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 At
Your Service
Award-winning, expert
professional resume writing services. Personalized
and professional resume writing offered at your convenience and across times zones...by
telephone, fax, and email. Since 1996, we have met the resume
development and career
marketing needs of thousands of discriminating professionals in all 50 U.S.
states and internationally. |
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 "101
Before-and-After Resume Examples" Get instant access.
Download
your copy NOW!
Author of
"Secrets
of a Successful Job Search: 7 Simple Steps to Land the Job You Want in Half the
Time."
Contributor to more than 10 books on resume writing
and job searching, including:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
<<<
With dual writing certification
(NCRW and CPRW) and as a Certified Personal Branding Strategist (CPBS), Credentialed Career
Manager (CCM), Job & Career
Transition Coach (JCTC), and Certified Employment Interview Professional
(CEIP), Michelle Dumas is recognized as one of the leading resume
development specialists in the nation.
Distinctive Documents maintains active memberships
in the National Resume Writers' Association & the Professional
Association of Resume Writers
Charter Member,
Career Management Alliance
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Frequently Asked Questions About
Resumes
and the Professional Resume Writing Services of Distinctive Documents
- What is the purpose of a
resume?
- How does an
employer use my resume?
- Should I write my
own resume?
- What is a Certified Professional
Resume Writer?
-
What are your credentials?
- What do I need to
know about resumes for the Internet?
- What is the PARW?
- What is the NRWA?
- How will you gather the
information to write my resume?
- Does professional assistance cost
a lot?
- What is your turnaround
time?
-
How
long has your company been creating resumes?
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Who will be working on
my resume?
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Can I meet with you
at your office?
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Can I see samples of
your work?
-
I don't see a sample for my profession. Can you send me one?
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Have you
done resumes for senior executives?
- I am a
new college graduate (or a student about to graduate) is it worth
the investment to have my resume written professionally?
-
I am
not sure of my career goal. Can you help me?
-
I want to
change industries. Can you help me?
-
I want
a complete career change. Can you help me?
-
I have a broad range of abilities and want to pursue a couple
different career paths. Can one resume do this for me?
-
What is
your philosophy for resume development?
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What is your
resume development process?
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Do you offer
telephone consultations?
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What formats do
you create my resume in?
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How is communication handled during the resume development
process?
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What basis do you use to set prices? Is there room for
negotiation?
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How come there are companies that charge less for a resume?
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How is payment made?
-
How do I know I
will like my resume?
-
Can I have the resume development worksheet before I decide to
work with you?
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Do you offer payment plans?
- Do you
negotiate your fees?
- Can you
give me any references from past clients?
- What type
of guarantee do you offer?
-
How do I get started
on a project?
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Do you offer packages that include resume development and
distribution?
- How do I learn more and/or order
your services?
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I live in a country other than the U.S. Are
your services appropriate for me?
First and foremost, the purpose of a resume is to get
you an interview - to open doors so that you will have the opportunity to "sell"
your value in a face to face meeting with an employer. When you take a moment to think
about the employment process this is clear...the interview comes before the job offer...and
whether you are selected or rejected for an interview is almost always based solely upon
the information presented in your resume.
You face stiff competition in the job market. Your resume may arrive on the desk of
an employer along with hundreds of others. With the growing popularity of the Internet,
some employers and headhunters report receiving 500 or
more resumes each day! Obviously you want to maximize the possibility of your resume being
selected by sending a clearly written, easy to read, professionally crafted document. At
Distinctive Documents, we create effective, personalized resumes that highlight your
unique capabilities, skills, and accomplishments. With our assistance, your resume
will stand out from your competition and you will get that interview.
Your resume is used in several ways throughout the
employment process. As mentioned in the previous answer, resumes are first used as an
elimination tool. With hundreds of resumes to read during this first screening, an
employer may spend only 15-30 seconds glancing at each. Appearance, overall formatting,
design, and carefully worded key points are critical during this stage.
During the second stage, the few resumes that were not eliminated, maybe 20-30, are read
carefully and in detail. From this cut will come the 10 or so applicants who are selected
to actually interview for the opening. It is at this point that your resume functions most
powerfully as a communications and marketing document. In order to make it through this
cut, your resume must clearly communicate your work related skills and unique value to the
employer when compared to other candidates.
Finally, if you have made it to the interviewing process, your resume will serve as an
outline for discussion of your skills, knowledge, and accomplishments. If well written,
your resume has the power to influence the direction that the interview takes - keeping it
focused on your strengths rather than weaknesses.
This really depends...are you skilled professional
writer? Are you able to look at your own strengths and weaknesses objectively and have the
ability to communicate them clearly and succinctly to potential employers? Do you have a
clear grasp on the qualifications that will be most relevant to the reader, and an
understanding of the qualifications of your competitors?
Earlier we said that an employer spends only 15-30
seconds glancing at your resume before deciding if you are a possible candidate for the
job. While this is true, remember that this is also only the first cut.
After
this first elimination, if you have been chosen as a candidate, your resume will be
thoroughly read. This second cut is based solely on the quality of the writing
and presentation in your
resume. It is crucial that your job history, accomplishments, and qualifications are
presented clearly and concisely. You should present enough information to show that you
can make an immediate and valuable contribution to the employer.
At Distinctive Documents, this is what we are best at.
We confer with you to develop an in-depth understanding of your distinguishing value and
create a professional self-marketing document written just for you. We believe that the
best resumes combine both format and content. We will design a professionally written
resume for you, carefully balancing both of these elements, and maximizing your chances of being
selected as a candidate throughout the entire employment process. When
you present your resume to employers, you can be certain that the first impression you
make will be your BEST impression.
When you hire a Certified Professional Resume Writer
(CPRW or NCRW), you can be assured that you are hiring an expert - a person who
understands what employers look for...a person who writes resumes every day. According to
Frank Fox, Executive Director of the Professional Association of Resume Writers, "The
CPRW designation establishes that a resume writer has met industry standards for achieving
client strategic goals and has mastered the craft of resume preparation, using the most
current information and techniques." Some resume services may advertise
themselves as resume writers, however all they are really prepared to do is re-type your
existing resume. At Distinctive Documents every resume is written or approved by a
Nationally Certified Professional Resume Writer (NCRW, CPRW) who has the expertise to
write your resume "from scratch." Through our comprehensive telephone
consultations and worksheets, we draw out the relevant information about your skills,
achievements, and qualifications. We then write a personalized resume that captures your
"essence" by highlighting these, all the while formatting it into an
eye-catching, highly readable, and effective document.
Please see our web page:
http://www.distinctiveweb.com/aboutus.htm
Most employers now offer the option to email your
resume. Furthermore, there are literally thousands of resume databanks available to
post your resume for keyword searching by employers and recruiters. To take
advantage of these options it is essential that you have a properly formatted electronic
resume. You should almost never submit a word processed document or HTML document.
Your electronic resume must be formatted as ASCII text.
You may also want to take advantage of Web space to
broadcast your qualifications to the world. To do so, you will need an attractively
prepared HTML (Web page) resume. In either case, let us know your needs and we will
properly format your resume for both electronic distribution and Web viewing.
PARW, the Professional Association of Resume Writers
is the resume industry's professional association. Distinctive Documents is a member of
PARW, and therefore subscribes to the PARW code of business ethics. A PARW member in good
standing will:
- Professionally provide clients with products and
services that will enhance their abilities to achieve their goals and objectives
regardless of race, creed, religion, national origin, sex, age level or income, or
physical handicap.
- Be sensitive to clients needs and compassionate in
providing advice, products, and services in meeting the client's specific career goals.
- Deliver to the client what was promised and be truthful
in guiding, advising, and counseling clients in all aspects of the resume
writing/employment industry.
- Maintain strict confidentiality with every client,
revealing information only upon written authorization by the client.
- Keep current of new trends, formats, writing styles,
and resume/employment presentations to best serve his/her clients through PARW newsletter
and other publications or sources.
- Stay abreast of market and hiring trends that will
affect his/her clientele. By staying current, PARW members will provide up-to-date advice,
counsel, products, and services to better meet clients' career objectives.
- Comply with all legal obligations in providing
professional services.
- Be aware that contact with the public as a PARW member
promotes the organization and reflects on the resume writing/consulting service as an
industry.
- Be responsible to the community and be a contributing
part of this environment through participation in community activities, and will offer
professional advice and information pertaining to the resume writing/employment field.
- Emphasize the professional spirit of the organization
by encouraging and promoting good relations among members.
NRWA, the National Resume Writers' Association is a
non-profit organization dedicated to providing mentoring, education, and support services
for the resume writing profession. Distinctive Documents is a member of NRWA, and proudly
adheres to the NRWA business code of ethics. All NRWA members in good standing will:
- Maintain full client confidentiality at all times.
- Do unto others as we would have done unto us.
- Be truthful in advertising and marketing, and will not
resort to "bait and switch tactics".
- Practice a policy of full disclosure- provide an
accurate portrayal of all products, services, and costs that apply to, and can meet the
needs of, each individual client before work is done.
- Be honest with clients, prospective and/or existing, on
whether we can meet their needs - be they budget concerns or complex career objectives or
goals.
- Provide and/or recommend those materials and services
that will enhance our clients' abilities to achieve their goals without regard to race,
gender, religious preference, or political status.
- Deliver to clients what was promised and be truthful in
guiding, advising, and counseling clients at all times.
- Adhere to the highest standards of professionalism and
integrity while representing our industry and Association to clients and the general
public.
- Continually build upon our own books of knowledge in
the area of resume writing and strategies, and industry and employment trends.
- Commit to elevating the quality of work of our
colleagues through various mentor programs, as well as formal and informal coaching.
- Comply with all legal obligations, licensing laws, and
Association by-laws that govern industry and business practices.
At Distinctive Documents we use a combination of
techniques to gather information about your career aspirations, your
professional experience, and your most important achievements. Our
resume worksheet is the backbone of this process. The worksheet has
been specifically designed and refined over the years to extract not
only the details of your career, but to distill information about
your most important achievements and the value you have added in
each position. Once we receive this worksheet we begin drafting your
resume and then follow up by email or telephone to clarify issues
and prompt your memory about additional accomplishments and
qualifications.
The worksheet requires some thought and time on
your part, but many clients tell us that this is a valuable
experience for them, enabling them to think about their experiences
in new ways and adding focus to their career goals.
As Frank Fox, President of the PARW, asks in his
article Straight Talk About Your Resume, "Does it make
sense to spend $40,000 to earn a college degree and then market that
investment to employers with a do-it-yourself resume? Or to
have solid career credentials and a salary level of $30,000,
$60,000, or $100,000...and use a less than professional resume to
represent you?" Besides, truthfully, what does it "cost" you
to be unemployed or even underemployed. A resume prepared by
Distinctive Documents is a personalized marketing document and
should be considered an investment in your future. Our
resumes WILL help you get your foot in the door of the companies you
wish to work for. So, please don't confuse the "cost" of our
resumes with the "price". After all, how much does it really
cost you to have no income?
If a resume prepared by us helps you to find a new or better job just one day sooner,
isn't it worth the price?
At Distinctive Documents we have
always emphasized quality over quantity and believe that "rush job"
resumes will sacrifice quality. We work on projects in the order
they are received. When we receive a completed worksheet we schedule
the project for completion in the order that it was received
(approximately 10 business days) and immediately email
the client to inform him or her of the schedule. Because we are
almost always booked "solid" we are unable to accommodate requests
for rush orders. We encourage clients to plan ahead and begin
working with us before there is an urgent need for a resume.
Distinctive Documents was founded
in 1996.
Michelle Dumas, owner and operator
of Distinctive Documents, works with a team of writers who assist in
various stages of the writing. Michelle herself oversees every
project and each must meet her extremely high standards before she
considers the project complete. When you return your worksheet, you
will be assigned a primary writer and will work directly with both
your writer and a project manager. Michelle herself works directly
with a very select number of top-tier clients. If this interests
you, you can learn more about this at
www.100kCareerMarketing.com
We work with clients around the
world solely by phone, email, fax, and regular mail. Because we
are an information-based service, these formats lend themselves
perfectly for our situation. This allows us to be much more
efficient with time, and clients who work during the day can still
have ample access to us.
Yes, please visit our web page:
http://www.distinctiveweb.com/samples.htm
You may also enjoy looking at our Before & After Example Resumes
page
http://www.distinctiveweb.com/samples/before-after-resumes/
The samples on our website are
meant only to demonstrate our writing style and quality. We do not
provide specific samples on request. The
fundamentals of good resume writing are the same for every
profession. While there are nuances in design and presentation
(resumes for an attorney and a graphic design artist look very
different, for example) what changes the most is the particular
vocabulary for each profession. You are an expert on that and we
have many sources if research is needed.
We have prepared resumes for
hundreds of executives including those in COO, CFO and CEO roles.
Many of our clients have been employed by large organizations such
as the World Bank, General Motors, General Electric, and Phillip
Morris to name a very few. We've also prepared resumes for those in
high government offices including Presidential staff members.
Presently, 64% of our client base is at the executive level and 67%
earn a personal income of six-figures or higher.
How much money did you or your
parents just spend on your new degree? $40,000? $50,000? $60,000?
$80,000? More? Let me ask you...do you think it is unreasonable to
ask you to invest a few hundred dollars promoting that degree?
Professional assistance is the sure way to ensure you have an edge
over the thousands of other new graduates you are competing with for
jobs.
It's very important that your
resume be written with your career goal clearly in mind. Sometimes
searching a job board and conducting additional research can help
you determine a direction. If you prefer more one-on-one help, we
can refer you to a career coach, and then you can come back to us
when you're ready for a resume. We focus solely on creating job
search documents and assisting with their distribution.
If you will be doing the same type
of work in a different industry (e.g. sporting goods sales vs. car
sales) we can emphasize the skills (sales skills in this case) that
transfer from one industry to the next.
If you are truly changing careers
(e.g. going from IT into Nursing), you will need a resume that is
specially prepared for such situations. We are especially
skilled at career change resumes. We enjoy the challenge of these,
and are very good at demonstrating how existing skills can
transfer to the new career.
It's possible, depending on your
background and the objectives, and provided that you have cover
letters that are specifically written for each objective. But, if
your multiple career objectives are in completely different areas,
more than one resume will be necessary.
We think of a resume as a
self-marketing document. It is essentially an advertisement that
communicates your qualifications and the value that you would bring
to a prospective employer or client through your ability to solve
their problems and deliver a return on their investment in hiring
you. Furthermore, you only have 15 - 30 seconds to convey this value
and to capture the reader's attention, convincing them that your
resume is worth reading in more detail, or that they should call you
for an interview. Clear, succinct writing is essential. Knowing what
to include and how to present it is part of our craft. We begin each
resume from scratch and develop a strategy that best portrays your
experience in conjunction with your career objective.
With the above in mind, and a goal of achieving the best results
possible, every resume that leaves our office incorporates the
following:
1) Immediately discernible focus and value proposition.
2) Emphasis on benefits and results rather than just tasks and
responsibilities.
3) Clear demonstration of why the employer needs you, how you can
satisfy those needs, and that you have superior ability to meet
those needs.
4) Dynamic and compelling yet succinct writing style to sustain
reader interest.
5) Visually attractive design to set your resume apart in the stacks
and draw the eye to key qualifications.
The specifics of how we create a
first-class resume vary. Every resume that leaves our office -- the
strategy, content, and design of that resume -- is as unique as the
individual client. We don't believe in templates and begin every new
project with a blank sheet of paper and a brainstorming session to
devise the content strategies, style, tone, format, and design of
resume that will be most effective for you. Factors that go into
these decisions include your career goals, your professional
background and history, your profession, the industries you are
interested in, and the way in which each of these elements interact
with the others.
Our method for resume development requires the completion of an informational worksheet that is designed to elicit general
data, as well as critical information about your career objective,
your key qualifications, and your professional achievements.
Completing the worksheet generally takes two to three hours, but
some clients take longer. Feedback has told us that most clients
find this a valuable process that helps them to focus their career
goals and think in new ways about their value in the job market. We
utilize the information in your worksheet to create an
employer-focused, strategically written resume that articulates your
most relevant and impressive achievements and the unique benefits
you offer that will position you above your competition.
After carefully reviewing your worksheet, your writer will contact you
if additional information or clarification is needed. Then your
writer will
prepare your draft and email or fax it to you within 10 business
days. Your writer will want you to review it, provide feedback and work
collaboratively with her on revisions.
If simple corrections are needed, you are asked to forward them via
fax or e-mail. You are also invited to call or email your writer with
questions or issues that you would like to discuss during the
revision the process.
We have each client complete a
detailed questionnaire that probes them for information about their
background and objectives. We've found that we get much more
complete and accurate information when clients have the opportunity
to sit with the questions, go away and think about them, do research
- all on their own timetable - rather than being on the spot to
answer them in a phone interview. However, we allow up to an hour of
telephone consultation for each project as needed. This generally
takes place during the revision stage of the process when you and
your writer have the draft as a structure to work with. This allows for
a much more efficient use of time.
Once you and your writer agree on a
final proof, she will finalize the project and email you a Microsoft
Word file, a PDF file (you would need the free Adobe viewer to
access this file), and the ASCII text (electronic) version of your
resume. The latter is for your use in applying for jobs on the
Internet. You can print copies from either the Word or PDF version.
Your writer will typically use email to communicate
whenever possible. It's an efficient means of communication, and it
allows clients to respond to issues when they are able. Your writer will
communicate by email as long as necessary to complete the project to
the your satisfaction. Up to one hour of telephone consultation
will be allowed at no additional charge for clarification of answers
given on the worksheet and/or refinement of draft documents following completion of project. After
preparing thousands of resumes, we know that with email, an
hour of phone time is more than enough.
We calculate our quotes
using a formula that consider such things as profession, level of
responsibility, length of employment and career objective.
We do not negotiate our fees. Our current range can always be seen
on our services page.
Across the country prices for
resumes range from $99 to well over $5000. The expertise behind them
varies just as much, and price is not the best indication of
quality. Michelle Dumas, owner and operator of Distinctive
Documents, is one of only a handful of writers in the U.S. to have
earned multiple certifications for her profession, and is
acknowledged as an authority in her industry. Despite her superior
expertise, and her one-on-one guidance of the writers at Distinctive
Documents, our prices are in the mid-range.
Our prices are a reflection of the professionalism, service, and
quality that you will receive in return. Michelle has built
Distinctive Documents to the level of success and recognition that
it enjoys today by always stressing quality over quantity. Our
business model is based on providing outstanding quality and service
to a select number of clients. Our services are most appropriate for
individuals who understand that a professional resume is an
essential investment in their career, and who value the unmatched
professional expertise, personal attention, focus on details,
emphasis on quality, and commitment to helping you achieve your
career goals successfully that we bring to every project.
We require a 50% retainer (Visa,
MasterCard, Discover and American Express accepted) prior to
emailing you the resume development worksheet. The balance is due
when you return the completed worksheet. As with nearly all
commissioned, customized services payment in full is required before
we begin writing.
Our website provides many
samples
of our work to give clients a clear sense of our writing style and
quality. We encourage prospective clients to take a look and see if
our style appeals to them. You can be assured we will produce a
similar quality product for you, and we will work with you until you
are satisfied with your resume. Plus, your resume must also meet
*our* high standards of excellence.
Our worksheet is intellectual
property representing years of working with clients. We only send it
out once someone has become our client.
We do not offer payment plans, but
we do take credit cards. We charge half of the service up front and
other half once you have returned the worksheet. This route allows you to begin the process while controlling when the second
half of the project is charged.
No. We are not willing to negotiate
the quality of service we provide and we are unable to negotiate our
fees. If your primary concern is getting a resume written at the
cheapest cost, we ARE NOT the best service for you. Our service is
for people who are seeking the BEST POSSIBLE QUALITY AND SERVICE and
are willing to invest an appropriate amount to receive that.
Back to Top
Absolutely! You can read
dozens and dozens of references from
our past clients here.
Back to Top
100% satisfaction guaranteed. We
are so confident in the quality of our services that we guarantee
you will be completely satisfied with your resume. If you are not
fully satisfied with your resume and notify us within the 15-day
proofing period, we will immediately assign a new writer and rewrite
for free.
Back to Top
We will gladly handle both for you,
and we have separate fees for each service. We always begin with
resume development. Having prepared your resume, we have a clear
understanding of your career goals, and this helps us to advise you
on the best distribution strategy.
There are many ways for you to contact us. You
may call us directly from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, eastern time, Monday through Friday, at our
toll free number (800- 644-9694) or our local number (603-742-3983). If you prefer
to use email, we can be reached at information@distinctiveweb.com.
Additionally, if you have an existing
resume that you think would help us to better understand your
background, feel free to fax it (800-644-9694) or attach it
to an email.
That depends.
While our client base is global, our resumes are written in English
only, and are prepared in a US/Canadian style. Resume/CV styles vary
throughout the world. If you are uncertain whether a US/Canadian
style resume is correct in your situation, contact us (see above)
and we will help you determine if our service is the correct one for
you.
Contact Us Today to Learn
How Our Resume Writing Services Will Benefit YOU!
It is your turn. How can we be
of service to you?
You only have
ONE CHANCE to make a first impression. Don't waste it with a
less-than-effective resume!
 Let us write
your resume for you. We would love to
provide you with a personalized quote and additional
information about our professional resume writing services. The
investment for your resume will range from $347 (entry level) to
$847 (top executive). Pricing is determined by the relative
complexity of your project. In order to provide you with a
proposal, we need to ask you just 9 quick questions. This
9-question survey is
quick and easy and will take you just 30 seconds, but if you have
any questions or problems just give us a call at 800-644-9694.
Click below now to
get started
and learn how you can work with us.
IMPORTANT: Please note that while
our
client base is global, all resumes are written in English only, and are prepared in a
US/Canadian style. Resume/CV styles vary throughout the world. If you are uncertain
whether a US/Canadian style resume is correct in your situation, contact
us and we will
help you determine if our service is the correct one for you.
 And,
while you are here...get to know us a little better with a free
subscription to our newsletter Career Connections.
Career Connections provides timely news and information that
you can put to work now in your career. It is our goal to provide you with
both cutting-edge and time-tested tips and tactics for advancing and
managing your career, achieving career fulfillment, and reaching your
highest career goals. You can easily unsubscribe at any time and
your name and email address will NEVER be sold, rented, or given away. We
promise!
Do you have an e-mail filter on your email account? If
so, please add the domain "distinctiveweb.com" to your list of allowed
senders so that you don't miss any of our email.
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P.O. Box 105
Somersworth, NH 03878
Toll Free Phone: (800) 644-9694
Fax: (888) 289-9694
Contact
us by email
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Enhanced
Careers |
This is just a short note to let you know that I have been offered
the position of Director of Educational and Administrative
Technology ...Feedback from some of the members of the selection committee revealed
that they were "blown away" by the resume. Actually, they only had me in for a
single interview...I consider your work
very instrumental in both the success of landing the job, and in the ability to
successfully assert a salary requirement that is significantly higher for this particular
area of the country...You can be sure that you are a permanent part of my electronic
rolodex. If anyone ever needs a top-quality resume, you can be sure that your name will be
mentioned.
- M.Z., New York |
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Fast Results |
Thought you'd like to know that I've just accepted a
new position and am happy as can be. You should know that I began my search in earnest in
the beginning of November and my success rate in getting calls from the companies whose
postings (Monster and HeadHunter) I responded to was nothing short of phenomenal. Thanks a
million Michelle for getting me noticed.
- E.S., Washington, D.C. |
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Improved
Confidence |
I just want to compliment you again on the fabulous
service you provide. I am sure your new offerings will bring you even greater success. I
am so glad I found you. I looked at other resume preparation services but yours was
definitely the most compelling. Everyone I have shown my resume to is very impressed. I
have given them your name and website (along with a glowing recommendation of course). I
really can't thank you enough. I am very excited about the possibilities that await me. I
guess I never realized the number of skills I have and things that I have accomplished
until you organized them so coherently.
- S.S., New Jersey
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Salary Wizard® |
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