If you are one of the 38.6 Million who Have Filed For Unemployment Since March, you know the stress and challenges that come with navigating a job search during a pandemic. 

Who is hiring? How do I make my résumé stand out and get recognized?  How do I address gaps in employment?

As a Certified Professional Résumé Writer (CPRW), these are concerns we address firsthand for individuals who have not been on the job market in a long time. Or maybe, you’re a pro at writing but don’t know how to handle the gaps / furloughs / lay-offs that 2020 has handed you.

Whatever your unique circumstances, now more than ever, having a certified professional help you craft your next résumé will set you up for job search success.

1. Gain a Competitive Advantage (ahead of potentially hundreds or thousands of other applicants)

How do you stand out in a sea of applicants? It’s tough these days. So many talented people are entering the job market, looking for many of the same positions and companies who are hiring.

As a certified résumé writer and former recruiter, I know what hiring managers are looking for and how they process applicants through their applicant tracking system (ATS). I will work to give you that competitive edge through personalized career marketing materials and a one-of-a-kind approach.

When you work with a certified résumé writer, I write and design your résumés so you can shine above the rest!  How do I do that? I use my “Branding & Accomplishments BluePrint” to help create customized tools that will highlight your strengths, including:

• Customized versions of your résumé for each job opportunity 

• Unique cover letters that resonate with their reader

• Building in keywords so applicant tracking systems (ATS) select you first

Your job search résumés will read smarter, look sharper, provide value, and show ROI to an employer or recruiter. 

2. Answer THAT question, “Why should they pick me for the job?”

I am often asked questions from job seekers searching for ways to differentiate themselves:

• “Do I have any value to provide an employer?”

• “How can I present that value on my résumé?”

• “How does the employer understand the value I offer?”

As a certified résumé writer, I will help you articulate the value YOU offer an employer. By asking targeted questions, I will create a personalized résumé that incorporates your strengths that separate you from the pack.

Together, we will be able to determine the ROI you will provide a new employer, and answer these important questions:

1. What are your unique skills?

2. How much money can you make them?

3. Why are you the right person for the job?

4. How do your previous successes set you up to be the right candidate for this job?

These questions will help craft the perfect résumé for your dream job, so it is clear why you are the most qualified and talented candidate.

Remember: A one-size-fits-all résumé is not beneficial to an employer or recruiter. It does not provide any unique value to answer why YOU are the perfect candidate.

3. Get Personalized Tools to Make Your Job Search Easy!

First impressions are everything! Are you using a Microsoft Word Résumé Template to stand out? If so, you probably just look like the rest of the résumés a hiring manager or recruiter sees day-in and day-out.  

A certified résumé writer will support you in developing résumés (yes, I said résumés – plural – résumés are no longer one-size-fits-all) to make sure your résumé is unique to you!

A personalized résumé could include things like:

• Branding

• Results Charts

• Skills

• Social Media Profiles

• Certifications & Awards

Are you using any of these, or some already?  We will work together to craft the perfect combination of these tools, so once you identify that perfect job, you’ll be set up for success to land it!

4. See yourself in the best light and gain confidence!

It’s not uncommon for job seekers to struggle with frustration (e.g., unable to convey your value or receiving a “rejection” letter) in the job search process. During this pandemic, a job search can seem to amplify the uncertainty. 

That is why a certified résumé writer is the perfect addition to your career toolbox. During the résumé writing process, you will gain more confidence as you uncover all the strengths you have to offer a potential employer. 

You will be able to better articulate your value and therefore, interview better and ask better questions. A certified résumé writer is there to positively position you, despite potential setbacks like job search fatigue, rising unemployment rates, and other pandemic-induced challenges.

We will reassure you that your experience and job history can and will create a compelling story, so you can start to view yourself as THE one for the job!

Whether you’re new to the job hunt, or a job seeker that just hasn’t found the right fit yet, a certified résumé writer could be just the thing you need to get you to the next level. Don’t let COVID-19 get you down. There are still opportunities out there, and even new ones generated from the pandemic, that we will work to find, together.