If you’re reading this, you’re probably wondering whether it’s worth investing in a professionally written CV, or whether to do it yourself. Well, as a professional CV writer myself I’m biased, but take a look at why I think the investment’s worth it and make your own mind up.
Your CV needs to stand out from the crowd, particularly in an overcrowded job market. A professional CV writer will focus on the value you can add to a business, by highlighting your achievements and contributions. Don’t forget, we spend all day, every day working with good and bad CVs and reading job descriptions. We know what works and what doesn’t.
As you know all the ins and outs of your career like the back of your hand, it can help to have someone new look over your CV with a fresh pair of eyes to identify what’s actually important and what isn’t. A professional CV writer will help you to focus on the message you want to convey to a recruiter, without the added noise of the daily grind getting in the way.
Your CV needs to convince a recruiter that you’re the best person for the job, but for most of us bragging doesn’t come naturally. If you’re not comfortable blowing your own trumpet (and let’s face it, not many of us are!) then a professional CV writer is a great asset. We’ll make sure that your CV strikes that fine balance between showing off your accomplishments and not sounding arrogant.
CV expectations change. Many of my clients haven’t hit the job market in years and have written their CVs using outdated advice. If your CV contains your date of birth, is written in the first person or doesn’t focus on your achievements, it probably seems pretty dated. A professional CV writer will make sure that your CV is suitable for the modern job market by eliminating unnecessary information, adding details to make it stronger, improving the presentation, using wording relevant to your target career and ensuring it’s written in the right tone.
Quite aside from accessing your writer’s expert knowledge of spelling and grammar, your CV will benefit from their ability to use the right vocabulary to make an impact. A professional CV writer will combine dynamic vocabulary with keywords, power verbs and positive wording to show you off to the best effect.
With shortlists often being compiled by computers, a professional CV writer will improve your chances of being ranked highly by the Applicant Tracking System. You’ll receive an ATS-optimised CV using relevant keywords and an ATS-friendly format.
A good CV writer will work collaboratively with you to ensure that your finished CV represents you in a way you’re happy with. They’ll hold a consultation with you to understand your career objectives, your key selling points and your successes and give you opportunities to ask questions, provide feedback and request changes.
Most CV writers offer free reviews of your current CV, so that you can decide for yourself whether to make the investment in a full rewrite. Beware which reviews you go for though – many companies produce generic reviews designed to undermine your confidence in your CV, in order to drive sales. The more worthwhile reviews are individually created, based on a personal analysis of your CV. CV Shed offers free, personalised reviews and guarantees never to recommend a rewrite you don't need.
Working with a professional CV writer is, in my opinion, a worthwhile investment in your career. It’s also a great confidence boost to see yourself presented in a way that showcases your very best qualities. Find out more about my CV writing service or place an order today to kick start your job search!