FAQ

Yes! Over the years, I’ve worked with everyone from scientists, researchers, IT guru’s, CEO’s through to senior people who serve the government in intelligence, law, and policy. The more challenging the project, the better. I thrive on these complex projects.

Once your booking is confirmed and your target goals are known, we partner through several steps:

Homework: I provide you with a worksheet, involving intellectually rigorous homework to ensure that you dive deep and provide me with the right information.

Review of Worksheets: I will review your returned worksheet and if necessary, I will ask additional questions, or organise a telephone consultation.

Writing Strategy: I write your documentation.

Feedback: I will forward your documents through for your review and feedback. Up to two drafts and sign off. Since so much work goes into the initial drafts, most drafts are very close to the final, subject to a few tweaks.

The average end-to-end collaboration is generally 3+ weeks, longer for more complex portfolios. Government applications have a shorter timeframe and there is zero flexibility during the process, i.e., timelines on completing your homework. I only take on a small number of government projects per month and this service is by application only.

No. The reason is that 99% of resumes that arrive in my inbox, I can significantly improve upon (even including resumes coming from so call professional writing firms). I blow documents up (figuratively speaking) and start from scratch. It is no use tweaking a few words and hoping your fortunes will change. The resumes I create work as a result of ensuring the right questions are asked, good strategy and effective writing and branding.

Of course, this doesn’t apply if you are a returning client and I’m updating my original work.

The CMRW (Certified Master Resume Writer) is considered by many to be the elite credential. It is held by just a handful of professionals worldwide and could be considered the ‘black belt’ of resume writing. It can take years to get to this standard. You can confirm and verify my credential directly at Career Directors International. https://careerdirectors.com/find-a-career-professional/

In short no, I can’t guarantee employment, or even an interview. Nobody can guarantee that. If they could, they would be solving a global problem and they would be world famous!

I work my hardest to afford you the best possible support and most of my clients do achieve great success. However, outcomes can be impacted by many external variables that are outside of my control. This can be anything from changing market conditions, applying for jobs outside the scope of the resume, social media alarms, competition (people applying for a job that have better qualifications and experience than you), unconscious or conscious biases by recruiters, how you present yourself at interview, or referees giving you a poor review. That is why I simply cannot guarantee that you will get a job, or even an interview using my service.

You are paying for a highly personalised service and subsequently fees are non-refundable. As per the ACCCC website (consumer rights to service cancellation), you can’t cancel a service, or get a refund if the problem was outside the control of carolynsmith.com.au (e.g., your circumstances change, or you changed your mind).

Yes. I don’t provide two versions like many executive writers, one ATS optimised and one graphic based. If you know what you are doing, you can create a visually appealing resume, with ATS friendliness. I create what I call the ‘goldilocks style’. Modern design, with the critical data, ATS-compliant.

I personally think many resume writers get caught up in the keyword frenzy, or graphic craziness, that they forget that the document needs to meet both the ATS software, plus the human reader!

All information sent to me will be kept private and confidential. I don’t publish any client work EVER. For my privacy policy.