Paid resume and job search

[pink_sugar]

So for those who are or have job searched online or utilized these services, are they worth it? I often see paid resume help ranging from a few hundred dollars as well as premium job search accounts. Do these really get your resume to be more visible? Or are these not worth the money?

[Arabella]

Not worth it. AT ALL. They cannot do anything for you that you cannot do yourself -- quite easily at that!

 

There's absolutely no point in having a special service spam your resume out there. Employers aren't looking at those generic resumes... they're looking at the ones that have been sent to them and tailored to their specific position, along with a well-written cover letter.

 

Likewise, a well-populated LinkedIn profile is extremely helpful... it helps potential employers and recruiters check out your professional image and credibility... but don't be tempted to pay for the premium accounts!

 

In my opinion, your time and money are better spent researching on the internet how to write better resumes, and then taking the time to tailor it to each employer you submit it to.

 

-A

[CarrieT]

Not worth it. AT ALL. They cannot do anything for you that you cannot do yourself -- quite easily at that!

 

Totally disagree...

 

After I left a certain executive position (not of my own accord), the company in question -- as part of a settlement -- agreed to pay for a career counselor.

 

Now, being in my 40s, I thought as you do, Arabella, that there was nothing they could do for me that I hadn't been doing for myself in 20+ years of professional work.

 

And I was proven wrong.

 

This particular firm had four different counselors work with me; the first one did a pre-screening to determine my strengths and weeknesses and it was this person who worked closely with the second person who re-wrote my resume (and being a professional writer, I thought I had a pretty great resume); the third person did a psychological analysis on the jobs I had worked and worked well with as well as what didn't work and where to gear my career search; the fourth person did a recorded interview where we went back and looked closely at not only what questions I was answering and how, but my body language and responses.

 

In all, the firm was probably paid several thousand dollars by my former employer but it taught me a LOT, got me job interviews that garnered several thousand more a year than I had ever previously been paid, produced a much better resume than I had ever written, and ultimately got me an amazing job (that I have subsequently left on my own accord because of my engagement).

 

But consider me someone who was surprised by what the firm offered and how much they produced.

[Arabella]

Totally disagree...

 

After I left a certain executive position (not of my own accord), the company in question -- as part of a settlement -- agreed to pay for a career counselor.

 

Now, being in my 40s, I thought as you do, Arabella, that there was nothing they could do for me that I hadn't been doing for myself in 20+ years of professional work.

 

And I was proven wrong.

 

This particular firm had four different counselors work with me; the first one did a pre-screening to determine my strengths and weeknesses and it was this person who worked closely with the second person who re-wrote my resume (and being a professional writer, I thought I had a pretty great resume); the third person did a psychological analysis on the jobs I had worked and worked well with as well as what didn't work and where to gear my career search; the fourth person did a recorded interview where we went back and looked closely at not only what questions I was answering and how, but my body language and responses.

 

In all, the firm was probably paid several thousand dollars by my former employer but it taught me a LOT, got me job interviews that garnered several thousand more a year than I had ever previously been paid, produced a much better resume than I had ever written, and ultimately got me an amazing job (that I have subsequently left on my own accord because of my engagement).

 

But consider me someone who was surprised by what the firm offered and how much they produced.

 

CarrieT... the OP is a recent college grad with little professional experience.

 

I agree with your assessment for more senior roles. For a cash-strapped college grad? Hell no.

 

That's what my advice was based on

[WP4046]

So for those who are or have job searched online or utilized these services, are they worth it? I often see paid resume help ranging from a few hundred dollars as well as premium job search accounts. Do these really get your resume to be more visible? Or are these not worth the money?

 

 

I think it's just easier to go to google and see the different samples that way.

 

Save that money