Resume Writer Pet Peeves (with PDF)

The following post explores my top Resume Writer Pet Peeves.

Before diving into this article, I want to start by saying that the overwhelming majority of JobStars customers are awesome! It’s an honor uncovering their story and building their new Resume.

Read: Is Resume Writing a Scam?

Related: Best and Worst Resume Services on BBB

However, I can’t help but notice certain patterns – common missteps to avoid – that can make the process more difficult. So, I put together this post highlighting the top faux pas’ when working with a Resume Writer.

Here’s what you need to know.

Baggage

Some clients enter into the Resume Writing process with unresolved baggage from a past experience.

These clients are eager to communicate what went wrong with their last Resume Writer. This is akin to going on a first date and telling your new dating partner about everything that went wrong with an “ex”. It’s totally unrelated, doesn’t really add any value, and makes the other party wary of how things will go from the very start. If you have baggage from a past experience, try to keep it to yourself, learn from it, and use it to anticipate potential problems.

Distrustful

Trusting your Resume Writer is essential when working collaboratively to build your new Resume.

When shopping for a Resume Writer, you should study their background, education, and credentials to develop your own sense of trust. Distrustful clients may enter into a Resume Writing engagement without a sense of who they’ve hired (or why). This makes granting carte blanche and trusting the expert nearly impossible, which upsets the rhythm of the process.

Subjective Opinions

Your personal opinion of the Resume is largely subjective (beauty in the eye of the beholder).

What’s more important than your personal opinion is how effective the document will actually be in the marketplace. Overly judgmental clients are usually quick to express their feelings without considering the subjectivity of their opinions. You can avoid being judgmental by trusting your Resume Writer and resisting the temptation to immediately undo everything.

Overbearing

Professional boundaries are the code of conduct to follow when working with your Resume Writer.

Most boundaries are pretty obvious ones. They are based on societal norms like common courtesy and the golden rule (“do unto others as you would have them do unto you”). Overbearing clients may lack the consideration to respect certain boundaries. Examples of overbearing behavior include calling your Resume Writer multiple times a day or constantly requesting changes to the resume without clear direction.

Perfectionist

Striving for excellence in the Resume Writing process is a good goal. However, striving for perfection is counterproductive. Understanding the difference between excellence and perfection is critical.

When it comes to the practice of Resume Writing, excellence is the goal (not perfection). This doesn’t mean spelling and grammar are unimportant. Your Resume must be thoroughly proofread. But, perfectionist clients typically operate on arbitrary, unrealistic, and subjective standards that are impossible to meet. Perfectionists should avoid being overly scrupulous and instead redirect that energy into finding good job opportunities.

“Strive for excellence, not perfection, because we don’t live in a perfect world.” ― Joyce Meyer

Rushing It

Time is the single most precious asset in life. We’re all on the clock.

On a daily basis, most Resume Writers have 6-8 hours of productive working time to dedicate. Of course, this assumes your Resume Writer will avoid distractions, maintain good health, and steer clear of countless other factors which eat into available time. Rushed clients prioritize their own needs and timeline with little appreciation for how much time is available. Most reputable Resume Writers offer rush service for an additional charge. If you’re in a hurry, it’s best to consider paying for faster service.

In Conclusion

In conclusion, I hope this article isn’t too harsh. I am super grateful for every JobStars customer over the years and I hope this article helps you make the most of your engagement with your Resume Writer.

If you’re ready for professional help to build your ATS-friendly and visually appealing Resume, please fill out the Contact Us form or Submit Your Resume for a risk-free evaluation. JobStars is an A+ BBB-rated service that has earned multiple consecutive Complaint Free Awards. We look forward to hearing from you!

Download the ’10 Tips for Working With Your Resume Writer’ (PDF)