FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions at ResuMAYDAY

Why should I hire a resume writer?
Do you know exactly what employers are looking for in their candidates? Do you know the right keywords that are programmed into applicant tracking systems? Are you a wordsmith? Answering no to any of these questions is a problem. The good news is that we emphatically answer YES! to all those questions.

We’re coming out of a recession and the employment market is definitely moving in the right direction. That means that the competition is tougher than ever. How long can you afford to job search with a resume that might not be delivering your strongest message? Two weeks? Two months? Two years? Invest in your career advancement.

A stellar resume, confident interview skills and a sharp, catchy LinkedIn profile lead to career-boosting conversations!

I’m ready for my better-than-the-rest resume!

So…Why ResuMAYDAY? What makes you so special?
ResuMAYDAY is special because we write resumes a little bit differently than everyone else. It’s that difference that will put you above your competition. We’re never going to write on your resume that you’re a “hardworking, loyal and experienced professional who multi-tasks, has excellent interpersonal skills and finishes projects on time and under budget.” And if you think that’s a good summary statement, let me show you how we’ll do better for you.

Our process is meant, from the moment you get in touch with us, to draw out better information. Your resume has one job – to start a conversation that leads to career advancement. Putting tired, formulated and impersonal phrases like the above on your resume simply doesn’t cut it. If you’re looking for something better, we’ll work wonderfully together!

I keep seeing the phrase, “No Wimps Allowed.” What does that mean?
This is a statement that has wisely guided many of my personal and career choices and I hope it’s useful to you, too. No Wimps Allowed means that you’re ready to embrace big, bold choices and you’re going to take big, bold steps. No Wimps Allowed means that you know this isn’t going to be the same job search that you conducted 20, or even 10 years ago. Times have changed. Technology has changed. The way we connect with people and maintain relationships have changed. No Wimps Allowed means that you’re not going to waste your time doing things that don’t work.

Who will actually be writing my resume?
I have an amazing team of resume experts. My initial job is to partner you up with the resume writer from my team who will do the best job for you. The consultation between you and your writer will be over the phone, and the resume and other documents are delivered by email as Word documents (we can create PDFs and plain text if those are needed). And here’s where I become important again: I personally review every resume, cover letter, LinkedIn profile and other material that we produce for you. This means you have the assurance that two resume experts have scoured over and perfected everything before you even see it!

Do you write cover letters, too?
Every resume comes with a cover letter. That’s not an extra fee; it’s figured into the price already. That’s because I believe that a cover letter should be sent out with every resume – no exceptions. (Even if you’re applying to a family-owned business!) Trust me, you’ll want that cover letter some time, so the best time to write it is with the resume.

I’m looking at changing careers, and the new industry doesn’t have anything to do with my current industry. Do you work with career changers?
Yes! While I love every resume that we write, I have to admit that my favorite resumes are those that require a bit of puzzle-solving and creative thinking. We work with people who are transitioning to a new industry, field, or role.

Can I meet with you or my writer in person?
Not usually. The resume work is all done over the phone and email. Trust me, after doing this for 14 years, I know that this process is most efficient for all of us.

However, some of our work is done in person. If you schedule an Interview Skills Session, it’s best (if possible) for that to happen in-person. If you’re not able to travel to the Chicagoland area, we can do that work over the phone or Skype.

“I just finished utilizing ResuMAYDAY for both resume creation and career assessment. It was an incredible process and well worth the money spent. The final resume is incredible! I couldn’t believe it was me! If you are going thru a career transition, or find yourself ‘stuck’ like I am after 15 years in the same industry, you really need to have a career assessment or career coaching. You will find it infinitely helpful and enlightening!”
M.L., Pharmaceutical Sales

Do you work with people outside of Chicago?
Absolutely! As a matter of fact, at any time we have more clients outside of Illinois because of our affiliations with so many business groups and national recruiting firms.

Do you offer a satisfaction guarantee?
Most certainly. We do so much work on the front-end of the project that when it’s time to write the resume, we have an excellent grasp of your goals, and how our work will help to fulfill those goals. In fourteen years, we’ve never had a client complain that we didn’t do our job or that the resume wasn’t going to work for them. We don’t offer a money back guarantee, because there are so many variables in the job search process that are outside of our control. But we do guarantee that if necessary, we will work with you through the revision process until we have a finalized products that meets your needs and makes you feel confident. We put heart, soul, intellect, wordsmithing and unparalleled expertise into every project.

Can I see samples of your work?
Only if you’re friends with a former client and they decide to share their resume with you. Every resume that we write is unique to that person, is confidential, and (since they paid for it) is the property of that person. Likewise, I promise that I’ll never use the resume we write for YOU to market myself.

What if I want to update my resume later?
Most of our clients come back to us within a year or two to add new information. We love catching up with former clients! Updates are quick, easy and inexpensive. We price it out depending on when we worked with you the last time.

If you want to add updates on your own, that’s not a problem. The resume is delivered by email as a Word document, so you’ll easily be able to make changes and updates as your career progresses.

I haven’t looked for a job in years. What do I need besides a resume?
We can help you with every phase of your job search. If you’re looking for in-depth career counseling, i.e., “What do I want to do when I grow up?” I have wonderful professionals to refer to you who specialize in this area. However, if you’re looking for a lower-impact approach (because I’m not a licensed counselor), I personally can help you with that.

From there, we’ll use those newly-minted career goals to craft your smart and focused resume, and LinkedIn profile. (Not yet convinced that you need a LinkedIn profile? PLEASE call me to chat about that.) Once those critical tools are completed, we can talk about additional coaching. How are your interview skills? Yes, you’ll have a great resume but that won’t matter much if you can’t close the deal at the interview table. Or perhaps you want coaching on how to best use (and develop) your network. The smartest job seekers quietly turn their network into a job search sales team. I can show you how to do that! And of course, we’ll identify other the job search activities that will be most effective for you.

I don’t think I need extensive coaching, just a bit of support. Can you do that?
Of course! We can book a 30 or 60-minute phone call to chat about ANY issue you choose. It’s an affordable power-boost to your job search. Call 630-901-3595 or email me directly at Lauren@ResuMAYDAY.com to schedule.

I also have an audio book available for purchase here. The chapters can be purchased individually as downloads, or if you buy the CD version, you’ll get a complimentary Resume Review (the $50 fee is waived), covering any topic you choose.

What are your prices?
Ah, you’ve noticed that we don’t have a price list on the site. Don’t let that scare you! The reason I don’t list prices is because we don’t have a ‘one size fits all’ price structure. We look at the entire scope of the project – not just your career level. But I can tell you that with just a little bit of information (seeing your current resume and knowing a bit about your career goals helps a lot), I’ll quote a price, explain the entire process, answer all your questions and give you all the information you need to know.

Here’s my promise to you: I won’t spend your money needlessly. Yes, this is an investment…but one with solid returns.

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