INFOCUS

SHOWING YOUR VALUE ON PAPER IS

NO SIMPLE TASK

WRITTEN BY BETHANEY PHILLIPS PHOTOS BY JAMI BOWMAN

Despite the “one-size-fitsall” résumé templates and advice out there for job seekers, not all résumés are created equally, explains Alana Henry, founder of The Writique. The perfect résumé combines the right words and elements of visual design to land individuals high-level positions with salaries to match. And that’s exactly what Henry and her team of expert writers set out to do. Since 2015 The Writique has been crafting custom, high-level documents in order to help professionals and others succeed. The Writique offers a variety of services, including résumés, cover letters, LinkedIn optimization, coaching, and more. Each is tailored to the applicant’s career level and intended job focus. The latter, Henry says, should be your first step in the job hunt. “Take the time to develop a job search strategy; you have to get that foundation first to set the stage for what you’re looking for. What’s on paper translates to what that prospective industry or employer is looking for.” That’s especially true today in what Henry refers to as “The Great Resignation,” in which people are actively leaving jobs that would otherwise be considered desirable and well-compensated positions. Because it’s a job seeker’s market, Henry says the first step is identifying your wants and needs in a career. She encourages job seekers to make lists of things they like about their job, things they are looking for, and what they didn’t like about past positions. This step eliminates rash deci-

Above: Alana Henry, founder of The Writique

sions that may leave workers unhappy with their new role. Clients who are interested in The Writique’s services can schedule a free consultation call where the team will guide them toward the best professional package for their career goals. Henry adds that spending 1 percent of your salary is a good rule of thumb for obtaining professional help in creating an effective and professional résumé. This can land you the career jump you’ve been looking to achieve. “A lot of people experience sticker shock when they are researching résumé writers; people think it’s just a piece of paper. What’s missed sometimes is understanding the return on investment,” she says. “If that ‘piece of paper’ gets a huge salary increase, that is significant.” On average, The Writique customers earn a $40,000 salary bump when investing in their services. By showing companies what they want to see—not everything an applicant has done—The Writique helps advance careers. “I don’t write general résumés, because general résumés don’t work,” Henry says. “The résumé is really about the employer—what they want to see— showing the person’s value on paper and showing what they’re looking for.” Henry started the business as a solopreneur in 2015, and has since added a team of 10 to the business. She also holds a list of résumé certifications herself, including: Certified Professional Résumé Writer and Nationally Certified Online Profile Expert. She is also a member of the National Résumé Writers’ Association (NRWA), the Professional Association of Résumé Writers and Career Coaches (PARW/CC), and the Society of Elite Résumé Writers (SERW), to name a few. Her business is highly rated on Google and elsewhere, and she has even obtained some distinctions on “Top Résumé Writers” lists. Former clients agree that the services are instrumental in landing jobs and raises alike. “The Writique did a phenomenal job on my résumé! They made it so easy to provide information about my background and experience. They translated my career into a beautiful résumé,” says customer Cheryl Wegrzyn.

Prior to bringing others’ professions to paper, Henry worked as a journalist and high school English teacher, where she saw a need for students to learn the power of career planning and how to become successful in the professional world. Wanting to fill this need (and on maternity leave), she began writing résumés and professional documents for others. As for the importance of what she does, Henry says the right résumé makes all the difference in a job search. “Résumé writers cut your job search by almost half and reduce the length of time on the job search,” she says. “It’s content that increases your value and helps you land higher paying jobs.” Meanwhile, providing the right information can show others what you can do. In a world where applicants are all performing the same task, Henry says, it’s what makes all the difference. “There’s nothing like an outside lens. Having someone from the outside gives a whole new perspective on how much you have to offer.”

“On average, The Writique customers earn a $40,000 salary bump.”

The Writique • thewritique.com • Virtual • 317.207.0224 SIMPLYkc Special • FREE consultation call. Check the website for rotating sales.