Is It Ethical to Claim You Have Strong Writing Skills If You Hire a Resume Writer?

How often have you seen "Strong verbal and written skills required" in a job description? It seems to appear on almost every job listing. If you are hiring a resume writer, is it ethical to say you have this important job requirement?

Different Set of Rules for Resumes

To answer that question we need to first understand that there is a difference between resume writing skills and other writing skills. There is a completely different set of rules that apply to resumes than to almost any other type of writing.

You can be a strong writer, with the power to move people with what you put down on paper, without having the skills to write a resume that presents yourself in the right light. You may ask how this can be. It has much to do with knowing the rules.

1) Avoid the use of full sentences on a resume.

Brevity is the watchword for resumes. This is one place where you ignore that rule about fragments. Instead of saying, "I am a motivated, results-driven sales professional," you'll say, "Motivated, results-driven sales professional." Generally, you always drop the subject. Often, you'll drop the verb as well.

2) Never use personal pronouns in a resume.

The above example also highlights another important rule. Never say "I" in your resume. It's an obstacle. Let the person reading your resume think in the third person. He or she will mentally think, "He is a motivated, results-driven sales professional." "She is a motivated, results-driven sales professional."

3) Avoid the use of articles such as "a" and "the" for the same reason you avoid full sentences.

This is a rule I occasionally break, yet I only do so in the objective section if I do. It requires skill to pull this off sometimes without leaving behind a stilted feel to the information.

4) Use bulleted lists to present your information.

Bulleted lists organize your information for quick scanning. When there are 500 resumes competing with yours, make it easy to spot the fact that you are a good candidate for the position.

5) Always use parallel form in any lists you create.

This is a skill that even experienced writers can struggle with. If you always start descriptions of your skills with a verb, then every bullet for that type of information throughout your resume should start with a verb. If you start with an adverb on one line, always use adverbs to start each line.

Parallel Verb Form 1 - For past positions

Developed marketing strategies to break through sales barriers within East Coast sales regionTrained sales personnel to raise sales performance of all team members within each sub-districtCoordinated marketing events to improve lead follow up quality

Parallel Verb Form 2 - For present position

Developing marketing strategies to break through sales barriers within East Coast sales regionTraining sales personnel to raise sales performance of all team members within each sub-districtCoordinating marketing events to improve lead follow up quality

Parallel Adverb Form 1 - For past positions

Actively sought cutting edge marketing strategies to break through sales barriers within East Coast sales regionCreatively found new ways to raise sales performance of all team members within their sub-districtsExpressly focused on better coordination of marketing events to improve lead follow up quality

Parallel Adverb Form 2 - For present positions

Actively seeking cutting edge marketing strategies to break through sales barriers within East Coast sales regionCreatively finding new ways to raise sales performance of all team members within their sub-districtsExpressly focusing on better coordination of marketing events to improve lead follow up quality

The adverb from is more challenging to use. At the same time, it can be very effective at describing the way you approach your job. Adverbs add punch to the verb. They can help you project a picture of how you work and how you would benefit a future employer.

Parallel Transitive Verb Form 1 - For past positions

Transitive verbs, those verbs that show action and must be followed by something that you acted upon, can also be effective.

Demonstrated proposed marketing strategies would break through sales barriers within East Coast sales regionMotivated sales team to reach higher sales goals than ever before considered within each sub-districtProved that incorporating social networking into marketing events improved lead quality

Parallel Transitive Verb Form 2 - For present positions

Transitive verbs, those verbs that show action and must be followed by something that you acted upon, can also be effective.

Demonstrating effectiveness of new marketing strategies by breaking through previous sales barriers within East Coast sales regionMotivating sales team to reach higher sales goals than ever before considered within each sub-districtProving that incorporating social networking into marketing events improved lead quality

6) Avoid bullet lists that sound like a job listing.

As you create those bullet lists sharing your skills, inject a sense of how you have performed those primary duties of the jobs you've had in the past. Think beyond what you did, to how you accomplished what you did.

7) Focus on what you have to give.

Sure, there are things you need from the employer. There's time enough for discussing that later. Start from the position of "Here's what I can do for you." Let's face it, while you don't want an employer who is only what's in it for me focused, you can't know who you are dealing with unless you get your foot in the door for an interview. Focus your resume on what you have to offer.

In the end, a resume is more than just the ability to write. It also involves a level a design sensitivity. That line "strong written and verbal skills has a different definition depending on the employer.

If the job isn't asking you to prove your design skills as well as writing skills, you may be able to ethically claim you have the writing skills the company is looking for, even if you hire someone to help you with your resume. We're not all gifted in the same ways.

Denise Rutledge has provided resume and cover letter writing services for over three years through WritingasaGhost. Her clients have said things like: "I've always gotten an interview when Denise has written my cover letter." R.F. "You are the best money I have ever spent." K.S. She shares this information to empower others to write their own resumes and cover letters for successful job search results.

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