Who is this person offering to help with my resume, selection criteria and/or cover letter? What qualifies her to do this? Why does she charge those amounts?
Who are you? My name is Mel and I am the founder and operator of “Mel Writes Resumes”. I live in Perth, WA (along with my partner and our chocolate labrador Bear) in a cute little house surrounded by Jacaranda trees. I have just recently returned to this side of the country after seven years living in Canberra, ACT.
Why start a business helping people to further their career prospects? Over the past 15 years I have helped numerous friends and colleagues apply for government and private sector roles in education, youth services, trades, environmental services, IT, health care, retail and more. I have also worked with over 50 senior secondary students to support them to create detailed, truthful and well-structured resumes to help with those “first job out of school” jitters. Numerous Canberra schools as well as the Australian Training Company now use these resume templates as support materials for their students. In 2020 I was awarded the Career Advisers Association award for “Excellence in Student Engagement” for developing a successful transition and employment program for a small, independent school working with students with a trauma background. Helping people further their career prospects is a passion of mine and I am very familiar with the situation where an amazing candidate may not make it past the initial application round due to the quality of their written submission…when they may be the best suited to the role.
What qualifications do you have? I am a qualified teacher registered with both the Teachers Registration Board WA and the ACT Teacher Quality Institute. I hold the following degrees:
- Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Education (Secondary)
- Master of Education (Behaviour Management/Literacy)
- Master of Education (Thesis focus: Student Engagement)
What other qualifications or special skills do you have?
- I am a certified “Highly Accomplished Teacher”. Highly Accomplished teachers are recognised as highly effective, skilled classroom practitioners and routinely work independently and collaboratively to improve their own practice and the practice of colleagues. They are knowledgeable and active members of the school
- Volunteer with Labrador Rescue and Rainbow Paws including writing adoption biographies, social media updates, grant applications and (of course) cuddling dogs!
- Career Advisers Association “Excellence in Student Engagement Award” winner 2020 for developing a trauma informed careers program for students
- State level exam writer and marker for subjects including Earth and Environmental Science, Politics and Law and the Academic Skills Test used in all ACT senior colleges
- Extensive experience in trauma informed practice and currently undertaking a Graduate Certificate of Counselling
- Former Cert II, Cert III, Cert IV and Diploma level trainer in childcare, education assistant, small business and community services
How did you arrive at your pricing model – it is so expensive / cheap?! I have heard both ends of this question a few times! Some Australian companies charge $700+ just for a resume while others charge $99 (selection criteria seem to range from $200 up to $1000+) so it was challenging to settle on a pricing format initially. My pricing models are based on being affordable for you while also acknowledging that if you work with me you get:
- One person – the same person – to deal with the entire time who has upfront pricing with no hidden extras.
- Check out my “Services and Pricing” page!
- Someone based in Australia with extensive experience and a high literacy level (not a grad student or an international student working for some extra cash)
- A person who works to get to know you individually to create the most accurate representation of you for future employers
- An honest representation, including examples, of what to expect beforehand. Check out my “Portfolio” page.
Mel Writes Resumes 