9 Questions You Need to Ask Your Executive Resume Writer

Hiring a professional to assist with your resume needs can be easier than writing a resume yourself, but you need to be informed. You shouldn’t hesitate to ask your executive resume writer questions about their prices, reviews, and all details of services. It is comparable to hiring someone to remodel your bathroom – you would ask numerous questions to ensure you will be satisfied with the service and result, such as price, method, and name(s) of the contractor(s) actually performing the labor. In this article, you’ll find nine of the most important questions you should take note of when searching for an executive resume writing service.

Are you certified?

Certification is an important piece in finding an executive resume writer. If you are going to pay for the service, you certainly want to hire someone who knows what they are doing. Committed resume professionals will be certified through a respected organization. The process to become certified is not always the same through each industry, however you can confirm the credentials with the agency after speaking with the writer.

What services do you offer, including prices? Do your services include job search strategy or interview preparation?

Resume writing companies have varying services. A serious firm will offer things outside of the resume and cover letter such as job search strategy, interview preparation, and career coaching. The price of each service should be readily available on the company website, but you should still be asking questions as to how much time will be invested for each service you wish to use. With the price and average amount of time known, you can easily calculate the hourly rate for each service and determine whether it reflects the rate of an accomplished, serious, and reputable company or an incompetent, low quality, run-of-the-mill operation. Reputable companies will charge more for their services, but remember that the price should be, on average, three times what an employee of the business should receive as income.

How many years of experience do you have?

Experience will vary from person to person. You need to decide what you want from your resume professional: a superb resume for a specific career field, a general resume you can send to anyone, or a resume for switching careers. Ask questions about their expertise. A devoted executive resume writer will assist you in finding the right professional for your project.

What is your writing experience?

Several resume professionals are also accomplished writers. Most will have that information in a profile for their company’s website, but don’t feel embarrassed to ask about the specifics of their other written work. Media like books, articles, and even professional blog posts, paid work or writing experiences, and bachelor or master degrees in English fields are all key examples of written accomplishments.

How long do you spend on a resume for someone in my career field?

If not clearly stated on the company website,  make sure you inquire about a time frame. Most professional resume businesses expect payment up front so, it is a good idea to have some kind of due date in mind. Dependent on the experience of the professional,  and on your own candidate level (entry-level, experienced, or executive), the resume writing process can take anywhere from six to twelve hours.

Who will handle my resume? How is that determined?

Not every firm will be what you expect.  Some have been outsourced to other countries where someone at the U.S. location will interview you, gather all the information they need to complete your resume, and send it to another person, possibly another country, to have the resume written and formatted.  It is important to talk about who will actually be carrying out your project from start to finish. What are their credentials,  experience, and fields of expertise?

Will all of the content be original?

Cost of service should be an indication of quality. Low-cost firms typically rely on software and pre-written templates to construct resumes. These templates have keywords and phrases that are common with specific professions. For example: for  engineering, they can paste your information into an existing template to create your resume. Good for them, and bad for you. This will make your resume blend in with dozens of other candidates. So, when inquiring about originality, know what you should be looking for.

Do you specialize in my career field? Is it necessary for my executive resume writer to be intimately familiar with my field?

Using a resume writer who specializes in your field nice, but not necessary. They will have a more in-depth understanding of which questions to ask you, what information to gather, and the specific language used in that industry. While it is nice to have, another expert writer is able to craft a great resume for professions they do not have much experience in.

What do other customers have to say about your services? Where can I view reviews?

When looking for reviews, be careful. Testimonials on public forums or company websites can be fabricated to increase sales. Reviews that are on social media, like LinkedIn profiles, can be more reliable because you can look at the profile of the person to verify their identity. LinkedIn can be useful in viewing the profile of the individual writer you have chosen to work with. What accomplishments have they included? What industry do they seem to work in most? Don’t be afraid to do research about the people working at the resume company as well as people who spent the time to review the service.

Your resume, especially if you are going to pay to have it written, should be the ultimate tool for your job search. Any reputable resume writer will recommend what is best for the client. Asking questions is the best way to ensure you will be getting the greatest quality of service and resulting products.