How to Choose an Executive Resume Writer

As an accomplished executive with extensive experience and a proven track record delivering results, you need an executive resume writer who can convey your achievements in 6 seconds or less to connect with a recruiter or hiring manager.

A high achiever with the credentials to prove it, you need a resume writer with clear editorial perspective and a strong point of view who can concisely convey your goals and experience in results-oriented language that conveys a narrative that sets your apart.

The world of resume writing can be daunting if you have never searched for one before. With pricing ranging from $25 to $2500 (and up), it’s incredibly challenging to navigate through all the different options and offerings. When prospective clients come to me, I educate them first before ever trying to sell anyone. Here are a few of the major myths, misconceptions, and harsh truths about the industry. Like anything else, it has to be a right fit to get the best results. Being armed with knowledge and inside insight will help you to make the right decision when you need to find a resume writer.

1. Avoid the bargain pricing. Like anything else, you get what you pay for! The entry price points are often writing mills overseas, inexperienced writers, or very low touch. If you are looking for a writer to connect with you over the phone, listen and ask questions, you will have to pay accordingly for their time and expertise.
2. Ask questions about the writer. Often bigger resume writing companies outsource the writing and it may not always be 100% transparent. In may cases, you may speak to the principal but the actual writing is done by a subcontractor. This arrangement can certainly work, but I would recommend getting clarity around how many drafts you have, if there is a prescriptive process for submitting change requests, and what type of interaction you can have with the writer. In the case of a resume, I believe that the output is more meaningful and authentic with personal connection between writer and client.
3. Evaluate the amount of work you will need to put in. Every resume writing company has a different intake process, often including some type of worksheet or questionnaire. While many find this to be an interesting exercise, many clients are overwhelmed by the process. Also, if you are not confident that you will be able to express things in writing the same way you would in a two-way dialogue, this type of process may not be the most effective.
4. Revisions! The first draft of your resume should be clear of errors and omissions and in general be ready for prime time, however you as the client are the expert on your career and in some cases can be an unreliable source! The revision process is crucial to the success and impact of your resume. Not only should you find out the number of revisions allowed (2 is typically sufficient) but also how the revisions will be implemented. Similar to the intake process, if you are better verbally than in writing, it’s important that you have the option to connect live with your write to discuss the nuances and get your resume where it needs to be.
5. Pricing. This is the hardest part. For a senior manager or executive, expect to pay a minimum of $800 but ranging well above $2000 in many cases. Your career is complex, layered, and often long. Your resume writer should be compensated for the research they will need to conduct, deep wealth of experience they will need to call on, and mastery of design language they will leverage to create a customized, branded resume that does your career justice.

Finally, avoid review aggregator sites that are often paid or sponsored by companies that are monetizing your views as an ad server. Your best source of information is reviews (Google/LinkedIn/Yelp/Facebook), personal referrals, and your own due diligence.