Resume Consultants Key Terms

Get familiar with resume consultant key terms to choose one that is right for you

By Michele Vrouvas

More than ever before, applicants in today's job market are seeking professional assistance with their search for a fulfilling career. The first step is to hire a consultant who prepares a winning resume and offers helpful tips on interviewing and negotiating salaries. If you haven't used a resume consultant before, you may not know about the services they offer. Getting acquainted with key terms related to resume consultancy can help you choose the professional who best fits your needs.

National Resume Writers' Association

The National Resume Writers' Association is an organization devoted to promoting high standards in the resume writing profession.
Try: The National Resume Writers' Association website explains how its members get involved in establishing industry standards. It also identifies the professional groups that belong to the Association and gives general background information on the Association's members.

Professional Association of Resume Writers & Career Coaches (PARWCC)

The Professional Association of Resume Writers & Career Coaches encourages communication among its members so they can build relationships with colleagues that advance the profession in general.
Try: The PARWCC website will tell you the professional groups that its members belong to as well as the organization's goals. You'll also learn how this professional association goes about the business of setting standards for resume writing and helps its members coach their clients on interviewing skills.

Cover letter

The cover letter is the first page of the job application. It serves to introduce the employer to the candidate in a more personal way than the resume can.
Try: Go to The Owl at Purdue for tips on writing a cover letter that most resume consultants follow. The site also identifies the objectives resume consultants expect to achieve with a well-written cover letter.

Thank you letters

Also known as follow up letters, a thank you letter is typically written to an employer after the interview.
Try: Resume Resource not only explains how crucial thank you letters can be, it also provides tips on how to prepare them.

Reference sheets

Another vital part of a resume consultant's job is to counsel clients on how to prepare reference sheets and when to provide them to prospective employers.
Try: Learn tips for handling reference sheets at Career Consulting Corner. You'll learn about the best time to offer a reference sheet and what to do with them when you finally go on the job interview.

Salary negotiation

Salary negotiation is the process of discussing compensation once a job offer has been made.
Try: Salary offers a salary negotiation guide, complete with information and tips most resume consultants adhere to. It shows how to make meaningful salary requests, counter offers and come to an agreement on proficiency levels and benchmark jobs.