According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, over 277,000 people were laid off in the third quarter of 2009 alone. That's a lot of competition for a limited number of jobs. Any time the job market is tough, it may be useful to call in a professional resume writing service. Writing services know good resumes; they write them every day. The key to finding a good resume writing service is to ask questions before signing over a check.
Where to Find a Professional Resume Writing Service
There are hundreds (if not thousands) of resume writing services online, and probably many more listed in any local phone book. Which one is best?
According to a May 12, 2009 article in the trade magazine Information Business Technology, online resume website Pongo Resume is one of the largest resume writing websites online. The company reports over 4 million registered users and 100,000 resumes created with their resume builder every month. Pongo also provides custom resume writing by certified resume writers starting at $119.
Joseph Conklin, a government statistician, wrote of his own success with a resume writing service in a 2004 article for Quality Progress, the professional trade journal for the American Society for Quality. He contacted a professional resume writer after he got lukewarm feedback on the resume he wrote himself. After a month of working with a professional resume writer, he showed the result to his colleague. He wrote of the experience, "We both agreed the layout, phrasing and format added up to a much better advertisement of my strengths and skills. In short, it looked like much more of a winner."
Most online resume writing websites take far less than a month to prepare a resume. Some take as little as 2 to 3 days. There are hundreds of online resume writing services, here's three that offer written customer satisfaction guarantees:
- Resume Writers: Offers four types of resumes: professional resumes, executive resumes, student resumes and IT resumes. The company also writes military-to-civilian resumes, CVs, cover letters, and offers a 30-day interview guarantee. Prices begin at $90 for cover letters and $169 and up for resumes. 24 hour rush is available for an additional $25.
- Careers Plus: Resume types include entry level, professional, executive, and government resumes. The company also offers CVs, live online chat, an interview guarantee, and combination packages that include cover letters and thank you notes. Prices begin at $99.95.
- Aspirations Resume: Offers entry level, professional, executive, and federal resumes, plus CVs. The company also offers a career change resume and a 10% military discount. Prices begin at $109. "Total marketing packages" including cover letter are also available.
Of course, there are hundreds more and research should be done to find the right resume writing service. Individual professional resume writers should also be contacted, because they often charge much less and provide personal attention. No matter which resume service is chosen, be sure to verify references and ask to see prior work before signing a contract.
What to Ask a Resume Writing Service
A few questions to ask any resume writing service:
- What's included in the price?
- Will there be an interview/discussion about professional career goals before resume writing begins?
- Are rewrites included? How many?
- Is there a guarantee?
- Can previous clients be contacted?
Use common sense when choosing a resume writing service. If something feels wrong, it probably is.
Choosing a Resume Service can Further a Professional Career
Small or individual resume writing services can absolutely compete with large companies. All that matters is the customer's trust in the resume writer's abilities. Professional resume writing services, no matter the size, often belong to the Better Business Bureau, the National Resume Writers' Association, or the Professional Association of Resume Writers. Look for any of these professional associations when deciding on a resume writing service.
References
"Pongo Resume; Resume Writing 101: Pongo Resume Shares Top Ten Tips and Best Practices for Resume Writing Success. " Information Technology Business 12 May 2009: Career and Technical Education, ProQuest.
Joe Conklin. "Resume Prose From the Pros? " Quality Progress 37.5 (2004): 69-70. Research Library, ProQuest.
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