Many resume writing services offer unbelievably low rates. This is a red flag. Avoid the, “$60 resume and a 24-hour turnaround time.”

More often than not, a low rate means you’re getting an inexperienced writer who is willing to be compensated for much less (some services hire graduates straight out of university!)

Services typically charge anywhere from $150 to $500, depending on how much work there is to do and the level of the resume.

High end services charge over $1000.00.

The writer’s job is to create a compelling document that’s more than just a history of your career.

If they’re not creating a number of drafts of your resume over a week, expect to get crap.

Do your research on the service and confirm that the writer has formal training in professional writing. Look at their experience, qualifications and testimonials.

The process is not as easy as you may think

A common misconception about resume writing services is that they do all the work for you. That would require some exceptional mind reading capabilities.

Expect to do a lot of back-and-forth collaboration with the writer via email.

You’ll need access to email and know how to edit a Word document. Resumes take a week to write and/or update.

Read the fine print

Many services provide some sort of guarantee about getting interviews. There are no guarantees.

A good professional writer will increase the probability of getting short-listed. Always read the terms and conditions. Many writers ask for a deposit to be paid up front and have set deadlines.

For example, Republic Resumes terminates clients who miss deadlines.

Are you qualified for the position?

A resume writer isn’t a magician — he or she can’t make you stand out if you don’t have the skills and experience to begin with. Those skills and capabilities need to be current.