. Be sure to ask the professional what was required to obtain his/her certification.

Using a resume writing service may not be for everyone. Some people have a knack for developing their own resume and have been successful in their job searches. However, if your current resume is not producing the results you expected, then you may want to consider using a professional resume writing service.