May 25, 2023
What is resume editing?
What is resume editing?
These days, the job-search industry seems to be booming, with countless resume editors and writers advertising their services online.
Naturally, many of these individuals and companies dedicate great effort to trying to convince you that their services are essential – that you won’t be able to land your dream job without them. But it may not be fully clear exactly what resume editing is.
In this article, we answer some key questions that you may be asking yourself if you’re considering hiring a professional resume editor:
- What is resume editing?
- What do resume editors do?
- How is resume editing different from resume writing?
- Do I really need a resume editor?
Keep reading for detailed answers to each question.
1. What is resume editing?
Put simply, resume editing involves reviewing a complete, already-existing resume to help the author improve the document and maximize their chances of getting hired into their target position.
Resume editing involves adjusting the content, structure, grammar, tone, phrasing, and formatting of your document to align with general best practices, industry standards, and your unique goals.
While you’ll still be responsible for preparing the original resume and writing a first draft of its contents, the editing process will help you refine and polish your document, ensuring that it stands out to hiring managers for all the right reasons.
2. What do resume editors do?
A resume editor will review your document with a fine-toothed comb, correcting errors related to spelling, grammar, usage, and more.
Additionally, they can provide helpful suggestions regarding the organization of your document and valuable feedback regarding how well your resume aligns with best practices and industry standards related to your target position.
Where needed, they’ll also provide useful formatting suggestions that can help get your resume past automated applicant tracking systems (ATSs) and into the hands of a human hiring manager.
A final proofreading will help ensure that tiny errors related to punctuation and other technical elements of your writing don’t cost you your dream job.
3. How is resume editing different from resume writing?
While resume writers still typically require a copy of your most recent resume, they offer additional services that resume editors do not.
For example, resume writers typically interview their clients and/or have them fill out a detailed survey designed to obtain a comprehensive picture of their clients’ education and training, professional experiences, goals, skills, and accomplishments.
A resume writer will then create entirely new content on behalf of the client, rephrasing, adding, and deleting aspects of the resume as they see fit. They may also offer extensive formatting services or special resume templates.
Unfortunately, most such writers are not also skilled editors. This means that, while resume writers can help you come up with new content for your resume or share cutting-edge formatting tips, they may not have the skillset to ensure that your document is as close to error-free as possible.
4. Do I really need a resume editor?
In short, yes, chances are that you will need a resume editor – if not now, then at some future point in your career.
For example, if you’re a teenager or young adult looking for a temporary part-time role in a café or restaurant, there’s a good chance that you can get away without having your resume professionally edited (although you should still do the next best thing). You may not need professional editing assistance at this stage in your working life.
However, if you’re someone working in a professional industry or a recent college graduate looking to enter the professional job market, resume editing services will likely be indispensable.
As we explain in this article, resume editing and proofreading services offer unique benefits that can’t be matched by friends, family, or AI programs.
Resume editing is also especially important for executives, managers, and those looking to ascend into more significant roles.
At Lumida Editing & Proofreading, we have extensive experience in the fields of resume proofreading and editing. You can get in touch with us here, for a free, no-obligation quote for our services.
Happy hunting!
Jess Blackwell
Jess is the founder of Lumida Ltd., a passionate environmentalist living a low-waste life, and a lifelong writer. When she isn't helping our clients make their writing shine, Jess can be found working on her writing projects, experimenting in the kitchen, or taking nature walks.
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