I paid to have my resume professionally written (I do not think it turned out great) and then COVID hit and all of the positions I applied for were put on hold.
I want to start applying but the resume I paid for is now outdated and still not great. Any suggestions where I should look to update it without spending more money?
on the off chance you're still looking (or others are reading these older threads like I just did) I have a totally free resume course/guide and it takes you step by step through your resume and shows you how to tweak it for the jobs you're applying to. Hope it helps if you're still job searching. https://www.michelemavi.com/p/the-revitalized-resume
One site/person I can't recommend enough is Alison Green's "Ask A Manager." She has been writing her blog for over 10 years and has a vast amount of wonderful help there - including pointers on resume writing. The link below will take you directly to the curated posts specifically on resume writing.
https://www.askamanager.org/category/resumes
There are tons of free templates you can use. There are always articles on LinkedIn.
Just google "how do i write a resume"- you'll get a bazillion hits.
Just an FYI - as a recruiter with 20+ years experience, I can't tell you how many times I've told a candidate "I really like your experience but we have to fix this resume" to be told, I paid to have it done.
Having a "professional resume writer" do your resume is not the end all.
I tailor my resume and cover letter to every position and company, so while it’s good I theory to get a “professional” set of eyes on things, it’s also a good idea to develop your own skills. There are a ton of resume templates and examples online that you can use for inspiration.
Also consider your focus. Some resumes put education at the forefront, some experience, some skills. Think about what would showcase you the best as an individual and what makes the most sense for the field you want to work in. Don’t settle for a boilerplate when specializing will tell your story better.
No one knows you better than yourself. You are the best person to edit the content of your resume so it sounds like you and represents your skills but that being said I always recommend a second pair of eyes to look at it.
Resume professionals will cost money but if you look for one find one that will work with you in real time (zoom or in person) to discuss your resume and assist in you writing it. Just having someone else writing it for you often lacks the personal aspect we can give to our resume and leaves out skills and data we may have normally included. There are many resume professionals who do a wonderful job because they set up a session to work with you and communicate with you the entire time you are creating your product.
As others have mentioned, your college should have Career Services available to you and will also work with you one on one to help create your resume.
Since you update your resume per job description I keep what I call a master resume that has bullet points I can pull from and easily edit for the resume that I actually apply to the job for as well. My master resume has 10-15 bullet points per job which I would never do for one I apply with but it makes it easier to edit as well.
Ugh. Career Counselor here. There have been several times I've come across a resume that is all wrong for the client, and in need of total overhaul, only to be told it was written "by a professional." (Note: anyone can dub themselves a career coach or resume writer, so look for certifications and be cautious).
If you went to a university, see if they have alumni career services. Some offer services for a lifetime, and some of those are free to alumni. Some charge a modest fee. They can take a look and help you learn to write it yourself.
You should have a community One-Stop Center which can help with resume advice. https://www.careeronestop.org/ -- these are federally funded but implemented locally so programs and quality can vary by location, but it's worth checking out.
I really, really recommend everyone learn how to write a resume on your own, so you don't have to pay someone when your resume needs a refresher.
I can affirm that a career coach is worth the costs . Mines helped me revamp my resume and online presence in way I didn't know I needed . Kudos to the great work all of you do for your clients .
If your question is, who can I get to do the update for free, my answer is no one. At least no one who is a resume professional.
The alternative, then, is to do the updates yourself. How comfortable are you with that? As others have said, your university career center and the local employment office can offer some help - but you'll still need to do the writing yourself.
If you went to college the institution probably has alumni career services. When I was searching last year I used career services at my alma mater to get feedback on my cover letters and resumes.
I would research online and get your pointers there from professionals.
You paid for the format so keep what you can and revise the rest on your own. That way you utilize some of what you paid for but aren't shelling out any additional monies to get it perfected.