FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Selecting A Professional Resume Service
Why should I use a professional resume writer?
Why use Access Resumes' professional resume services?
How are you qualified to write resumes?
What criteria should I consider when researching resume companies?
Professional Designations and Memberships
What is the Professional Association of Resume Writers (PARW)?
What is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW)?
Is Access Resumes a member of the Better Business Bureau (BBB)?
The Process
How does the resume development process work?
How long does it take to receive a draft of my resume and cover letter?
I need a resume right away. Can you help?
Do I need to make an in-person appointment?
What are your hours of operation?
How do you capture my information?
Does Access Resumes offer a guarantee?
Who will write my resume? Does Access Resumes use contract writers?
How do I make changes to my resume?
Can I be assured of confidentiality?
Does Access Resumes share or sell my contact information?
What do I need to do to get started?
Services and Rates
What services does Access Resumes provide?
What is the cost for your services?
How do I know how much my resume will cost?
What payment methods are available?
Will I receive hard copies of my resume? A CD / disk?
Do you provide electronic resumes for posting to online search sites?
Why should I use a professional resume writer?
Quite simply, to gain an advantage over your competition! Most people have a difficult time looking at themselves, their career, and their achievements objectively and are uncomfortable "tooting their own horn." As a result, the tendency is to downplay accomplishments. A professional resume writer knows how to position you for maximum impact based on your background, experience, accomplishments, and unique situation. Multiple factors must be considered, including presentation of critical information and what information should be showcased and what should be eliminated or diminished to avoid potential obstacles.
An experienced resume writer approaches the process from the critical perspective of a hiring manager, and understands the subtle nuances involved in the selection or placement of a single word or phrase. A professional is also an expert in industry "buzz" words and strong action verbs relevant and appropriate to your profession and career level.
The below questions provide a sampling of the issues a professional resume writer addresses when developing a resume-writing strategy. There are no "one-size-fits-all" solutions when developing a high-impact, accomplishment-based resume!
Do you know the answers to the following questions?
- Which section of your resume is considered the most important during the initial scan by a hiring manager, and why?
- When should an objective be included on your resume?
- What criteria determines if your resume should be developed in one, two, or three pages?
- If your career encompasses more than 20 years, should all of your experience be included, or only the past 15 years?
- Should your resume be written using a reverse chronological, functional, or combination format?
- Why is a functional resume potentially viewed as a "red flag" to hiring managers?
- What is the single area that career industry surveys have determined hiring managers tend to agree on regarding what they like to see on resumes?
- What is the most effective method to incorporate core competencies?
- What key information is often lacking in quantifiable accomplishments?
- How should position functions and accomplishments be differentiated?
- In what unique circumstances can personal information such as hobbies be included on a resume?
- If a prospective employer requests salary information, what percentage of hiring managers are likely to consider the applicant if this information is not provided?
- What percentage of candidates fail to send a thank you letter following an interview?
How does the resume development process work?
1. Rate Quote Request: The first step is to provide a brief overview of your experience and target position via a Rate Quote Request Form, or call Access Resumes at 678-574-3271 or 800-408-0024.
2. Brief Telephone Consultation: I will schedule a same-day or next-day free 15-minute telephone consultation to clarify your specific situation and provide a firm rate quote.
3. Profile & Telephone Interview: Once the order placement is confirmed, I will forward a profile to be completed and schedule an in-depth telephone interview.
4. Resume & Cover Letter Drafts: The draft of your resume and cover letter will be emailed for your review within three to five working days.
5. Order Completion: A post-development consultation is scheduled for feedback and to discuss revisions or additions, which are completed within one to two days.
What services do you provide?
Access Resumes develops strategic, custom crafted career documents designed to market your unique background and maximize your job search. Professional search tools offered include resumes, cover letters, follow-up/thank you letters, and reference sheets.
What is the cost for your services?
Rates are customized and are based on the length of your career history, background specifics, current career goals, and complexity of the order. Access Resumes rates are very competitive for custom, high-impact, accomplishment-based career products authored by a certified professional.
While you will certainly find lesser-priced resumes, bear in mind that like any professional service, not all resume writing services - or resume writers - are created equal. A "bargain" priced, cookie
cutter resume created by an inexperienced subcontract writer for a mass production resume factory is hardly a bargain if it fails to produce results - and it may actually cost you much much more in
lost time and salary!
Custom resume writing resulting in a top quality, results-focused product is a creative art form, entailing an intensive, multi-level development process and demanding many hours of consultation and
interviewing, research, strategic thinking, and writing.
A professionally developed resume is a tax-deductible investment in your future, and the fees are nominal when compared to the results realized in salary, career path opportunities, and job satisfaction.
How long does it take to receive a draft of my resume?
You will receive the draft of your resume and cover letter for review in five to seven business days following the phone consultation. Once you have reviewed the first draft, we will schedule a post-development consultation to discuss any necessary adjustments or additions. The final product will be then be completed within one to two business days.
I need a resume right away. Can you help?
The normal turnaround time is three to five business days. One- to two-day rush projects may be available at an additional $50 to $100 charge, depending on the length and complexity of the project.
How are you qualified to write resumes?
A seasoned resume writer, I have 12 years of experience in the career industry, and have operated my current business for eight years. I am certified as a CPRW (Certified Professional Resume Writer) by the nation's oldest, largest, and most respected professional resume writing association - The Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches (PARW/CC www.parw.com). I have developed results-focused, accomplishment-based resumes for satisfied new and referral customers in the Atlanta metro area and across the U.S.
What is the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches (PARW/CC)?
Established in 1990,
PARW/CC is the nation's oldest professional resume writing
organization and premier professional association dedicated to
elevating the skills, credibility, and visibility of specialists in
the fields of resume writing, career coaching, and career
counseling. PARW/CC created the career industry's first
certification program for resume professionals in 1991.
Today, the Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) credential
is the respected industry standard. As a member in good standing of
the PARW/CC, Access Resumes pledges strict adherence to the PARW/CC
Code of Ethics.
PARW/CC CODE OF ETHICS
Provide clients with products and services that will enhance their
ability to achieve their goals and objectives, regardless of race,
color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, age, income.
Be sensitive to client needs and compassionate in providing advice,
products, and services in meeting the client's specific career
goals.
Deliver to the client what was promised and be truthful in guiding,
advising, and counseling clients in all aspects of the resume
writing / employment industry.
Maintain strict confidentiality with each client, revealing
information to others only upon written authorization from the
client.
Stay abreast of employment market and hiring trends that will
affect his / her clientele, providing up-to-date advice, counsel,
products, and services to most effectively meet clients' career
objectives v Comply with all legal obligations in providing
professional services.
Be aware that contact with the public as a PARW/CC member promotes
the organization, specifically, and reflects on the entire resume
writing / employment industry as a whole.
Be responsible to the community and be a contributing part of this
environment through participation in community activities. Offer
professional advice and information pertaining to the resume
writing / employment industry as appropriate.
Emphasize the professional spirit of the organization by
encouraging and promoting good relations among members.
What is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW)?
Certified
Professional Resume Writers are the career industry's leading
experts in the development of strategic resumes and the CPRW
credential is recognized as the industry standard of excellence.
Offered exclusively through the Professional Association of Resume
Writers (PARW/CC), certification is awarded to writers who have met
industry standards for achieving client strategic goals and have
mastered the craft of resume preparation, using the most current
information and techniques.
A resume writer possessing the CPRW credential must pass multiple
examinations that test the writer's industry knowledge,
comprehension of the resume writing field, command of grammar,
punctuation, spelling and proofreading, and skills in strategic
thinking on resume related issues. In addition, the writer is
required to develop a resume and cover letter based upon background
information provided by the PARW/CC on a hypothetical client to
demonstrate the highest level of skill in resume writing.
Certification examinations are reviewed and graded by three CPRWs
who are members of the Certification Committee Board. PARW
membership is required to maintain the CPRW designation. My CPRW
credential can be verified by contacting PARW/CC at 800-822-7279 or
visiting their web site by clicking on the PARW/CC logo on the left
(www.PARW.com), selecting "Find a Certified Professional Resume
Writer" and scrolling to US-GA.
Is Access Resumes a member of the Better Business Bureau (BBB)?
Yes, Access Resumes is a member in good standing with the Better Business Bureau. My BBB page can be viewed by clicking on the "Reliability" link on the left.
Do I need to make an in-person appointment?
No. The entire process can be handled by phone, email, and/or fax. However, for Atlanta area residents, in-person appointments may be available for an additional charge.
What are your hours of operation?
Our business hours are 9am-6pm (EST) Monday through Thursday and 9am-4pm Friday.
Why use Access Resumes' Professional Resume Services?
Our operating principles are grounded in integrity, quality, service, and results. Our standing as a member of the Better Business Bureau (BBB) for the past six years bears out our commitment to our customers (view our BBB page by clicking on the BBB link at the bottom of the page). Our success is directly linked to the quality of the products and services we provide.
We deliver value-driven, custom-crafted resumes, never losing sight of the impact our products have on our clients' lives, careers, and economic futures. Colleen Reyerson, principal and writer, is one of only seven resume writers in the state of Georgia to hold the designation of Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) by the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches (PARW/CC). She has also received credentialing as a Certified Employment Interview Professional (CEIP).
What criteria should I consider when researching professional resume services?
The search for a
qualified, professional resume service can seem daunting. However,
there are several screening "red flags" that can help you weed out
the amateurs.
First of all, it's important to find a career industry specialist
certified by a professional organization. Avoid jack-of-all trades
generalists, such as print/copy or secretarial services that
provide resumes as one of numerous menu items. These services may
provide either only typesetting or fill-in-the-blank cookie cutter
resume templates. But keyboarding by an untrained clerk is vastly
different from strategic writing by an experienced professional
resume writer.
Another type of service to avoid are the low-end "resume mills." Impersonal resume factories focused on quantity and a fast turnaround, these Internet-based companies often appear professional with sophisticated websites and credible verbiage. However, these services employ low-paid and often inexperienced subcontractors to mass produce mediocre-to-poor template-based resumes.
Key Questions to Ask:
- Does your business provide only resume development services?
- Do you offer a free consultation or critique?
- Who will write my resume (a credentialed professional and service owner or a contract/salaried writer)?
- Is the writer a certified resume writer?
- How many years of experience does he or she have?
- Can I see sample resumes written by the writer who will develop my resume?
- Will I be able to talk with the writer on the phone?
- Is your company a member of the Better Business Bureau?
How do you capture my information?
Our process is customized according to your unique situation and needs, and so varies from client to client. We utilize as our foundation information-mining tool a Resume Development Profile. The Profile is a structured, customized form designed to ask leading, thought-provoking questions and extract the relevant details of your background and experience. We may also combine the Profile with follow-up email questions and/or live phone conversations to clarify provided information and/or extract additional details. We then devise the best possible strategy for your resume and translate this information into a powerful, concise marketing tool that emphasizes the value you offer to a prospective employer, maximizes your strengths, and eliminates potential obstacles.
Does Access Resumes offer a guarantee?
We guarantee...
...a top-quality, high-impact resume that showcases your selling points and maximizes your search efforts!
...your resume order will not be considered complete and finalized until YOU say it is.
...you will be confident of your resume and highly satisfied with the responsive, personal service you receive from concept to delivery.
While some resume services offer a "guarantee" that you will land an interview in 30 days or your resume will be rewritten at no additional charge, we believe that if a resume needs a rewrite a month later, then it was not developed for maximum impact the first time around. A 30-day rewrite guarantee is meaningless if you simply receive a second poorly written resume! There is no room for "trial and error" in resume writing, particularly in today's economy and competitive job market.
The best guarantee of a quality resume is to select an experienced, qualified, and certified career industry professional!
Who will write my resume? Does Access Resumes use contract writers?
No. Unlike some resume services that outsource orders to freelance or contract writers, when you enlist Access Resumes' services, you will work directly with me throughout the entire process.
How are changes made to my resume once I receive the draft?
We recommend that when you receive the draft of your resume, you review it thoroughly, and note any areas you would like to change, minimize, or elaborate on. When you have completed the review, simply e-mail your revisions and comments, either within the draft itself or in a separate e-mail message, or call us to discuss changes. Unless your revisions are extensive (a very rare occurrence!), you should expect to receive the second draft from the same day to a maximum of two business days. If we expect your revision to take longer, we will notify you.
Will I receive hard copies of my resume, or a CD / disk?
All resume documents are electronic email files in Microsoft Word format. A hard-copy packet shipped via Priority Mail is available for $75 and includes 10 laser-printed presentation resumes, 10 sheets of matching cover letter stationery, 10 matching envelopes, and all of your files saved to a CD or disk. A CD can also be purchased separately for $25.
Do you provide electronic resumes for posting to online search sites?
Yes, an electronic resume (also called an ASCII resume or e-resume) is available in a resume package and can be ordered separately as well.
What payment methods are available?
Access Resumes accepts all major credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover), debit cards, and check via PayPal.
How do I know how much my resume will cost?
To request a price quote, complete the Rate Price Quote Form (and copy and paste an existing resume if available) or call Access Resumes at 678-574-3271 or 800-408-0024 for a complimentary consultation and rate quote for your project.
Can I be assured of confidentiality?
Absolutely! Access Resumes understands the need for discreet handling of sensitive information. For example, if you provide your work telephone number and give permission for me to call you at work, I will never identify my company name or reason for calling when leaving a message with an assistant or colleague.
Does Access Resumes share or sell my contact information?
No! Your contact information is retained by Access Resumes and our trusted partners and is used solely for the purpose of contacting you to obtain information during the resume development process and to provide ancillary services which you have expressly ordered and approved, such as Resume Posting and Recruiter Distribution.
What do I need to do to get started?
Complete a Rate Quote Request Form or call Access Resumes at 678-574-3271 or 800-408-0024 for a free consultation. If you have an existing resume, copy and paste it in the form or fax it to 770-975-1855 for a complimentary critique.
