Seven steps to choosing a resume writer.

If you’ve tried to choose a resume writer, you’ll know it’s a thankless task. At the time of writing, a search for the term ‘resume writer’ brought up 20 million results in Google. That’s a lot of resume writers!

To make matters worse, there is no governing body for the industry. Anyone can call themselves a professional resume writer, set up a website, and start taking orders. And just to complicate things further, each company works differently. So a service that’s perfect for one person may be completely wrong for you.

All this makes it very difficult to know where to begin when you start to research potential services. So here are our tips for choosing a resume writing company.

1) Shop around.

Even if you like the first company you find, you should still contact a couple of other services to make sure that you’re in the best hands. Working with a professional resume writer is an investment of both time and money, so do your homework.

2) Evaluate their qualifications.

Does this company have the process, writers and training to create strategic marketing documents (as opposed to simply typing up career histories). Have any of their writers worked in recruiting or HR? If not, do they have other expertise that gives you a sense of comfort? Have they written books, earned lots of certifications, or come highly recommended by people you trust?

3) Look at resume samples.

Any good resume service should display samples on their site – preferably in ‘before’ and ‘after’ format so that you can see what changed. When looking at the samples, look for quality, but also look for variation. Does each resume have a different structure? Does each one use different words? Or are they all the same, as though a template was used. And finally, do they impress you personally? If you don’t like the samples you see, you probably won’t like the resume you get at the end of the process.

4) How effective (and current) is their marketing?

You’re paying someone to help present you effectively. So look at how they present themselves. What first impression does their website make? Is it modern and well maintained? Have they conveyed their brand well? Does it make you want to buy from them? Your resume service must also be up-to-date with the latest hiring trends.

5) Ask about guarantees.

We think all resume services should offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee. But most won’t go that far so you may have to settle for less. At the very least, the company should promise to make as many revisions as necessary to ensure you love your new resume.

6) Be sure the process works for you.

Resume services have different approaches. Some want you to complete a questionnaire. Some conduct phone interviews. Some do a combination of both. It’s important to find a process that suits you. We have our own proprietary tool (“The Explorer”) which we think is great. For the right person, completing The Explorer is a revelation. It forms the basis not just for a great resume, but for in-depth interview preparation. (In some cases, it even changes the entire direction of their search!) But even though we love it, The Explorer isn’t for everyone. It takes a little work and some people don’t have the time. That’s OK. There are lots of other writers who use a different process.

7) Take price out of the equation

We know, price has to be a consideration. But don’t make it the be-all and end-all. Those cheap services are cheap for a reason. Writing a great resume takes skill and experience. If someone is able to charge a low fee, chances are they are lacking in one or the other. If you can’t afford to hire a good resume writer, take the time to learn about resume writing from books or articles and do it yourself. You’ll get better results, believe me. (Check out our free resume resume help page, or our low-cost DIY Guides for more help).

8) What about professional certifications?

We didn’t include professional certifications because they’re not always a reliable indicator of quality. They definitely don’t hurt and the Blue Sky team has a number of certifications. But they’re not always a reliable indicator of quality.

Choosing a good resume writing service can transform your job search, so we hope these tips help you brave those 20 million results and find the service that is perfect for you.

And to make it a little easier, we’ve compiled a hand-picked list of trusted resume writing companies. These services all offer fair pricing and high-quality work. Each is respected and well-established.

What if we’re not the right fit?

If Blue Sky isn’t the best resume writer for you, we want you to find one that is! These nine groups are writing great resumes!

Nine Resume Writers You Can Trust

Career Solvers
http://www.careersolvers.com
Expertise in search campaigns & strategy coaching

BoardroomResumes.com
http://www.boardroomresumes.com
Expertise in senior executive resumes

Polished Resumes
http://www.polishedresumes.com
Expertise in military/federal resumes

Career Directions
http://www.careerdirectionsllc.com
Expertise in senior-level executives

A Resume for Today
http://www.aresumefortoday.com
Expertise in technology executive resumes

Top Margin
http://www.topmargin.com
Expertise in executives, managers & emerging leaders

Best Fit Forward
http://www.bestfitforward.com
Expertise in career management & job search strategy

Pinnacle Resumes
https://pinnacleresumes.com
Expertise in executives, directors & professionals

Blue Sky Resumes
https://www.blueskyresumes.com
(That’s us!)