Every resume writer who has been plying his craft for a good long time knows the type of questions that clients can ask before, during or after the resume makeover process is completed. Good resume writers want to help their clients to the full extent of their abilities, but there are still limitations to what we can do. And it behooves the writer or recruiter to take some time and manage the client’s expectations. Below are listed some of the most common questions I have been asked over the years, along with my considered answers.

1. Can you guarantee this resume will get me a job? This may be the most frequent question I’ve been asked by clients in the middle of a stressful job search, but it really is one of the most unfair ones a person can ask. The resume is not a “magic wand” or “magic bullet.” The reality is that the job search is one of the most traumatic events to happen to anyone in our economy, so it is natural for people to look for guarantees and stability when their whole life is in flux. But no professional resume writer can guarantee a client a job – there are too many moving parts out of anyone’s control. Indeed, beware of any writing service that offered a guaranteed outcome with their resume creation. Rather, the primary focus lies on the job searcher to use their new tool and actively work the process. While the resume writer or recruiter can easily become the “emotional lightning rod” for clients, they should never over-promise or guarantee something outside their control.

2. What will the potential employer think when they read my resume? Another good question without a single answer. Who can predict what a reader will think or not think when they read a resume?  If the client shows their new resume to 5 friends, they’ll get 6 opinions. There are just too many variables at play for a person to guess correctly what the employer is thinking at any one moment. Rather, the goal is to identify the job particulars and customize the resume to “mirror” them as much as possible, and then always try to network your way around the HR “gatekeepers.”  However, the job searcher can control how concise, clear and transparent their resume is, while also avoiding distracting graphics and minimizing thick descriptive paragraphs. This is where the good resume writer is a big advantage – eliminating the “forest and trees” aspect by giving perspective and helping the client decide what to leave in or out. I frequently suggest that clients apply for whatever job they want – the worst that can happen is that they get “No” for an answer. But the most important focus should be persistent forward motion with a solid job search campaign.

3. How does the market look for a job change? A great question but still like asking “How is the fishing?” or “How does it taste?” There are just too many economic variables at play to bundle everything up into a single, definitive answer – at least in terms of the job search.  I have seen clients successfully get jobs and make positive transitions in both up- and down-markets; there is always an appropriate job open somewhere. But the biggest real variable is actually “Timing” – being the right person in the right place at the right time. And this is why the transition can take a long time and scares people with all the dark unknowns – because they cannot control this aspect. People can only control what they themselves do to get that new job.  So it is crucial to flatten out this emotional roller-coaster and have the right components in place – contact trees, recruiter connections, persistent online posting/research, multimedia ads and community job support groups & associations.

So if you are looking to have a professional writer overhaul your current resume, please give us a break and don’t ask us questions that no one can fully answer. This will actually put you out ahead of the floundering competition all around you. Feel free to send me your resume for a free review and project price quote at steve@realclearresumes.com.  I’ll get in touch and give you my considered opinion about how I can give you an edge, plus answer any other question than the ones above. Your resume is too important to be crafted by anyone other than a seasoned professional.