Your Resume or CV should be carefully crafted as if your career depends on it; because it often is. It must be strong, and convincing, and it must be done well.
Your resume could be the reason you walk through the door for an interview or the reason the door stays closed.
An effective resume tells the story of your career, highlighting milestones not as static tactics, but as business results that have fundamentally changed, improved, simplified, or improved the results of the organizations you worked for.
So, think of a resume as a business document, an introduction, or an initial presentation to a potential employer. Rather than a simple, stagnant list of job responsibilities, your resume should be your own personal value proposition.
Because hiring a professional resume writer is an investment in your career, making a careful decision about who to assign the task is essential.
Is It a Good Idea to Hire a Resume Writer?
Not everyone is a born writer. You may be a coder, but that doesn’t mean you know how to market your expertise in a way that attracts potential employers.
While you focus on improving your business job skills, let a professional writer find the best way to convey your talents on paper.
Indeed, writing a professional resume can be a stressful process, especially if you’re not good with the right words to convey your thoughts.
If you are not sure where to start, consider seeking professional help by hiring a resume writer.
The job of the resume writer is to know what recruiters are looking for and how best to display that information.
So, yes! Its a good idea to hire a resume writer
Another reason why it’s good to hire a resume writer is for those who have a great interest in changing careers and are not sure how to show off their skills to transfer to a new industry.
Or maybe you find yourself with significant job gaps or a series of short-term or unrelated jobs dominating your resume.
While you can’t change the past, a professional resume writer can help you resolve a checkered work history by drawing attention to your strengths and minimizing weaknesses in your career history.
Hiring a professional resume writer may not be an option for everyone.
But if you’re applying for the right opportunities and still having a hard time getting interviews, it might be time to seek expert advice.
Investing in a professional resume can give you the edge you need to shorten your job search and land the right job sooner.
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Is It Worth Using a Resume Writing Service?
The second question to ask yourself is why you might want to hire a professional resume writing service.
The answer to this question is almost always the same: Resumes are difficult for non-writers to create, and what worked 5 or 10 years ago might not work now.
Sure, you can be considered an expert in your chosen field, but does that qualify you to write a resume? Probably not.
The thing is, writing a resume requires a certain skill set that most of us don’t have. And without these skills, we can struggle to adequately convey our true value as potential value.
This is especially true in today’s highly competitive work environment.
Hiring managers have become adept at filtering out bad resumes and even have software to help them in this endeavor: the Applicant Tracking System, or ATS.
In fact, ATS programs represent another challenge.
So, you see, you must write your resume or CV in such a way that it meets the ATS requirements.
Otherwise, the software will reject your resume and you won’t even have a chance to have it scrutinized with human eyes.
The bottom line is simple: You are probably not a professional resume writer.
You may not have a lot of experience with any kind of formal or professional writing. You probably don’t know what a hiring professional is looking for on your resume.
Unfortunately, this means that your own attempt to create a resume could be unsuccessful.
Resume writers have read tens or even thousands of resumes (depending on years of experience and volume) and they know what is boring, tiresome, unimpressive, or unwanted on a resume.
Ultimately, hiring a professional resume writing service is there to ensure that you properly convey your valuable skills and experiences to your prospective employer.
Qualities of a Resume Writer
These are the qualities of a writer:
- Excellent Writing Skills: A resume writer should possess strong writing abilities, including grammar, punctuation, and vocabulary, to effectively communicate a candidate’s qualifications and experiences.
- Understanding of Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS): Knowledge of how ATS works is crucial for optimizing resumes to pass through these systems and increase the chances of reaching human recruiters.
- Attention to Detail: Resume writers must pay close attention to every detail, ensuring accuracy in content, formatting, and presentation.
- Customization Ability: Being able to address resumes to specific industries, job roles, and individual candidates is essential for maximizing their effectiveness.
- Research Skills: Resume writers should be adept at researching industries, companies, and job descriptions to understand the requirements and preferences of potential employers.
- Empathy and Understanding: It’s important for resume writers to empathize with their clients and understand their career goals, experiences, and aspirations to create compelling resumes.
- Strategic Thinking: They should possess strategic thinking abilities to point out the most relevant skills and experiences that align with the target job.
- Keeping Up with Trends: Staying updated with the latest trends and best practices in resume writing, including formatting styles, keywords, and content preferences, is crucial for delivering modern and effective resumes.
- Professionalism: Resume writers must maintain professionalism in all interactions with clients, ensuring confidentiality and delivering services in a timely manner.
- Communication Skills: Effective communication with clients is essential to gather necessary information, clarify doubts, and manage expectations throughout the resume writing process.
- Results-Oriented Approach: A good resume writer focuses on producing resumes that yield results, such as securing job interviews and ultimately landing employment opportunities for their clients.
- Continuous Improvement: Willingness to receive feedback, learn from experiences, and continuously improve their skills and knowledge in resume writing is important for long-term success in this field.
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What Makes a Resume Stand Out
The things that make a resume stand out is, a well-organized and easy-to-read layout that highlights key information. Including specific accomplishments and metrics shows the candidate’s contributions and value to potential employers.
Secondly, a strong opening statement that summarizes the candidate’s skills, experiences, and career goals. Using an industry-specific phrases that help the resume get noticed by applicant tracking systems (ATS) and human recruiters
Furthermore, using a clean and modern design with consistent formatting, and appropriate font styles, for the resume. Also, use strong action verbs and active language to describe past experiences and achievements because it adds impact to the resume and conveys a sense of accomplishment.
In addition, being consistent in formatting, grammar, and spelling throughout the resume. Also, Including positive quotes or testimonials from previous employers or colleagues can add credibility and validate the candidate’s skills and capabilities.
What are the Types of Resume Writing Services to Consider?
The third question you will need to answer is the type of resume writing service you should consider.
Yes, there are different options available, so you will need to decide which is the best for you.
As you can imagine, each offers different levels of service and prices can vary widely.
#1. Template Services or Resume Builders
A resume template service cannot technically qualify as a service for the writing of curriculum vitae.
However, we have included it here to point out that they exist, as you are likely to find them if you are looking for a service.
These trades are mixed, so there is always a risk when using them.
They basically don’t write resumes at all.
Instead, a resume generator provides one or more templates for you to enter all your work history details, and then the service creates a CV based on the template.
If that’s what you’re looking for, check out these popular resume builders.
The costs are generally reasonable (if hidden), but the results can often be virtually unnecessary.
This is especially true if you need your CV to pass an ATS, as there is no way for an automated template to adequately meet the requirements of this assessment software.
This option is generally only useful if you only want to save the basic details of your resume and plan to deliver it directly to the person making the hiring decisions.
If you use this resume for online applications, some programs due to formatting errors may overlook it.
For example, if the resume template places your contact information in the header or footer of a document, an ATS scan cannot see it.
To learn more about ATS and how to pass the ATS exam, click below.
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#2. Resume Factories
Beware of resume factories or “CV factories” as they are sometimes called. These services often employ people with little professional resume knowledge.
Many of its writers are inexperienced or not even fluent in their native language. Furthermore, the companies behind these operations generally do not provide the kind of career guidance that copywriters would need to properly optimize their resumes.
Make no mistake about it – this type of resume writing service is almost never worth the money you pay.
If you choose a product, it tends to be incomprehensible or rely on “creative” resume formats to hide the fact that there is very little content.
You can spot these resume writing services by looking for these 3 things:
- No physical address
- Phone number to contact
- No sample resume they have written
However, there are quite a good number of resume factories you can trust.
#3. Certified Professional Resume Writers
Your best bet will always be to trust true professionals. The best resume writing services will have qualified and experienced resume writers.
These professionals will be able to take your important information and create a relevant and effective resume that will provide you with the branding you need to stand out.
They also understand what hiring managers and recruiters want to see on your resume.
Hiring a resume writer requires that you participate in the different stages of the process.
Also, CV writers will require more time and money as the process takes longer.
They will also clarify the details and request their complete confidence that the final product meets current industry standards and your job search needs.
You can find a certified professional resume writer on platforms like LinkedIn Profinder or Thumbtack, or use a trusted service with a large network of writers.
Factors to Consider When Hiring a Resume Writer
If you’re considering hiring a professional resume writer, consider these factors:
#1. Be Prepared
It’s easy to get complacent about updating your resume when you’re employed, especially if you enjoy your job, your boss, and your business.
Changes in company structure, including mergers and layoffs, could change your employment status without prior notice. The last thing you want is to be caught unawares.
Similarly, you never know when a job opportunity will present itself when you least expect it.
You may meet someone at a dinner party who thinks their experience is perfect for a position that has just been posted in your department. Or, one day, while browsing your LinkedIn feed, your dream job appears as “recommended for you.”
Because a professional resume writer may need two to three weeks to review a resume, thinking ahead will give you a competitive advantage.
With a ready-to-use resume, you can be one of the first to apply.
To be even better prepared, I recommend keeping a permanent journal of responsibilities or promotions in your current job and remembering to update this list each time you start a new position.
If possible, include measures, improvements, and improved achievements in results, workflow, or other business processes.
Having your resume ready when you could need it is one of the most proactive ways to run your career with intention.
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#2. The Process
A quality resume requires research by a professional resume writer, a process to find out more about you and your career.
Some services work from the current CV and a short form; others will interview the client to develop the new CV.
Most resume services prefer a combination of existing documentation, a complete questionnaire, and an interview.
This method ensures that your copywriter knows you and what you can offer a potential employer so that your resume shows the unique value you add.
While the resume writer works with you on how best to present your experience and qualifications, you are the expert on your career history and play a vital role throughout the process.
When hiring a professional resume writer, it’s always a good idea to ask when and how you can make changes to drafts.
Understanding the protocol from the beginning will reduce the risk of misunderstandings once the process is underway.
#4. Credentials
A professional resume writer is a professional development specialist who focuses on you, the job seeker, to highlight your career history in a way that aligns with the overall requirements and goals of your ideal next position.
At a minimum, a professional resume writer is accredited as either an NCRW (National Certified Resume Writer) or CRW (Certified Resume Writer). Both are issued by the National Resume Writers Association (NRWA), or as a CPRW (Certified Professional in Curriculum vitae Writing), published by the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches.
Both organizations require resume writing professionals to apply for certification, meet experience requirements, and pass the qualification exam.
However, passing the exam is only the first step. Maintaining this certification requires ongoing and relevant training.
Skilled resume writers understand and use all professional resume writing tactics, including English language and grammar, layout, and page layout.
They have successfully positioned their clients to achieve their career goals.
In other words, they are experienced and successful in crafting a professional resume that has achieved the results desired by their clients.
#4. Cost
Cost is very important when you’re selecting a resume writer. So be highly suspicious of the individual or firm that will offer you a full package for a cheap price.
Rather than going for a resume writer or service that doesn’t have credentials, try writing your resume by yourself.
It is advisable to spend your money on reputable resume services with credentials or experienced writers who are doing the work themselves.
Sometimes, your level of experience can also affect the price.
An individual changing career path won’t pay the same amount as an entry-level applicant or recent college graduate.
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How to Hire a Resume Writer with Noble Qualities
Most people will choose to hire a resume writer to help them create an effective resume.
Some really talented people know how to create a resume and get the attention of employers.
Naturally, you may not have the ability to create a great resume on your own. And asking your manager for help is often not helpful unless that person is in HR and hiring for the company.
Knowing how to write a resume is very different from simply reviewing several.
First, the professional writer must have a solid understanding of many careers and the tasks required in each role.
Word skills and personal branding skills are needed.
Most importantly, the resume writer must understand how ATS works and know what keywords to add.
Hence, we recommend that you use these guidelines to help you make the right decision on how to hire a resume writer with great qualities.
#1. Request a Referral
A referral is one of the easiest ways to get a great resume writer.
You can seek for referral if a friend or colleague of yours uses a writer that you like.
Especially if the resume work was efficient and help them get to the point of interviews.
Go to the resume writers’ social media page or website and check them out.
If they have a sample of their work you love, then you can go ahead to hire them.
#2. Check Background, Education, Qualifications, Degrees
A typical resume writer is always a career counselor, a former recruiter, has a HR background in hiring, and has a college education.
These are the qualities you need to check when choosing a resume writer.
If possible, find out if they have a bachelor’s degree or just a trained resume writer.
This is because some have written resume books, others write job search articles or blogs and cover resumes, but don’t necessarily have certification.
However, it’s important that the resume writer you want to hire should have a certification. Even if they don’t, you can still hire them once you’re certain that they’ve experienced it.
Some may have resume writing certifications offered by professional associations, such as the National Association of Resume Writers.
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#3. Years of Experience
You don’t want a beginner. Look for someone who has written a resume for no less than FIVE years.
Ask how many people they have helped. Some offer samples, check them out.
Also check if they work with someone who has experience writing a resume for your job level, your title, and knows your industry.
Some people specialize and only work with lawyers or engineers. Others have more experience and help people in various fields and have helped people in their professional roles.
#4. Testimonials
The writer must have several mentions of satisfied customers on his website.
Also, check your LinkedIn profile to see if people have passed the SKILLS section for resume writing.
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FAQs
Prices can vary depending on the writer’s experience and the level of service you require. You expect to pay anywhere from $100 to $1000 or more for resume writing services.
The time can vary depending on the writer’s workload and the complexity of your resume. On average, it takes about 1-2 weeks to complete a resume.
Yes, you can. Most resume writers offer revisions as part of their service. Make sure to communicate any changes or feedback you have to ensure you’re happy with the final product.
You will need to provide information about your education, work experience, skills, achievements, and career goals. The more details you can provide, the better the writer will be able to tailor your resume to your specific needs.
Final Verdict
Much of the information you need to improve your CV is in your head and should be discovered by talking directly to you.
So, make sure the person you are talking to is the one writing the CV.
Be careful not to get sold by the business owner who has great credentials but doesn’t get the job done.
