At some point in the resume writing process, you're going to be asking yourself, "should I have a pro do this?"

The answer may be yes, if your resume is going to be fighting for attention in an extremely competitive field, or if your work history or job qualifications are difficult for you to express in a promotional and unbiased manner. We can help you identify that "pro," that special writer who is qualified to deliver a polished document that puts your best foot forward in a tough job market. OK, so who are the best resume writers out there? Glad you asked... 

Company...	Go To...	Rating...	Pricing...	In-Depth...
	Website		Entry Level / Mid Level / Executive   $109     $149     $229	Our highest rating for a number of reasons: free resume evaluation, personalized service, guarantee of results... (read REVIEW)
	Website		Grad Level / Mid Level / Executive   $149     $199     $274	Largest network of resume writers on the net, guaranteed interviews in 30 days, and 99.99% customer satisfaction rate... (read REVIEW)
	Website		Grad Level / Mid Level / Executive    $99    $199      $329	Top notch writers lead the list of reasons to consider this company. Each holds a minimum of a Master's Degree... (read REVIEW)
	Website		Entry Level / Mid Level / Executive   $139     $199     $259	Chosen resume partner for Yahoo! HotJobs and Wall Street Journal's CareerJournal.com, as well as the U.S. Air Force... (read REVIEW)
	Website		Entry Level / Mid Level / Executive   $179     $199     $349	Overly pricey resume products, no assurance of certified writers, and a website oftentimes difficult to navigate... (read REVIEW)
	Website		Entry Level / Mid Level / Executive   $119     $155     $245	The Los Angeles Times ranks this company "Best of the Bunch" on the internet. Really? Not by our measurement... (read REVIEW)

... because we've been all over the Web comparing resume writers and putting companies through their paces. Before we go any further, keep in mind that just because somebody calls himself a resume writer doesn't mean he's any good at it. Anybody can put up a shingle on the internet and start a resume writer service. But your resume is too important to trust to just anybody.

Here's what to look for in a professional resume writer -- and what we valued when identifying our list of recommended companies.

The Professional Resume Writer - Quality of Workmanship

We're former resume writers, ourselves (see "About Us"). After ten years in the business, we know a thing or two about writing a resume. Like how to draw relevant information out of a client. Like how to put that client's best foot forward on paper through subtlety of language. Like how to use design and layout to marketing advantage. It drove us a bit crazy at times because we're perfectionists. Though we're no longer writing resumes, those job skills, that perfectionism, is still there--and we look for it in other writers. Most of the time, sadly, we don't find it. When we do, we sit up and take notice. So quality of workmanship is what we value the most. You should, too.

The Professional Resume Writer - Credentials

A minimal level of quality workmanship is assured if you're dealing with a writer who has passed a series of qualifiers leading to the designation as a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW). We insisted on this basic level of competency. You should, too.

The Professional Resume Writer - The Communication Process

The best professional resume writers are confident enough in their fields of specialty that they can conduct an intelligent conversation with you, their client. Almost all companies will initially send out an email questionnaire to gather basic information about you. That's fine and that's efficient. But if there is no further provision in their process for a telephone conversion with the writer, be wary. The fine-tuning of a resume, the spark that turns blah blah blah into a dynamic marketing document comes about from information gleaned via a live chat between client and writer. We place big value on a telephone interview with the writer. You should, too.

The Professional Resume Writer - Price

We evaluated dozens of resume writing services in the course of developing our recommendations. We saw prices ranging from $39.00 to $1,000.00 and everything in between.

Because we know what it takes to go from telephone interview to finished resume--in terms of time and anguish--we know fair pricing when we see it. Which explains why the companies we detail above are in the same relative ballpark when it comes to pricing. A good writer working on the resume for a mid-level professional is going to need to charge $150-$200, or his talents are under priced and he'll soon be looking for work elsewhere. Nobody can charge $39 unless they're operating a factory -- cranking out resumes that all look alike but for a line here and there. And that $1000 resume? Please. We look for fair value. So should you.

The Professional Resume Writer - A Guarantee

The best professional resume writers will stand behind their work. Though a rare few offer assurances of results and interviews, at the very least you should expect your resume writer to make revisions until you're satisfied. Better yet is a resume writer who offers to revise your resume at no charge if it's not working.

We've tried to provide a bit of help in identifying a resume service that can translate your unique qualifications into a marketing document that opens doors. We wish you well in your job search.

- David Alan Carter

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