Free Resume Critiques: Job Seekers Beware

Job seekers beware. Inside the career services industry there has been a lot of negative rumblings about The Ladders…a paid job board that gives “free resume critiques” infamous for trashing even well written resumes and charging top dollar to “rewrite it for you”. Now there is a new black sheep (Fox?) on the block: Jobfox.com.

Same game, same scam and same advice…

I feel there is something especially shameful about preying on job seekers who are just trying to discern the next best moves for themselves – trying to make sure their resume is doing its job and the job search methods they employ are the right ones for them.

The Ladders has been written about extensively. Jason Alba of Jibber Jobber blogs about it here

And Nick Corcodilos rakes them over the coals here.comments section here.

I don’t like to say negative things about other people or companies. In fact this is the first post I have ever written in this tone. But companies with a significant online presence that beguile job seekers and/or operate in the grey need to be exposed…period.

I found this eye opening page describing JobFox’s services. Check out the

The BEST way to figure if your resume is doing its job in my opinion is to contact either Career Directors International or Career Management Alliance – both are big, gold standard Associations in the career services industry where a job seeker can quickly find a certified resume writer that can help them. Some of these resume writers offer free critiques and some charge a small amount for their review. There are no 100% guarantees, but by far this is the most discerning step a job seeker can take and one that serves to best shield against unscrupulous companies and practices.

Mary Elizabeth Bradford is the Founder and Executive Director of CEOresumewriter.com and Maryelizabethbradford.com and a past executive recruiter. A thought leader in the career services industry for over 20 years, she holds 5 distinct advanced certifications for senior-level resume writing, online branding and executive-level job search coaching (CERM, CMRW, CARW, MCD, NCOPE). She has been seen and heard in major media including Forbes, Time, WSJ, Newsweek and NBC affiliate stations. She holds 2 CDI TORI awards and is a top tier judge for the elite CDI TORI awards for four consecutive years. Mary Elizabeth Bradford’s elite team of award-winning, certified, top executive resume writers, former top executive recruiters, and global HR executives help many of the world’s premier C-suite, board members and thought leaders secure the transitions and compensation packages they want. She works with clients all over the globe.

If you are a Director, VP, CxO, or Board Member interested in an executive resume package or working directly with Mary Elizabeth, click to schedule a complimentary 15-minute call.