About Amy "The Résumé Lady"

What Made Me Decide To Do This?

In September of 2008, I started The Résumé Lady for the simple purpose of helping Maintenance and Reliability professionals get their expertise, talents and potential on paper in a format that is not only appealing but purposeful. Why? I received the Résumé of a person who literally had roughly nine (9) carefully prepared pages that told me more than I ever wanted to know about anyone....Ever! This Résumé was not only lacking proper formatting, grammar and spelling; it was missing the element of appropriate content for the position to which the applicant was submitting it for. In fact, the document spoke volumes about the applicant's lack of attention to detail, inability to self-correct spelling, punctuation or grammar, even poor word-processing skills were jumping off the page. There were inconsistencies in the bullets, the applicant's misuse of common words and again, the sheer over abundance of information really screamed desperation. This particular applicant must have actually feared that they might not get an interview...so, they saved the interviewer the trouble by answering every possible interview question and then some.

Maybe this individual would have been a great asset for all of his/her expertise but I really couldn't say that for sure as these all important details were buried in 9 pages. Actually, it left me thinking he/she was not the best candidate for ANY position with our company. Oh, did I mention, I'm not even in Human Resources? Imagine what THEY thought when I passed it on to them? In this case, it was impossible to discern exactly what the owner had intended for anyone to derive from it. I feel certain we did not hire this candidate.

Over the following days, I thought about this Résumé. That is to say, I thought about the individual who had prepared it and submitted it. I asked several contacts and counterparts at partner companies if there wasn't someone we could refer to in the future that could help applicants refine their message. I asked publishers who had job boards. I inquired of one of the professional certifying organizations. I questioned professionals I knew who were out of work and looking in the job market. Not one of them told me they knew a writer with industry knowledge of Maintenance and Reliability. It was then that I realized there was a real need for an industry specific writer for the 13 million Maintenance and Reliability professionals in North America, over half of which are looking for work TODAY!

How Important Is an Industry Specific Résumé Writer?

Over the last 10 years, I've written numerous Résumés for friends and family (I didn't actually charge anything then). I am a detail oriented person, I write Résumés that get interviews. I have always had tremendous success with my own, and others I have written for have gushed with excitement over seeing themselves revealed in the Résumés I have produced for them and the interviews they secured.

It was only when I decided that after 8 years in the field of Architecture and Design (A&D) as a Regional Manufacturer's representative (LaZBoy Healthcare and Thayer Coggin to name a few) covering a three state territory, and with multiple years of experience in A&D Marketing, did I realize that my own Résumé was lacking. When I looked at my Résumé it provided all of the details another Commercial/Healthcare Furniture Manufacturer or A&D firm might be looking for, but if I were going to venture out into another industry, re-invent myself, I knew I'd need some specialized help.

I didn't come to this realization on my own though. I foolishly sent out my well-written, correctly formatted, grammatically correct Résumé, but with all the buzz words and terminology for A&D Marketing and Manufacturer's Representative positions that appealed only to my previous industry.

At some point, I considered being a pharmaceutical representative and sent my A&D Résumé to every pharmaceutical company that would accept one online. I was also networking a considerable amount with my College Alumni organization, attending weekly luncheons with the local Chamber of Commerce and was an active member of the Young Professional's organization. When I mentioned to an acquaintance of mine, what I was up to, he mentioned that he knew a writer who was known for reducing the time between submissions to interview by about 6 months on an 18 month cycle. So, in the fall of 2005 I contracted with her to re-write my Résumé. When I received it from Vicki, I think my first words were literally, "I'd hire me!" It was then that I first discovered that hiring an industry-specific Résumé writer could have some merit. I then feverishly re-submitted my pharma-Résumé again to everyone that had a website accepting applications. In January of 2006 I had another acquaintance from my networking group connect me with the VP of Business Development for one of the largest PdM Services, training and consulting firms in North America for the position of Marketing Coordinator. The position was an opportunity to change directions, learn a new industry, leverage my previous experience, utilize and hone some underused skills and develop my potential. I accepted the job in February of 2006 and then my phone started ringing from the pharma companies. I don't have any regrets about pursuing a career in Maintenance and Reliability instead of Pharmaceutical sales, but I do credit the success of my Résumé in attracting the attention of HR at those pharma companies to the industry specific writer who tailored my Résumé with the keywords and leveraged her knowledge of the industry employers, using the ingredients of successful Résumés she'd produced over the years.

There are many Résumé writing companies online that will "do" your Résumé. Do you really want to trust yours to one of them? They cannot possibly know about every industry for which they write about. Just because they can write for your friend's Retail Management, Information Technology, Accounting AND Medical, etc... Résumé, does not make them knowledgeable when it comes to understanding the needs of the hiring managers in the Maintenance and Reliability field. This is a specialized field, with its own lingo, acronyms, certifications and required expertise. Don't settle for a "generic" Résumé writer.

What Qualifies Me to Be The Industry's Résumé Writer?

I've spent nearly 4 years reading everything I can. I am very skilled at messaging, marketing and brand management and have used those skills to increase the quality of the deliverables and marketing collateral, every day. I have worked closely these years with thought leaders in the M&R industry, co-producing some of the industry's most read whitepapers, collaborating on the development of training classes for PM and PdM Best Practices, Reliability Engineering (RCA, RCM, LCC, Weibull, Developing Effective Work Procedures, etc.) and marketing brochures/collateral pieces. I have been an active member of SMRP since 2006, and am currently the Communications and Marketing Director for my local/regional chapter of SMRP. I have also attended over 20 of the industry's top maintenance conferences. Did I forget to mention that I am passionate about the M&R Industry!

What Trends Am I Seeing?

Prior to the decline of the market, and seeing it now, I know firsthand how challenged the industry is to keep good employees working gainfully. I also know that for some, this is the first time in 20+ years they've ever been in the marketplace looking for work. Most hired on right out of high school or college at a plant and have been promoted, taking on varied titles and increasingly more responsibility. Most thought they would retire there. Now, they are finding it impossible to put words around all they have accomplished in their past. Forget trying to put words on paper to express their potential or what they could bring to a new organization.

What Are The Elements Of A Successful Résumé?

There are several parts to a really successful Résumé and you want to be sure you make the most of the single, best opportunity you have to lead with your Compelling Cover Letter and keyword-laden In Brief section. These first two, allow you the formal introduction, the scanning highlights (numbers and figures) and your future potential that only you possess. The Chronological follows and can tell hiring managers where you've been and what you did while you were there. Of course, you can get into the specifics that back up your metrics mentioned in the In Brief section.

I realize this can seem overwhelming. More so, if you didn't see it (your lay-off, plant closing, firing or down-sizing) coming. In many cases, you're way past the days of filling out an employment application, and you have skills and potential that hiring managers in the industry ARE looking for. Don't make them look too hard! Worse, don't hide your talents and skills in a poorly worded, badly spelled or improperly formatted document. Think of your Résumé as you, on paper, personified. When you are not there in person, your Résumé is. Is it really the best reflection of you that it can be?

Why You Need Me

As your industry writer, I specialize in high quality Résumés for the Maintenance and Reliability Engineering Industry which may require extensive technical writing. I pride myself in being an industry knowledgeable resource to create or update your Résumé to showcase your expertise, talents and potential; tailored for the position you are qualified for, to ensure you are viewed as the best candidate for the job and get the interview. I leverage all my years of editing, proofreading, Résumé writing and learning everything I can about the Maintenance and Reliability Industry to make sure your certifications are not missed, your chronological work histories are accurately worded to reflect your abilities, and the acronyms and keywords are used.

I am discrete and will partner with you to provide some guidance, encouragement, and be a source for information on where to go to look for career opportunities.

When you work with me, we can produce a Résumé that you can be proud of, one that really speaks to who you are and why you are the best candidate for the position. I want you to read the Résumé we prepare and say "I'd hire me!"

Thank you for allowing me to serve the Maintenance and Reliability Industry in a way I find meaningful and worthwhile utilizing my skills as a professional Résumé writer to be your Personal Brand Manager.

I'm in this to help YOU. Relax, I'm here to make this entire process easier and your job search more productive.

Happy Job Hunting!

The Résumé Lady