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The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that the median unemployment duration in August 2021 is 14.7 weeks or almost four months. While the time it takes to land a job may differ based on various factors, it’s no doubt that a job search can be a time-consuming and costly quest. As they say, time is money, and we all know that the opportunity cost of being unemployed or underemployed can have a real financial impact. So, the last thing you would probably want to do is spend money on unnecessary expenses to land your next job, right?
Some people may consider resume writing services as a nonessential job search expense. After all, you know your job better than anyone. So, why pay for a service when you can write your resume on your own? Well, if you can write a best-practice resume that allows you to put your best foot forward, then you’re all good. But, if you’ve applied to the right opportunities and barely heard any responses from recruiters, that’s a different story. Here are some signs it might be time for you to consider investing in resume writing services.
1) Writing is not your expertise
When it comes to resume writing, quality matters a lot because it impacts your job search. But writing does not come easy for some people, especially those who never had a job that requires it. Spelling, punctuation, and grammar rules can be confusing. We get it.
Additionally, while you know your background and accomplishments by heart, it can be difficult to express them in a compelling and concise narrative. Sometimes, it seems that the words don’t just come outright. You’ll write a sentence and delete it because you don’t like how it sounds. Then, you sit staring at your resume, not knowing how to rewrite the narrative. If this is you, then it might be time to seek resume writing services.
2) You’re struggling to land interviews
Your resume is your first impression and point of contact with a recruiter. Like any other first point of contact, it sets the tone for the next steps, including interviews and job offers. For obvious reasons, you need a good resume to maximize your chances of moving to the next stage of the hiring process.
Have you applied for jobs that seemed like a perfect fit for your skills and experience but never heard back? Then, this might be an opportunity to reflect on your approach to writing your resume. Based on statistics, it takes 10 to 20 applications to secure an interview. So, if the number of interviews you got seems off, we can assume your resume needs some rework. Professional resume writers can lend you a helping hand.
3) Keyword optimization sounds geeky to you
Keywords are words or short phrases that help recruiters find the most relevant candidates. These may include soft and hard skills, job title, education, and professional certifications. In some cases, Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) score applications based on keywords. So, in order for recruiters to find you in a search, make keywords your good ally.
When we say keyword optimization, it goes beyond listing the required skills or credentials from the job description. You need to use the right keywords and strategically utilize them in context to provide recruiters a fuller picture of how you match the position’s requirements. Do all these sound geeky to you? That’s when resume writing services can come to your rescue.
4) Your circumstances are unique
A resume that shows short job tenure and long employment gaps can be perceived as a red flag. Although these are not grounds for automatic disqualification, they can raise concerns about your viability as a candidate. So, does this mean you should hide the fact that you’ve frequently changed jobs or had been out of work for a while? Trust us when we say this is never a good idea. Lying on your resume will do more harm than good.
We all had times in our careers when we had to prioritize other things. Some professionals might have a time in their career when finding steady work was a struggle. Explaining these in a resume can be tricky. So, why not leave the job to professionals? They can assist you to shed light on your unique circumstances and help you come off as the great candidate that you are.
5) You are looking to change careers
Have you decided it’s time for a change in your career? Perhaps the pandemic has got you thinking, and you have realized that you’ll find greater fulfillment in another line of work. Now, you see exciting times ahead of you until you sit down and start working on your resume. How can you convince employers to take a chance on you if you’ve never held the role? How can you compete with candidates who have related experience?
Changing careers is like convincing someone to let you drive their car even if you’ve never driven before. Not easy, right? Don’t sweat it. If you’re scrambling to find the right words for creating a convincing narrative, you can ask for help. Professional resume writers can help you create a resume that communicates how your qualifications from your previous career are still applicable and relevant. This can give you better chances of breaking into your new career.
Resume writing can be stressful, especially if you have a spotty work history and low confidence in your writing skills. So, why not seek out an expert’s help and focus your energy on marketing your skills. Keep in mind, though, that investing in resume writing services won’t give you a golden ticket to guaranteed job interviews. However, it can help you put your best foot forward and maximize your application outcome.
