Do you know of an excellent resume writer?

[Anonymous]

I want to update my resume. I'm terrible at resume writing and want to find someone that can help me with it. I'm a teacher...but not an English teacher!

[Anonymous]

I don't know where you live but the Women's Center in Vienna, VA is a good place to go. They also have a DC office (you can google it.) Check and see if your alumni office has services for you to use. I am a career counselor and so suggest these things to people a lot. Personally, I really think anyone can write their own resume and strongly encourage people not to pay money (unless they get a very good referral.) I work pt at a university so I am not in the private sector. If I were, I think my work would be good and I would most likely only work off referrals so I don't want to imply that there are not some good resume writers or career counselors out there - there are. Just be careful. If you google your career title and resume you will get a lot of examples. It is not rocket science. Keep it accomplishment focused (not task based). REad the job description carefully and reflect back the key points the ad lists, make a "unique" resume for each job you apply for. You can do it!

[Anonymous]

This place is run by a friend of mine who has helped me and other friends with our resumes over the years. They really turn out a quality product.

http://www.ivyadmissionsessays.com/Home_Page.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't know where you live but the Women's Center in Vienna, VA is a good place to go. They also have a DC office (you can google it.) Check and see if your alumni office has services for you to use. I am a career counselor and so suggest these things to people a lot. Personally, I really think anyone can write their own resume and strongly encourage people not to pay money (unless they get a very good referral.) I work pt at a university so I am not in the private sector. If I were, I think my work would be good and I would most likely only work off referrals so I don't want to imply that there are not some good resume writers or career counselors out there - there are. Just be careful. If you google your career title and resume you will get a lot of examples. It is not rocket science. Keep it accomplishment focused (not task based). REad the job description carefully and reflect back the key points the ad lists, make a "unique" resume for each job you apply for. You can do it!

Thanks for the thoughtful feedback! I'm intrigued by your PT job.... Anyway, I know it would be easy to just search for a job description for a teacher but I wear many other hats at the school where I work. Teacher is just one of them. That is sort of my problem. I don't know how to define and highlight my other activities under the umbrella of my actual job description of teacher. I will check out the Women's Center, though. Thanks for the info.

[Anonymous]

I agree with the advice posted. I am a freelancer and I've done some resume work for friends, but I really think that most people are their own best resume writer. Keep it accomplishment-focused, google other people's resumes for format and phrasing ideas, and most of all, within the context of a professional resume, sound like yourself and not like a resume book. When people write things that are incredibly stilted or oddly phrased or "resume sounding" I think they undercut their own distinctiveness as a candidate. You don't want your resume to project personality, you want it to be neutral: but if you spend too much time looking at resume-book models you risk adopting a style which is alienating and outdated. Also, think a lot about what accomplishments would matter to a potential employer, not necessarily which were the most important to you.