If you’re thinking of working with a professional resume writer, you first need to understand how you will work with the writer you choose, what it will cost, and what is included for the service. My pricing isn’t complicated; my fee for a new resume and LinkedIn profile starts at $500 for less complicated projects; typically, resumes for mid-career professionals are $650 – $1,000. Once I learn about your profession and future goals, I can quote you a fee appropriate for your experience and field. While I am occasionally asked how much I’d charge for the resume only, I strongly recommend not skipping that step if you’re a corporate professional. Read “Is LinkedIn Necessary to Get a Job” to learn why.
Working with a resume writing service
Each resume writer has her own process, but mine is highly customized. The first step is for you to send me your current resume, along with any new information that may not be included on it.
A critical step in my process is for you send me 3-4 job postings that represent the type of positions that you would use your new resume to apply for
There are two reasons for this: as a HR professional, I want to see if you’re targeting positions that you have a reasonable chance of being selected for. It’s discouraging to spend time and money on a new resume if you’re using it to apply for the wrong jobs. Secondly, I need to see what these employers are looking for so that I can analyze your current resume against those requirements and work with you to close the gaps. This information allows me to generate a firm quote, after which I will send you my client agreement.
Once I’ve reviewed your current resume and those representative jobs, I’ll develop a compelling summary of qualifications that serves as your professional brand and that articulates your value proposition to potential employers.
This is how I differentiate you from everyone else who does what you do
When you work with a professional resume writer you want to be sure that he or she can help differentiate you from other candidates. To that end, I develop a list of very specific things that you’ve accomplished that are unique to you. Often, these details are buried deep within the resume when they should be highlighted. Most job seekers leave out those details, so I work with you to elicit some specific examples that demonstrate how well you do what you do.
After I email you the first draft, we’ll discuss your feedback and incorporate that feedback into the next iteration. It’s important not to expect too much from the first draft since I’m basically deconstructing what was in your old resume and building it up with details that will help you get hired. When you work with a resume writing service, you should expect that the resume writer can tell the difference between information that’s irrelevant and details that will get you noticed. In most cases, we’ll probably go back and forth on two to four more iterations to achieve a resume that represents you well. If not, we continue writing the resume until we are both pleased with the result.
Once the resume is completed, I’ll begin working on your LinkedIn profile, which entails developing a searchable headline and About section.
Here are some additional articles that you may find useful:
How much does a professional resume cost?
7 Recruiters `Fess Up About Your Resume
Ready to learn more? Email me at spiegwrite@gmail.com or call (516) 987-8557.