Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Resume writing (dis)-service

Today, I received a response from an e-mail advertising an evaluation of my resume. Naive, open and willing I sent out my resume for a consultation. This is what I received as a response:


Hello Fool,
Thank you for submitting your resume for our resume analysis. My name is Resume Thief and I am a Senior Resume Strategist at ResumeTarget.ca.
I know you've been applying to jobs for Over 6 Months and you don't want the search to continue endlessly.
The average job search takes three months from the time you start, until the time you start working at your new desk. You want to shorten that time as much as possible. The best way to do that is by having a compelling resume that shows you're the perfect person for the job.
I have reviewed your resume and found some problems that could be preventing you from getting calls and interviews and reaching your career goals. I have provided my comments below in an effort to provide some insight into how your resume could be stronger.
These are not critiques of your experience or potential for success, rather my suggestions are intended to show you how you can become more effective at marketing your skills and experience to potential hiring managers.
Fool, right now your resume just isn't passing the 30 second test.  As a recruiter, it doesn't make me want to jump out of my seat and call you. However, it is clear that you have an impressive array of skills and experience; it's just not coming across clearly.
I believe your job search would benefit by having a professionally written resume. If you have any questions, please feel free to email me or call me toll-free at
Here are my suggestions for improvements:
Summary & Introduction:
Fool, you have not started your resume with a value statement. Value statements provide a detailed overview of your skills and experience using industry buzzwords. This section is the most important part of a resume because it gives a quick, yet comprehensive look at your strengths, increases the chances of your resume being noticed and hooks hiring managers. You need to highlight your strengths and market yourself more effectively through an opening value statement. Key information should be displayed in the top third of page one, using specific and concrete language suitable to the industry you are applying to.

Content:
Fool, your resume is very task-based, as opposed to results-based. You are telling us what you did, instead of the value of your accomplishments. Hiring managers want to see your accomplishments in a specific and measurable way. You need to be more aggressive in proving how you've made a difference. This resume doesn't allow you to stand out from other candidates with similar experience.
Fool, it seems you are having difficulty explaining your professional accomplishments. Employers are interested in your most recent work experience, the initiative you took, and the problems you solved in your past jobs. You attempt to list your responsibilities but your resume falls short. Instead, you need to describe your accomplishments and the value you brought to your previous employer. Show tangible proof that will convince the hiring manager that you are the best person for the job. Adding some statistics to your resume would definitely provide the potential employer with some sense of your measurable success.
Your resume is too long and is providing the reader with information that is no longer relevant. Talking about work experiences from over 10 years ago is going too far back and cluttering your resume. The world has changed dramatically in the last 10 years- technology-wise, business-wise, applications, services and even the way we communicate is so different. Hiring managers need to see what you're doing now.

Spelling & Grammar:
Fool, the language on your resume is bland and passive. Short, active, punchy sentences would help in making your resume stand-out. Sentences should be under twenty words. Some of your sentences drag on and would benefit from being restructured. No hiring manager wants to read over a sentence twice to try and understand the meaning. At the same time, you don't want the whole resume to sound choppy, so it would be good to vary your sentence length.

Format and Design:
This resume looks flat, general and simplistic. It doesn't grab my attention. Fool, you want your accomplishments to stand out. Remember, your resume is how you market yourself to hiring managers and potential employers. Your resume is the employers' first impression, so make sure you are presenting the best version of yourself and your career.

My Recommendation:
Fool, I highly recommend that you get your resume and cover letter professionally written.  If you want to be competitive in this job market, you need to make sure your resume is presented in a way that tells hiring managers you are THE BEST PERSON for the job.
ResumeTarget can offer you professional resume writing services for only $279.95. Most resume companies charge between $400.00 and $800.00 for a resume! ResumeTarget offers a lower price and more benefits. You will receive a personalized experience with a certified professional resume writer who will create an effective, compelling and original resume for you. PLUS, the writer will continue to work with you until you are 100% satisfied with the final product.
Our resume package is designed to yield maximum success in your job search.

What we offer
-        Professionally written resumes with all of the following features:
-        A strong value statement that is compelling to hiring managers
-        The right format for the industry you are applying to
-        Keyword rich language with accountabilities to back it up
-        A clean, easy to read resume up to industry standards
In addition, if you or your spouse is interested in using our professional resume service, we can accommodate both of you with a special deal which would include two premium resume packages at a discounted price.

The ResumeTarget Guarantee:
I am so confident in our ability to transform your resume into a compelling marketing document that will get you results that I will even guarantee if you don't get a single interview with your new resume after 60 days, we will re-write your resume again for FREE!
I would also be more than happy to serve as your personal Job Search Coach to help answer any questions you may have about maximizing your job search.

The Next Step:
Call us right now at
Within 2 hours of receiving your payment, our resume coordinator will match you up with a professional, certified resume writer experienced in writing for your field.
After you complete and submit your online questionnaire, the resume writer will begin working on your new resume and cover letter. After three business days, you will receive the first draft of your new resume and cover letter.
I always recommend that when you receive the first draft, take some time and really go over it. Make some notes about any possible changes or tweaks you would like to have made.
Once you are 100% satisfied with your resume, your resume writer will finalize the resume and provide it to you in Microsoft Word and PDF format. You will have access to these versions in our online storage folder for up to 6 months. Once your new resume and cover letter are finalized, that's where we can really get started with maximizing your job search!

Upgrade to our Advanced Package
If you decide to purchase our Advanced Professional Package for only $399.95, we will jump start your job search by distributing your resume to our database of over 12,000 recruiters in your city and industry. Plus, we will send you the list of companies that we sent your resume to! Imagine getting your new resume into the hands of potential hiring managers right away! Plus, figuring out exactly which companies specialize in your field!
That's not all. We will also develop a professional profile for you on LinkedIN.com. LinkedIN is the largest online social network for professionals. Think of it like Facebook, but for business professionals to see and be seen.
It's the number one way to get noticed when searching for a job and throughout your career. We'll get you started with a complete professional profile and a guide on how to use and maximize LinkedIN for your job search!


PLUS...
Once you sign up, you'll also receive 20 Thank You Letter Templates. Yes, 20! These templates will provide you with different scenarios to leave a lasting impression and be kept top of mind with hiring managers and recruiters.
On top of that, we'll send you our Comprehensive Interview Guide. This guide will explain the four different types of interview styles and how to deal with each one of them. We cover everything from interview attire, to questions that you should be asking the interviewer, to job offer negotiation techniques, to the top ten interview questions and how to answer them.
We look forward to hearing from you soon and helping you market yourself professionally and maximize your job search!


About Us:
We're not like traditional resume writing companies! ResumeTarget was developed by former recruiters with job search strategy in mind. Having a resume is one part of the equation and getting it into the hands of hiring managers is another. Our advanced package does just that!
As a former recruiter myself, Fool, I can provide you with the tools and understanding you need to help you succeed in your job search and career! Work with our best resume writers to ensure that your resume is marketing you effectively.
If you have any questions, I am here to make this process as simple and easy as possible for you. Reply back to me at or call me directly at
Remember: You only have ONE chance to impress the potential employer. So why not take the offer of getting your resume professionally written and save yourself the trouble and worry over why you're not getting interviews. A professionally written resume will save you time AND get you a job.  Fool, you can be a great candidate but with a weak resume, you won't get the kind of jobs you want.
Thank you once again for choosing ResumeTarget.com and trusting us with your career. I wish you all the best and I look forward to hearing from you soon.


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