Is Hiring A Professional Resume Writer ‘Cheating’? Sometimes, It Actually Is.

Our team were recently contacted by someone wanting their resume revamped for an upcoming government role they were keen to apply for.?We read through the application guidelines, which stated what was required: resume, cover letter and a three-page ‘work sample’.

For the work sample, a scenario was presented and applicants were required to outline their strategy for resolving the issue if it hypothetically happened on their watch.?Instructions included the following sentence: “it must be your own work or reference others’ work”.?Red flag! We explained to the client that if we assisted with this part, the document would need to include reference to our assistance. He decided to prepare this part of the application himself, though we were able to assist with the resume and cover letter part.

Some people may say this was cheating, too. For some reason there exists the idea in some people’s minds that a job application should be written by the person applying.

But the truth is, we’re marketers like any other.?When a small business works with an external marketing company, the marketer doesn’t ‘make up’ the company’s achievements and what makes their company effective. What they should do though, is work with the company to help identify and draw this information out, and highlight it effectively to potential customers, using their professional knowledge as to how best do this.

(When I talk about the types of clients we work with – often professionals – I sometimes hear responses like “surely, they can write their own resume?” and surely, they can. In the same way I can surely lodge my own tax return.?I mean, it may take me many hours to research how, and I might miss out on savings as a result, but I could do it.)

Just as a marketer can help a company highlight their unique selling proposition, a good resume writer will help an applicant work this out, too. The writer can’t fake a person’s experience and achievements, but they can help the person draw these out and highlight them effectively to their potential 'customer’ (the hiring manager).

There are other times, though, when hiring a professional to write your application is a clear breach of ‘the rules’. I’ve seen statements saying things like ‘your written response to the selection criteria will form part of the panel’s assessment of your communication skills’. In this case, the rules are clearly stated, and you must abide by them in order to be acting ethically.

However, selection criteria applications often include a ‘written communication skills’ criterion, and this does not necessarily mean you can’t get help with the application.?As in any selection criteria response, this criterion should reference specific examples of when you have used written communication skills (in the STAR) format), rather than the criterion itself being the demonstration of such skills.

In my view, the key takeaway is to thoroughly read through the application guidelines.?If there’s a clear indication that the work should be your own, then you need to adhere to this.?If not, then working with a professional is not only allowable, but smart.