What do you do if you need help with writing your resume and cover letter?

Your resume could be worth $100,000s over your career by enabling access to better positions and higher salaries. Starting tips on the internet can help raise your resume to an acceptable level. However, free resume information can hurt just as much as help. As with anything in life, if you want to do well, you may need expert help. Consensus information can't be blindly trusted. For example, candidates are still gleefully churning out AI-generated resumes, not realizing recruiters have been filtering them out for the same period of time. AI is an excellent tool, but without human interaction, it is, at best, a cleaner version of 'garbage in, garbage out.'

There are tons of resources online and even free builder tools. But the key is to tailor them to each job. Highlight skills mentioned in the description and use strong action verbs to showcase your accomplishments.

I've been writing resumes for more than 25 years and most of them focus on work responsibilities as a "doer", reading like an employer's job description, rather than highlighting their project outcomes as an "achiever". It's not surprising that LinkedIn has created a highly-competitive environment, so it's imperative to work with a skilled writer to create an employer-ready resume attracting hiring leaders' attention for increased interviews. This makes a huge difference in getting hired faster. I offer a free 20-minute introductory call to review resume content together, followed by information about my two rewriting packages. Your resume formatting, content, and length determines how quickly you'll get in front of your next boss!

Seeking professional help can significantly enhance your resume and cover letter. If you don't have access to career counselors, consider online resources. Websites like LinkedIn Learning or Coursera offer courses on resume writing taught by industry experts. Additionally, online forums and communities related to job searching can provide free advice and feedback on your drafts. Remember, the goal is to present your skills and experiences in the most compelling way, so utilizing multiple resources can provide a well-rounded approach to your application materials.

Seek guidance from a professional recruiter or resume writter. Someone with recruitment agency background may be a good option (because they work with different roles, seniority levels and companies). There is a lot of good stuff for free on social media as well.

Online resources are some of the cheapest ways to get help for your resume and cover letter. Most resume and cover letter services will cost you much, so take your time and read resources to get an idea for your resume and cover letter. Do you really require cover letter for your application? Why not search for resources? Should I incorporate my personal details on my resume? Search that, as well. Search for queries and get appropriate resources that answer your queries.

Leverage the web to craft winning applications! Career websites offer free resume and cover letter templates, along with expert advice. But remember, these are launchpads, not scripts. Customize them with your unique skills and achievements to make your application shine.

There are infinite examples of resumes and cover letters to view on the web. A few things to keep in mind: 1. It's best to not use a resume template as the formatting is sometimes complex and doesn't always play nice with the ATS (applicant tracking system) which scans your resume first. 2. Keep your formatting simple. Avoid fancy fonts, multiple fonts, excessive bold, columns and tables 3. Use resume scanners to know how you measure up on keyword matches 4. You will need to customize your resume EVERY SINGLE TIME so that you have enough keyword matches

In Job Search Templates don't work, strategy does. Same applies to your resume. If you are absolutely new to job search and are a fresher, then go ahead look for websites offering to create a resume. Remember, in this dynamic job market this may not be the only time you'd need to pay for the online resources. Otherwise, my honest suggestion is to start with these steps Self Assessment Start by assessing your current resume, format, grammatical mistakes and content to create a strong profile. Setting Realistic Goals Establish achievable career goal, considering your profile’s strength Update your resume for showing more value that you can provide in the job. Keep it quantifiable so it speaks your achievements. Customize the

Remember this before you pay for these services: your resume is not the first thing you should pay attention to. It does not get you interviews. Linkedin does. The second thing to understand regarding resumes is that I and most of my colleagues executive search consultants do not spend that much time on a resume. Paying someone hundreds of dollars to produce something which is looked at for 5 minutes tops might not be worth the investment. There is enough information online as to how to create a solid resume. With a little help from AI, you can create a resume that will serve its purpose.

Consider hiring a professional resume writer or career coach to create personalized resumes and cover letters to help you stand out in a competitive employment market. The investment can result in big returns by improving your job search prospects and establishing you for success in your selected career path.

Hiring a professional writer could be a great option. If you have sufficient time, and capable to learn and further make your resume impactful, then, there's no need to hire one. You can search for resources.

Consider your job search situation when choosing a resume writing service. When you have more difficult job search problems, you'll want to find a writer/coach who specializes in your individual problems. Most certified professional resume writers are fine for easy job searches (you're currently employed, looking to stay in the same job/industry, your industry has many openings, and the overall job market has more jobs than job seekers). But when you have more challenging job search issues, you'll need to find someone who has focused experience in doing more to present you as the top candidate.

Professional resume and cover letter writers are your secret weapon in a competitive job market. They craft compelling documents that showcase your skills and achievements, tailored to your industry and experience. Get noticed by recruiters and land those interviews!

The day you make your resume, don't sit to review the same day. There's a high chance your mind won't register few mistakes and they'll go unnoticed. Do it fresh the next day. And if you have a kid at home someone above 7-8 years of age who can read and write, ask them to review it for you, you'll be surprised on how many grammatical mistakes they'll pick in the document. Don't hesitate to revise the content if it doesn't sound good to you upon review

You can also consider review services from professional writer to look at your resume and provide suggestions to improve further. Another way to get it reviewed is to have a network of field experts, who can guide you of how to organize your resume further.

Use it as a way to get a referral! Use a peer review of your application as the "ask" at the end of a coffee chat They will either: 1. Review your resume and give you some general feedback 2. Offer to help connect you with HR, refer you, or assist in a warm handoff to the line manager It's a lot less confrontational and transactional than asking directly for a referral And if you get your resume reviewed too, that's just bonus!

While peer review is important, it provides limited assurance that your resume is at it's best. The people you're asking rarely give more than cursory advice. When a hiring managers reviews your resumetelling you your resume looks good, this only means that it looks like one of the average resumes they've received ... not that they'd be excited to interview and hire someone with this resume,

Choose someone with knowledge of your field or job market. Their fresh perspective can help identify areas for improvement and highlight your skills in a way that resonates with employers. This is valuable because: Catches blind spots: You might miss areas needing improvement. Tailored feedback: Insights specific to your field and the job market. Stronger presentation: Learn to showcase your skills more effectively.

Grammarly is a fantastic tool that can correct your grammar, spelling, and punctuation. It can also suggest improvements to your clarity, tone, and phrasing throughout your resume. Aim to start each bullet point with a strong, past-tense action verb. You may need to reorder some sentences to get your point across more clearly. Instead of: "Was responsible for managing a team of 10 in the development of a new software product." Try: "Managed a team of 10 to develop a new software product, enhancing productivity and project delivery." When you read down each of your bullet points, the first word of each sentence should feel like a summary of the awesome things you do while on the job.

Your resume and cover letter are like a job interview handshake – strong and polished make a great first impression. Here's how editing and revising can help: Shine with Confidence: Eliminate typos and grammatical errors to show professionalism and attention to detail. Action Verbs: Replace generic descriptions with strong action verbs that showcase your achievements. Clarity & Concision: Get straight to the point! Clear and concise language makes your skills and experiences stand out. Remember: These documents are your gateway to an interview. Invest the time to make them shine!

Use following simple ChatGPT prompts 1 "Can you correct the grammar in this summary from resume?" <share your summary> 2 "Can you make the language professional in following responsibilities of this job experience" <share your job experience> 3 "Can you make the English from this summary easy to understand by a non English speaker" <share the summary> All the Best!

I would concur with what's been said so far about checking and rechecking grammar, spelling and overall readability. Remember to customize your resume EVERY SINGLE TIME. The days of "one and done" are gone. If you don't customize for keywords you will likely not make it past the applicant tracking system. Use a free resume scanner to help you know which words and phrases are missing. You can also use AI, such as Chat GPT, upload your resume and the job description and ask what's missing. Best wishes!

Ready to go beyond just adding keywords from the job posting on your resume. Getting hired today requires continuous learning. So next, try searching job listings at the company for positions above your current level to identify common skills and incorporate those you possess into your resume. Form there, focus on "natural usage". Keywords should be integrated naturally throughout the resume. Overusing or clumping keywords can be counterproductive. Finally, focus on "contextual keywords". Real-world experience should be tied to keywords in your work experience and education sections. Then, create "keyword balance" by avoiding overloading your resume with too many keywords. Instead, use them to highlight achievements strategically.

One can always seek professional advice and services on resume draft, like being provided via 'The Integrity EditWorks' here on LinkedIn.

The job market is a moving target. Stay competitive by continuously learning new resume and cover letter strategies. Follow industry experts, read blogs, and attend webinars. This keeps your application materials fresh and relevant, showing employers you're proactive and dedicated to landing the job!

The most important thing to remember is that there is no right way or wrong way to write a resumé; there are STRONGER resumes and WEAKER resumes. You need a strong resumé. Period! Go to my profile and start reading the articles about how to write a stronger resumé. Then listen to my podcasts and download the infographics and view the presentations. Then connect with several other key resources such as Jessica Hernandez and Angela Copeland and start following them to learn more.

Too often I receive desperate messages from job seekers that sounds something like this, "I hired a professional resume writer nine months ago, paid $600+ for a new resume, and I have yet to land one interview. What on earth am I doing wrong?!" I will then request they send me the resume that they have been using in their ATS applications. 9/10 times these individuals did not hire an ATS certified resume writer and their resume is was actually not ATS compliant. What this means is the companies were not truly "receiving" their completed application the way they thought. There is a HUGE difference between a Resume Writer and a Certified ATS Resume Writer. Make sure you know for certain that you are sending out ATS compliant resumes!

I've had prospective clients tell me that they had hired a resume writer, but they are still not landing interviews. When I look at their resume, I often see these challenges. 1. The formatting is too complex. It may look pretty, but the ATS is choking on the formatting. Keep it simple. 2. The client wasn't shown how to customize their resume, so they sent the same one to everyone. You must customize your resume EVERY SINGLE TIME. 3. There were no accomplishments (preferably with metrics) just a listing of tasks. 4. The resume was one page. You can't get enough keywords into a single page to make it past the ATS. The only time I use a one pager is if someone is just out of school and has limited work experience.

You can consider AI tools, like ChatGPT or Google Gemini to get specific responses, based on your issues. You can ask queries based on your job search techniques, plus how you've organized your resume and what you've incorporated in your resume for each applications.

I see stellar resumes land interviews all the time. Here's the key: tailor them to each position. Highlight skills listed in the job description and showcase achievements using metrics. Need a writing edge? Free online resources offer resume templates and cover letter guides. Consider professional resume builders for a polished touch, but remember, the content remains key. Let your unique value shine through!