Considering a resume service? While not every job seeker needs one, hiring a professional resume writer makes sense... if your resume is going to be fighting for attention in a competitive field, or if your job qualifications are difficult for you to express in a promotional--and unbiased--manner. Yes, a good resume service will cost some money. Then again, consider that every month an ineffective resume fails to land an interview and a job is a month without a paycheck.

We asked former recruiter David Alan Carter to train a critical eye on the net's most popular resume services. Here are his picks and pans. Note: he found 3 resume services that actually guarantee job interviews.

Company...	Go To...	Rating...	Pricing...	In-Depth...
	Website		Grad Level / Mid Level / Executive $169     $199     $299	Largest network of resume writers on the Internet, and a 99.98% customer satisfaction rate. They guarantee you'll get interviews within 60 days... ( read REVIEW)
	Website		Entry Level / Mid Level / Executive $99      $129     $179	Easy on the wallet, and the writers have both certification and hiring experience. A guaranteed interview in 90 days, or you'll get some money back... ( read REVIEW)
	Website		Entry Level / Mid Level / Executive $139     $199     $259	Chosen resume partner for Yahoo! HotJobs and Wall Street Journal's CareerJournal.com. Online since 1998; 250 writers and 40 industry specializations... ( read REVIEW)
	Website		Entry Level / Mid Level / Executive $99      $139     $199	Solid craftsmanship from certified writers, very reasonable pricing, and a money-back guarantee of interviews. Upload your resume for a free critique... ( read REVIEW)
	Website		Grad Level / Mid Level / Executive $99      $169    $295	Top notch writers lead the list of reasons to consider this service. Each has a Master's Degree and industry expertise. Guaranteed interviews... ( read REVIEW)
	Website		Entry Level / Mid Level / Executive $179     $199     $349	A familiar name in job search, but pricey services, no assurance of certified writers, and a website difficult to navigate. Still, resumes sparkle... ( read REVIEW)
	Website		Entry Level / Mid Level / Executive $137     $167     $237	In business since 1997 and a 100% money-back guarantee if you buy a resume writing and distribution package. But resume samples are not available... ( read REVIEW)
	Website		Entry Level / Mid Level / Executive $89     $94     $104	Buy a professional resume for less than a hundred bucks. And the company guarantees an interview. So, what's wrong with this picture? Writing quality... ( read REVIEW)
	Website		Entry Level / Mid Level / Executive $89      $89      $89	One budget price fits all levels of experience, and interviews are guaranteed. Of course, there's always a tradeoff. Writing quality is not 5-star... ( read REVIEW)
	Website		Entry Level / Mid Level / Executive $119     $155     $245	The L.A. Times ranks this resume service "Best of the Bunch." We find that debatable. Weak customer service and a lackluster guarantee... ( read REVIEW)

Resume Services Reviews - About Our Top Picks And Rankings

We evaluated dozens of resume services and professional resume writers in the course of developing this site--and continue to monitor resume services. We review everything from one-man shops to boiler room operations employing dozens. We see prices ranging from $39.00 to $1000.00 and everything in between. Needless to say, the vast majority of these resume services don't make the cut. Why? It comes down to 5 reasons:

The Resume Writer On Paper - Credentials and Industry Background

Practically anyone can create a good-looking resume these days, what with computers and laser printers doing the aesthetics. That's fine for the first 7 seconds that an employer takes to scan your paperwork. But then comes the closer reading, and pretty paper alone won't land the interview. The employer will be looking for credible details in your resume to back up the demands of the job opening. That piece of paper will need to persuade him that you just might have something to offer.

That is the tall order. To make that persuasive case requires not only writing skill, but an insight into management and business that most resume writers simply lack. To that end, we value resume writers who are certified in their profession, and steeped in industry experience. The former, not because certification is the be-all and end-all, but because it provides the assurance of at least a minimal level of resume writing expertise. Since literally anyone can hang up a shingle and call themselves a resume writer, it's nice to know that a writer with the designation of Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) is one who has demonstrated a certain knowledge, talent and writing expertise. Beyond the writing certification, industry exposure is critical for the resume writer to be able to flesh out your particular experience and abilities, and then translate that into the language that taps the needs and desires of the hiring official. We are particularly impressed when a resume service is able to pair the client with a Certified Professional Resume Writer of similar occupational background.

The Resume Writer In Action - Quality of Workmanship

We're former resume writers, ourselves (see "Who We Are"). After ten years in the business, you learn a thing or two about writing a resume. Like how to draw relevant information out of a client. Like how to put that client's best foot forward on paper through subtlety of language. Like how to use design and layout to marketing advantage. In short: resume content and organization. It drove us a bit crazy at times because we're perfectionists.

Though we're no longer writing resumes, those job skills, that perfectionism, is still there--and we look for it in other professional resume writers. Most of the time, sadly, we don't find it. When we do, we sit up and take notice. So quality of workmanship, with regard to the content and organization of the resume, is what we value the most in a resume writer.

The Resume Service - Price and Value

Because we know what it takes to go from telephone interview to finished resume--in terms of time and anguish--we know fair pricing when we see it. Which explains why the resume writing services we detail above are in the same relative ballpark when it comes to pricing. The average pro is likely to take 2 to 3 hours to write your resume - more than that for executive clients and those with extensive technical experience or complex work histories. Factor in time for the telephone interview (a must, if you want a top-notch resume) and the requisite emailing back and forth, and you'll understand why a professional resume writer will need to charge $150, $200 or more to stay in business.

Then again, those resume service that charge $1000? Don't think so. OK, with this one exception for C-level execs.

The Resume Service - Timeliness

When you're between jobs and out of work, every day seems a month and every month a year. Time is of the essence, and we look seriously at the sense of time conveyed by resume services. Not every writer has to offer rush service. But they do need to provide a reasonable time frame for completing your project.

The Resume Service - Easy To Work With

Some days it seems everything's a hassle. Just when you really, really need things to go right--like when you're out of work or can't take another day under the oppressive thumb of Attila The Hun, the night shift supervisor at Acme Wing Nuts--well, forget it. There you are fighting with the navigation menus on a resume service website, hunting for an elusive guarantee or a nonexistent phone number.  

We've been there. Hence, we put a good deal of stock in resume writing services whose web sites navigate smoothly. Where information is readily available. Where pricing is up front and clear. Companies who signal a level of personalized service--like posting their phone number--that make us comfortable shelling out those bucks--fair as they are. In short, resume services and resume writers who are easy to work with.

The good news is that there are good companies out there, sincerely interested in serving your career interests. We've tried to identify a few. We wish you well in your job search, and trust that your career goals are just within reach.

© David Alan Carter
All Rights Reserved

David Alan Carter is a former technical recruiter (headhunter) and the founder of Resume One of Cincinnati. For more than ten years, he personally crafted thousands of resumes for satisfied clients from all occupational walks of life, grad and entry-level to senior executive.

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