Resume Stigma?

I just finished a resume for a client who had a question I hadn't heard before. He wrote:

I love the resume you created, but it almost looks too good. Is there a stigma associated with having your resume professionally written?

Good question. And - as with most things in life - there's no definitive answer. There are probably HR professionals and recruiters who don't like the idea of professional resumes, perhaps feeling that your resume should reflect who you really are without any polishing up. But on balance, I'm guessing that there are many, many more recruiters who don't like bad resumes. And folks, most resumes are bad. They really are! I rarely see a resume that captures the essence of the person who created it, or that clearly communicates potential value-added.

Unless you can create a resume that makes a compelling case for an interview, you really shouldn't worry about whether a professionally written resume will look too good. After all, wouldn't that be a nice problem to have?

I just finished a resume for a client who had a question I hadn't heard before. He wrote:

I love the resume you created, but it almost looks too good. Is there a stigma associated with having your resume professionally written?

Good question. And - as with most things in life - there's no definitive answer. There are probably HR professionals and recruiters who don't like the idea of professional resumes, perhaps feeling that your resume should reflect who you really are without any polishing up. But on balance, I'm guessing that there are many, many more recruiters who don't like bad resumes. And folks, most resumes are bad. They really are! I rarely see a resume that captures the essence of the person who created it, or that clearly communicates potential value-added.

Unless you can create a resume that makes a compelling case for an interview, you really shouldn't worry about whether a professionally written resume will look too good. After all, wouldn't that be a nice problem to have?