Demand 5 Things of Your Executive Resume Writer

1Demand 5 Things of Your Executive Resume Writer If you're trying to select an executive resume writer, you're justified in being skeptical and taking your time. After all, the writer you choose will be in charge of some pretty important items. Namely, the keys to your professional future. Because in this tough job market, in the slow-growth aftermath of the worst recession in 50 years, it's dog-eat-dog. Hiring committees charged with reviewing C-level executives won't be cutting any slack for lame resumes that don't measure up to the position.Your Executive Resume Writer - Homing In On A Good OneHow to approach the search? How do you make sure the executive resume writer you choose is capable of the task and has access to the tools that will facilitate an end product that will put your best foot forward? Start by insisting on the following 5 things from your executive resume writer:1 - Certification. Before you go any further, make sure your prospective writer has professional certification. While certification alone doesn't turn a writer into a Shakespeare, it does verify that the writer has demonstrated an acceptable level of knowledge in the art and science of resume writing. Certification can come in the form of either of two titles: CPRW (Certified Professional Resume Writer), or NCRW (Nationally Certified Resume Writer). Both hold roughly equal weight in the industry. There is a third certification that's worth mentioning, though don't expect to run across it very often. CERW stands for Certified Expert Resume Writer. Issued by Career Directors International, a multi-discipline career association, the designation is reserved for resume writers demonstrating superior portfolios of work. Though rare, find one if you can.2 - A Consultative Interview. If you're considering a resume writing service that claims to be able to gather all the information they need about you via an online form or email questionnaire, head for the exit. While that might be sufficient for an entry-level resume (although I don't even advise it then), the executive resume requires more. Much more. A consultative telephone interview, at least 30 minutes to an hour on the phone, allows the writer to plumb the depths of your work history and accomplishments, fully explore your goals, and lay the groundwork for a marketing document that will sell. Insist on one.3 - A Look At Some Samples. The best way to quickly learn the caliper of professional you're dealing with is to get a look at their work. And that's easy with writers; it's all there, exposed on the printed page. An executive resume writer with no samples of work to show you is a writer who should not be getting your business.4 - A Guarantee. This gets tricky. No writer can guarantee you'll get the job you want with the resume he/she prepares. Too many variables in between. But a writer can guarantee that you'll be "happy" with the end product. A writer can also, if he so chooses, guarantee that your new resume will generate interviews within a certain time frame, say one or two months. I like the latter guarantee for one reason: most folks will see a professionally-prepared resume and deem it an improvement over their previous version, and sign off on the project. But an "improved" resume may not be enough in this job market. I would prefer to let the market decide whether or not that freshly-minted resume is effective or lacking - by whether or not it generates interviews. If you have a choice, choose the resume service that guarantees interviews.5 - An Up-Front Price. A reputable writer should be able to tell you what he or she will charge to prepare your resume. Certainly, executives can have varied and detailed work histories, and a writer is not out of bounds to ask to consult with an exec before developing a price that adequately compensates for his expected time on the project. But it's also reasonable to expect the price to be firmed up prior to the start of the project. None of this "retainer to begin work, with the final price to be determined somewhere down the road" nonsense.Put these 5 qualifiers to use to weed out some of the "executive resume writers" of dubious talent and ethics. At the C-level, resumes are serious business. Job offers can hang on the skill of your writer in employing subtle branding techniques and promotional prose. Make sure you've got a talented writer on your side.