Q: Why should I hire you?
A: I don’t know yet that you should. First, we need to talk for about 15 minutes to find out what you need. I will ask you questions about what your career is now, what you want it to be, and what’s getting in the way. Then, if I offer what you require, I will let you know the process we will use and give you a quote. If not, I will likely refer you to someone who is a better fit for your needs.
Q: How much does a (resume, cover letter, LinkedIn profile, etc.) cost?
A: I don’t know yet. (Do you detect a pattern here?) My fees are based on your needs. When we talk, I will find out about your career and your target and will be able to give you a quote. By the way, my charges are per project, so you don’t have to worry about accumulating fees you don’t know about. You pay up front, and you receive an itemized invoice, so there are no nasty surprises.
Q: What sets you apart from other resume writers?
A: You don’t have to be an executive to work with me; I focus largely on professional and management levels. You don’t have to be all button-down and super-serious; I like to have fun while we work and tend to be less formal than some writers. You don’t have to know exactly what you want to do next; I can help you work through that decision.
You don’t have to be an expert in resumes or job search; that’s my job. I have won an international resume writing award, and I have three certifications in resume writing, career coaching, and interview preparation from the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches. I take part in at least one continuing education event annually. Most important, you don’t have to do this alone; I’m here to guide you.
Q: What do you need from me?
A: When we have agreed we will work together, I will need you to email me:
• Your current resume if you have one.
• Three job descriptions of positions you would like to apply for.
• Glowing performance reviews about you.
• Positive letters of recommendation or LinkedIn recommendations.
Once we start the process, I need your trust that I am the expert in resumes and job search. I don’t have a problem with your showing your new documents to your friends and colleagues; just know that I may not implement their or your suggestions.
I write your resume (or cover letter or LinkedIn profile) in specific and strategic ways. When we finalize your documents, I will share the rationale behind the words. Typically, Cousin Millie who works in HR or Uncle Fred who used to be a vice president know a couple things about resumes and job search. Their advice tends to be very specific to their job (IT Recruiters don’t read Qualification Summaries.) or so general that it doesn’t apply to anyone (All resumes should be one page.).
I am trained and experienced in helping many, many individuals define their target, create documents specific to their goal, and navigate processes that will move their search toward a successful (and painless) hire.
Throughout the process, I will need your cooperation. This is a highly collaborative effort. You are the expert on yourself and your career. I am the expert on resumes and job search. What a great team! You will spend a good amount of time answering questions and hunting down historical information. (I draw the line at showing up at your door and digging through the basement closet for the month of your college graduation.)
Finally, I need your commitment. This will not work for you if you’re not all in. A half-hearted attempt at a job search is going to waste your time, energy, and money. If you’re not ready to jump in with both flippers, then the time isn’t right. Wait until it’s more important.
Q: What can I expect the process to be like?
A: Long, arduous, and complicated. Just kidding. It’s going to depend on the services you need. Here is the general order of steps. You may or may not need all of them.
a. When you are crystal clear on your job target, we write your resume, letter(s) and LinkedIn profile.
b. I’ll start with a questionnaire for the facts and figures so we don’t spend time on the phone spelling names and places to each other.
c. Then, I will interview you to grasp the nuances.
d. I write and email you the document(s) and schedule a finalization call when we talk on the phone while reading through the document(s).
e. Regardless of which services we collaborate on, I will contact you periodically after our last conversation to see how your search is progressing. I will be asking questions about how many applications, interviews, and job offers you have had, so be sure to track them.
Q: Why don’t you meet clients in person?
A: You probably don’t live in my zip code and wouldn’t want to drive that far. My clients hail from all over the U.S. and sometimes beyond.
Even if you do live near enough for a face-to-face meeting, I choose to conduct business on the phone because it saves time and reduces distractions. I love meeting with people for coffee and a chat. I adore meeting for lunch and good conversation. Our purpose for talking is much different. I have a specific process for gathering information from you that will be most effective and most efficient.
Bottom line: I don’t want to waste your time. I know how important it is.
I love to have fun, and we may have a laugh or two on the phone, but I will always direct us back to the topic of our conversation: Your Job Search. This is more difficult in person. The main way I find out more about you is asking questions. I take notes on your answers so I can use them in your documents. I am also getting a sense for your speech patterns and expressions so your documents sound more like you and less like me. This necessitates a very focused kind of listening. When meeting in person, the computer is always between us, which isn’t great for conversation. We would meet in a coffee shop or restaurant, and they tend to be noisy places (and much as I hate to admit it, my hearing isn’t as great as it once was). Through years of trial and error, my business has evolved to 100% virtual. It works.
Q: Why do you use PayPal?
A: I don’t like having your credit card number. I would much rather have a company that specializes in secure transactions running that. It’s also very fast. Waiting for a check to arrive and clear can delay the start of a project by as much as a week. If you have any concerns about PayPal, please talk to me about them or read through their explanation at https://www.paypal.com/webapps/mpp/paypal-safety-and-security.
Q: Why don’t you offer a money-back guarantee?
A: I understand that the services I offer require a substantial financial investment. I will never minimize that. I am not wealthy, and neither are most of my clients, so I understand needing to budget. The thing about money-back guarantees is that they tend to attract clients who care only about price. My ideal clients tend to be more attentive to relationship, quality, and results, and that’s the way I want it.
You aren’t likely to see money-back guarantees from doctors, dentists, accountants, psychologists, and attorneys. I see my work in line with those professionals rather than a carpet installer or TV-advertised product. (Think “But WAIT! For the next 10 minutes, receive TWO for the price of one!”) If I have to offer a money-back guarantee to “bribe” you to buy, maybe my product isn’t worth the investment. I prefer to keep the focus on the relationship we build and the results of the quality services I provide.
