The Writer's Block - GoodResume.com

Just In Time for the Holidays, Hunting The First State: A Guide to Delaware Hunting – Second Edition is Now Available!

2010-11-18T20:21:00.000-05:00

Hunting the First State: A Guide to Delaware Hunting provides practical tips, tactics, and hunting locations for hunting various species in Delaware and the surrounding region.

WILMINGTON, DE — November 18, 2010 — Released today, the second edition of Hunting the First State: A Guide to Delaware Hunting, provides an updated and in-depth look at hunting in Delaware and the surrounding region. Author and Delaware native Steven M. Kendus uses his hunting wisdom, experience, and research to preserve Delaware’s hunting legacy by sharing history, tactics, locations, tips, and tricks associated with Delaware hunting.

The updated edition of Hunting The First State provides further insight, updated statistics, reader-submitted photos, and more first-hand accounts of hunting in Delaware. Hunting The First State discusses common game species such as white-tailed deer, Canada geese, and ducks, but it also offers insight into coyotes, wild turkeys, red foxes, woodcocks, quail, snow geese, crows, rabbits, and more.

Author Steven M. Kendus comments, “Since the release of the first edition of Hunting The First State: A Guide to Delaware Hunting in 2007, I have received a great deal of feedback. Hunters and non-hunters alike have been pleasantly surprised with the depth of information presented in the book. This new edition – released just in time for the holidays – makes a great gift for novice and seasoned hunters alike.”

Hunting The First State includes more than thirty-five photos of wildlife harvested in Delaware and the surrounding areas and includes techniques, locations, tactics, and folklore from Kendus and some of Delaware’s most successful hunters. Hunting The First State is available immediately in print and digital formats from www.HuntingTheFirstState.com and select Delaware booksellers and hunting supply stores. It will be available from major booksellers within four weeks.

Hunting the First State: A Guide to Delaware Hunting – Second Edition; Steven M. Kendus; Paperback; 217 pages; ISBN 978-0-557-78728-9; 6“ x 9“; $19.99; Publication Date: November 2010. Visit www.HuntingTheFirstState.com for additional details.

###

About Steven M. Kendus

Steven M. Kendus is a lifelong Delaware resident and avid outdoorsman dedicated to preserving hunting opportunities, lands, and traditions. He is a professional author, columnist, technical writer, and marketer, and has had various books and articles published. He is an active member of multiple hunting, shooting, and conservation organizations, including the National Rifle Association, National Wild Turkey Federation, Ducks Unlimited, Safari Club International, Brandywine Hundred Rod and Gun Club, and Delaware State Sportmen’s Association.

Mr. Kendus is frequently consulted as an authority on Delaware hunting. He has been a speaker at hunting-related community events, a guest on Sirius XM Patriot’s Cam & Company, and a guest host for Versus, where he interviewed hunting legends Tred Barta and David Morris.

He has a Bachelor of Arts in English – Business and Technical Writing from the University of Delaware and is a senior member of the Society for Technical Communication.

Contact:
Steven M. Kendus
skendus@HuntingTheFirstState.com
For more information on Hunting The First State: A Guide to Delaware Hunting.:
http://www.HuntingTheFirstState.com

How Much is a Good Resume Worth? - Part 1

2010-09-25T11:14:00.001-04:00

I recently spoke with someone who just paid more than $500 for a 'professionally written' resume. During our conversation, she asked me if I felt $500 was a good price and how much I thought a good resume was worth. There are two very different answers to her questions. I will address her first question today and will follow up with an additional article to address her second question.

First, I guess $500 is not a terrible price to pay for a good, professionally written resume (although we at GoodResume.com only charge $185 - $275, depending upon the length of the finished resume). However, in my mind, the value and price of a professionally written resume is dependent upon the quality of the finished product.

I looked over the resume that was written by a competing company, and I was not impressed. Truly, I couldn't understand how someone could pass that resume off as one that was 'professionally written.' Apparently, there are a lack of standards for defining a professionally written resume.

In my case (and in the cases of any other writer I use), I am a true writing professional. I have a BA in English with a concentration in Business and Technical Writing from the University of Delaware. I have written thousands of pages of technical documentation, including manuals, guides, technical specifications, online help systems, and more. Additionally, I am a published author and a newspaper columnist. What's more, I have been writing resumes professionally since 1993! In case those credentials are not enough, I have also held executive management positions for multiple firms, where I have interviewed and hired many people. In addition to knowing how to structure a resume and word things in a professional, concise, and attention-grabbing manner, I also know what potential employers, human resource departments, and recruiters are looking for.

My advice regarding cost for a professionally written resume is to make sure that the person actually writing the resume is a true professional before you agree to pay anything. Expect to pay between $175 and $400 for a good resume.

The Economy is Calling: People Need Professional Resumes

2010-09-21T19:39:00.000-04:00

It has been a long time since I posted to the GoodResume.com blog. To be honest, I have been too focused on writing other things! However, I received an email today from someone in need of a professional resume, and she asked me why I haven't been updating my blog.

Since there is definite interest, I will make a concerted effort to supply each of you with relevant information about resumes and resume writing. For starters, here's some information to bring you up to date about the status of The Writer's Block - GoodResume.com.

I have written a multitude of resumes over the past year. It feels good to do my part to help stimulate the economy. Most GoodResume.com resume clients have found jobs using their resumes written by me. In addition to writing my resumes, I have kept my writing skills sharp through other means. I write a column for The News Journal, Delaware's largest newspaper, and I have written a ton of technical documentation for various clients. I also keep my creative side in tune by working on marketing collateral pieces, web sites, and graphic design pieces for clients. In case that isn't enough, I am working on a new editing of Hunting The First State: A Guide to Delaware Hunting and several ebooks.

See, when you choose GoodResume.com as your professional resume writing services, you actually get the assistance of a professional writer.

Thanks for the support.

SMK

Technical Writing, Online Help Design AND Resumes

2009-06-15T14:43:00.003-04:00

In addition to writing resumes, we at The Writer's Block - www.goodresume.com also offer professional technical writing solutions. In fact, we are one of the "go-to" technical writing shops in the Delaware Valley (although we serve clients nationwide), and we specialize in creating online help systems for software applications.

Beyond online help systems, our technical writing expertise also includes creation of:

software manuals
training guides
web sites
marketing collateral
print, web, and email marketing campaigns
print-on-demand and self-published books (ghost writing, editing, page layout, cover design, etc.)
Search Engine Optimization
and more

We can also help you with recruting skilled technical writers for your long-term and short-term writing projects.

Technical Writing, Marketing Collateral Preparation, Graphics Work, and Good Resumes

2009-04-28T08:28:00.003-04:00

What good is a blog about resume writing if you don't post to it? (I ask myself this question every time I realize that I have forgotten to post to this blog.) Argh.

To summarize the past six weeks in one word, I would just say "busy." We have been pleasantly swamped here at The Writer's Block - GoodResume.com. We have written a ton of professional resumes for all types of jobs, including software designers, electrical engineers, maintenance mechanics, retail managers, sales executives, and more.

Additionally, we have spent time writing technical documentation, system testing documentation, marketing collateral, and web content for a Pennsylvania-based software firm. We are working on an animated software demo for another software company. We are making annual modifications to the Frightland web site (which is one of my favorites). And, on top of all that, we just finished a web site for Antonio's Lawn and Landscape in New Castle, Delaware.

Whew. Needless to say, we are staying busy here.

The economy is showing some signs of turning around, but we are still receiving a lot of resume writing requests. We strive to help people find that perfect job, so remember, if you want a good job, get a good resume at www.GoodResume.com. We are one of the leading resume writing companies on the web.

GoodResume.com Consulted for Article on Hiring a Professional Resume Writer

2009-03-07T09:08:00.003-05:00

I was interviewed by Andrew Hudson back in January for an article about hiring a professional resume writer. Some excerpts from the article that appeared in the Denver Jobs Examiner, are listed below.

Click here to read the full article.

Your most critical marketing tool as a job seeker is your resume. A poorly written resume is a sure way to sabotage your chances to getting an interview. Think of it this way: looking for a job requires a level of expertise that most job seekers simply don’t possess and a resume is your first step – your calling card – to job seeking success.

A professional resume writer understands which top skills, experiences and talents are essential to highlight in order to grab a recruiter’s attention. In addition, many resumes are today scanned through an applicant tracking system (ATS). Companies are inundated with resumes and in order to create an efficient sorting and screening system, corporate recruiters program an ATS to identify specific key words or key phrases in resumes. If these key words are not found in the resume, the resume will most likely not be considered.

“There are several benefits to using a professional resume writer” says Steve Kendus, the owner and executive writing consultant for GoodResume.com. “Assuming you are using a reputable, qualified, and skilled resume writer, you are trusting an expert's skills and command of English grammar to prepare a meaningful, succinct, and grammatically correct resume. Potential employers typically won't even call you in for an interview if your resume is poorly worded, unclear, and full of spelling and grammar mistakes.”

Steven Kendus of GoodResume.com agrees. “Professional resume writers know how to summarize your diverse skills, duties, and accomplishments into hard-hitting, powerful bullet points. Through experience, they are skilled at taking long, detailed job descriptions and summarizing key points and using key phrases that will present you in the best light to potential employers.”

Andrew Hudson did a fine job in presenting the benefits of hiring a professional resume writer. Be sure to read his entire article New Year's resolution #2: hire a professional resume writer.

Debunking the 1-Page Resume Myth

2009-02-24T08:13:00.003-05:00

If I had a dollar for every time someone said, "I thought I was supposed to keep my resume to one page," my retirement fund would look a lot better!

For some reason, many people have this 1-page resume edict in their heads, though few know why. To put it bluntly, THERE IS NO REASON TO FORCE YOUR RESUME TO FIT ON ONE PAGE!. There. I said it. Now here's why.

I have worked on both sides of the employment wall. I have held executive and senior management positions with large firms where I was responsible for interviewing and hiring technical writers, software developers, customer service representatives, graphic artists, accountants, and more. In these roles, I worked closely with human resources personnel who were responsible for screening applicants. I have also written hundreds of resumes for job seekers, including resumes for myself.

I have never (yes, I said never) excluded an applicant, nor have any of my colleagues excluded an applicant, because his or her resume was more than one page. In fact, I, and most of my colleagues, believe it is difficult to get an adequate understanding of an applicant's qualifications from a brief, non-detailed resume.

Granted, some job seekers have career experiences and accomplishments that warrant a one-page resume, but the one-page resume is applicable because of circumstance -- not because of the the crazy 'one-page resume rule.' Rather than attempting to force your resume to any pre-determined length, I believe resumes should use as many pages as needed to present an adequate and appealing view of your career experiences and accomplishments. As your personal marketing tool, your resume's purpose is to get you a job interview. When compared with other resumes that potential employers receive, yours needs to stand out from the crowd. Therefore, use as much space as needed to do so.

Keep in mind that resume writing is an art (which is why GoodResume.com is in business). It is difficult to paint an adequate picture without being verbose. The majority of resumes we write at GoodResume.com are 2 or 3 pages. However, my personal resume is 4 pages, and we have written some resumes (usually for doctors, C-level executives, and scientists) that are more than 4 pages.

So, forget about the 1-page resume rule. It is nonsense.

The Layoff Announcements Just Keep Coming -- GoodResume.com Is Here to Help

2009-01-28T21:49:00.004-05:00

It seems that more layoffs are announced everyday. Big companies. Small companies. New companies. Old companies. It seems that layoffs are occurring in every type of company, in every job sector.

AOL, Target, IBM, Starbucks, Best Buy, Boeing, Caterpillar, Pfizer -- the list seems endless (and these are just the companies who announced layoffs in the past week).

Although I am a writing consultant and professional resume writer now, I have felt the burn of layoffs in the past. Having previously worked in the banking and computer software industries, I have experienced layoffs from executive, managerial, and general staff perspectives. In other words, I have both been laid off and have laid people off. Neither is ever fun.

Through firsthand experience, I know the pressures that job hunters face. Therefore, rather than contributing to the daily headaches associated with recent unemployment, we at The Writer's Block - GoodResume.com try to make you as comfortable as possible when you engage us to write your professional resume. We work with your schedule (including scheduling phone interview appointments on nights and weekends), and we make every effort to have a first draft of your resume to you within 2-3 days.

Additionally, we will review your current resume for free, and we will NEVER tell you your resume needs to be updated when it is fine as is. In fact, just two days ago, a banking professional recently laid off from JP Morgan Chase, sent me her resume. After thorough review, I concluded that the resume was quite good. I spent about 10 minutes correcting some grammar and spelling mistakes and about another 5 minutes making some suggestions and notes. I returned the marked up resume to her and explained that she could proceed on her own with making the minor fixes. Here's the kicker: I charged her nothing for the resume help.

You gain nothing in this world by scamming people.

We at GoodResume.com are hear to provide you with quality resume writing help and expert resume writing service. If you want a good job, get a good resume. Contact GoodResume.com.

For Many, New Year's Resolution Is Finding a New Job

2008-12-28T09:19:00.003-05:00

The end of December allows us to reflect on the past year and plan for the new one. For many, part of the planning is resolving to find a new job.

Many people have been affected by the economic downturn and have consequently lost their jobs, but others are just not happy in their current jobs. Whatever the case, a lot of job searches begin with the new year.

Quick web searching provides job hunting statistics indicating that job searches can last mere weeks, or they can drag on for more than a year. With increased competition for available jobs, it is now more important than ever to have a high-quality resume that will increase your chances of at least getting an interview for the job you are applying for.

As a professional resume writer and former executive in the software industry and, I have been on both sides of the job search fence. I have written close to 1,000 resumes for clients, but I have also interviewed and hired dozens of applicants during my software career. I have worked closely with human resources departments, professional recruiters and "headhunters", and employment agencies, so I know what employers look for in candidates. Likewise, I know which types of resumes get moved to the top of the pile, which resumes get trashed, and which resumes lead to interviews.

Therefore, as you make your new year's resolution to find a new job, be aware that your resume will be one of the keys to your success. Rather than wasting valuable time attempting to write your own resume, contact GoodResume.com. We can build you a top-quality resume to help with your job search.

Automated Resume Writing Tools Don't Live Up to the Hype

2008-12-11T09:24:00.003-05:00

I just read an article about a resume writing company that released a new automated resume writing tool that enables paid users to upload their content in order to create a professional resume. I couldn't help but laugh. How is that tool helping someone create a professional resume?

In most cases, formatting the resume is not the problem. Instead, crafting the resume content is the issue most novice resume writers face.

GoodResume.com staff members interview every resume writing service client in order to get a comprehensive understanding of the clients' past jobs, duties, responsibilities, and accomplishments. Then, the professional resume writers actually write -- from scratch -- the content for the resumes.

Don't be fooled. The real value in hiring a resume writing service to create your resume is the custom creation of the content. If a resume service merely offers some spell-checking and reformatting, you are wasting your money.

GoodResume.com is Here to Help You Find A New Job

2008-12-08T07:44:00.005-05:00

Whew. The economic downturn seems to be affecting more and more industries every day. It seems that I cannot read a newspaper without encountering articles about another company laying off workers. In fact, even the newspapers are laying off workers!

I read an editorial yesterday in The News Journal, Delaware's main newspaper, where an editor was lamenting their layoffs of seasoned sports journalists. Additionally, I heard on WIP, the Philadelphia sports radio station, that several other major newspapers recently laid off sportswriters. I guess with all of the electronic dissemination of news, newspapers are no longer the "go to" source for information.

Besides the newspaper industry, other areas are being hit hard with job losses. The monthly unemployment report released last Friday showed that 533,000 jobs were lost last month -- the sharpest decline in nearly 35 years. The areas that are being hit hard are automotive jobs, financial jobs, insurance jobs, manufacturing jobs, and communications jobs. Specific companies that announced layoffs in recent weeks include, General Motors, Chrysler, Ford, AT&T, Viacom, DuPont, Credit Suisse, Sun Microsystems, and Bank of New York Mellon.

If you are affected by any of these layoffs, remember -- GoodResume.com is here to help you find a good job. With experience writing resumes for each of the industries mentioned above, we are confident that our resume writing service will help you stand of from the crowd and land on your feet.

If you want a good job, get a good resume at GoodResume.com.

Professional Resume Writing – The Holiday Gift that Keeps Giving

2008-11-26T20:09:00.001-05:00

Forget ‘Black Friday’ malls, long lines, and traffic. Give thoughtful and economical GoodResume.com gift certificates as holiday gifts.

WILMINGTON, DE — November 26, 2008 — Realizing the increase in demand for resume writing services, Steven M. Kendus, owner of GoodResume.com, suggests that holiday shoppers consider giving professional resume writing gift certificates this holiday season.

“Rather than wasting time shopping for boring holiday gifts that will probably be returned anyway, give that special someone the holiday gift that keeps giving – a professionally written resume from GoodResume.com,” states Kendus. “Today’s economy is forcing a lot of people out of their jobs, so a quality resume is a practical and thoughtful gift that will pay dividends for years to come.”

GoodResume.com, established in 1993, offers professional, top-quality resume writing services that enable all types of job seekers to stand out from the crowd. With resume writing packages starting at $150, GoodResume.com gift certificates are economical gift choices for recent graduates, laid off financial and auto workers, and any member of the workforce who is looking for a job change.

IT Professionals, Autoworkers, and Financial Professional Among the Latest Seeking Resume Services

2008-11-17T10:28:00.007-05:00

With layoffs and staff reductions hitting the IT, financial, and automobile industries hard, we are seeing an increase in resume business.

Located in Wilmington, Delaware, GoodResume.com is situated among a credit card banking hotspot. Current and former employees alike from companies such as JP Morgan Chase, Bank of America, and Wilmington Trust are looking for resume writing services. Additionally, many local autoworkers from the GM and Chrysler plants are losing their jobs, and the recent announcement that Sun Microsystems is cutting 6,000 jobs is bringing customers outside of the Delaware region to GoodResume.com.

We at www.GoodResume.com are always willing to assist displaced employees with their resume writing tasks. What's more, we are here to offer employers another transition service for employees they are laying off. Rather than merely giving your employees a 2-week severance and a handshake, contract with The Writer's Block - GoodResume.com to provide them with expert resume writing services to ease their transitions. A little goodwill can go a long way in today's economy and shaky job market.

More than Just Resume Writing: GoodResume.com Offers Complete Writing and Design Services

2008-11-11T13:41:00.005-05:00

When I started The Writer's Block as a recent University of Delaware graduate in 1993, I saw a market for professional resume writing services. I always helped friends and family with their resumes while I was in college, so I decided to expand my customer base. I quickly realized that many Americans need help with all kinds of professional writing -- not just resume writing!

With my degree in English - Business and Technical Writing, I began my career as a technical writer for The Bank of New York (Delaware). There, I wrote training manuals, quick reference guides, and other forms of corporate documentation. Using tools such as PageMaker, FrameMaker, Word, and Photoshop, I was able to hone my page layout and design skills to the point where I began offering these services through The Writer's Block. My career path then took me into writing manuals and online help systems for software and web companies. Working with cutting edge companies like eCal and AirClic enabled me to develop skills that are in high demand in the world of software technical writing and web design. Adding to those skills, I embraced more corporate communications and marketing roles. I have developed every type of corporate documentation, including proposals, marketing collateral, advertisements, newsletters, mailers, email blasts, intranets, wikis, business plans, white papers, and more.

Now, as a published author of Hunting The First State: A Guide to Delaware Hunting, a newspaper columnist, a web designer, a technical writer, and a professional marketer, I believe The Writer's Block - GoodResume.com can meet just about any technical or corporate documentation need.

Resume Writing Services Require Sunday Work

2008-11-09T08:02:00.006-05:00

As mentioned last week, resume writing business has greatly increased for The Writer's Block - GoodResume.com. This weekend, in fact, I am working on two more resumes, one of which is a rush job.

I am receiving resume writing service inquiries from people from diverse professions, including pharmacists, computer programmers, auto workers, bank tellers, accountants, biologists, journalists, and casino workers. It seems like the economic downturn is affecting all levels of the workforce.

With many people out of work or fearful that their jobs will be eliminated, I have no problem working the extended hours to help them out. I have been in their shoes, so I understand their urgency.

The Market is Up for Resume Writing Services

2008-11-06T19:13:00.003-05:00

GoodResume.com has seen a 30% increase in resume writing service requests since July of this year. With the number of people seeking professional resume assistance increasing, one can only conclude that the economic downturn is leading to unemployment, or at best, is making people nervous about their current jobs.

Just in the past 10 days, I have personally written resumes for a real estate agent in Texas, a database administrator in Pennsylvania, a retail salesperson in New Jersey, a software developer in New York, and a marketing professional in Delaware. It seems that fears of unemployment see no geographic boundaries.

Whatever the case, rest assured that The Writer's Block - GoodResume.com is here to help you prepare for the worst. Our resume writing services will help you stand out from the crowd and land that perfect job! We can write top quality resumes in as little as 48 hours, and we offer special resume discounts for military resumes, student resumes, and updates to resumes originally prepared by The Writer's Block.

Link to Technorati

2006-12-07T11:46:00.001-05:00

Technorati Profile