I first learned about Resume to Interviews earlier this year in Medellin, when I ran into Jason, the man behind the scenes. We kept in touch after going our separate ways, and when I finally began looking for a job back in the States, he offered to put his services to the test in exchange for a review. I welcomed the help, as I’d taken the easy way out and left on my trip around the world without taking the time to add my accomplishments from the prior 5 1/2 years.
The first thing I did after receiving Jason’s offer was to check out the website. I was immediately drawn to the Testimonials page. It was filled with a long list of quotes from satisfied customers, such as:
” Just got a job offer yesterday for a company that I sent my resume to 6 days ago. Many thanks for the excellent resume! If nothing else, the design is well worth the money. Having an easily readable and flowing resume is incredibly advantageous.”?
The site layout is clear and uncluttered. Pages include a FAQ, Terms of Service, basic tips for writing resumes and cover letters, and interview advice.
Satisfied with the customer feedback, I accepted Jason’s offer, and forwarded him the resume with which I’d been struggling. I asked for two different versions – one that emphasized my recent travel writing/blogging experience, and one that emphasized my professional management and customer service experience.
I knew I had been on the right track with the content to include, however the design and organization was “schizophrenic” according to my Dad. Frankly, I’m incredibly self-assured about what I can offer the right company. I am confident I can come up with great ways to leverage my recent travel experience in an interview. And I have former bosses who would be happy to help with great recommendations. However none of that matters if I can’t present myself clearly and professionally via resume.
Four days later, I received the revamped resume that would serve as the basis for specialized versions. Downloading the new resume and opening it up was a real “Wow” moment for me. It was immediately obvious that the new layout resolved the problem I’d been having with organizing content, and I also thought the new font (Garamond) was an improvement.
I edited the general version and returned it to Jason, and he created the specialized copies I sought, which I then edited at least once more. He responded within a day or two on each occasion, and provided final versions in two common formats, Microsoft Word and PDF.
Jason specializes in Gap Year scenarios, and his Testimonials page reflects the success his customers have experienced in landing jobs. The cost for a new customer to have a standard resume created within 5 days is $65. Faster delivery is available for an extra $10, and going a step further is same-day service for an extra $20. Additional services include phone consultations and cover letter assistance and critiques.
While I have yet to land the perfect job, I am happy to endorse the services of Resume to Interviews for helping me present my experience in the best light possible.
About the Author:
Dave is the author of 1526 posts on Go Backpacking.
Dave (Editor-in-Chief) blogged his way around the world from 2007-2009, and then started Travel Blog Success to teach others how to do the same. When not writing, he can be found salsa dancing in Medellin. Follow him on Twitter @rtwdave or look for him on Google+
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Categories: Features, Reviews
Post tags: cv, employment, resume, review
8 Comments
No employer will have the time (or patience) to read long paragraphs of text. Make sure, therefore, to use bullet points and short sentences to describe your experiences, educational background and professional objectives.
No employer will have the time (or patience) to read long paragraphs of text. Make sure, therefore, to use bullet points and short sentences to describe your experiences, educational background and professional objectives.
It should be noted that if you are using a blog to help in the job hunt, keep it specific to the job hunt, and to promoting yourself. You should have only a few static pages to the site with the resume, some kind of a story about your search, and maybe a contact page. The remainder of the blog should be showcasing your skills. Think of it like a job interview, and write accordingly. Try to write about your work ethic as well as your skills and how you have used them together successfully. Don’t dumb it down: hiring managers know who they are looking for and make it a point to find keywords and specific experiences.
It should be noted that if you are using a blog to help in the job hunt, keep it specific to the job hunt, and to promoting yourself. You should have only a few static pages to the site with the resume, some kind of a story about your search, and maybe a contact page. The remainder of the blog should be showcasing your skills. Think of it like a job interview, and write accordingly. Try to write about your work ethic as well as your skills and how you have used them together successfully. Don’t dumb it down: hiring managers know who they are looking for and make it a point to find keywords and specific experiences.
Read more: http://www.gobackpacking.com/Blog/2009/10/21/ga…
Just a quick note to say I enjoyed reading your great suggestions. These are the well known interview tips.
In today’s job market there is a lot of competition out there. The first “round” of competition is your Curriculum Vitae (also known as a job resume). Your CV is the very first, and often the most important, step in getting a job.
I was searching Google for something totally different, but found this page and i’m glad i did, thank you, good read.
I enjoy the efforts you have put in this, thanks for all the great articles.