Would you prefer to write your own resume or hire a professional resume writer? Explain why?

CW3 Dylan E. Raymond, PHR — Sun, 05 Jun 2016 15:03:37 -0400

Response by TSgt Alex Benningfield made Jun 5 at 2016 3:05 PM

TSgt Alex Benningfield — Sun, 05 Jun 2016 15:05:49 -0400

Personally I would write it because I know what I did, what the immediate and direct impact was. This, to me, prevents stretching the truth so far it becomes a lie. That being said I understand professional resume writers know what they are doing and can word something far better than I. Maybe after my first round of resumes I will see how things go.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 5 at 2016 3:06 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 05 Jun 2016 15:06:11 -0400

unless you are an expert resume writer hire the pro

Response by Capt Richard I P. made Jun 5 at 2016 3:10 PM

Capt Richard I P. — Sun, 05 Jun 2016 15:10:33 -0400

There are lots of vets who will help you for free if you put in good faith effort to do it on your own first. Lots willing to help edit and enhance. I advise this path first.

If you do decide to use a pro it is likely a good idea to use one with military experience and HR credentials. My Friend Jake Freeman has both and a website here:
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Response by SPC Corbin Sayi made Jun 5 at 2016 3:13 PM

SPC Corbin Sayi — Sun, 05 Jun 2016 15:13:58 -0400

Speaking on my level (5 years of career-specific expertise), it's better to master it yourself. There are plenty of online resources. Goodwill does it for free, and will even help you find a job. Plenty of military resources out there that will do it for free as well.

The only time I would advise someone to spend money on a resume is if you're a 20-year professional in a specific field and need a career-specific tailored resume (intelligence, investigations, etc.). Then, ensure you check the examples/credentials of the tailor. It just mike make the difference between getting an interview or not.

Response by SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 5 at 2016 3:17 PM

SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 05 Jun 2016 15:17:12 -0400

I write it out, and will have my peers look at (those that I trust). I didn't even know such service existed

Response by SPC Darren Koele made Jun 5 at 2016 3:37 PM

SPC Darren Koele — Sun, 05 Jun 2016 15:37:42 -0400

I hired a pro my last time I was in need. Though it didn't end with the resume for him. Included in the services were classes on how to sell yourself on social media sites like LinkedIn and even use Twitter. Tells you how a profile should be built, what to put on and leave off. He explains how to use the site such as networking, getting involved in professional discussion. After that are monthly sessions on interviewing; how to word things, how to answer the "tricky" questions, etc. These sessions last until you no longer need them, like when you get a job.
The resume portion was from a 100 question sheet you have to fill out. These questions include jobs, skills, daily job activities in detail. He then takes all this and pares it down great resume. Sure, it cost me $1500 bucks, but considering where I was before (unemployed and not getting interviews), I took a chance.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 5 at 2016 3:43 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 05 Jun 2016 15:43:46 -0400

Hi, CW3 Raymond.

I've used a paid resume writing service before. It was an overpriced service in my experience. I've written my resumes, and those for friends, for years, and it was no better or no worse than anything I produced. That isn't to say that it's not a bad service; professional, eye-appealing, and effective resumes are hard to write. It was just overpriced.

Response by SSG Pete Fleming made Jun 5 at 2016 4:09 PM

SSG Pete Fleming — Sun, 05 Jun 2016 16:09:45 -0400

This is trick question. You need a resume, but actually the cover letter is as, if not more important. Proper punctuation and spelling are very important! Professional resume services can be very expensive. If you follow the standard school of thought you will need a separate resume tailored to each job role you are trying to apply for. That can add up very fast. There is no guarantee that they will get you a job.

There are numerous free resources, templates, and samples that you use to modify to base your resume from. There also are a variety of formats used, depending on the recruiter. So you can either rummage through their site to see their format or make sure yours is as tailored as you can to the job you want.

If you have a good resume, it can be generic, as long as it is tailored to the industry/field you are applying to. But your cover letter needs to be personalized (even if you have to research for a name), if not at least address to the right department. It needs to be professional and in the 3, no more that 4, paragraph format, and only one page. It needs to address why your skills, experience, and how you will best benefit the organization.

But the truth is that a resume is only part of it. Actually a small part. The days of walking into an HR office and handing over your resume is over. Very few places take walk-ins, phone calls are not welcomed, even snail-mailing your paper (hardcopy) resume/application is going the way of the dinosaur. Instead you must go online, complete a profile, fill-out an online application, attach your resume, cover letter, & supporting documents, complete the assessments, and questionnaires. They use third party venders who have programs that prescreen your information based on predetermine algorithms, screening for keywords and specific phrases.

Furthermore, you need to make sure you have your social media sites together. LinkedIn is a great site but stay professional, don't fall into the game treating it like Facebook. If your Facebook is silly and full of things people may find inappropriate, don't share it.

The last piece of advice, if you are currently still in and considering getting out.... don't the job market is really bad in the real world.

Response by CW4 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 5 at 2016 4:11 PM

CW4 Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 05 Jun 2016 16:11:41 -0400

I'd say both. How else would you become proficient at the process. I've kind of created a resume for government work to be posted to USA Jobs and I've started a resume for the civilian sector too. I also have copies of many retired Offciers and NCO's resumes so that I can compare and contrast them based off of the post military jobs that they have obtained using those resumes. I don't think it could hurt to obtain the help of a professional resume producing service either, especially if you land a great job using them.

Response by CPT John Sheridan made Jun 5 at 2016 5:32 PM

CPT John Sheridan — Sun, 05 Jun 2016 17:32:34 -0400

Given that communication skills are particularly important in the job market, I can't see it as a good idea to spend good money to outsource your resume writing. All you're getting is someone that has some proprietary software with a library of catch phrases. It's pretty unlikely that the resume writer is an actual corporate recruiter that understands the intricacies of a job hunt. You're better off acquiring the skill yourself and getting people you trust to critique it. Not only is it good writing practice, but it will make you intimately familiar with it and help you develop your personal elevator pitch.

Resumes are probably the least important part. It's the document that the gatekeeper will use to sort it out
- engineering degree, check
- 5 years work experience in a leadership role, check
- PE registration... Oops, not this one... To the dead pile.

The only thing that matters is whether or not it's formatted correctly with correct spelling and punctuation, whether or not it shows that you meet the specific requirements of the position applied for, and that it is brief. Too many words or too many pages gets it dumped on the dead pile by the HR clerk that has to review 300 resumes today.

If the hiring manager gets your resume, you are qualified. Much greater importance is your cover letter and your elevator pitch. It's probably a good idea to practice interview questions with a friend who has a book of behavioral interviewing questions. It's critical to learn about the company you are interviewing with and to demonstrate that knowledge in the interview.

If you have an advanced degree, a STEM degree, or highly specialized skills/experience, it may be worth working with a recruiter. Important note!!! - legitimate recruiters don't charge you for the service. They get paid by the companies that retain them. If someone wants you to pay them to help you find a job, run away!

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Jun 5 at 2016 5:45 PM

Capt Seid Waddell — Sun, 05 Jun 2016 17:45:01 -0400

Professionals are better judges of what is effective in the job market; they are in it every day while the job seeker is only in it sporadically.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Jun 5 at 2016 5:46 PM

CPT Jack Durish — Sun, 05 Jun 2016 17:46:23 -0400

I struggled many times with writing my resume over the course of my working career spanning some fifty years. I wish I could have had help but the need arose when I could least afford help. That's why I think it would be great if professional resume writers provided their services in exchange for a reasonable percentage of a person's first year's wages on the new job. Let them assume some risk for some reward. And, such a system would have a self-correcting element. Those who couldn't do the job well wouldn't make enough to stay at it, would they?

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Jun 5 at 2016 6:28 PM

CAPT Kevin B. — Sun, 05 Jun 2016 18:28:15 -0400

If you're not a good writer, that will kill you in the marketplace sooner or later, depending on where you want to go. We've seen horrible resumes from Vets. Good ones are somewhat rare and great ones that the Vet actually wrote were few. So the resume gets you to the interview and that's where your mouth can disagree with what's on paper. Poor spoken grammar vs. what's on paper is a dead giveaway that a ghost writer is on board. So write down your 80% draft and have it cleaned up preferably by a Vet hiring manager who knows you shouldn't be providing something for the scientific journal.

For Fed jobs, it's more about understanding how the RESUMIX system works and the path your USAJOBS package takes. Then, who (what skills, authority, etc.) deals with it and what causes it to keep in motion going forward to people who actually care about your worth.

I thought someone was putting together a Webinar for resumes, job searches, etc. I volunteered to take part but never heard back. Based on the grammar seen in posted questions and responses, I'd say a number of the RP folk out there can use some quality office time to settle down into a good writing groove.

Response by SPC Dawud Makonnen made Jun 5 at 2016 6:49 PM

SPC Dawud Makonnen — Sun, 05 Jun 2016 18:49:22 -0400

I'll take a professional. I don't always know how to speak to my strengths or write well about what I do. I just go on & on blah blah blah

Response by CPT Joseph K Murdock made Jun 5 at 2016 7:45 PM

CPT Joseph K Murdock — Sun, 05 Jun 2016 19:45:01 -0400

Hire a pro, I suck at grammar, punctuation, and relevance.

Response by Cpl Mark A. Morris made Jun 5 at 2016 7:47 PM

Cpl Mark A. Morris — Sun, 05 Jun 2016 19:47:08 -0400

This is a great post.

For some individuals leaving the military, please be careful how you word your military expertise. If you are trying to get a job in healthcare, write how you have assisted others. For example: During the period of ____, I helped individuals on and off 2.5 tons and Helicopters. Or, my CO depended on me to get the 2.5 ton to the field with the MRE's and water bull. Don't put on paper how you are able to place the Claymore mine in the correct direction and set up an ambush. Even if you are very proud of the fact.

The top of my current resume under Goals reads helping others. At the bottom of my resume reads Honorably Discharged United States Marine. It's at the bottom. Because, I stand on my military experience. Almost, everything about me comes from that point in my life.

Break a leg,

Mark A. Morris BS, RDMS, RVT

Response by PO2 Peter Klein made Jun 5 at 2016 7:49 PM

PO2 Peter Klein — Sun, 05 Jun 2016 19:49:16 -0400

Double-edged sword!
The professional writer knows, or should know, how to craft a great resume for you. BUT, you know you better than anyone else, at least you should.
I have always done my own and generally gotten the interviews I wanted. Not always the job though.

Response by CW4 Anthoney Lowry made Jun 5 at 2016 8:44 PM

CW4 Anthoney Lowry — Sun, 05 Jun 2016 20:44:53 -0400

I have used an expensive resume service and have written the majority of mine on my own. The resume that got me the most interviews looks nothing like the one I paid good money for. The problem that I found with the one I paid someone else to do is that I expected it to be "THE" resume that would get me every job. I didn't want to change it since I spent so much money on it. Eventually, after many many "thanks but NO" I started tailoring every resume for the job I was looking for and the rest is history. There is no such thing as one resume for every job even if it is with the same company and same field. For me it was a waste of money but I did learn a lot about resume writing.

Response by CMSgt Mark Lewis made Jun 7 at 2016 12:33 AM

CMSgt Mark Lewis — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 00:33:23 -0400

I prefer to write my own resume since I know the information better than anyone else and can ensure the facts and impacts are accurate. It also makes it easier for me to edit and re-write a resume to match the requirements and/or relevant experience I have for each individual position I may be applying for. I understand some people use a professional resume service because they are not confident in their writing ability or do not fully understand the various types of resumes (functional, chronological, etc). Unfortunately, I have seen where the professional resume service did not produce a quality product for them. The key is too research the appropriate resume type to use and then develop a quality product with accurate information. The good thing about it is most people know others who have used resumes successfully to find jobs, so don't re-invent the wheel - plagiarize them with your information.

Response by SPC Greg K. made Jun 7 at 2016 7:37 AM

SPC Greg K. — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 07:37:49 -0400

Don't waste your money on a "Professional": There are plenty of great examples of resumes online. The hardest part is translating military to civilian lingo and the "Professionals" have NO IDEA how to do that. Find someone in your field and learn how your jobs and acronyms translate to "Merican".

Response by SSG Jay Marchand made Jun 7 at 2016 8:04 AM

SSG Jay Marchand — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 08:04:11 -0400

As a retired NCO, (1998). I found its best to have a professional write your resume. They can translate your military schools and work history into clear english any human resource person can understand. Also. You are entitled to college crdits based on military schools attended, positions held, hope this helps.

Response by SSG Jim Kissane made Jun 7 at 2016 9:03 AM

SSG Jim Kissane — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 09:03:12 -0400

Agree with Peter Klein when he said "The professional writer knows, or should know, how to craft a great resume for you. BUT, you know you better than anyone else, at least you should." There are many church based jobseeker support groups (including the one I facilitate), across the country that can help transitioning military to new jobs in civilian or NGO roles. I have two volunteer resume coaches who doe this for free for our members, one of which has worked with the folks transitioning out of MacDill (enlisted through general grade officers). The challenge is how to reframe your active duty achievements into civilian equivalents. Employers today are hiring people on actual achievements, not on what you have been responsibly for. A seasoned resume coach can help you do this, and significantly shorten your transition time to your next job.

Response by CPL James Zielinski made Jun 7 at 2016 9:42 AM

CPL James Zielinski — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 09:42:03 -0400

I personally write them all myself as I have found that with my educational background and command of English I can outperform most professional resume writers. I think that to answer that question properly for any individual, that individual must make an honest assessment of their own skills and consider which resume will do them the most good. There is no single answer for everybody.

Response by SFC Phillip Wiley made Jun 7 at 2016 10:01 AM

SFC Phillip Wiley — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 10:01:46 -0400

Your written draft should be completed in your own hand. Then decide if you wish to pay someone (this is not needed as there are multiple avenues that will not charge vets) or just have it reviewed by at a minimum of 3 people.

When changes are suggested focus on reviewing if the change will affect the job you are applying for. You should always tailor your resume to every job you apply for. Being stubborn and wanting to keep things that are more than 10 years past and/or have no relevance to the job you are applying has bitten many.

Understand that you know yourself the best that is a pro when writing it down however, the con side is "you know yourself the best" which means you may read into things that others can not see in your resume.

Response by MSgt Budd Johnson made Jun 7 at 2016 12:00 PM

MSgt Budd Johnson — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 12:00:46 -0400

I had one written "professionally" and it was so full of crap. His idea of what the military does compared to the same in the civilian job market was not even close. I then went to a class given by the base education office and ended up writing my own.

Response by MSgt Wes Tracy made Jun 7 at 2016 12:08 PM

MSgt Wes Tracy — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 12:08:02 -0400

Dylan,
As others have said here, it really depends on how good a writer you are. It may also depend on what your job was in the military and how easily it transfers to a civilian role. You know best what you did, yes. But, a good professional resume writer should be adept at drawing those things out of you and wording them better than you may have done on your own. Myself, having been military for 20 years, I found I was using terms and "accomplishments" in my resume that either were not considered significant by my civilian counterparts, or they did not know what they even meant. It took me several iterations to finally cleanse my resume of the military jargon. If you do decide to write your own resume, do get several people to review it and try to get a couple reviewers that have never been in the military. Good luck!

Response by LTC Mark Beattie made Jun 7 at 2016 12:28 PM

LTC Mark Beattie — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 12:28:57 -0400

Help from a professional is beneficial. However, I would have a hand in ensuring the resume reads the way I want, and not what someone else wants.

Response by CSM Kevin Nolan made Jun 7 at 2016 12:38 PM

CSM Kevin Nolan — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 12:38:37 -0400

You should do your Master Resume, however if you hire a professional to do your civilian and your GS Resume, you can then tweek it as well as write it off on your end of year taxes

Response by SPC Darrell Wunderlich made Jun 7 at 2016 2:51 PM

SPC Darrell Wunderlich — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 14:51:52 -0400

I wrote my own, then utilized a professional writer to "pretty it up." I know my experience, but they know current jargon, how to translate into "corporate speak," and can deliver a beautiful end product. I was out of work, gave them my existing resume, and once we talked through the new version, i had a job in a month. Well worth the investment!

Response by CPL Anthony Ramirez made Jun 7 at 2016 4:32 PM

CPL Anthony Ramirez — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 16:32:07 -0400

I would definitely write it myself but in that make sure to keep it as simple as can be due to our numerous duties performed while serving. if your not careful your resume could easily turn into a novel

Response by Capt Christian D. Orr made Jun 7 at 2016 6:47 PM

Capt Christian D. Orr — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 18:47:44 -0400

Speaking from personal experience, what worked really well for me was having the on-base professional resume writer do my initial Federal resume as part of my Transition Assistance Program (based upon both my older civilian resumes as well as my EPRs and OPRs), and then updating and tweaking my Federal resume from there as I gained new experiences.

Response by LTC Wayne Dandridge made Jun 7 at 2016 8:23 PM

LTC Wayne Dandridge — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 20:23:12 -0400

If you have read everything that MOAA, MILITARY.COM, state employment offices, VA employment assistance officers, and other excellent sites have published on writing a good resume, networking, using social media, writing a good cover letter, writing good thank you notes, tailoring your resume for every job you apply for, researching the company or government organization and preparing for each interview, dressing for each interview, and other associated advice ------ then you should be able to write your own resume. 99% of us could not afford to pay a resume service to tailor every resume we submit. However, there is nothing wrong with having an expert help you tailor a resume. The exception would be smart for those who are English as second language job seekers or folks who have very limited education and just do not have the skill to write a strong resume. In every case, you need to have other objective people review your resume critically and give you their comments and suggestions on how to improve your resume. Finding and landing a good job is the hardest job anyone will have to do. The job market in Charleston, SC is booming and the area is beautiful and a fun place to live. Go to SCWORKS.org and rad everyht9ing there. Good luck!!!!!

Response by CPL Eric Krueger made Jun 7 at 2016 8:36 PM

CPL Eric Krueger — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 20:36:15 -0400

If you know someone in the industry in which you are looking, then have them take a look at your resume to offer critique. Different industries will look at resumes with different focuses at times. Always best to write it yourself and get help from there. If it needs to be rewritten because you don't feel confident in your writing then that is okay as well. The goal of the resume is to get you in the door for an interview and hopefully you shine from there.

Response by Sgt Teressa Sutton made Jun 8 at 2016 10:24 AM

Sgt Teressa Sutton — Wed, 08 Jun 2016 10:24:57 -0400

I think writing your own resume helps you to remember how much skill you have, and how qualified you are for certain positions. Often times we forget details if we haven't thought about or talked about them in a while and it helps to refresh your memory.

While we are on the subject, I'm a recruiter and I'd like to be able to reach out to fellow veterans who are looking to make a career move and hopefully connect them with great opportunities. Is that something that I can do on this site??

Response by SFC David Davenport made Jun 8 at 2016 11:07 AM

SFC David Davenport — Wed, 08 Jun 2016 11:07:32 -0400

I hired a professional. My reasoning was that I needed and wanted help translating my military experience into civilian language. I feel it was completely worth the money I spent. Just so you are aware some professional resume writers will charge you more if are military.

Response by SFC Timothy Reynolds made Jun 8 at 2016 11:26 AM

SFC Timothy Reynolds — Wed, 08 Jun 2016 11:26:05 -0400

Both, a pro knows a lot more about how to shape a resume so that it targets a particular employer. Also, friends that have used professional resume writers have told me it was the best money they spent. I recommend it.

Response by MSG Kenneth Collins made Jun 8 at 2016 12:36 PM

MSG Kenneth Collins — Wed, 08 Jun 2016 12:36:46 -0400

You need to write your own resume. No one but you knows your complete skill set. To get a job, the resume is the ticket to the interview. It is important to target the resume for the desired position. In the job announcement most employers make known the knowledge, skills and abilities the successful candidate needs to possess. There are tools available like O*Net.com to assist the job seeker/resume writer. It also has a cross walk that converts MOS to civilian occupations.

Response by PO3 Erik Jensen made Jun 8 at 2016 1:56 PM

PO3 Erik Jensen — Wed, 08 Jun 2016 13:56:10 -0400

I believe that it depends on the type of job one is applying for. For a long time, I wrote my own but got no where. I was using one specific format, trying to make one style apply to all the jobs I applied for. After a lot of frustration, I had a resume writer do a review so I could find out what I was doing wrong. Based on the review, I rewrote my resume's (I had 5 different ones, each tailored to a specific job type). It worked, started getting responses within a few weeks.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 8 at 2016 8:09 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 08 Jun 2016 20:09:51 -0400

Today corporations have computers do the filtering for the job selection process. It is vital you take a look at the announcement and use the key words they have used. Otherwise you will be put on the bottom of the pile! Additionally, use the key words for your particular job description and try to match the wording for the job announcement. Although this sounds hard it is quite easy. Just compare your experience and correlate the words used in the job announcement to promote the best vision you can of a competent employee wanting to do the job offered by the employer.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 11 at 2016 2:00 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 11 Jun 2016 14:00:26 -0400

Write yourself and use Google as your friend. Find someone who is searching for or has obtained your ideal position. Leverage their resume and learn from it. Then get one of your high speed friends or a mentor to provide guidance.

I see many in the military don't transcribe the lingo to employer English. I truly believe your training to include Non-commissioned leadership schools = Advanced Leadership School focused on program management, employee development and process improvement. Your experiences including Organizational Inspection = Managed 6 employees to implement and sustain critical program that supported 400 soldiers, xyz dollars and ensured 100% audit compliance.

Recognized for excellence by earning outstanding rating on NCOER, bonus (time off award) and promotion. I always end with a positive.

The resume is only getting you to interview so be creative and transcribe these and other accomplishments to show your continued success and progression!

Response by SPC Rebecca M. made Jun 17 at 2016 1:03 PM

SPC Rebecca M. — Fri, 17 Jun 2016 13:03:08 -0400

Just a thought - look for a professional resume writer (I've been one and continue to do them as part of another integrated service rather than as a stand-alone) who has prior military service themselves. The best resumes are written in conjunction with the person, not in isolation. When local, I sit down face to face with the person so I can clarify things and what exactly was done, obtain additional information, then speak it back to the client to ensure there is nothing being misrepresented, and thereby allowing them to hear it in "resume language." If not, there are copious emails exchanges or either Skype or Hangout meetings where I essentially do the same thing for those who are not local to me. I'm actually in the process of launching what will be a more virtual business for vocational services, including resume writing, which will initially be geared towards transitioning military, their dependents, and individuals with disabilities (veterans or not) as those are my more immediate clientele right now in my regular job. Regardless of what direction you choose to go, it is really important to communicate with the resume writer or have someone review it who is familiar with the resume scanning software in use these days, and so forth. The wording is often more important to keeping attention than the content. The average length of time spent on the first round scan of a pile of resumes is 3 seconds per resume. If you don't grab them by then, you probably won't make the first cut. That was a study done a while back by the professional human resources societies. There are similar national certification groups for resume writers, but there are plenty of outstanding non-affiliated independent writers who can either tweak something you've done or write one from scratch for you. Don't hesitate to ask about process, either. Best of luck to you!

Response by SMSgt Lawrence McCarter made Apr 6 at 2024 6:35 AM

SMSgt Lawrence McCarter — Sat, 06 Apr 2024 06:35:38 -0400

I write My own resume every time and it has always worked. One place i applied Mine was picked out first over 850 other applicants, even with thousands in larger operations I usually did get contacted. My resume was geared to the type of jobs I applied to and almost always got a response and an interview. I'm also not someone that was even nervous about an interview, I had confidence in my own abilities which My Military Service certainly helped develop. MY transition though from Military to civilian Police was pretty easy anyway and worked well.