oe Pro Resumes has come a long way since it began in 2013. As we’ve grown, our formats and strategies have evolved, our services have expanded, and we now provide resumes for people in all sectors of the workforce outside of the produce industry. But over the years, we’ve noticed that the same questions keep coming up–questions asked by clients who just want to make sure they have the best resume possible. We thought we would address some of these questions we receive, since so many of our clients look for answers on the internet and receive widely varying results, some of which are contradictory.
QUESTION: Does Joe Pro Resumes use a specific strategy or approach that is different from other resume writing services?
ANSWER: Yes. Joe Pro Resumes offers a unique approach to resume writing. Our team consists of industry-specific recruiters, executive search consultants, sourcing specialists, resume screeners, technical writers, and industry experts. Our resume writers collaborate with these knowledgeable team members to create resumes that appeal to the client’s target job or company. Since we pre-screen hundreds of resumes every day for jobs posted on our websites, we’re able to instantly recognize what does and does not work in the resume screening process. Our writers have taken all of this information and incorporated it into our resume writing strategy.
QUESTION: I’ve heard that certain elements can confuse the software that processes resumes, such as using too many different fonts or using the wrong fonts. Is this true?
ANSWER: In our experience, these issues have never been a problem because our resumes only use two fonts, and it’s completely fine to use one font for the heading areas and another for the content. As for “good” vs. “bad” fonts on a resume, you can find all kinds of opinions online regarding which font is easiest to read—serif vs. sans serif, easy-on-the-eyes vs. distracting, etc. We use a few basic fonts that we think present a professional resume that is easy to read..
QUESTION: What type of resume makes the best impression? Basic and clean, bold and beautiful, formal and professional, or creative and colorful?
ANSWER: It depends! We think a resume should reflect both the personality of the candidate and the type of position for which the resume is intended. We’ve created all types of resumes for a wide variety of personalities and professions. Some candidates prefer a clean, formal format, while others prefer to make a bold statement with their resume. The final decision is made by taking into consideration a combination of factors, including the client’s preference, our recruiting team’s recommendation, type of position, and professional level of the candidate.
QUESTION: Is it a good idea to tailor my resume to specific job opportunities?
ANSWER: Yes. Whenever possible, we think it’s helpful to optimize your resume for the specific position or company. You can accomplish this by emphasizing the skills, experience, and accomplishments that best match the requirements of the position or company culture. Read the job description carefully, then showcase the strongest areas where you and the employer match up.
QUESTION: What happens to my resume after I apply for a job online?
ANSWER: When you apply for a job online, you are most likely uploading your resume to a database. Most online job portals, recruiting agencies, and executive search companies use Applicant Tracking System (ATS) databases to collect, store, and retrieve resumes for current and future job opportunities. At Joe Produce Search, the Executive Search division of Joe Produce, we use our own private, confidential database for this purpose. Our database is continuously updated and searched for potential matches between open positions and candidates.
QUESTION: Why did you remove my street address from my resume?
ANSWER: For confidentiality, we prefer to list only your city and state. If your street address is listed, anyone who reviews your resume can easily search online to find information about your residence. A quick google search can reveal private, unnecessary details to a potential employer, such as your neighborhood type, rent vs own status, home value, date of purchase, for sale, etc. Unfortunately, it’s possible that any of these details could influence an employer when making decisions related to compensation, relocation, etc.
