The pros and cons of writing your own resume

Your resume is your biggest weapon during the job hunt. A well-crafted resume will get you all the attention you deserve in this busy job market. A poorly written resume will likely get you rejected by your target employers. Your resume creates the first impression of you in the recruiter’s mind. This is why you should have a perfect document that broadcasts your biggest selling points to potential employers.

Many job seekers decide that they want to write their own resume for a job hunt. There is nothing wrong with writing your own resume, as long as you know what you need to do. If you don’t have an idea of resume writing best practices or if you don’t have a way with words, then a self-written resume may actually do more harm than good.

Pros of writing your own resume

You get to add a personal touch

Your voice isn’t lost during the resume writing process, giving your resume a more than two-dimensional feel. Your resume will reflect your voice and personality in a way that piques the interest of hiring managers.

You save up money

Professional resume writing services do not come cheap. A job search is an already financially sensitive project. You will be spending a lot of money on interview outfits and transport when you are on a job search. Writing your own resume will help you save up a bit of money for your job search.

You know your targets

Unlike a professional resume writer, you have a very clear and in-depth understanding of your career goals and future targets. With this inside knowledge, you can create a resume that is tailored to your specific needs.

Cons of writing your own resume

You won’t be an objective narrator

It's easy to lose objectivity when you are writing your own resume. A certified resume writer will look at your professional achievements and choose the very best of them for your resume. However, you are likely to make the mistake of prioritizing irrelevant information when you write your own resume.

You waste a lot of time

A resume is not something that is done within a few minutes. A well-written resume may take up to 10 hours to complete. But when you are on a job hunt, your time is a precious resource. You can’t afford to spend a few hours a day huddled over your desk perfecting your resume.

You have limited knowledge

Unlike a professional resume writer, you will have limited knowledge about resume writing best practices and industry standards. As a result, the resume you produce may be far off from the mark. You will also spend the majority of your time researching basic resume-writing tips.

You have more potential to make errors

Certified resume writing professionals are trained to avoid common resume mistakes when creating your documents. They are also familiar with what is acceptable and what is unacceptable on a resume for a given field. Therefore, they have less chance to make mistakes with your resume.