anyone use theladders.com to find a job?

cheapie · 01-14-2009, 11:16 AM

just signed up for one month of service for $30. seems like a much better place to find a professional job than monster.

i submitted my resume for a professional critique and they tore it up. they STRONGLY suggested i have their writers create a new one for a mere $700.

i guess it i get a job making $125k+ it's not much of a price to pay but still....sheesh!

i wonder how their resume creating service compares to other services. hmmmmmm....

ray · 01-14-2009, 12:16 PM

**** them. your resume is fine.

theladders.com only focuses on job listings with salaries over $100k. It's for mid-level managers and higher.

cheapie · 01-14-2009, 12:39 PM

well...that's kind of what i'm looking for. that's what i'm making right now.

attgig · 01-14-2009, 01:33 PM

700 bucks for a new resume?!?!
guess that's how they make their money.
they should have a guarantee for 700 bucks... score more interviews with their 700 buck resume vs your resume.

that honestly sounds WAY too much.

Prngr44 · 01-14-2009, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by attgig

700 bucks for a new resume?!?!
guess that's how they make their money.
they should have a guarantee for 700 bucks... score more interviews with their 700 buck resume vs your resume.

that honestly sounds WAY too much.

I agree. There's professional writing services that charge less than that to alter your resume.

Maybe they allow resumes in their system that have purchased the $700 rewrite "fee" to generate more hits on potential employers??

clutchy · 01-14-2009, 06:06 PM

I'm entirely convinced that's a scam site... They advertise yes but their whole model is dependent on more people signing up, which may or may not happen.

The 2nd obvious sell is the resume writing. Do it yourself they are just trying to bilk you...

Jeffbx · 01-15-2009, 06:08 AM

Eh, I've used them before & got NOTHING from the site. Not a single place worth applying to. Now, to be fair MI is not exactly dripping with job openings, but I was hoping that I'd see SOMETHING that wasn't on Monster or Dice. Nope.

And yeah, your resume is fine. I can't imagine what they might do to it that would merit $700...

cheapie · 01-15-2009, 06:21 AM

here's the critique if you're interested. some of it def sounds like form letter stuff. some sounds original.

Quote:

thank you for submitting your resume to TheLadders.com. My name is Lisa XXXXXXX, and I have reviewed your resume.

It was a pleasure to read about your qualifications and experience and I wish you the best of success in your job search. In this critique I will outline my thoughts, explain the process and give you some guidance at the end of my review to get you closer to your goal.

Please note that I am NOT critiquing your background, experience or potential for success. I am commenting on how you are marketing those assets to potential employers and how you are competing against others with similar goals. Your resume needs to be assertive in showing prospective employers how you would be of value to them, because no matter how good you are at your job, the resume is what really lands the interview.

Before I begin the critique, I do need to warn you about my style, because my comments can seem blunt. But the reality is that the job market is very competitive now, so I find it beneficial to tell it as it is rather than "yes" people to death. (I hate it when people do it to me!)

Andrew, plain and simple: you are missing many key strategies on your resume, and it doesn't fully reflect your career level. There is not enough excitement to your document, nor any burning desire to pick up the phone and call you. With all your experience, you deserve a better resume. I strongly suggest a professional rewrite by one of our certified resume consultants. If, after having read through my comments, you agree with my assessment, you will have an opportunity to purchase a premium resume rewrite at the end of my critique. If you have any questions feel free to e-mail me or call me at my direct number, (XXX) 307-7585.

That being said, here are the issues I see on your resume...

SUMMARY / INTRODUCTION

I realize that you are happy with your Objective, but Objectives aren't used anymore because they don't speak to the needs of the employer but rather to your needs. That's a weak marketing message. Think of it like this - when you sell someone something you don't say "I want this and that as my part of the deal." Instead you say "Look how what I have to offer will be an asset to you."

The main problem with your Summary section is...you don't have a Summary section. This is a monumental mistake because a Summary is the biggest selling point of a resume. It's your ticket to the interview. The most valuable real estate in the resume (the top of the first page) has been wasted by not including a great, hard-hitting Summary that establishes the focus of the resume with a good positioning slug, provides the reader with a concise picture of the value you offer and implies where you are headed in your career at this point. Employers will often make their decision on whether or not to proceed with your resume by first reading this section. Therefore, it's imperative that you jump out to employers at first glance.

This section is the most-read section of the resume by hiring managers (it's the "hook") and you miss the chance to grab the reader's attention. A Summary on a resume functions much like an executive summary in a business plan - it gives the reader a quick overview of what they will find in the rest of the document.

Vet your Professional Profile for relevance. They aren't industry-specific enough. Remember, this is an "at-a-glance" category that serves two duties: it gives a quick overview to the reader, but it also serves as a keyword section for the database search engine. Recruiters will be using search terms to find you. They probably aren't going to be using "Drive for Results" as one of their criteria.

On a side note, always include a Professional Title at the top of your resume. A Title will immediately indicate to employers what job you're seeking and where you'll "fit in." Assert yourself to potential employers from the get-go.

CONTENT

Let's look at your experience section next...

You have a strong background in marketing, and I'm afraid that you are under-selling yourself. The content of the experience section is very weakly written and bland. It does not spark interest on the part of the reader or show how you are any different than the other candidates against whom you are competing. Read this excerpt from your resume:

* Tracked and communicated print media coverage

Not to be mean, but does that spark your interest? You have not provided strong description of your job roles and your accomplishments are scanty and vague. Employers need to see clearly how you are better than the other candidates with similar experience. The employer will only call the candidates who have the best qualifications that are presented in the resume.

Overall, you're having trouble with your content, the "meat" of your resume. Where are all your powerful, hard-hitting job descriptions? From the way the resume is worded, you come across as more of a doer than an achiever. Too many of your job descriptions are task-based and not result-based, meaning they tell what you did-not what you achieved. To be effective and create excitement, it needs to be results-based: What was achieved as a result of what you did? Employers are looking for results. Here are a few examples of what I mean:

* Oversee partnership between X and Y, Z, W, and T.
* Authored and published monthly divisional employee newsletter
* Directed product photo shoots and literature creation

These statements aren't much too write home about because they list what you did-not what you achieved. It's like me saying "I went for a run last weekend." What I didn't say would paint a whole new picture-that my "run" was actually a marathon and that I placed in the top 10 out of more than 300 runners, all while nursing a sprained ankle. See the difference? It's all in the wording.

You are targeting marketing, a very numbers-focused field. Therefore, your accomplishments need to put more emphasis on specific, measurable highlights that reflect your ability to produce great numbers for your employer. Employers look for potential in the quantitative evidence you show of your success. So make sure you get that type of information in the resume in a highlighted way. I need to see more numbers here that correspond with your track record. Are you hoping the reader will simply take your word for it?

For your reference, the ideal job description briefly summarizes your duties in paragraph format and then uses bullets for your accomplishments and results achieved to maximize their impact.

I also recommend including a brief profile for each place of employment to help give the reader a better idea of your background. Company descriptions should include information such as: main product/service delivered, annual revenues, size, and number of employees, markets, etc. to help the reader get a clearer picture of the environments in which you have worked and a frame of reference for your achievements.

Overall Andrew, I believe you are a better candidate than this resume conveys. It does not spark interest on the part of the reader or show how you are any different than the other candidates against whom you are competing. Employers need to see clearly how you are better than the other candidates with similar experience. The employer will only call the candidates who have the best qualifications that are presented in the resume.

MECHANICS

A resume is a unique form of communication. When most people write their own resumes, they underestimate the power of language while just putting down the most basic information. Keep in mind that after recruiters see hundreds of resumes from qualified candidates, resumes begin to look and sound the same. That's why it's imperative that yours has sharper language than the rest.

So, we really need to work on elevating the language throughout the document. The document's verbiage doesn't support your goals. Its "average" - not what you want when you are trying to sell your abilities and position yourself above the competition. Step up the language by using stronger action verbs to create excitement and keep your reader engaged.

Also, you need to proofread your document closely. This is a common problem in Executive-level resumes that, though just a technical issue, could cost you a lot of interviews because it seems less professional. Therefore, it's often beneficial to employ someone objective to go through your document with fine-tooth comb.

DESIGN AND FORMAT

It appears you may have used a resume template or wizard to construct your executive marketing document. Template use is common among the college grads and entry-level candidates. You're looking to take your career to the next rung on the ladder - time to have your resume look as sharp as you do. Besides, you don't want your resume to look like about a million other resumes out there... not when you are trying to stand out among the crowd. You want yours to be something they will never forget.

Because I see many executive resumes on a daily basis, I can spot a resume that gives an amateur appearance versus an executive appearance right from the start. Recruiters and hiring managers can, too. Unfortunately, the design of your resume is not on par with other excellent executive resumes that I've seen. Remember, an employer scans a resume for an average of 10 seconds. If they continue reading, they'll spend an average of only 45 seconds total reading a resume. That's how much time you have to hold their attention.

You need to be making a much stronger impression as a professional with your level of experience. Good formatting and design is crucial for targeting $100k+ Account Executive jobs, where it's a whole different ballgame. Recruiters and HR managers will look for any reason to put your resume in the "NO" pile.

It's a simple formula: organization + appearance + readability = higher potential for a positive result. A lot can be done with your resume to improve first visual impressions while maintaining a conservative appearance. Only a professional resume writer can pay attention to all these details and create an error-free document. If for no other reason than this, I highly recommend that you seek professional help simply for the design and formatting issues that are currently holding your resume back.

OVERALL IMPRESSION

Andrew, you're severely underestimating how powerful a resume can be. A job search is like trying to push through the crowds at a concert - before you can even get close to the stage, there's a security guard asking for your ticket.

Your resume is that ticket, right into an interview. So I found it frustrating to see all your years of hard work going to waste on a resume that is selling you short. As is, your resume is leaving you at the back of the line. So what's the best way to part the crowds and move straight to the top? You have to know a VIP.

Enter TheLadders! Working with one of our professional resume writers is going to give you that necessary edge to WOW employers and produce a resume worthy of your caliber and experience. In short, they will help you make that first impression count to get you noticed.

**OUR PROCESS**

Our team is an elite group of skilled professionals who are hand-selected, trained, monitored and mentored by TheLadders.com. Each of them is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and an expert in resumes for various professional fields. Our resume writing team has prepared more than 25,000 powerful executive resumes with an unparalleled level of success.

If you decide to take advantage of our resume writing service:

1. We will match you with a professional resume writer (not me) who specializes in your particular field (e.g., sales, HR, law, technology).

2. Your writer will send you a worksheet that generates information you haven't even thought to include on your resume (extensive background information, detailed accomplishments, career goals, etc.). Your writer will also be available to talk with you over the phone.

3. Culling together your most marketable information (and taking my critique into account), your writer will send you the first draft of your new resume within a week.

4. From there, you work closely with your writer to tweak and adjust your resume to make sure it is absolutely perfect, and that you are branded the way you want.

5. Once you're completely happy with your new resume, your writer finalizes the document and sends it to you in Word or PDF format.

**WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING**

"I am very impressed with the services. The entire process of working with my Ladders resume writer has been a positive experience from A to Z."
-Rodney, FL

"I joined your organization and had my resume completely redone by one of your experts. Well that did the trick-I got the job of my dreams! I want to thank all of the personnel in your organization for all of your help!"
-Amy, CA

"I've read it over and it looks beautiful. I didn't even realize it was me-it was like having my own PR firm. The number of hits on my resume went up immediately."
-Mike, TX

VTGreg · 01-15-2009, 06:41 AM

FWIW, the points she made, sighting examples in your resume, do seem valid. You should get rid of the objective section and replace it with a good summary. Not sure what they can offer for $700. You may want to check and see if they guarantee anything with that $700.

You could probably take her feedback and make some solid updates based on them and drop the $700 into your bike

ramazank2 · 01-15-2009, 08:08 AM

This guy gave me a free resume critique that provided a few usefull comments.

http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/wet/973290486.html

attgig · 01-15-2009, 10:59 AM

FWIW, I'd be happy to critique your resume for free if you'd like. I'm sure others here with experience hiring/interviewing folks would be willing to do the same.

cheapie · 01-15-2009, 11:03 AM

thanks. i'm decently happy with it and passed it by a few folks here in the fall. when i start sending it out again i'll take you up on your offer. the only reason i signed up to theladders was to see what was out there. the resume critique was included.

Jeffbx · 01-15-2009, 02:21 PM

Let me know if you see any postings worth applying for. It's been a couple of years since I tried them - maybe they're better now.

ramazank2 · 01-19-2009, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheapie

thanks. i'm decently happy with it and passed it by a few folks here in the fall. when i start sending it out again i'll take you up on your offer. the only reason i signed up to theladders was to see what was out there. the resume critique was included.

So do feel the ladders is a worthwile service? Do they have a strong listing base?

cheapie · 01-19-2009, 08:45 PM

meh. it could be a refined a little more. but for sure fewer "filler" jobs than monster.

01-14-2009, 11:16 AM	#1
cheapie Chief of Naval Operations Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: raising my pimp hand strong Posts: 13,038	anyone use theladders.com to find a job? just signed up for one month of service for $30. seems like a much better place to find a professional job than monster. i submitted my resume for a professional critique and they tore it up. they STRONGLY suggested i have their writers create a new one for a mere $700. i guess it i get a job making $125k+ it's not much of a price to pay but still....sheesh! i wonder how their resume creating service compares to other services. hmmmmmm.... __________________ 70% of the world is covered by water. The rest is covered by Bob Sanders

01-14-2009, 01:33 PM	#4
attgig Chief of Naval Operations Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: the burbs of baltimore Posts: 11,924	700 bucks for a new resume?!?! guess that's how they make their money. they should have a guarantee for 700 bucks... score more interviews with their 700 buck resume vs your resume. that honestly sounds WAY too much. __________________

01-14-2009, 06:06 PM	#6
clutchy Rear Admiral Lower Half Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Yucaipa, CA Posts: 2,863	I'm entirely convinced that's a scam site... They advertise yes but their whole model is dependent on more people signing up, which may or may not happen. The 2nd obvious sell is the resume writing. Do it yourself they are just trying to bilk you... __________________ LK was treated unfairly thanks X

01-15-2009, 06:41 AM	#9
VTGreg Rear Admiral Lower Half Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 2,533	FWIW, the points she made, sighting examples in your resume, do seem valid. You should get rid of the objective section and replace it with a good summary. Not sure what they can offer for $700. You may want to check and see if they guarantee anything with that $700. You could probably take her feedback and make some solid updates based on them and drop the $700 into your bike __________________ It only ends once... Anything that happens before that is just progress. Courage is not the absence of fear but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear.

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01-14-2009, 12:16 PM	#2
ray captain awesome Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 7,054	**** them. your resume is fine. theladders.com only focuses on job listings with salaries over $100k. It's for mid-level managers and higher.

01-14-2009, 12:39 PM	#3
cheapie Chief of Naval Operations Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: raising my pimp hand strong Posts: 13,038	well...that's kind of what i'm looking for. that's what i'm making right now.

01-15-2009, 06:08 AM	#7
Jeffbx Fleet Admiral Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Michigan Posts: 9,390	Eh, I've used them before & got NOTHING from the site. Not a single place worth applying to. Now, to be fair MI is not exactly dripping with job openings, but I was hoping that I'd see SOMETHING that wasn't on Monster or Dice. Nope. And yeah, your resume is fine. I can't imagine what they might do to it that would merit $700...

01-15-2009, 08:08 AM	#10
ramazank2 Commander Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Costa Mesa, CA Posts: 1,295	This guy gave me a free resume critique that provided a few usefull comments. http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/wet/973290486.html

01-15-2009, 10:59 AM	#11
attgig Chief of Naval Operations Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: the burbs of baltimore Posts: 11,924	FWIW, I'd be happy to critique your resume for free if you'd like. I'm sure others here with experience hiring/interviewing folks would be willing to do the same.

01-15-2009, 11:03 AM	#12
cheapie Chief of Naval Operations Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: raising my pimp hand strong Posts: 13,038	thanks. i'm decently happy with it and passed it by a few folks here in the fall. when i start sending it out again i'll take you up on your offer. the only reason i signed up to theladders was to see what was out there. the resume critique was included.

01-15-2009, 02:21 PM	#13
Jeffbx Fleet Admiral Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Michigan Posts: 9,390	Let me know if you see any postings worth applying for. It's been a couple of years since I tried them - maybe they're better now.

01-19-2009, 08:45 PM	#15
cheapie Chief of Naval Operations Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: raising my pimp hand strong Posts: 13,038	meh. it could be a refined a little more. but for sure fewer "filler" jobs than monster.

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