Should you use a resume writing service?

Answer 1

As someone who's helped many people put together resumes and has taught job-hunting, I can tell you that it's not a requirement to use a resume writing service. Most of the people who've come to me do so because they either:

• Don't know how to write a resume
• Don't really know how things should be worded
• Have a particular situation they just don't know how to handle
• Don't have the time to do it themselves
• Are going into a field or job they're not overly familiar with and need someone more knowledgeable to help

I'll be totally honest and say that not everyone needs a resume writer. Some people can do it themselves and do a fine job at it. So deciding to use a resume writing service is a personal choice. And not all resume services work the same. Some use templates and just fill-in your info. That's not what I do! I do each one by hand so it's fully-customized.

Resume writing services have become pretty popular. Some of the people competing for jobs with you have probably used them. That may give them an advantage.

The cost of a resume writing service is relatively cheap. Depending on how much help you need, it will probably be under one or two hundred dollars. If you compare that to the value of a good job, it's not much.

Here's the advice of the Federal Consumer Information Center on how to find a resume writing service:

The Professional Association of Resume Writers, established in 1990, has about 1,000 members. For a fee, professional resume writers help job-seekers write resumes and cover letters. Many resume writing services offer student rates, but fees may be higher for people with longer work histories. For a list of members of the Professional Association of Resume Writers, call their toll free number at (800) 822-7279.

Some people prefer using resume writing services, others prefer writing their own.

A service might be a good idea if you have a difficult or awkward employment history and aren't sure what the best way to explain it is. Also, some people just don't trust themselves to write it properly, or haven't gotten responsive feedback from their own.

Personally, I say that there is no reason not to try it yourself first. You know yourself best, and therefore can sell yourself the best. Use the resources around you: college career centers, bookstores, internet sites, and even your friends who are also going through the process. Almost everyone has had to write a resume in their life, so don't be afraid to ask others' advice.

I wrote my own resume, starting with a fairly boring employment history, and have had much success with landing interviews.

I am a professional resume writer and I see many many self-written resumes that do not show their owners in favorable light.

While there is often a charm about a self-written resume full of typos, inconsistencies in layout and lack of anything even bordering on professional or powerful verbiage, and while I also always encourage clients to 'go with your gut feeling' about what is most appropriate for them, generally speaking I can quickly transform poorly written, sorry little resumes into works of wonder that not only get interviews but - more importantly - give the owner a sense of confidence and strength that they didn't have otherwise.

The work world is very competitive these days, and a good resume can be a powerful tool for carving your way into a good job. Someone who writes resumes day in and day out can be of great service to a job hunter. Ask to see samples of the writer's work, or ask them to critique your resume and offer you feedback. It's worth it even if you pay for the review, and most resume writers will gladly drop the critique fee should you decide to have them rewrite your resume.

For me it is better to write your own resume so that you can put all the correct details like addresses, contact numbers etc. Sometimes if you use resume writing services, they tend to have some little errors in your details and it can affect your resume as well as your application. There are tons of free resume formats and templates that you can use such as in the Related Link below.