| After graduating from college years ago I remember | | | | education is fudged into the same mode as everyone |
| preparing my own resume. In my eyes it appeared | | | | else. There is no uniqueness to your resume. What a |
| to be the perfect resume. When I would send my | | | | revelation? It now became apparent that previous to |
| resume out to companies, for recent job | | | | the professional preparation, my resume was |
| advertisements, I always received a mediocre | | | | probably being disqualified by company recruiters |
| number of responses. However none of the top | | | | because it was not top notch and did not contain the |
| caliber companies ever extended an offer for an | | | | key words they were looking for. Shortly thereafter |
| interview. My natural response was well someone | | | | I had my resume professionally prepared and what a |
| else with better credentials probably got the | | | | difference. It was so professional I could not believe |
| interview and the job. Even though I had tons of | | | | it. For the time my resume had life to it. I marveled |
| experience and education. | | | | at the work of the resume preparer. The resume |
| One day out of frustration I went to see an | | | | had so much information it was though the resume |
| outplacement firm. After talking with the | | | | preparer knew more about my skills and abilities than |
| representative for about an hour he finally focused | | | | I did. The wording brought the resume to life. |
| on my resume, which was positioned right in front of | | | | As a result I got a lot more responses and interviews |
| him on his desk. Then he asked me the million dollar | | | | that I did prior to that. So if you ever get the notion |
| question. On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the best | | | | to prepare your own resume, think again. You may |
| what would you rate your resume? I was thinking | | | | do a decent job but it will not compare with the job |
| maybe a 9 or 10, but I did not want to appear | | | | of a resume preparer, someone that actually makes |
| arrogant so I said , Oh some where around a 7 or 8. | | | | a living do it. |
| The representative continued talking, for another 10 | | | | You may have to make an initial investment but it will |
| minutes, as though I had not answered his question. | | | | be money well spent. The return will be well worth it. |
| My curiosity was getting the best of me now. When | | | | The benefits you derive are invaluable. It will make |
| he paused I quickly interjected, Well what do you | | | | you come across as more professional, more |
| think about my resume? How would you rate it? He | | | | dedicated, a person who is accustomed to taking |
| paused for a moment and said I would give it a 1 or | | | | care of business, and put you out in front of the |
| maybe a 2 at best. I looked in disbelief for a moment | | | | competition by giving you that competitive edge. I |
| or two as the representative continued. The resume | | | | wish I had had this done much sooner than I did. So |
| you prepared was from a template where one style | | | | get that resume professionally prepared because it is |
| fits all. A cookie cutter mode. | | | | an extension of you and who you are. |
| Therefore your information, experience, and | | | | |