Resume. Cover Letter. Job hunting. These are all phrases that give job seekers major anxiety, as well as a process many try to avoid like the plague. Whether you’re brand new to the job market or a seasoned veteran, writing your own resume can be a daunting task. It seems like a very easy thing to do. And after all, it’s just one document. How hard could it be? But in the grand scope of things, your resume is actually one of the most important documents you’ll ever write. So, if you’re wondering if you should use a professional resume-writing service or the “do it yourself method,” you’re certainly not alone. We all want to know what works best and what’s not worth our time.
What is a Professional Resume-Writing Service, Anyway?
A professional resume-writing service is an agency that offers to prepare and/or review your resume. These companies have experts on staff who can help you create a resume that will get you noticed by employers, as well as provide tips on how to best sell yourself in the competitive job market. Professional services can range from basic editing and formatting to more comprehensive packages that include writing, editing, proofreading, and coaching services. If you’re like most people, you probably didn’t know that hiring an expert to write your resume was an option. To help you decide if this type of service is right for you, here are some pros and cons of using a professional resume-writing service.
The Pros
Access to expertise and knowledge. The best professional resume writers have years of experience in the field, and they can use that knowledge to help you create an effective resume that will get you noticed by employers.
Passing Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). These days, many larger companies use ATS software to sift through and rank hundreds of job candidates. This means that a machine is reading your resume before it even reaches a human eye. While the software is great news for hiring managers, it presents some real challenges for job seekers, especially those seeking to change careers or who are simply new to the field. Blending expertise in design, formatting, and keyword optimization, professional resume writers can boost your score on the ATS that companies use.
Increased chances of landing an interview. Does your resume pass a hiring manager’s 30-second test? 30 seconds is roughly the amount of time that a hiring manager spends looking at a resume and using a professional resume-writing service can help you grab a hiring managers attention and snag an interview. A well-written, professionally formatted resume is one of the most important tools in your job search arsenal–and it’s also one of the first things employers look at when deciding whether or not to consider you for the job.
Improved quality and professionalism in less time. Writing your own resume can be a tedious and time-consuming task. And, after hours spent trying to create a winning document, it might still not be the best it can be. That’s where a professional resume-writer comes in handy.
Obtaining documents you can use to apply to hundreds of jobs. Investing in a strong resume or cover letter is beneficial because it’s a product that you can use hundreds of times to apply to jobs over a few years. You can use them to apply to numerous jobs and, ultimately, secure your livelihood. They can be easily edited and reworked depending on specific job requirements, so they shouldn’t be seen as one-time-use products.
The Cons
It can be pricey. The cost of professional resume-writing services can range from $100 to $1000+, with the average price around $200. This can be a major deterrent for many people, especially if you’re just starting out in your career and don’t have much money to spare and if you’re not sure whether or not the service will actually be worth it in the end.
The process can take longer than expected. Ultimately, these services can cost a lot because they can take up a lot of time for both the writer and the job candidate. Every company’s process is different and some companies include a long interview process even before starting the project. Once a first draft is delivered, there is no guarantee that it will be ready to send out. Most companies offer a revision period to ensure the client’s full satisfaction, which can take a few days or weeks. For candidates who are on a tight job application deadline, the process time is something to consider.
Lack of personalization. If you hire a professional writer to create your resume, there’s no guarantee that they’ll understand exactly what kind of job you want or that you’ll share the same vision for how you want your document to look or read. For best results, ensure seamless communication between you and your writer.
Difficult to evaluate quality. It’s hard enough evaluating resumes on their own but when there are so many different ways they can be written and presented electronically through various platforms like LinkedIn and social media sites, it becomes even harder because each one looks so different from another person’s perspective.
Things to Consider Before Hiring a Professional Resume Writer
Before hiring a professional resume-writing service, you should consider the following:
What are your needs? Do you need help with the overall structure and flow of your resume, or just with specific sections such as education or work experience. If it’s the latter, then hiring someone who specializes in that area might be more cost effective than hiring someone to write an entire new document from scratch.
What is your budget? If money isn’t an issue for you, then hiring a professional to craft a unique personal brand with no added stress to you is easily the best option. But if money is tight or uncertain (as it often is), then consider whether there might be other ways of getting what you need done without spending too much cash up front.
Takeaway
In conclusion, there are many benefits to working with a professional resume-writing service. The most obvious benefit is that you will receive a well-written, polished document that will help you land interviews and jobs. You can also save time by working with someone who knows what employers want in terms of resumes and cover letters, as well as how to format the documents correctly for each job application process. If you decide to use a professional resume-writing service, it’s important to know what questions to ask about their services before hiring them so that you get exactly what you need from them without paying extra fees or being surprised by the end result.
Does your resume pass a hiring manager’s 30-second test? Get in touch with us to find out.
Recommended
What You Should Know Before Dishing out 💰💰💰 for a Resume
10 Soft Skills Employers Want to See in 2023 (and How to Show Them)
Leave a Reply