How to Choose a Professional Resume Writer

Who You Hire to Do Your Resume Can Make a World of Difference in Your Job Search

Your resume is one of the most important elements of your job search. Its ability to attract interest, generate interviews, and propel your efforts toward a new position is unequaled among job search tools. For this reason, you should definitely consider having a professional writer create your resume. It's a small investment for what could yield huge results.

But which resume writer should you choose? It can be daunting when you first consider the choices. So break it down into these basic criteria to pick the best one for your needs.

Credentials
Resume writers vary enormously in their abilities, background, and training. Quite frankly, they also differ quite a bit in their scruples too. Don't assume just because they have a nice office and a great looking Website that they have the foggiest bit of talent or ability to write an effective resume. Ask for references. Look at their credentials. Request to see samples they've done in your profession or similar ones. And ask if the writer is certified (there are several organizations that train and certify resume writers.) It's not necessarily a deal breaker if a particular resume writer isn't certified. But ones who are certified tend to be more experienced and more committed to the profession.

Price
Fees for resume writers vary widely. There are online firms that do them for less than $50.00. On the other extreme, one highly prominent career coach on the Internet charges around $1000.00. Obviously you can expect a tremendous difference in the service, quality, and results you'll get from these two firms. There is no "standard" price for resumes, but in general a high quality writer with solid career expertise will charge between $150.00 and $300.00 for a typical white collar professional, or about half that for students and blue collar workers.