Resume help

[UsandThem]

Ok, here's the deal.

I have written several really bad resumes over the years, and they have not helped me much. I am soon closing in on my degree, and I hate my current job, so I was thinking about updating my resume. I will start attending some job fairs at my college and I need one done in the next two weeks.

There are several resume writing businesses in my area, but none of them will even give an estimated price until you meet them in person (I assume to try a hard sell). I have browsed online and see that they can go for $100.00 - $2500.00 (wow). I have not really committed to what I want to spend, but it will be much closer to $100.00 than to the $2500.00.

So, basically I am looking for someone who has a good amount of experience in writing them. I am looking for a quality product. I will provide my past reviews, military EPR's, and previous work experience (mostly retail) and you can filter out the crap, polish it up, and turn out a resume that HR's and so forth will at least read past the first sentence before throwing it away.

I am not looking for someone to simply retype my reviews into a Microsoft Word resume template.

If you or someone you know are interested in this, please let me know. We can discuss compensation and expectations. If you have previous works or examples that show your prowess, that is a plus.

I figured I would give it a shot here first and see what comes about.

 

[MikeMike]

oo money to bad i suck at writing resumes

 

[zinfamous]

Maybe there's nothing but crap? It's not the writing but the lack of worthwhile experience?

 

[UsandThem]

Originally posted by: zinfamous
Maybe there's nothing but crap? It's not the writing but the lack of worthwhile experience?

Wow. Thanks.

+1 on my personal ignore list.

Writing a great resume is not easy for most. Most can write an average resume, however resume writing is a skill, and hence why people that do it well can charge for it.

 

[dbk]

There's so much free information available why would you pay someone?

If you're so willing to pay, why not just buy one of those resume books.

 

[UsandThem]

Originally posted by: dbk
There's so much free information available why would you pay someone?

If you're so willing to pay, why not just buy one of those resume books.

I've read books in the past (might even still have one), however experienced resume writers know what they are looking for in a resume. If you make it sound too good, companies toss it. If it is too boring or plain, they toss it. I guess what I need the most on a resume is a good balance, and to translate my military experience over to the private sector.

I guess I could dust off one of my old resumes and attempt to shine it up some, and see how it turns out. I really haven't updated it for around six years.

 

[AVAFREAK182]

Do you have local resume classes? We have them here...

 

[TuxDave]

Originally posted by: UsandThem

Originally posted by: dbk
There's so much free information available why would you pay someone?

If you're so willing to pay, why not just buy one of those resume books.

I've read books in the past (might even still have one), however experienced resume writers know what they are looking for in a resume. If you make it sound too good, companies toss it. If it is too boring or plain, they toss it. I guess what I need the most on a resume is a good balance, and to translate my military experience over to the private sector.

I guess I could dust off one of my old resumes and attempt to shine it up some, and see how it turns out. I really haven't updated it for around six years.

I feel it's a little industry specific. Engineers know what looks good for an engineering resume. You could probably tell us a little more about what you want to do.

 

[UsandThem]

Originally posted by: TuxDave

I feel it's a little industry specific. Engineers know what looks good for an engineering resume. You could probably tell us a little more about what you want to do.

I am trying to land a somewhat entry level job (or internship) locally. What we have in my area is insurance, banking, transport, and farming (and the various research companies that go along with that).

There is not many state or county jobs right now, so when my college has career fairs (one usually around every 3-4 months), usually there are many companies that show up. If hiring, they will usually do a mini interview, however most just want a resume and will chat with you for a few moments. Many other companies in the area (Principal, Citi, and so on) require a resume be sent first prior to speaking with you.

I usually make a good first impression, however I need to send them back with a quality resume or have one that can really grab their attention.

I joined the military out of high school and served six years in payroll and finance. The rest of my experience is in retail, but I went back to school about two years ago, and will be half way through my BA in August. I carry a high GPA and want to see if I can get in ground level somewhere.

 

[Perknose]

Often enough, your local community college will have a whole host of resume writing services and advisors in their "guidance counselor" department. May be worth looking into.

I might be willing to help you, but I don't want to take your money, man.

My personal view is that it wouldn't be worth your forking over dough to anyone else, so-called "professional" or not, because after you hack your way out of the thicket of obvious mistakes, I just don't believe anything further is going to give you the guaranteed edge you seem to think you'd be getting.

There are any hidden secrets or magic bullets left out there. The art of the resume is as thoroughly covered and now generic as diet books or real estate schemes or "personal effectiveness" schemes or anything else wherein the REAL money lies in selling chumps a "how-to" book on the subject.

The same "open source" wisdom just gets packaged and re-packaged endlessly, imho.

 

[UsandThem]

Originally posted by: Perknose
Often enough, your local community college will have a whole host of resume writing services and advisors in their "guidance counselor" department. May be worth looking into.

I might be willing to help you, but I don't want to take your money, man.

My personal view is that it wouldn't be worth your forking over dough to anyone else, so-called "professional" or not, because after you hack your way out of the thicket of obvious mistakes, I just don't believe anything further is going to give you the guaranteed edge you seem to think you'd be getting.

There are any hidden secrets or magic bullets left out there. The art of the resume is as thoroughly covered and now generic as diet books or real estate schemes or "personal effectiveness" schemes or anything else wherein the REAL money lies in selling chumps a "how-to" book on the subject.

The same "open source" wisdom just gets packaged and re-packaged endlessly, imho.

I will do an update on my resume and see how it turns out. If it doesn't come out how I want it to, I will try and see what my school offers.

Thanks Perknose for the tips.

 

[Perknose]

Originally posted by: UsandThem

Originally posted by: Perknose
Often enough, your local community college will have a whole host of resume writing services and advisors in their "guidance counselor" department. May be worth looking into.

I might be willing to help you, but I don't want to take your money, man.

My personal view is that it wouldn't be worth your forking over dough to anyone else, so-called "professional" or not, because after you hack your way out of the thicket of obvious mistakes, I just don't believe anything further is going to give you the guaranteed edge you seem to think you'd be getting.

There are any hidden secrets or magic bullets left out there. The art of the resume is as thoroughly covered and now generic as diet books or real estate schemes or "personal effectiveness" schemes or anything else wherein the REAL money lies in selling chumps a "how-to" book on the subject.

The same "open source" wisdom just gets packaged and re-packaged endlessly, imho.

I will do an update on my resume and see how it turns out. If it doesn't come out how I want it to, I will try and see what my school offers.

Thanks Perknose for the tips.

:thumbsup:

You can also send it to me when you're done and I'll look it over for you, with the iron-clad money back guarantee that "free" famously offers!