Getting people interviews and jobs, knowing the local job market and employers, good word of mouth, solid Google reviews and contacts with SA’s recruiter networks, keeps me busy.

But I’ve always got time to give people some inside tips from the trade.

Unlike me (Republic Resumes), most resume writing companies aren’t based in Adelaide or if they are, they’re franchises with HQ’s based in Perth or Sydney.

If you live in Adelaide, that might not concern you. It’s like asking someone who lives in Mumbai what the Adelaide job market is like.

Some of the writers are university students too. Not fab. But some franchises are okay too. They’re actually resume writers.

I write for the Sydney and Perth markets too but I was trained by the Australian Government to research those job markets.

If the writer says they’ll finish your resume in two to four days, read the fine print. You’ll find they’ve actually got two weeks to write it. They’ll try meet that job application deadline but …. sorry.

The business must list the full name of their writers and give details about where they’ve worked. One writer in Adelaide only lists her first name. No background. No company names. No profile. Imagine if a surgeon did that?

Some writers will ask you to pay as they write the resume. That way you’ll see a draft. That’s fair but never, ever pay up front. I’ll write that again. Never, ever pay up front.

Some will try to sell you a package (resume, cover letter and LinkedIn site). The package helps pay for the large amount of money they spend on SEO marketing. Now you’re in the world of the ‘cut and pasters’ and resume ‘mills’. Moving on…

The writer needs writing experience. Having worked in HR won’t cut it. They need to be recruiters (or have worked in employment services) AND also be professional writers.

Ask for a sample of their work. They might not send you a final copy, but what they do send should give you confidence in their professionalism. If it doesn’t, see ya later.

Look at the testimonials. Have they included the client’s last name? ‘Bob from Brighton’ won’t cut it. That’s why recent Google reviews are the gold standard. If the reviews are six months to a year old, keep on shopping.

These are just a few pointers, which will help you make the right choice.