Resume writing as a career has become very popular. There isn’t a lot of data out there from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as resume writing is typically considered gig work. But if you were to hop on Fiverr or UpWork, you’ll find no shortage of people selling resume writing services.
How do you choose amongst the many options from a contract worker on a hiring platform, to a ‘resume mill’ to a boutique writing service?
Read on to discover just what to look for when it comes to selecting a resume writing service or resume writer.
Do They Offer Competitive Pricing?
The adage ‘you get what you pay for’ tends to ring very true in resume writing.
So what is competitive pricing in resume writing?
Here is a breakdown of pricing:
Free: aka DIY
If you want the cheapest option, there are plenty of resources available as to how to write a resume.
Pros: Cost savings, you hold all of the control, and you have final say in how your resume is formatted.
Cons: Takes a lot of time (especially if you’re not familiar with Word or Google Documents), no professional editor, lack of writing experience for some.
Inexpensive (less than $300)
It’s okay if you don’t want to write your own resume. It really is very time intensive. Plus a lot goes into it that you might not have considered, like researching the positions to dig out key words, formatting it correctly, and current best practices.
You could definitely consider an inexpensive service or individual that charges less than $300. But don’t expect anything too fabulous. If you’re looking for award-winning levels, it won’t be in this price range.
Pros: Cost-effective, you might get faster turnaround times than a bigger place as you’ll likely be working with an individual.
Cons: You’re kind of rolling the dice in this range on the type of quality you’ll get. You could be getting someone trying to break into the industry with little experience or someone who has written resumes for years but wants to start their own business.
Mid-Range ($300-800)
This is the competitive range. You will get the best bang for your investment in this range.
Pros: You should be receiving one-on-one service in this range, you’ll have a very skilled resume writer, your resume will be submission-ready with a lot of attention paid to the details.
Cons: Turnaround time can be longer and the price isn’t something to sneeze at.
Expensive ($800+)
This is like shopping at Lamborghini or Bugatti. These prices best serve executive-level resumes in the VP/President roles and even a lot of C-Suites.
Pros: You’ll have a subject matter expert in resume writing, high level of dedicated attention, and will likely receive other benefits such as additional add-ons.
Cons: It’s expensive and turnaround time will be longer.
FUN FACT: At Resume Assassin we offer the Lamborghini experience with competitive prices for all packages.
How do Their Reviews Look?
Even on contractor websites, reviews can be made.
Take a look at the number of reviews and what level they’re at. Only 3 reviews and 2 stars? Yikes. That doesn’t sound like the best resume writer.
Only 3 reviews and 5 stars? What do the reviews say? Did people take the time to write something? Then you’ve likely got a good writer, even if there aren’t a ton of reviews.
If you’ve found someone with over 50 reviews and five stars, then definitely scoop them up. That’s some amazing customer service and good work.
FUN FACT: Resume Assassin, at the time of this writing, has 112 reviews with a 5.0 star rating on Google reviews!
Have you Seen Their Resume or do They Have Examples?
No matter what budget you’re working with or how their reviews are, if there are no examples or if they are unwilling to provide you with their own resume, consider continuing your search.
To me, that’s like someone saying they’re a great NFL football player without proving anything, then they get on the field and don’t know what a touchdown is.
A resume writer’s job is to write resumes, so they better have an outstanding resume for themselves at the least, and plenty of examples at the most.
FUN FACT: Resume Assassin has PLENTY of reviews for you to see right on the front page of our website!
Set Reasonable Expectations
A professionally written resume will be a huge help in getting your foot in the door for an interview. But that’s about as far as it will take you. Once you land the interview, the rest is on you to get the job.
No good resume writer will promise you that will get a job by using their resumes.
An interview? Yes. A job? No.
Fun Fact: Resume Assassin has helped people land interviews at SpaceX, John Hopkins, Google, NFL, Pfizer, and more!
Narrow it Down to 3 Options
Most insurance companies will make you get quotes from 3 repair shops if you get into an accident and need your car fixed.
Follow this rule when it comes to resume writers. Narrow your list down to 3 you’d like to work with and reach out.
Ask about their process, their pricing, their offerings, anything you want to know. You’ll get a much better feel of who the company or person is if you take a quick 15 minute discovery call.
FUN FACT: Resume Assassin makes it easy to reach out by emailing mary@resumeassassin.com, connecting on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-southern, or schedule a call at https://calendly.com/resumeassassin/meet