Executive search consultants have interesting but challenging jobs. At times, finding the right candidate for a company can be a bit like looking for a needle in a haystack. A fairly big gap can exist between the company needs and the candidates wants and the consultant’s job of helping the two sides meet in the middle can be daunting. A way to make the process much easier is to find highly qualified candidates with a vision and work style that matches the hiring company. In the past, that meant job fairs, newspaper ads, and a great deal of faxing in an effort to find qualified applicants.

But with the advent of email, the internet, twitter and text messaging, finding candidates is becoming easier, allowing executive search consultants to find better qualified applicants faster. Rather than attend job fairs all over the country hoping to find top notch applicants and then being done with a search, a recruiter can launch a well designed website that allows people to add their resume online. With a 24 hour 7 day a week presence on the internet, a number of possible employees have access to the recruiter that might never have made it to a job fair.

Another technology that has made a world of difference for recruiters is email. No longer limited by fax machines, candidates can communicate clearly without having to run to Kinko’s to fax documents. Email is also a great tool for tracking information, allowing the recruiter to know what details were sent and when. Negotiations are well documented and an email conversation can happen quickly and easily, allowing decisions to be discussed thoroughly even within the time pressure of a job search. Texting is another useful tool for consultants. Being able to sit in an office meeting and at the same time send a short bit of information to a candidate regarding a change of an interview location makes all the difference. Twitter is also finding its way into the awareness of executive search consultants as it allows them to distribute information to all their clients and candidates with a minimum of effort.

With current economic conditions, it may seem wasteful to spend the money on a resume service, but in this competitive market this is exactly the time you should spring for the service. Many companies are receiving hundreds of resumes for each open position. A majority of recruiters spend less than three minutes reviewing a resume. Does your resume have what it takes to get noticed?

Your resume is not just a list of your experiences; it is a document advertising you and your accomplishments. Companies spend thousands of dollars on advertising campaigns. They do market research, conduct focus groups, and pitch several different ideas – all to get your attention. Your resume is your only way to get the attention of a hiring manager.

There are the obvious changes that can be made to your resume. If you have a simple typo or grammatical error, your resume could be tossed aside no matter how relevant your experience. But, this is something you can edit on your own. A good resume writing service offers more than just proofreading.

Resume writers do just that – they write resumes, every day. It can be easy for most individuals to find a resume format they like and stick with that format for years. A resume writer sees all different kinds of formats and styles and can transform your resume in ways that highlight your key points. Think of yourself on the receiving end of resumes – wouldn’t you be tired of seeing the same old bulleted list of job descriptions? A professional resume writer knows how to make your resume visually stand out.

Resume writers know what recruiters want, and just as important what they don’t want to see on resumes. Professionals know what keywords and buzzwords need to be present for your resume to stand out. Many recruiters search resumes online and will only find your resume if certain keywords are present. Since resume writers are always working with resumes they know the latest trends and techniques that recruiters are using. They attend conferences and participate in webinars, so their skills set is always improving.

Many people become attached to certain details on their resume. There may be some parts that should not be included, but they are so important to the individual that they have a tough time deleting them. Having a resume writer work on your resume will help it to be more objective. After talking with you about your experiences, there may be other skills that they will highlight on your resume. As individuals we tend to down play several of our best abilities.