Choosing the right resume package

When looking into getting your resume done professionally, you might have to choose which package will be best for you. if you’ve been browsing online, comparing various services, you might have noticed that most of them offer similar packages so you just need to know what you need.

First, you should know what resume writing level you need. Most services offer 3 levels such as entry, mid-career and executive, which are mostly based on the number of years of experience and your career level. Choose wisely and don’t try to cut costs by choosing the cheapest one if you have 15 years of experience or you will undervalue yourself.

Second, look at what’s included in the package. Some services just offer the resume while others will include a cover letter and even a thank you letter. So find out what’s the best value for you.

Finally, if services offer special resumes for your field – for example Federal, engineering, etc … – pick these packages from these companies rather than from companies that only offer generic resume services, without the ability to customize them for your industry.

The importance of Turn Around Times

When looking into professional services to prepare your resume, there are several factors that you should take into consideration. Turn around time is one of the most important factors as you want to make sure you will be able to submit your application before the ad is closed.

To give you an idea, resume writers usually need somewhere between 3 to 6 days to prepare a good resume. Not only do they need time to process your information and write your resume but they also need time to make revisions that you might require, after having received the first draft.

However, if you need your resume sooner than that, most resume writing services offer rush services that go from a few hours to a day. Of course in that case, there is an additional fee, but it’s usually a small additional expense that is wirth the investment.

The 2 types of Resume Writing Guarantees

For those of you who are shopping around online, looking for a resume writing service, there are several factors to consider when making a decision.  One of the most important one is the guarantee that these services offer. Resume writing companies can be classed in 3 categories when it comes to guarantees.

First, there are the companies that do no offer any type of guarantee. I would recommend staying away from these.

The second and most common types are companies that offer free rewrites as a Guarantee. To assess them, check out how many rewrites they offer – for example is that only one or s unlimited?

Finally, there a few rare companies that offer a resume writing money back guarantee. These are the companies I would recommend using as they put their money where their mouth is. They guarantee results with their resumes, otherwise they refund your money. Since their guarantee is based on the honor system, you know that they are confident that their resumes can get results (results are usually interviews or even job offers).

How to know if your Resume Writer is qualified

If you would rather have a professional prepare your resume for you, you will find plenty of resume writing services that can do this for you. To make sure you find a good resume writer or writing company that is qualified to write your resume, you will need to check they have completed the requisite training. Once you find out what training they have completed and what type of certification they have, you will know your resume is in good hands.

When looking into hiring a professional resume writer, you might wonder what makes them qualified to prepare your resume. Well, like in most other career fields, they also take exams to be certified.

There are two different associations that offer certification for resume writers. The most popular is the NCRW (Nationally Certified Resume Writer). A resume writer can obtain this certification from either the National Resume Writer’s Association or the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches. To get a certification, writers are required to study resume writing concepts and strategies, including  cover letter preparation, must attend continuing education courses and submit a sample resume and cover letter for review by members of the association.

In addition, they must take an exam, which is broken down into two parts: questions related to a sample resume and a writing exercise. Once they have successfully passed the exam and met all of the other requirements, they will receive their resume writing certification. To keep the certification up-to-date, they are also required to take continuing education courses throughout their career or to pass an additional exam.

The other main accreditation is CPRW (Certified Professional Resume Writer), which also requires to take an exam to demonstrate writing abilities. This exam includes four parts:

Industry knowledge
Grammar, punctuation, and proofreading
Strategic thinking
Resume and cover letter writing test

Once they have passed this test, they will get their CPRW certification. Just like with NCRW, they must also keep their certification current through continuing education and/or additional tests throughout their career.

Once they have completed the required education and trainings, they can either start their own resume writing business or look for employment with a resume writing company. Usually they start working for a resume service in order to gain experience. So if you choose to use the service of a resume company, you are pretty much assured your writer will be certified. However, if you just hire an independent writer, make sure they have the right certification and training.

Five tips to choose a great resume writer

If you’re exploring a professional career and applying for an executive job, you first need to find a professional resume writer to prepare your resume for you. Hiring a resume writer is definitely wotrh the investment. There are several professional resume writing services, and finding the right one might be quite a fastidious task. Here are some tips to help you find the best resume writers.

1.    Look at their sales ability. Any resume service should have a compelling sales pitch page. Some people feel intimidated by a sales pitch, but think of it that way: if a resume agency can’t sell themselves, they won’t be able to sell you in a resume.

2.    Reputation is another factor that is crucial considering when hiring a professional resume writer. You can use search engines and review sites to check various companies and determine which ones have good reputation and which ones should be avoided.

3.    Experience is also key into selecting the best writers. With all the companies out there, selecting the services that have been around for a long time might be a good angle. While it doesn’t mean that new companies are not as talented, it’s usually a good sign when a business has been around for a while.

4.    You should also make sure that they are certified, which you can know if they mention PARW, CPRW or NARW.

5.    Finally consider the personal attention you will be getting. What you need is a writer who will work with you and will write a customized resume just for you, not someone who will throw your experience and education into a cheap template or resume builder.

These are the important things to keep in mind when choosing a resume writer. Additionally, you need to remember that you pay for what you get. Thus, if you are looking for the cheapest service, you will probably get a cheap resume, as well. You simply need to compare the resume companies available and choose the best resume writer based on their abilities and the costs, instead of just considering only the cost of the service. If you want to get the best job, you need to have the best resume, so it all depends on your research and taking seriously.

When to hire a resume writing service

While hiring professional writers to prepare your resume is usually the best way to have a great resume, you should consider several options before making a decision.

Unless you have no clue on how to write a resume, you should at least try to write your resume yourself and test it by sending it to a few openings. This will not only allow you to get a better idea about your career path but also help you assess if what you think are your best strengths are what employers are looking for. If you’re just out of college and are looking for entry level jobs, writing your resume yourself is also the most affordable option, considering that you resume won’t have enough information to justify hundreds of $ in writing fees.

However if you’re going for mid to upper level positions, it is highly recommended to let a professional resume writing service prepare your resume for you as you will need a flawless resume. Not only do they know the latest resume writing rules about your industry but they will be able to write your resume from the employers’ point of view, which will make you stand out.

As to choosing a resume service, make sure they are certified, affordable and most of all, check out their guarantee. While most services only offer rewrites as a guarantee, it is recommended to select a professional resume writing service that offers a money back guarantee to be sure you are in good hands.

Certified Resume Writers

When you’re looking for professionals to write you resume, make sure to choose a certified resume writing service, which will assure your writers are highly professional and know what they’re doing. There are only a few organizations that provide serious resume writing certifications and, when checking out the credentials of a resume service, look for the following certifications: PARW, CPRW, NARW.

Also for those looking for Federal jobs or wanting to transition from the military to the civilian sector, make sure the service you choose are also certified – or specialized – in these fields.