Congratulations! Your resume is up-to-date, well-formatted, and free of spelling, grammar and punctuation errors. Unfortunately, in order to be a highly effective tool in your job search, your resume must be more than current, visually appealing, and error-free. A strong resume showcases your strengths, presents your accomplishments, and clearly communicates your professional goals. Great resumes assist job seekers in establishing credibility and telling their story in a compelling way. An excellent resume will generate more interviews for the kinds of jobs that you truly desire. Today’s post, the first of two parts, will examine the value added by working with an expert, how to identify a writer to work with you, and what you can expect to pay for this service.

Resumes: From Good to Great

If your resume does not accurately reflect the wealth of your experience, or if you simply aren’t getting enough interviews, consider hiring a professional to help take your resume to the next level. Resume writers specialize in distilling the essence of your achievements and contributions and demonstrating their relevance to the position(s) you seek. Are you the ideal candidate for a given job? A resume specialist will ensure that your resume emphasizes exactly why you are better qualified than any other applicant. If, on the other hand, you meet most—but not all—of the requirements and lack some of the desired skills and experience, a resume writer will highlight your assets and minimize your deficiencies. In either case, the finished product will be concise, easy to read and make an immediate impact on the reader from the beginning of the first page, as discussed previously here. Many resume consultants have worked in recruiting or career counseling, and they will share their wisdom and insights with you to enhance your job search strategy.

Finding a Resume Writer

There are several ways to identify someone to assist you with your resume. If you prefer to work with someone local, make inquiries within your personal network. It is likely that someone knows someone who works with resumes. Alternatively, you may reach out to an employment agency or career counselor in your area and ask for a recommendation. Some job seekers are more comfortable working with resume experts who can meet face-to-face and who have been personally referred to them.

Online, resume experts are numerous and easily found. Some have their own websites, but many are affiliated with freelance websites such as Upwork. Prior to engaging a resume consultant on either of these sites, you will need to set up an account first. Online resume writers typically have extensive information about their background and qualifications available immediately for your review and consideration.

How Much Does It Cost?

Resume writers typically work on a flat fee basis. The exact amount varies and depends on many factors including the total number of resumes desired (if you’re targeting two different types of jobs, you may want to have two different resumes); whether additional documents, such as cover letters, will be provided; and your professional level (executive resumes and technical CV’s are typically more expensive than administrative resumes). The fee may range from as little as $20 to as much as $250 or even more. An online consultant working from a part of the world with a low cost of living may be a more affordable option than someone available in your local area. Ultimately it is up to you to decide who is best qualified to assist you and who you are most comfortable hiring.

In next week’s post, we will give an overview of the process of working with a resume writer, as well as how to get the most value out of the experience.