Career and Writing Services Policies

All clients are responsible for signing a legally binding contract that affirms their understanding of the following policies & service agreement parameters.

* Please note that all services are in USD

REFUND & CANCELLATION POLICY + GUIDELINES

I do not, under any circumstance, issue full refunds for digital products once the order is confirmed. I do not provide a “100% satisfaction guarantee” clause; however, I do make every effort to ensure that you are pleased with your final product. You have 4 days from the time of draft delivery to present revision requests as a part of the review stage. The review stage allows clients and writing staff to work collaboratively in polishing a rough/initial draft. As such, refund requests during that stage will not be honored. Please note that sale packages do not include revisions. While I guarantee quality service, I cannot and do not guarantee an "A" grade, proposal approval, an interview call-back, etc., as a result of our services. While I control the résumé preparation, cover letter drafting, and/or LinkedIn optimization, I do not control clients' usage of the tools to obtain an interview or job offer. I cannot predict all circumstances, and there are many factors beyond my control that influence a client’s ability to score an interview or a job offer. Among others, the job market, competition, environmental factors, personal mistakes, and so on can determine whether or not a client's experiences lead to success in the job search. I am not accountable for that which I cannot control. Project quality I control; placement results, I do not. If you are unhappy with your final delivery, let me know. I will continue to do my best to make modifications or changes in an effort to gain your approval. I do not utilize resume templates and am unable to tailor the formatting of resumes to client requests. I am a writer and not a graphic designer. Please note that resumes will not be made with graphics.

Failure to complete the assigned questionnaire within the allocated timeframe on the product page without an extension request will result in a client hold, in which the outlined turnaround time will not apply, and fees will be incurred. - see below-

All requested holds have a maximum time of 5 months, wherein I ask that clients touch base to update on the status of resuming their services. If I do not receive an update, your package will be deemed void.

All packages that include wrap-up calls must be scheduled within one week of receiving your documents to ensure a timely review and finalization for all parties involved. If scheduling within this timeframe is not feasible, please contact me within 48 hours of receiving your documents to coordinate a suitable time. Failure to schedule or communicate within the specified period will result in the forfeiture of the wrap-up call, which will not be rescheduled at a later date.

If a client does not initiate or respond to contact within 48 hours upon purchase, their package will be void, and a re-purchase or $85/document reinstatement fee will be necessary to proceed. If I ask for further information regarding the data that you provided, I require this within 48 business hours unless you can provide an exact date of submission. If I do not receive this, your file will be placed on hold, and the reinstatement fee will apply. This refers to requests for more information, document requests, Form completion, etc.

Kindly be advised that for any packages requiring reinstatement, once the reinstatement fee has been processed, I aim to complete the associated documents within the timeframe specified on the product page. However, please note that this timeframe is an estimate and cannot be guaranteed. Completed packages will be delivered to clients within 5-7 business days following this period.

If you opt-in for an expedition service at the time of your original purchase, the expedition must be applied within the original timeframe of your package. Expedition services will be voided if you require a lengthy extension or there has been no contact. You will need to purchase the add-on again should you wish to pursue an expedition service.

Lastly, please note that sale package turnaround times are estimates and there is a 2-3 business-day grace window for all orders.

PARAMETERS & CONFIDENTIALITY

This agreement denotes the parameters for services ordered from "Vanessa Smithers” (henceforth referred to as the "service provider") by {{client.name}}. The services may be carried out by any writer on the Vanessa Smithers team, but all orders are overseen by the Editor-in-Chief ( Vanessa Smithers).
This arrangement does not include a third party (friend, mentor, recruiter, career coach, etc.). As such, requests from these individuals, including (but not limited to) revision requests, will not be honored. Revision requests, project parameters, and other relevant communications are to be between the two signing parties. The exception is for minors under the age of 18.
The relationship between the client and the service provider is to be a collaborative, professional relationship of equals, and as is indicative of a co-equal partnership, there should be mutual professional respect, courtesy, and consideration. The client understands that the service provider is a business with other clients to service--which requires fair, realistic notice in order to address requests and the completion of projects. While Vanessa Smithers will make every effort to finish projects early in order to meet impromptu or sudden interview opportunities that may arise before the pre-arranged turnaround time, the service provider is under no obligation to complete projects early.

 The client, {{client. name}}, hereby acknowledges that "Vanessa Smithers" retains the rights to the résumé/cover letter layout and design, and the client consents to the discretion of the designer for the sharing or publishing of finished products for advertising or marketing purposes. The personal or identifying information (including, but not limited to the name, address, places of employment, login information, etc.) of the client will never be shared. 

LIMITATION OF LIABILITIES

In no event will Vanessa Smithers be liable to the client as its client or to any third party for incidental, indirect, exemplary, special, or consequential damages, whether foreseeable or unforeseeable, arising out of or otherwise relating to the services or the use or performance of the service, even if Vanessa Smithers has been advised of the possibility or likelihood of such damages. Without limiting the foregoing, in no event shall the liability of Vanessa Smithers to the client as its client for any claim whatsoever related to the service or services or any order of this Agreement, including without limitation any cause of action sounding in contract, tort, or strict liability, exceed the purchase price of this Agreement or the total amount paid, whichever is less.

EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES & FORCE MAJEURE

No party shall be liable or responsible to the other party, nor be deemed to have defaulted under or breached this Contract, for any failure or delay in fulfilling or performing any term of this Contract (except for any obligations to make payments to the other party hereunder), when and to the extent such failure or delay is caused by or results from acts beyond the impacted party’s (“Impacted Party”) control, including, but not limited to, the following force majeure events (“Force Majeure Events”): (a) acts of God; (b) a natural disaster (fires, explosions, earthquakes, hurricane, flooding, storms, explosions, infestations), epidemic, or pandemic; (c) war, invasion, hostilities (whether war is declared or not), terrorist threats or acts, riot or other civil unrest; (d) government order or law; (e) actions, embargoes or blockades in effect on or after the date of this Contract; (f) action by any governmental authority; (g) national or regional emergency; (h) strikes, labor stoppages or slowdowns or other industrial disturbances; and (i) shortage of adequate power or transportation facilities. The Impacted Party shall give Notice within 5 days of the Force Majeure Event to the other party, stating the period of time the occurrence is expected to continue. The Impacted Party shall use diligent efforts to end the failure or delay and ensure the effects of such Force Majeure Event are minimized. The Impacted Party shall resume the performance of its obligations as soon as reasonably practicable after the removal of the cause. In the event that the Impacted Party’s failure or delay remains uncured for a period of 10 days following Notice given by it, the other party may thereafter terminate this Contract upon Notice.
All disputes arising under this agreement shall be resolved through mediation.  If mediation is unsuccessful, the dispute will be submitted to binding arbitration.