Has Anyone ever hired a company to write a OPM resume for them? If so what advice can you give someone looking for this service?

2017-08-31T13:22:29-04:00

Response by SGT David T. made Aug 31 at 2017 2:32 PM

2017-08-31T14:32:28-04:00

Save yourself the money and get Federal Resume Guidebook by Kathryn Troutman. I structured my resume the way she suggests and I usually make the referral lists. Also, put your resume in word. The resume builder on USAjobs is horrible lol

Response by Cpl Tou Lee Yang made Aug 31 at 2017 2:50 PM

2017-08-31T14:50:38-04:00

I have a ex-sister-in-law who works for the FAA human resource. She's the one that puts jobs in USAJobs. According to her, the best result to getting selected for a deeper review is having keywords in your resume in accordance with the job announcement. If the job ask for a certain experience and criteria, your resume must address that. Additionally, you MUST state the hours you work per week on your resume, i.e. 40+ hr per week. But the most important aspect of it, is the questionnaire on USAJobs. If you do not select the top answers i.e. "expert" in all the category, you will not be looked at.

Response by SN Greg Wright made Aug 31 at 2017 3:14 PM

2017-08-31T15:14:26-04:00

Save your money. Have peers review it.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Sep 1 at 2017 11:41 AM

2017-09-01T11:41:58-04:00

Don't! Unless you are severely challenged in expressing yourself, you're better off to write your own resume. Here's a few reasons why:
-The resume service can't know you as well as you do, so the resume may lack authenticity
-During an interview, you may be asked questions directly related to items in you resume. You need to know not only the answer, but feel comfortable with every word in your resume.
-If the resume service won't customize a resume for each job you're seeking, then they are contributing to you NOT getting an interview. Generic resumes usually don't score well with computer or human resume reviewers.
-Cost: you can write your resume and customize it basically for free. The resume company will charge for writing the first resume and possibly for each subsequent version.
-There probably are free resume review services you can use through the VFW or other veteran's organizations.
-Send me a RallyPoint e-mail and I'll review your first draft. I read hundreds of resumes as a private sector and public sector hiring manager.

Response by LCDR Frederick Clem made Sep 1 at 2017 12:22 PM

2017-09-01T12:22:18-04:00

I would not recommend hiring anyone to write a reserve for several reasons. First, the return on investment will probably not be there. Second, if you are lucky enough to get to an interview, the interview board or hiring manager will more than likely ask you questions about specifics in your resume. Third, resumes need to be tailored to the particular job that you are applying for, so you will need individual resumes for each one. Again, it would be costly to have someone continually write specific resumes for positions that you are applying for. As others have mentioned, you need to address the knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) as well as the duties and responsibilities required for the position as announced in the job announcement. Sometimes, the job announcement does not list all the KSAs or duties and responsibilities required for the job. To be sure that you address all the requirements for the job, I recommend you find out as much information as you can about the position by talking to someone in the organization that may know the duties and responsibilities of the position that you are applying for. The Human Resource Department is a good start. Once you obtain all the information about the KSAs as well as the duties and responsibilities of the position, address how your experience, education and expertise relates to the job by listing key words or phrases that are listed in the job announcement or that was provided to you by a reliable source from inside the organization or a person that previously held the position. Generally, government resumes have no restriction on number of pages or words so you can go in depth in your description of your professional background.