Should You Hire a Resume Writer? You're Asking the Wrong Question.
Here is what to do instead.
Welcome to issue #063 of LinkedIn Unlocked. Twice a week, I share practical, unfiltered advice for free to help senior executives land their next role—faster, and without wasting time on strategies that don’t work.
I’ve spent 20+ years in the medical devices industry, including a 5 at the C-level.
Today, I lead the global life sciences practice at one of the top 10 executive search firms worldwide. I know exactly how headhunters use LinkedIn—because I do it every day.
There's a question I hear constantly from frustrated executives: "Should I hire a resume writer?"
Wrong question entirely.
It's unbelievable how many brilliant executives think their resume is the problem when recruiters aren't calling.
So they research the "best" resume writers. They pay $1,000+ for perfectly formatted documents with action verbs and quantified achievements. They obsess over fonts and bullet points.
Then they wonder why nothing changes.
Here's the Brutal Truth About Resume Writers
Your resume only matters AFTER someone finds you.
But if recruiters can't discover you in the first place, your beautifully written resume sits in a folder gathering digital dust.
When executives realize their new resume isn't working, they double down. They hire "executive resume specialists." They add more keywords. They try different formats. They A/B test subject lines for email applications.
This wastes even more time and money.
You're polishing something that 90% of executive opportunities will never see.
Why Resume Writers Miss the Point Completely
Most senior roles aren't posted publicly. They're filled through direct search.
Recruiters find candidates on LinkedIn Recruiter, not by reading unsolicited resume attachments.
Here's what actually happens:
A company briefs a headhunter about a C-level opening
The headhunter opens LinkedIn Recruiter
They type in specific job titles, industries, and skills
They get a ranked list of candidates
They reach out to the top profiles
Your resume never enters this equation.
The executives landing interviews fastest aren't the ones with the best resumes. They're the ones showing up first in LinkedIn searches when recruiters type in relevant keywords.
The Resume Writer Industry Operates on Outdated Logic
Resume writers are still playing by 2010 rules:
"Make it look professional." "Use action verbs." "Quantify everything." "Keep it to two pages."
That might work if you're applying to posted jobs. But at the executive level, the game is different.
You're not getting screened by ATS systems. You're not battling 300 applicants on job boards. You're not getting hired based on clever bullet points.
You're getting hired through direct search, referrals, and visibility.
What Resume Writers Can't Do for You
If you can't articulate your own value, how do you expect someone else to do it?
Your resume should be the output of strategic thinking—about what roles you're targeting, what story you're telling, and what positioning actually matters.
A resume writer can't do that strategic work for you.
At best, they'll dress up a directionless story. At worst, they'll make you sound like every other candidate using the same template.
The Numbers That Change Everything
Let me share some harsh statistics:
85%+ of executive roles are filled through direct search
Recruiters spend 6-7 seconds scanning your resume (if they see it at all)
Most headhunters work on 10-15 searches per year
95% of executive searches start on LinkedIn
Your resume isn't your golden ticket. It's an afterthought.
What Actually Works
✅ Optimize your LinkedIn profile for recruiter searches
✅ Use standardized job titles that match how headhunters search
✅ Pack your profile with keywords relevant to your target roles
✅ Turn on "Open to Work" (recruiters only)
✅ Build visibility before perfecting documents
Your resume is a supporting document. Your LinkedIn profile is your primary sales tool.
The Right Sequence
Here's the order that actually gets results:
Fix your visibility first - optimize your LinkedIn profile
Get found by recruiters - show up in their searches
Start getting calls - let opportunities come to you
Then perfect your resume - for the interviews that follow
Not the other way around.
Final Thought
Don't outsource the one thing you should own: your career positioning.
You don't need a better resume. You need better visibility.
You don't need wordsmithing. You need search optimization.
Stop spending thousands on resume writers when the real problem is that recruiters can't find you.
Get visible first. Perfect your resume after recruiters start calling.
Till next time,
Kristof
P.S. Want to learn how to optimize your LinkedIn profile so recruiters actually find you? I've developed a course that shows executives exactly how to show up first in headhunter searches. Check it out here.