10 Tips to choosing the right résumé service
There are generally several résumé services in your newspaper or Yellow Pages. Searching for the right service on the internet can be even more daunting. Unfortunately, résumé writing is an unregulated field. Anyone can place an ad in the newspaper. You need to ask questions and then compare answers.
1. How long have you been in this business?
Like most professionals, the longer a person has been operating their business, the more likely they are dedicated to and current with the art of résumé writing.
2. Is this a full-time business?
If operating a full-time business, they probably know what they are doing, otherwise they would have found another way of earning a living. If they are part-time, they may not have the resources to assist you like a full-time service has including the time to stay current in the field. A full-service business will normally have a laser printer, professional marketing, a website, fax and toll-free phone number. Part-timers and price-cutters usually cannot afford this.
3. How many resumes have you personally written?
On average, resume writers can handle no more than 15 resumes a week. The maximum number a year would be around 800. If someone tells you they have been in business for 5 years and have written over 10,000 resumes in that time, you can be sure they are either using a program creating template resumes or they just picked that number out of the air. It takes the average resume writer from 1 to 4 hours to develop an effective résumé based on the degree of difficulty, excluding consultation time.
4. What are your credentials?
The answers to this question can vary widely. The résumé writer may have been a Recruitment Consultant, a Human Resources Manager, a Copywriter, Marketing Manager, a Career Counsellor etc. Writing resumes for a few friends is not an acceptable answer nor is having a degree.
5. Are you a member of professional associations?
There are various associations such as the Professional Association of Career Counsellors. Associations provide their members with the opportunity to be on the cutting edge of the job search field, sending newsletters and keeping members up to date.
6. Can you supply references, testimonials and work samples?
A credible Résumé Writer will be able to provide samples of their work and numerous testimonials from satisfied customers.
7. Do you take credit cards?
Only legitimate businesses can have merchant status and accept credit cards.
8. Are you available? What are your office hours?
If a Résumé Writer is only available only from 7pm-9pm in the evening, you can be sure they are part-timers. If you get an answering machine, leave a message. A good resume writer cannot always answer the phone due to client consultations. Some have regular office hours of 9am - 5pm and others have flexible hours to meet client needs with evening and weekend appointments.
9. Is the Resume Writer employment agency approved?
Many credible and highly skilled Résumé Writers contract to recruitment agencies, as their knowledge in resume preparation is sought by recruiters. If a Resume Writer has no experience working with recruiters – consider - how can they sell you when they don’t understand what recruiters are looking for.
10. Is the Resume Writer available for ongoing updates and support?
Glorified “secretarial services” targeting jobseekers for resume projects, often mass producing résumés all in a similar format. Hence, once the resume is completed due to the low profit margin of their service (completing on price alone, certainly not quality), they provide little or no follow-up, instead moving onto the next sale. A dedicated Résumés Writer will provide ongoing updates and assistance with future applications at a reduced rate for existing clients, rewarding them for their return business.