Frequently Asked Questions About Resume Writing Services

WHY HIRE A PROFESSIONAL RESUME WRITER?

Professional resume writers are trained on how to best market your career experience to significantly increase your chances of being contacted for an interview. While there are many free resources available on the web, most of them are outdated and only cover the most basic "rules" of resume writing. There really are not any standard rules that apply to all jobseekers and all situations. Writing a resume is a process that has changed over the years, and a professional resume writer stays up to date on the trends and what makes a resume really stand out.

DO WE HAVE TO MEET IN PERSON?

Not at all. To date (6/2008) I have written 500+ resumes without meeting a single person face to face. I have worked with clients internationally and across many time zones.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE?

Typically 10 to 14 business days. You will be given a more specific timeline after you place an order for services. I don't do "rush" services, which means I typically work with my clients for two weeks and sometimes up to a month or longer if the project is very complex.

CAN YOU GUARANTEE THAT MY NEW RESUME WILL GET ME A JOB?

No one can make that guarantee. There are many factors involved in the job search including how aggressive you are in your search, how well you present yourself in an interview, your local unemployment rate, etc. Making a guarantee is website "marketing fluff" in my book and I simply don't do that. For more information, please read my guarantee policy.

HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?

Professional resume writing services are tailored to meet the needs of my clients. Some people only need some resume editing while others need to have a resume written from scratch. Generally speaking, resume services range from $350 to $950 depending on the complexity of the project and the client's years experience level. Additionally, jobseekers with technical backgrounds or executive-level experience require much more specialty expertise and resume writing fees range from $750 to $1500+ for those clients.

Simply put, getting one to two years of work experience condensed to a resume is much easier and less time consuming than working with a client with 30 years of career history. Furthermore, I cannot compete with someone who only charges $100 because their caliber of work does not match mine. At that price level, chances are the work is being outsourced to someone overseas they are able to pay below legal US wages (or they are using software you can purchase yourself).

WHAT MAKES YOUR SERVICE UNIQUE?

I consider my writing services on the cutting edge. Many of my colleagues do good work, but I feel as though their style and traditions remain behind the times. I consider myself a student for life and I frequently read trade publications, internet forums, books, news stories, and discussion lists to keep up on industry trends. Furthermore, I create new resume content and fresh designs tailored for every client. I do not use canned, "cut and paste" resumes.

WHAT ARE MY PAYMENT OPTIONS?

I accept all major credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover).

DO YOU OFFER COACHING SERVICES?

I consider myself a nice person who is always willing to help. I believe that I am an excellent writer that can help you meet your professional goals. I am not considered a "career coach" but I provide assistance on an informal basis. If you need professional coaching beyond my capabilities, I will happily refer you to someone with a good reputation who might be able to your needs.

HOW WILL I RECEIVE MY NEW DOCUMENTS?

Your files will be sent to you via e-mail in MS Word (.doc), Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) format, and ASCII (plain-text) format.

WHAT IS AN ASCII RESUME?

ASCII stands for the American Standard Code for Information Interchange. Basically, when you get your resume converted to ASCII, the fancy formatting is removed. This allows any computer or computer program to read the information correctly, regardless of the program you used to create it. This file type is also referred to as plain text.

CAN YOU SEND HARD COPIES?

Absolutely. I can arrange to have copies picked up at your local Kinko's for the fastest service. I can also have them mailed to you from Kinko's. I do not charge you any higher than I get charged to have them printed for you.

WHAT ABOUT THOSE RESUME DISTRIBUTION SERVICES?

While these services claim to save you time, there is no real guarantee that they are distributing your resumes to the appropriate hiring managers. Some people have had success with these companies, and others have not. I would suggest you target your resume to the job you are applying for and edit your resume when appropriate for best results. In my opinion, this is much more effective than "blasting" your resume to thousands of recruiters.

DO YOU HAVE SAMPLES I CAN SEE?

Yes. Please contact me and I will send you some samples of my work. I choose not to post samples on my website to protect the investment my clients have made in their career.

No I do not and I have mixed feelings about working with them. Jobseekers often look to their recruiter as someone who is supposed to find them a job. But that's not what they do. They are paid to fill positions for their client(s), and they are looking for very specific skill sets and qualifications for each client they work for. If you are going to use recruiters as part of your job search, I suggest submitting your resume to several of them and not relying on just one.

Alternatively, many people have good results participating in networking groups such as LinkedIn or by submitting their resumes to websites such as ResumeSpider.

WHAT IF I FEEL YOU AND I ARE NOT A GOOD FIT?

That's ok...not everyone meshes like PB&J. :)

If you decide that you and I are not a good professional match, I would be happy to refer you to some colleagues that could very likely take care of your needs.

You can also visit the The National Resume Writers' Association to search for the right fit for you.