Job searching is hard; there’s no way to get around it. In most situations, your search starts with a resume, and you may be asking yourself if it’s worthwhile to hire a person or firm who offers professional writing services. It’s a valid consideration, especially if you have been laid off and now find yourself on a tight budget. Let’s get real about this important question as you embark on, or continue, your job-search journey.
The Value of Working with a Professional
One of the things I’m prone to say to people when they’re considering resume writing services is:
“There are lots of things you can do yourself, but would it be more valuable to hire a professional? For instance, I can paint my house, but I’m not going to do it as well as a professional house painter will. I also work with tax professional instead of doing it alone—even though I could—because I rest easier knowing I’ve put my trust in someone who does this all the time. For me, outsourcing is often a smarter choice for my time and sanity.”
We hire professionals for many things in our life, from pest control and pool care to dog groomers. Sure, we can do many of these things ourselves, but smart people tend to outsource things they know they don’t have aptitude for. That’s why these professionals have chosen these career paths: to make everyone else’s lives easier!
Naturally, we don’t all have budgets to outsource everything, so smart folks take on what they can do and let go of the other things. Plus, if you hire a resume writer who helps shorten your job search or helps you land a role making a lot more money, the return on investment would be there.
Alternatives to Resume Writing Services
Before we get into the specific bonuses associated with going with a resume writing services firm, let’s talk about the alternatives to making that financial investment. Informed consumers know all the options; that’s what helps them make a better choice!
Option 1: Going It Alone
It can be empowering to craft your own resume, but only if you know what you’re doing. I mean, I probably can’t go in and do your job very effectively; however, with practice, who knows? But I’ll let you in on a secret: Most people aren’t all that good at marketing themselves. Ironically, marketing people are the worst. Here are the issues I often see:
- You’re too close to your experience to subjectively review and highlight your value.
- You don’t know what hiring managers and recruiters want to see on a resume or LinkedIn profile.
- You don’t really understand ATS.
- You don’t know what today’s best practices are in resume writing.
- You’re attempting to share everything you’ve done on a page or two and end up with a long, bulleted list of tasks rather than a compelling story.
Still, there are plusses to going it solo; namely, it’s free. Also, you will naturally know yourself better than anyone else does.
On the flip side, vomiting your experience on a keyboard lacks strategy—and strategy is what leads to success.
Option 2: Using Generative AI
I’m not the resume writer who’s going to poo-poo generative AI; in fact, I often show job seekers how to leverage ChatGPT in their job search. But AI is only as good as your prompts, and it certainly doesn’t understand the nuances of storytelling. Even writers who use it sometimes do so to their own detriment, and if you’re not an experienced writer, you could be missing important prompts. And, no, it doesn’t always know the right questions to ask you either.
Just like DIY, using AI is free, and it can certainly be used for some components of the job search (and even finessing your resume), but it doesn’t know your industry or ask clarifying questions. Lest we not forget: ChatGPT makes things up! If you plug in the job description and ask it to craft a complementary resume, it may say you know or have done things you haven’t, which won’t reflect well on you if you land an interview.
Benefits of Professional Resume Writing Services
And that brings us back to hiring a resume writing services firm. Unfortunately, they’re not all created equally, but there are some really good ones out there. Many professionals are solopreneurs, meaning they are armies of one. We do this work because we love it, and we get excited about helping job seekers find that great next role. A qualified resume writer works with hundreds of clients each year across many industries, and they understand the market, including how best to navigate it. We ask the right questions, we push back when needed, and we hold you accountable to do what you promised.
Working with an experienced resume writer means you’ll gain from their knowledge of the current market, which they’ve gleaned from ongoing training as well as stories they hear from their clients. We writers and coaches know how to ask the right questions and provide coaching to pull out accomplishments. We also write first for people and secondly for ATS, but we don’t minimize or negate either because we know how important both are in your search. Perhaps most importantly, good resume writing services will provide you with a strategy beyond the resume. That document is part of the toolbox, yes, but it doesn’t work on its own. Instead, it must be paired with other approaches to get the biggest return on your investment.
Tips for Choosing a Great Resume Writer
It’s okay to ask questions before landing on the right resume writing services. Here are some things to ask:
- How long have they been supporting job seekers?
- Are they certified?
- Do they belong to any professional organizations or associations?
- In what industries do they have experience?
- Do they include anything in addition to the resume?
- Can you see some samples?
- Do they have testimonials?
- What are their preliminary suggestions for your resume or job search?
Also, choosing a great resume writer has a lot to do with fit. While a writer may be good, you need to click. At the end of the day, it’s still the ability to work together and collaborate on your career-marketing documents and job-search strategy that will help you feel comfortable.
Bottom Line: Should You Invest in Resume Writing Services?
The decision to take the plunge and trust a professional resume writer will ultimately be yours. It will depend on your budget, your goals, and your inclination. You may want to consider this route if:
- You’re not getting interviews.
- You’re considering (or making) a shift in your career and aren’t sure how to navigate that.
- You just don’t have time to take it on yourself and would prefer to outsource to an expert.
- You’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or just confused.
- You want a partner who will listen to you and help translate your experience into a clear message for decision makers and ATS.
Using a resume writer may not be good for you if:
- You’re a die-hard DIYer.
- You’re just starting out and only need formatting help.
- You understand the nuances of today’s job market.
When you want a strategic approach and a collaborative partnership to help you get to the next stage of your career, resume writing services are the difference between spinning your wheels and getting traction.
If you’re not sure, take a test drive. Most resume writers offer complimentary or low-cost resume reviews as well as consultations to learn more about them and their process. Only then can you make a clear choice.
Need help navigating the job-search process? There’s a reason I named my company Your Career Advocate: I’m here to guide and support you from initial application through salary negotiation. Learn more about how I can help here.