Resume writing: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What resume writing is

A resume writer reviews your work history and goals, then drafts a clear, targeted resume. The finished document highlights your achievements and is formatted to read well to people and to pass the automated screening many employers use.

Signs you need it

  • You are applying for roles and your resume is a list of duties with no results attached.
  • You have changed careers or industries, and your past job titles do not match the jobs you want.
  • You have gaps or a long history that is hard to explain on one page.
  • Your applications get no reply, and your resume has not been updated in years.
  • You are moving into a senior or specialist role, and your resume reads like an entry level one.
  • You have a job posting in hand and want your resume to use its language honestly.

What the pro does

  • Interviews you about your roles, achievements, tools and the jobs you want next.
  • Sorts your history to decide what to keep, shorten or remove for the target role.
  • Rewrites each role's bullet points around actions and results you can back up.
  • Sets up the layout and wording for the job type, using standard headings that screening software reads.
  • Reviews the draft with you, then delivers a clean file in the format you need.

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • Number of roles and years of history to cover.
  • Number of target job types, since each may need its own version.
  • Whether a cover letter, professional summary or online profile is drafted as well.
  • Level of the role, from entry level to senior or executive.
  • How much you have already written down, compared with what must be gathered in interviews.
  • Number of revision rounds and the delivery deadline.

What a written quote should spell out

  • The number of versions and the target role for each one.
  • The length of the resume and the file types delivered.
  • Whether a cover letter, online profile or reference list is included.
  • The number of revision rounds and the deadline for each draft.
  • Who owns the final document, and whether the writer keeps a copy.

Questions to ask before you hire

  • How do you find the achievements in my roles if I did not track them?
  • Will you write a version for each job type I am applying to?
  • Is the file formatted to be read by screening software, and do you send a plain text copy too?
  • How will you keep my claims accurate, and what must I confirm before a number or result goes in?
  • Can you show a before and after of a resume you wrote for someone in a similar role?
  • Do you help with the cover letter and the online profile, or only the resume?

Red flags

  • Adds degrees, certifications or job titles you do not hold.
  • Promises that you will get a job or an interview.
  • Uses the same template for every client, with only the name changed.
  • Writes achievements or figures you cannot confirm and does not ask you to check them.
  • Asks for your login details to a job site or for your bank information.

What you can do yourself

You can list every role, its dates, and the tools and results you remember, then compare your current resume with a posting for the role you want. Hire a resume writer when you are changing fields, when your history is long, or when you have rewritten the resume several times and it still does not show your best work.

Licenses and permits

Resume writing is not commonly licensed, so a license is usually not required for this work. Check with your state or local licensing agency about business rules, and ask the writer for before and after examples in your field as proof of skill.

Resume writing questions

Should my resume be one page?

It depends on your history and the role. Many early career resumes fit on one page, while long careers and senior roles often need more. Ask the writer for a length recommendation based on your roles.

Will a resume writer make things up?

A good writer will not add experience you do not have. Every claim should be something you can explain in an interview, so confirm each achievement before it goes into the final draft.

Do I need a different resume for each job?

Often a few versions are enough, one for each type of role. Changing the summary at the top and the most relevant bullet points usually matters more than rewriting everything.

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