Nine times out of ten, when someone asks me to look at their resume, I’m assuming it’s because they want me to make an introduction, or help them find a job. I don’t assume it’s because they really want my feedback on their resume.
Maybe you have truer intentions, and only want feedback on the resume, but the truth is, I’m not the person to give it to you. My brain and resumes don’t mix very well. They are too formal, with boundaries that I think are dumb. I can point out glaring issues, but so can most people. Why are you taking up my time (and potential help) by asking me for something that doesn’t make sense.
It’s like asking your neighbors to check your oil in your car. You can do it, you can learn to do it, or you can find someone qualified to do it. But you don’t ask all of your neighbors to check your oil, right?
If you really want my help with your job search, find out how I can help you, and then ask for that! It might be networking, introductions, sitting down and giving you ideas, participating in a mock interview, or a host of other things. But don’t let the first request be “will you look at my resume?”
Here’s a post I wrote about this last year: What do you do with a Killer Resume?
Here’s a recent post from Thea Kelley, a resume expert, titled How to Get Useful Resume Feedback
There comes a time when you have to stop hiding behind “I’m working on my resume” and realize you simply need to have the right conversations with the right people. And you don’t need to use your resume to do that.