Just recently “Patty” wrote to me. Upset would be an understatement. She had hired several writers over the last couple of years to write a government application and had been sorely disappointed. She highlighted several issues. The last writer had written long and ponderous responses to each “key selection criteria” and feedback from the employer had indicated this was instrumental in her failure to secure an interview. She naturally wondered why on earth she had hired a professional and just who was this person to say he was a professional when he got it so wrong? She was naturally disappointed and suspicious of other writers due to her bad experience–and resentful over lost money.

While I didn’t see the documents and cannot comment as to the writer’s expertise or otherwise, I do think that what she said was telling. It was clear that Patty was overlooking her own involvement (or lack thereof) and placing the blame squarely on the shoulders of others.

For instance: When the job was advertised, did she read the employment kit rules closely? Did she call the contact person for the government applications and ask them–what are the rules for these applications? How long/short should answers be? What do you expect to see? What is the length of the resume or the criteria that you want to see? This isn’t a question you ask after you have failed to be selected, this is a preliminary question!

Without this information, she had failed to brief her writer. With no direction and no brief, the writer had no parameters to write. 

Then Patty said that the answers were long and ponderous and went off topic. Couldn’t Patty see that when reading the document? Did she not ask questions? 

Clearly not! And that is the key to this post today. A warning: do not be an observer in your own career! 

I think it is really important to be an active participant. In the instance of Patty, it’s not like she couldn’t read. She must have read through the documents and thought—well this is rambling. Rather than sitting back and giving her total trust in the writer, she needed to become an active participant — ask questions — “Hey Fred, this sounds like we’re rambling here, what about we stick to topic? I’ve questioned the contact person and she says no more than half a page per answer”. This would, I’m sure, be more appreciated by the writer, than remaining mute, uneducated in the requirements of the job, then returning upset with all guns blazing later. 

I don’t know this writer who wrote for “Patty”. He may have made errors–who doesn’t? But Patty too needs to look at her own involvement and contributions. How much of a participant was she in the process? Did she collaborate side-by-side and discuss, or did she just accept her documents as gospel despite any misgivings she had?

For Patty and for you, that is lesson learned number one. Don’t be an observer in your own career. It’s too important. Yes, you need to trust, but that doesn’t mean you don’t have an opinion or deserve a reason or a justification. As the old ad on TV used to say “it’s your money Ralph!”

Lesson learned number two is to ask questions. How long has the writer been in business? This is usually a good way to gauge experience. There are so many university students and housewives (no offence to those unsung heroes–working mothers, but sitting down while your baby is having a nap to tap away at a keyboard is NOT a professional career marketer). 

So many people call themselves professionals but in my opinion the best professionals belong to professional associations, get published, enter awards, get certified. If I was looking for professional writers, “Joe Bloggs” who says he’s good has Joe Bloggs’s opinion only plus a few clients who really probably didn’t know any better anyway. Testimonials need to be after the résumé has been used and cite results—that’s the true test.

I’d be looking for people who have been keen enough about their careers to grow….Members of associations such as Career Management Alliance and Career Directors International. Then once there, I’d be looking for Certified Writers; then I’d be going to their websites. Are they published? Have they won awards, has their work been assessed? Can you look at a sample of their work? If you don’t like the sample, then keep moving on. Sadly anyone can call themselves a professional and that is a disaster Patty has all too clearly seen. 

Be astute, be proactive, and don’t be an observer in your own career!