Writer Resume Samples: What You Need To Know

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If you need a resume, should you hire a writer? Resume companies certainly will tell you that this is a crucial step, but also many hiring managers and headhunters also encourage job seekers to use professional services.

But should you hire a freelancer or go with a big resume company? As a company that reviews resumes produced by professional resume writers, we’ve found that looking at writing samples can be the best way to gauge the quality of the service or freelancer.

So, your first step should be to see if the company or person has resume samples up on the website and take a look at these samples. While you are reading the samples, keep the following ideas in mind.

1. Are There Any Errors?
As a resume review service, we’ve seen samples from hundreds of writers. Resume professionals make a surprising amount of mistakes, or so we’ve found. If you find even one spelling error, this is a huge red flag.

After all, if a writer or resume company is providing you with samples, you have to assume that they are showing off their best work, and not just some random first draft of a resume. Therefore, if you notice just one spelling error, what does this tell you about their attention to detail? Basically, it just looks sloppy and signals that this person definitely should not be your top pick.

But, don’t just look for spelling errors. Look for weirdly worded phrases or sentences that don’t quite flow correctly. If it seems weird to you, then it definitely will seem weird to a hiring manager.

2. Is the Format Consistent?
A good writer’s resume will be error-free, of course, but it also will be written in a consistent format. They won’t list skills with bullet points in one section and dashes in another. They won’t use bold text for job titles in one section and bold-italic text for job titles in another. Here’s an example of an inconsistent format:

RESTAURANT MANAGER
Olive Garden/June, 2018-Present
• Managed 25-person staff including servers, cooks & support staff
• Implemented computerized scheduling system, decreasing absenteeism by 40%
• Supervised catering team for large-scale corporate events with 100+ guests

ASSISTANT RESTAURANT MANAGER
Pizza Port. February, 2016-June, 2018
– Managed 15-person staff, including servers, cooks & delivery workers
– Created weekly and monthly schedules for 40+ employees
– Developed incentive programs for low-traffic days, increased revenue by 25%

In the sample above, the resume writer italicized the name of the restaurant and work dates in the first work experience, but did not use italics in the second example. In the first example, bullet points were used to highlight tasks, while dashes were used in the second section. While the actual text is fine, the format is confusing and definitely distracts the reader.

Here’s an example of a consistent format:

RESTAURANT MANAGER
Olive Garden/June, 2018-Present
• Managed 25-person staff including servers, cooks & support staff
• Implemented computerized scheduling system, decreasing absenteeism by 40%
• Supervised catering team for large-scale corporate events with 100+ guests

ASSISTANT RESTAURANT MANAGER
Pizza Port/February, 2016-June, 2018
• Managed 15-person staff, including servers, cooks & delivery workers
• Created weekly and monthly schedules for 40+ employees
• Developed incentive programs for low-traffic days, increased revenue by 25%

While the actual content is the same for both examples, the format is much better in the second example. When you are choosing a writer, resume consistency is an important factor, so be mindful of the format and the cleanliness of the design when making your selection.

3. Is the Content Dynamic?
When hiring managers read a resume, they typically spend less than one minute perusing the contents, at least on the first go around. A sloppy looking resume or a resume with errors, definitely won’t make the cut into the second round of reviews.

However, the actual content of the resume is obviously crucial. When you review a writer, the resume sample won’t necessarily be for a person in your industry. But, this doesn’t mean that you cannot evaluate the quality of the content.

Content for any resume should be dynamic, easy-to-read and truly showcase the skills of the applicant. Each work experience should include bullet points that exemplify and quantify the applicant’s skills and how these skills benefitted an employer.

For instance, if a resume states that an applicant “was responsible for managing the company sales team,” that’s definitely lackluster. Instead, a good resume writer might state that the applicant “managed a 12-person sales team, exceeded sales goals by 25-30% in 2016, 2017 & 2018.”

The second example provides a hiring manager with information about how many people the applicant managed and whether or not the person was a successful manager. Whenever a writer can provide clear examples of an applicant’s skills and successes, this is a sign that they are a competent resume writer.

4. Length & Overall Design
In general, most resumes should be no more than one page in length, if a resume writer creates a sample that runs for two full pages, this isn’t a good sign. It kind of tells you that the resume writer doesn’t know what items to include and which to exclude in a resume.

This can be tricky, but an experienced writer will know which items hiring managers truly want to see, and what information is just filler. Keep in mind again that hiring managers don’t really have time to read a huge, two-page resume. For some very high-level executive positions, a two-page resume or perhaps a third page is not a bad thing, but these are unique situations.

If the design is a bit too gimmicky, this also can be a bad sign. Too much design can distract from your message. Generally, it’s better to have a crisp, professional look with a consistent format. Adding colors and design elements really aren’t as important as content and consistency.

Our Reviews Can Help!
At Top5ResumeWriters, we’ve actually done quite a bit of the groundwork for you. We’ve reviewed resumes from many top-rated professional resume writing services and chosen several that offer outstanding services.

To select the best, we created a mystery client and sent the same information about this client to multiple resume companies. When we received the results, each resume was reviewed by an independent team of hiring managers and other professionals.

Many of the resumes we received contained errors or simply rehashed the basic information that the mystery client provided. Resume Writing Group, however, provided us with a stellar, error-free resume that contained all of the bells and whistles that hiring managers want to see.

When choosing a writer, Resume Writing Group should be at the top of your list. But if you opt for another company, we highly recommend that you use some of the tips listed in this article to help you select a great resume writer.

Beyond A Resume Critique: 4 Services Resume Writers Provide

Blog, Resume Writing Tips

If you already have a resume, but you need to dust it off and give it some updates, hiring a professional resume writer for a resume critique is a great idea. Likewise, if you’ve been sending out resumes and getting zero results, it’s also probably time for a resume critique.

Many professional resume writing services offer a resume critique service, although it might be called resume review or resume revision. However, if you’ve been having trouble attaining interviews, it’s often better to simply provide the writer with your information and just start from scratch, rather than trying to revise something that just isn’t working.

Resume writing is an art form, and that’s why so many people turn to the pros rather than try to create this document on their own. You might be tempted to opt for resume templates, but those only really help you with design and format, and not content, which is truly the most crucial aspect of any resume.

Additionally, resume writing services can help you with many other important job-hunting tasks, including cover letter writing, LinkedIn profile writing, career coaching and even writing thank you notes. Let’s take a quick look at each of these services.

Cover Letter Writing
If you thought crafting a great resume was difficult, this pales in comparison to writing a great cover letter. A cover letter provides you with a unique opportunity to expand upon your resume and showcase a bit of your personality. You have a chance to sell yourself to hiring managers, provided that your writing skills are strong and you truly understand the nuances of cover letter writing.

When writing a cover letter, it’s not uncommon for the person to come off looking somewhat arrogant or cocky. After all, you want to brag about yourself, and sometimes people tend to go a bit too far. A professional resume writer can strike a balance between too modest and too egotistical, making you appear confident and competent and as the type of employee that works well with others.

Not all employers want to see a cover letter along with your resume, but it’s a good idea to have a cover letter handy just in case it’s requested. We highly recommend that you always have an updated resume and cover letter at your disposal, so even if you aren’t actively looking for work, update these documents every six months so you are prepared if an unexpected opportunity arises.

LinkedIn Profiles
Too often, people forget about the power of LinkedIn, and that’s a shame because hiring managers and recruiters use this social media site all of the time to find new job candidates. LinkedIn is a powerful tool, but only if you truly take advantage of it.

Resume writing companies often offer LinkedIn profile writing services, as well as resume critiques and cover letter writing. These profiles are important because they often provide a first impression of you to a hiring manager. A well-written profile can spark interest and lead a hiring manager to call you in for an interview.

In addition to a top-notch profile, you will need to upload a professional-quality photograph. You also need to select the best keywords to match your abilities. When hiring managers and headhunters search for candidates, they use these keywords as their search criteria.

You can add these keywords under the skills section. For instance, if you are a graphic designer, you might list all of the design programs you use as well as your areas of specialization. This might include programs such as Photoshop, Illustrator, Adobe CS and InDesign. For skills, you might list UI Design, UX Design, Product Design, Branding, Photography, Logo Design and so forth, depending, of course, on your actual skill set.

Career Coaching
If you are having trouble with the interview process or you haven’t even started interviewing, but are worried about how to present your best self, career coaching can help. Likewise, if you just don’t seem to be excelling in your chosen field and feel a bit lost, a career coaching session can help.

Many resume service providers offer career coaching services. After all, resume writers have extensive experience writing for many different industries and they truly know what hiring managers need to see from job applicants.

Typically, a career coaching package includes a phone interview with a professional career coach and perhaps some documents to review that provide you with helpful tips and strategies to help jumpstart a job search or just to help you excel in your current job.

Thank You Letters
This might seem like something you could do yourself, and in many cases this is true. But if you are not a strong writer and are not sure what to say in a thank-you note, why not hire an expert? After all, this could make the difference between losing an opportunity and scoring your dream job.

Sending a thank-you note is a must-do task after any job interview. You absolutely should thank the hiring manager and anyone else that was present for the opportunity to interview. This truly does help to set you apart from other candidates, so either send a thoughtfully composed email or a handwritten thank you after every interview.

How To Find A Great Resume Writer
This is the tough part. There are tons of resume writers out there, but how do you find the best? Well, we can help. We don’t provide resume writing services, so we don’t offer a resume critique, cover letter writing or any of the other services mentioned above.

Our job is to review resumes from companies around the internet and determine which ones offer the best services. To do this, we created a “mystery client” and sent out this client’s information to many supposedly top-rated resume companies.

Once we received the resumes from these companies, we had an independent team review them, rate them and determine which companies provided the best resume services. This team was comprised of people who are or have been in the position to make hiring decisions, as they are typically the people that read these resumes in the first place.

The results were interesting. Many companies actually sent us back resumes with careless errors, such as obvious spelling mistakes. Others just simply rehashed the basic information we gave, with no real thought to strategy. Still, others did ok, but the quality didn’t overwhelmingly impress our review team.

Our team did pick a unanimous favorite, Resume Writing Group. This company produced a well-written, attractive and error-free resume that grabbed the attention of our reviewers. If you need a resume critique or any of the previously mentioned services, we highly recommend that you consider using Resume Writing Group as we found this company to provide the highest quality services.

Yes, You Can Get Great Resumes Fast

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Most resume companies can provide you with a resume in 3-4 business days, but what happens when you need a great resume fast? When you need a fantastic resume in just 24-48 hours, it’s crucial that you find the best possible resume service, and we can help.

In general, you’ll save money if you opt for the regular service, but sometimes you just cannot afford to wait and really need great resumes fast. Let’s check out a few common reasons why people need rush resume services:

1. You Just Got Fired
Losing your job is always tough, but once the dust settles, it’s time to regroup and jump into a job search. Ensuring that you have a great, updated resume is huge, and this might be one of those times where it’s smart to invest in rush services, especially if you already know about one or two job openings in play.

2. Your Company Changed Owners
This isn’t always a cause for alarm, but if a company has a new owner, they definitely will be looking at the whole picture in terms of personnel and salaries and if two companies have merged, some positions likely will be made redundant.

While your job might be perfectly safe, it’s smart to get a new updated resume and brush up that LinkedIn profile so that you can jump start a job search if you are laid off or just unhappy with the new ownership.

3. Your Current Resume Isn’t Attracting Attention
If you’ve been searching for a new job, but your resume isn’t really attracting attention and you aren’t getting interviews, revising your resume might be a great idea. This is one of the best times to consider using a professional, as they can review what you already have, identify problem areas and redo the entire resume so that it attracts the attention of hiring managers. Additionally, you also might consider letting these professionals revise your cover letter if you’ve been sending those out as well.

4. A Huge Opportunity Has Developed
If you just found at that there is an opening at your dream workplace, this can be a great time to consider rushing your resume services. Usually, the hiring process takes some time, but if there is resume submission deadline and you don’t want to miss out, we recommend that you bite the bullet, so to speak, and opt for those rush services.

Of course, getting great resumes fast comes with a higher price tag, so you definitely want to select the best possible resume writing company. With so many choices available, it can be tough to decide which one is truly going to deliver a great product.

At Top 5 Resume Writers, we can’t provide you with great resumes fast, but we can help you find the best resume writers. We conducted a study of many of the top-ranked resume writing companies, and created a short list of companies that can provide you with a job-winning resume.

For our study, we created a mystery client and provided each resume company with the same information about this client. Once the resumes were completed we sent the results to a blind panel of experts. These people currently are or have been charged with hiring employees, and we wanted to see their take on which resumes truly attracted attention and would have inspired them to contact the mystery client.

The results were surprising. First of all, we were shocked at how many resume companies sent us resumes with spelling errors and grammar errors. There were a few that were well-written, but generally hiring managers throw out resumes with just one typo, so resumes with multiple errors definitely aren’t going to cut it.

Each member of our panel selected Resume Writing Group as their top pick. Obviously, they produced an error-free resume, but the resume also was dynamic and easy-to-read and we could tell that the writer took some time to think about strategy and wording. In fact, Resume Writing Group’s writer was the only company that contacted our mystery client to gather additional information.

Their pricing is comparable to what most professional resume writing companies charge, although it is important to note that rush services do cost more than the regular service. For regular service, Resume Writing Group estimates about 3 business days as its turnaround time for entry-level and professional-level resumes. If you need a senior executive resume or military or federal resumes, this might take an extra day or two due to the more complex nature of these types of resume.

Rush service for entry-level and professional-level resumes can be completed in just 1-2 business days and occasionally even faster. Resume Writing Group does state that the senior-level, military and federal resumes still usually take 3 business days, even with rush services. Of course, hiring decisions for these types of positions typically aren’t made as quickly as those for entry-level and lower-level professional positions, so this might not be as much of an issue.

While you might be tempted to save some money and opt for a less expensive resume company, we really recommend that you be wary of any resume writing service that promises an amazing resume for $49 or less. A basic entry level resume typically costs about $90-$100, and the prices go up from there. A cheap resume often equals cheap quality, so buyers beware.

Whether you need great resumes fast or you have a few days to wait for your resume, we highly recommend that you opt to use Resume Writing Group. They also can provide you with stellar cover letters, LinkedIn profile writing and even career coaching.

Resume Services: What You Should Expect To Pay

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We’ve all seen those ads for $29 resumes and $49 resumes, and sites such a Fiverr and others include plenty of people willing to provide you with a low-cost resume. Is this your best option? Truthfully, the end result counts far more than the resume service cost.

In general, a resume for less than $50 isn’t going to be worth the price you paid. We’ve all heard the old saying, “you get what you pay for,” and when it comes to resumes, this is partially true.

Cheap resumes definitely tend to be lower quality. The writers just cannot afford to really spend time focusing on strategy if they are churning out a bunch of cheap resumes. Those so-called “free” resume templates are another option people often consider, but these usually aren’t free. Typically, you get a “free trial” and have to give them your credit card information in order to get that free resume template.

This might be fine if you remember to cancel your trial in a couple of days. If you forget, the service probably will charge about $25 per month, every month, for their services. If you plan on using those services, it might be worth it, but if you don’t use them and forget to cancel, you will be blowing through money quickly.

In general, a reputable resume writing company will charge about $90-$100 for an entry level resume and maybe $125 for a person with several years of work experience. Special resumes such as resumes for those applying for high-level executive positions or those needing a military or federal resume might pay about $200 for the resume.

So, you should just pay more, right? Not so fast.

At Top 5 Resume Writers, we don’t actually write resumes and we won’t charge you a dime for our advice. Our goal is to simply let consumers know which resume services are the best ones out there. To discover which companies were best, we conducted a little experiment.

We created a mystery shopper and sent the same information to many different resume companies. We skipped the super cheap companies, because we already know that what they produce definitely isn’t worth the resume service cost. Instead, we looked at some of the top-rated and top-ranked companies, all of whom charged about the same amount for each type of resume they sold.

Once we had the results, we gave them to a group of individuals that were in the position to make hiring decisions. These hiring managers and executives studied each of the resumes we received, rated them and ranked the top five.

Which resume service won? Well, we will get to that in a second.

The results surprised us. Most of the resumes we received weren’t amazing. In fact, many of them contained typos. If you spend $100 or more on a resume, at the very least you expect it to be error-free, and quite a few of them had more than one error.

Many of the resumes also just rehashed the information we provided, and there was no real attempt at strategy. Another surprising fact: Our review team all chose the same company as their top pick – Resume Writing Group.

Resume Writing Group was priced competitively ($89 to $199 depending on resume type), and the resume was error-free. This also was the only service that contacted our mystery shopper to ask some more questions and dig a little deeper, and the results were clear. The resume was well-organized and well-written, and the writer definitely took some time to think about strategy.

In general, a great resume is error-free, of course, but it’s not just a list of skills and experiences. A great resume quantifies your skills, and truly provides a hiring manager with a good idea of what you can accomplish. Resume Writing Group’s resume definitely expressed the mystery shopper’s tangible abilities and this was one of the main reasons why our review team chose them as the top pick.

We also liked Resume Writing Group’s unique guarantee. Their website states that if you follow their advice and use their resume, but you are not hired in 45 days or less, they will refund the cost of your resume and provide you with an additional $100. Obviously, they are confident in their writers’ abilities, and willing to stand by their work.

Their website also included some very helpful advice and articles, and not just about resumes. They provided job search strategies that definitely can help you get hired as quickly as possible, and get hired at a company where you actually will be happy to work. For Resume Writing Group, it’s not just about finding any job; it’s about finding the best job for you.

We hope we’ve addressed your concerns about resume service costs. In the end, the quality of the resume is the most important consideration, and we feel confident recommending Resume Writing Group.

Find The Best Professional Resume Writers Now

Blog, Resume Writing Tips

Possessing a job-winning resume is crucial, but there are literally thousands of professional resume writers out there promising you the moon and the stars. Resume writing isn’t cheap, so how do you pick the best service? At Top 5 Resume Writers, we make it easy.

The Experiment
While many resume websites provide one or two samples of their resumes, they obviously pick and choose what they display on their website. So while it’s nice to see an example, it’s not always the best indicator that you’ve chosen great professional resume writers.

We decided the best way to discover the best writers would be to purchase actual websites from some of the so-called top-rated resume services on the internet. We chose all types of resume companies, from pricier options with slick websites to those advertising “cheap” resumes for just $49 to $69.

For this experiment, we created a “mystery shopper,” and provided the exact same information about this person to each of the resume sites from which we purchased resumes.

As Top 5 Resume Writers is owned by a company in the resume writing industry, we felt that for truly “non-biased” results, it was crucial that we choose a blind panel to review the results. The people chosen for this panel are those who have been or currently are in the positon to make hiring decisions at various companies.

We wanted real hiring managers to look over each resume as we felt this was the best way to gauge the overall quality of each resume. Certainly, we could judge the look of a resume and we could see if there were typos, etc., but to really dive deep and assess the quality, we wanted to go right to the people that make decisions about hiring.

The Review
Once we received all of our resumes, the blind panel reviewed each one carefully, judging it on a number of factors. This obviously included ensuring that there were no careless errors, such as spelling errors or grammar errors. The panel also looked to see that the information on the resume matched the information given to the resume writer.

Additionally, the panel looked at the format and the design of the resume, judging its readability. Furthermore, they paid particularly attention to the wording in each section. Was the language dynamic? Did the writer provide quantifiable examples of the person’s skills?

One element that we did judge ourselves was the level of customer service. Was the writer friendly? Was the resume easy to purchase? How long did it take to create the resume? Assessing these factors were all part of the equation.

The Results
To be honest, we really didn’t know what to expect when we started this experiment, and we were pretty surprised by the results. One troubling issue we found was that many of the so-called “professional” resume writers made careless errors. In fact, we saw not one, but several resumes that contained spelling errors that easily could have been caught by spellcheck.

Many of the resumes were given average ratings by our blind research panel, and the biggest surprise of all, was the fact that every member of our panel chose the same resume writing service as their top pick.

We figured there would be two or three top contenders, but the panel unanimously chose Resume Writing Group as its number one pick. In fact, the resume company owned by our own parent company only ranked as #2.

Resume Writing Group’s resume contained no typos or careless errors, which immediately put it at the front of the pack. The resume featured a crisp, easy-to-read design, but most importantly, the panel felt that there was a solid strategy in play with the writing. It wasn’t simply a writer rehashing the exact wording from the customer; the writer really put some thought into how to present the information.

For our part, we also noted that Resume Writing Group was the only company that actually contacted our “mystery shopper” to ask for additional information. This extra step definitely made a positive impact on the finished product.

We also were impressed by their competitive pricing and their unique guarantee. If you use their resume and follow their advice, but are not hired in 45 days or less, they will refund the cost of your resume and pay you an additional $100. We rarely find companies willing to refund the resume cost, let alone paying you an additional amount.

Our Top Pick
While any of our top three picks will provide you with a decent, error-free resume, if you want a job-winning, dynamic resume, we highly recommend that you opt for Resume Writing Group. Their team of full-time professional resume writers can provide you with any type of resume you might need, and their results speak for themselves.

5 Resume Trends You Need To Know

Blog, Resume Writing Tips,

Just as workplaces evolve, resumes change with the times. Resume trends from 20 years ago just aren’t the same as resume trends in 2019. Before you start working on your resume, take a minute to look at our list of what you should include and exclude.

1. Show Some Results
Under the work experience section of your resume, it’s not enough to simply list your responsibilities. To state that you managed a sales team isn’t enough. You need to quantify it. Instead of stating that you “Managed company sales team,” alter this to state “Managed 17-person sales team, exceeded sales goals by 20% or more in 2017, 2018 & 2019.”

Adding the number of people you managed gives the hiring manager a clearer picture of your team and showcasing that the sales team exceeded its goals also showcases that your leadership was effective at motivating the team to excel.

Obviously, this is just an example for someone in sales, but people from every industry can quantify their skills. If you are an office manager, talk about how your skills improved efficiency and lowered supply costs. If you are a human resources specialist, you can speak about how you handled benefits for a set number of employees, and perhaps you found ways to reduce costs and increase benefits.

Anytime a hiring manager can see a clear example of how your work benefitted an employer you have an edge over someone who simply wrote a resume that listed their basic job tasks.

2. Your Resume Needs To Be ATS-Ready
Ten years ago, your resume was read by humans. These days, most resumes are run through Applicant-Tracking Software (ATS) and these programs filter out a variety of people that don’t really fit a specific job positon.

To get through the ATS hurdle, you need to ensure that your resume includes the same type of language and skills listed on the job description. Software doesn’t understand nuances in language, so use the same wording as the job listing. Also, send your document as a .docx file, ATS cannot read a .pdf.

When it comes to design, use a basic format for any resume you submit online as ATS doesn’t always understand odd margins and design elements. Use a basic font and skip the artistic fonts for these types of resume. If you are actually handing a physical resume to a hiring manager that might be a good time to turn in your flashy resume with an amazing design. Although, in general, a straightforward, well-organized resume is all you need, a flashy design isn’t crucial.

3. Don’t Include A Picture
We’ve seen all of the cleverly designed resumes on Pinterest that include a picture of the job applicant, but please resist the urge to include this item. American resumes should not have your picture on it nor should they include a variety of personal information, such as your age, marital status, the number of children you have, etc.

While in some countries, a photo on a resume is commonplace, it’s not expected on an American resume, and American employers can’t ask questions about your age, personal life, religion and so forth, so don’t provide this information on your resume or during interviews.

4. Do Include Some Personality
While you shouldn’t provide a picture or talk about your spouse or lack thereof on a resume, you can create a section for Hobbies & Interests. When it comes to resume trends in 2019, employers definitely want to get an idea of your personality and whether or not you will be a good fit with the company culture.

Your outside interests also can shed light on what kind of employee you might be. For instance, if you love running marathons, this shows that you are goal-oriented and able to complete challenging projects. If you love taking gourmet cooking classes or language classes, this shows an employer that you enjoy growing as a person and aren’t afraid to take on a new challenge.

In general, steer clear of listing hobbies and interests that might be controversial. What you do with your free time is your business, but anything political or religious probably shouldn’t be included or anything that might be considered odd. We aren’t judging, but a hiring manager just might be. Additionally, leave off dull hobbies such as reading and going to movies. Yawn.

Hobbies such as hiking, mountain biking, kayaking, blogging, photography, video production or you’re participating in a Chess club or Scrabble league are good options that might showcase your creativity and sense of adventure.

Keep in mind that while a hobbies section is one of the more interesting resume trends, it should never be included over other more important information. If you are having trouble keeping your resume down to a single page, this is one section that you can remove easily. It’s more important for hiring managers to understand your skills than your hobbies.

5. Omit The Objective & References
In the past, most resumes included a section at the top about your career objectives. When it comes to resume trends, this section really isn’t trending like it was in the past, so if you are pressed for space, this can be a good part to take out. If you do have an objective make sure that it doesn’t sound pushy or obvious.

Hiring managers know you want a great job with a great salary and amazing benefits, but your objective should be more in tune with what the company needs for a specific job position. Remember, the resume serves as an opportunity to sell the idea of you to a hiring manager. You can talk about benefits and salaries later down the line.

Additionally, omit the old standard line, “references available upon request.” Obviously, this should be the case, and if a hiring manager wants your references, they’ll ask you to provide a list. It’s irrelevant to place this on a resume and it takes up a line of space that could be better spent on your skills.

But, It’s Not Just About Your Resume . . .
In the years before Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and other social media sites, hiring managers really only had your resume and references to go on when making decisions about who to hire. Now, they can just do a quick internet search and social media search to find out a bit more about your personality and habits.

You might feel this is an invasion of privacy, but when you put yourself out there for the world to see via social media, you can hardly expect that a hiring manager won’t at least take a look. If your social media is fraught with immature images and posts, it’s likely that this will cost you more than a few job opportunities.

Why would a company want to hire someone who constantly posts inappropriate pictures or perhaps hate-filled rants or airs their dirty laundry about family arguments online? If you seem immature and indiscreet, an employer will be wary of calling you in for an interview, let alone hiring you. Tighten your security settings, don’t allow others to tag you and be mindful of what you post. Great social media posts can be very powerful, so use it to your advantage if you choose to stay public.

Resume writing, especially when trying to keep up with the latest resume trends, can be a daunting task, so if you want a bit of help with your resume, we can help you find the best professional resume writers. At Top 5 Resume Writers, we conducted a blind panel study to discover which resume companies were truly the best.

Our panel unanimously chose Resume Writing Group as their top pick. Their resume was flawless and they offered top-notch customer service and their work was guaranteed. All of our top three picks produced a decent resume, but as all three are priced about the same, why not use our top pick? Forget about resumes and resume trends and let the pros handle the work, leaving you free to work on polishing those interview skills.

Professional Resume Writers: Elevate Your Job Search

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We all want to “get hired,” but rather than simply gaining employment, it’s also crucial to find a job that you actually enjoy. This takes some time and research, and not only can professional resume writers create a great resume for you, but they also can provide advice that helps you find the best possible job options for you.

Obviously, if you need a resume, professional writers can help. But many people don’t know that some of the top resume writing services, such as Resume Writing Group, also provide career coaching services and place a large amount of helpful information on their website. Here’s some solid advice we’ve found from some of the best resume writing sites.

1. Think About What You Want
Some people dream about working for a huge corporation, while others prefer a smaller business where they can really create relationships with clients and co-workers, still others prefer something else entirely, such as working part of the time from home.

Think about the company location, as well. What will your commute be like? Are you willing to relocate? What is the area around the office like? Obviously, items such as salary, benefits and vacation time are important factors, as well, but it’s smart to think about what type of company and company culture you would prefer.

2. Research Companies Before You Send A Resume
Too often, people simply send out tons of resumes without any strategy behind it. Don’t send a resume to a company unless you’ve done some research about the company. You need to know basic information, such as location and number of employees, but also it’s crucial to learn a bit about the company’s mission statement, their services and, again, the company culture.

Not only will this research help you narrow down your search to a list of companies where you probably will enjoy working, but also it will make the interview process easier. If you already know a little bit about the company, you can tailor your answers to what the hiring manager is looking for and you’ll be able to ask more intelligent questions, as well.

3. Personalize Each Resume & Cover Letter
When it comes to writing a resume, professional writers can create an error-free document that contains dynamic language and keywords that hiring managers want to see, but you still may need to personalize each resume a bit.

For instance, perhaps a job posting asks for candidates to possess a specific certification or skill that you have, but it’s not listed on your resume. You may need to add that information. Never send out a resume without thoroughly reading the job posting to ensure that your resume is a fairly close match to the job.

When it comes to cover letters, professional writers definitely can help with these, which can be tricky to write. Still, once you get that amazing cover letter back from your professional writer, it’s essential that you personalize it with the name of the hiring manager.

With a bit of research, you typically can find out who this person might be. Go to the company website and see if they have a page titled, “Work For Us,” or “Jobs” or something similar, this might include a name. If not, look through the list of employees to see if there is someone that seems like they might be in a position to make hiring decisions.

4. Think About Career Coaching
We all know that if you want a cover letter or resume, professional writers can help, but their career coaching services can be a great option, especially if you’ve been looking for work for some time and you aren’t getting any offers. It might not be a resume issue; it might be that you need some polish.

5 People That Might Benefit From Career Coaching
• People moving into a new industry (learn how the skills from your old career translate to your new career)
• People that lack confidence, but want to advance their career
• People who get interviews, but not job offers
• People who want to learn how to nail interviews, in general
• College students about to enter the job market

But, What About Resumes?
At Top 5 Resume Writers, we don’t write resumes, we actually review resume sites to find out which services truly produce stellar resumes and which resume writing sites to avoid. With so many options out there, it can be difficult to find a service that’s worth the price.

So, we’ve done the research for you. We created a “mystery shopper,” and sent the same information for this mystery person to many of the supposedly top-rated professional resume services. Once we had the results, these were reviewed by an independent group of professionals that either are or have been in the position to make hiring decisions.

Each of these professionals chose Resume Writing Group as their top pick. Some of the competitors actually turned in resumes with one or more typos, but providing an error-free resume wasn’t the only thing that set Resume Writing Group apart from the competition.

Resume Writing Group also created a well-written, easy-to-read resume and the writer obviously put some strategic thought into how they would present the mystery shopper’s information. This writer also was the only one to contact the client to ask for further information, and the results definitely speak for themselves.

If you need a cover letter, career coaching or a resume, professional writers typically are your best bet. Take a look at our top three picks, and consider using our #1 pick, Resume Writing Group, to help you advance your career.

Resume Writing Services: How Much Should It Cost?

Blog, Resume Writing Tips

We’ve all seen those free resume templates on the internet as well as discount resume writers, promising a stellar resume for just $19.95. Of course, you also might have seen resumes that cost $150 or more. How much should resume writing services cost? Here’s a general idea of what to expect.

Free Templates Are Rarely Free
Generally, those so-called free resume template services and resume builder services will allow you to enter a bunch of personal information and just as you get to the end of the process and are ready to see your finished product, they hit you with the catch.

Typically, free resume builders will ask you to give your credit card information and sign up for a “free trial,” in order to see and print the resume you have built. This free trial might last one week or even 10 days, but after that, they will charge your credit card a set amount each month as part of their subscription service.

This can be fine if you remember to cancel the trial subscription in time, but if not, you could be charged $20, $25 or more every month. It also can be tricky to figure out exactly how to cancel this trial. Additionally, we find that these resume builders aren’t all that easy to use and it can be tough to edit the resume and make changes without messing up the formatting.

Furthermore, a professional resume writer should edit and read over their work, which greatly lowers the chance that your resume will feature grammar or spelling errors. Resume writers also understand how to appeal to hiring managers, and that’s a huge reason why you probably should go with a pro instead of just imputing information into a resume template.

Cheap Resume? You’ll Get What You Pay For
If you buy a diamond ring for a dime, chances are you’ve just bought a ring not worth a dime, or so the saying goes. If you spend just $20 on a resume, it’s not likely that the writer will be spending a great deal of time crafting your resume. They will simply type up your information, do a quick spellcheck and hand it off. Frankly, you could do that much by yourself, so why even bother paying $20 or $25?

Entry-Level Resumes Are The Most Affordable
When it comes to resume writing services, the cost is often determined by your level of employment experience and you’ll see a range of costs on each resume writing website. Typically, a good quality entry-level resume will cost anywhere from $79 to $110. Generally, these cost a bit less than $100, and they are the least expensive option simply because the client doesn’t have a long list of professional experience, it’s simply easier to create these resumes, so they cost less.

Professional Resumes: Expect To Pay More Than $100
While some services might advertise a professional resume for $99 or less, typically these run about $115 up to about $150. This is the type of resume that is prepared for someone with a few years of industry experience, as well as for people changing careers or perhaps people who have professional experience but have taken time off to raise a family.

The latter two situations can be tricky because you either don’t have experience in a specific industry or you have a large gap in your work history. A seasoned resume writer can create a resume that showcases skills that all hiring managers want to see, regardless of the industry. This might include your leadership skills, communication skills, writing skills, organizational skills and others that are needed for most jobs in general.

The $200 Resume – Who Needs It?
Actually, quite a few people should expect to pay about $200 for a professionally written resume. If you are professional with many years of experience or someone seeking a high-level executive position, these resumes definitely cost more. Likewise, federal and government resumes also cost more, because this is a very distinct style of resume writing that requires a high level of skill.

The Most Important Factor
We’ve reviewed resumes from many different companies, and our top-rated companies charge about the same amount, give or take a few dollars. While we’ve definitely found that cheap resume companies produced cheap resumes, we also found a few pricey resume companies that produced terrible resumes, some even included multiple spelling errors.

So, what’s a job hunter to do? At Top 5 Resume Writers, we’ve reviewed resumes from dozens of resume companies and created a shortlist of the best options. Our top pick, Resume Writing Group, produced a dynamic, error-free resume that truly grabbed our attention. Our top three picks were all acceptable, but Resume Writing Group really stood out from the pack.

We know everyone is worried about what resume writing services cost, but a great resume truly can help you attract attention and, ultimately, find a fantastic job. We highly recommend Resume Writing Group for your resume writing as well as for other tasks, such as cover letter writing, LinkedIn profile writing and career coaching.

The Truth About Resume Guarantees

Blog, Resume Writing Tips,

It’s been said that there are no guarantees in life, but we certainly see plenty of resume writing companies offering guaranteed resumes for sale. But are these guarantees all they are cracked up to be? Is this the best way to determine which resume company to use? Let’s break it down.

1. Resumes Should Be Guaranteed
If a resume writing company doesn’t stand by their work, this is a bad sign. In fact, if we might be so bold, we firmly believe that you should never buy a resume unless the company offers some sort of resume guarantee.

Typically, a lack of a guarantee indicates that this website is probably just churning out subpar resumes written by part-timers with little to no experience with resume writing. You definitely don’t want to invest your hard-earned money in a resume sweatshop. You deserve a quality resume that will attract the attention of a hiring manager or recruiter.

2. You Must Read The Guarantee
While guaranteed resumes tend to be a good thing, it is crucial that you read the fine print of the guarantee. Sometimes it can be tricky to find the actual text that explains the guarantee.

Some companies will place it in their Q &A section, while others might actually have a tab that links to a guarantee page. A few companies hide their guarantee so that it can be very difficult for customers to find.

For instance, one several websites, we had to scroll to the bottom of the homepage, click on the site map and then search for guarantees or terms. Then we were able to find the actual guarantee.

3. Resume Guarantees Range In Scope
In some cases, a resume service simply will offer to revise your resume if you don’t get any interviews within a set period of time, usually between 30 to 60 days. Some companies will give you your money back, provided you adhere to a long list of rules and regulations.

For instance, perhaps if you are not hired in 60 days or you receive no interviews, they will refund the cost of the resume. Of course, be prepared to show proof as to where you sent resumes as well as providing a receipt for services from the resume company.

Which type of guaranteed resume is best? While sometimes people hire resume writers to simply provide them with an updated resume just in case a recruiter should call or a job opportunity should pop up unexpectedly, most resume customers are in the process of finding a job.

If the ultimate goal is to use that resume to help you get hired, perhaps the resume guarantee should speak to that. Perhaps it’s best to find a resume guarantee that states if you are not hired within a set period of time, the resume company will revise your resume at no charge or refund your money.

4. There Are Other Factors To Consider
While offering guaranteed resumes is positive, it’s not the only way to gauge the quality of a resume company. For instance, take a look at the samples provided on the website and if there aren’t any samples, ask for some. If the company won’t provide them, it’s probably not a great resume service.

Take a look at the prices the company charges for a resume. In general, if you find a cheap $29 resume, you’ll end up with a resume that isn’t worth $29 or perhaps it’s not even worth the cost of the paper on which it was printed.

Typically, an entry level resume will cost you about $80 and professional and upper-level management resumes will cost between $100 and $200 dollars. Government and federal resumes also can be around the $200 mark.

Also, be wary of services that promise you a resume in 24 hours or less. Often, you’ll end up with a less-than-awesome resume that just rehashes the information you provided. The writer really won’t take the time to think about a solid resume strategy, and that’s crucial if you truly want a resume that attracts attention.

Of course, occasionally time is of the essence. Rush services are available from many reputable resume companies, but you will pay an extra fee for this quick turnaround.

Additionally, see if you can find information about the resume writers. Many companies simply hire part-time stringers to write resumes and these individuals often don’t have experience with resume writing. Resume writing is different than many other types of writing, and it’s crucial that you use a company with full-time professional writers.

Our favorite service, Resume Writing Group, even has a page with short bios for each of the writers discussing their years of experience as well as their specific areas of expertise. After all, a resume for a nurse will look vastly different than a resume for an engineer or a bartender or a teacher.

At Top 5 Resume Writers, we don’t actually write resumes. Our goal has been to find the best possible resume writing companies out there. With so many choices available, it can be tough for consumers to find the best option.

Our top pick, Resume Writing Group does offer guaranteed resumes and their resume guarantee is unique. If you use their resume and follow their advice, but are not hired in 45 days or less, they will refund your resume and give you an additional $100.

We took a moment to look at this “advice” and determine just what it entailed. We were surprised to find that it was an extremely helpful guide covering several pages. The advice provided not only will help you find the best places to send your resume, it also included tips to market yourself successfully.

Even if you don’t use Resume Writing Group’s guaranteed resumes (although we highly recommend it), definitely take some time to review their career advice section. There’s some valuable stuff in there, and if you are serious about your career, their advice truly can help you make the most of your job search.

7 Resume Must-Haves & 2 Huge Mistakes

Blog, Resume Writing Tips

For any given job opening, there might be hundreds of people submitting a resume. Hiring managers have little time to read each of these documents, which means your resume must have something that truly sets it apart from the pack, including:

1. Skills That Match The Job
Hiring managers spend about one minute reading each resume that they receive and they are looking for individuals that are a solid match. As far as resume must-haves go, this one is at the top of our list. It’s imperative that you customize each resume so that it fits the job description.

It’s never wise to send out one-size-fits-all resumes and cover letters. You need to personalize the resume so that it’s a match to the job description and personalize each cover letter for the job and the hiring manager. Do some research and find the actual name of the hiring manager or contact rather than simply stating, “to whom it may concern.”

Of course, it’s also important to actually possess most of the skills listed in the job description. Don’t list skills that you don’t actually possess. It’s never wise to lie on a resume. It’s just too easy to get caught in a lie and that reduces your chances of getting the job to 0%.

2. Dynamic Keywords
If you do a search for “dynamic keywords resume,” you’ll find tons of articles listing active verbs that you can use to describe your work experiences. Rather than stating that you “were tasked with” or “was responsible for,” it’s best to use words such as managed, developed, created, designed, collaborated and so forth. These are much more descriptive and to the point.

Additionally, don’t forget about our first resume must-have. When thinking about keywords, use some of the words you saw in the job description. If the hiring manager wants someone proficient in Microsoft Excel and QuickBooks, make sure that appears on your resume. Hiring managers are searching for these keywords, and if your resume lacks some important words, it might be overlooked.

3. Design Consistency
Too often, we see resumes where there’s just no consistent format and this is confusing for hiring managers to read. Each section of your resume should include a similar format, using the same typefaces, the same type of bullets and the same basic structure.

Don’t list job skills and achievements with bullets for one company and dashes for another. This just looks sloppy and weird. Unless you are describing skills at your current workplace, be sure to use past tense to describe your responsibilities. Don’t use four different fonts or different types of bullets. Keep everything clean, clear and simple so it’s easy for hiring managers to skim.

4. Quantifiable Skills
In the past, it might have been fine to simply list your job responsibilities but today’s hiring managers want to see what you can accomplish, not just a list of your typical tasks. For instance, rather than stating you “were responsible for employee scheduling,” state that you “Coordinated schedules for 25+ employees.” This provides a hiring manager with a scope of what you actually can do.

Instead of stating that you “managed a sales team,” state that you “managed a six-person sales team, increased overall sales by 15% per year.” This shows that you not only can manage a team, you can manage people and get solid results. Whenever you can quantify a skill, do it. This really sheds light on your qualifications, and hiring managers need to see what sets you apart from other applicants.

5. A Summary That Sells
It’s important to remember that hiring managers don’t exist to make your dreams come true. Their goal is to find qualified employees that are a great fit for their company. When writing your career objective think less in terms of what you want and more in terms of how you benefit a company.

A career summary or objective provides you with a huge opportunity to sell yourself in just one sentence. Read the job description carefully and compose an objective that truly demonstrates that you are a great fit.

6. Software-Friendly Format & Language
If you are submitting a resume online, chances are that it will be filtered through application-tracking software. This software makes it easier for companies to weed out people who aren’t really a match for a job position.

While you might think an amazing design and a touch of quirky language are resume must-haves, software doesn’t understand odd resume formatting nor will it understand odd language. If your resume features a fanciful design and includes verbiage such as “Jedi master” or “guru” to describe skills or job titles, the software program will not understand these weird margins and weird language.

When submitting a resume online, keep it simple. Use the same language that you find in the job description and keep the format plain and straightforward. Save your fancy and quirky resume for those times when you physically hand a resume to a hiring manager. Although, in general, a simple and professional look is usually preferable to a unique design, unless you are applying for an artistic type of job, such as a graphic designer.

7. Show Some Personality
These days, hiring managers aren’t just concerned with your qualifications, although that’s certainly a huge factor. However, they also want employees that will fit in well with the current workplace vibe. To help showcase your personality, adding a Hobbies & Interest section can be a smart idea, providing you go about this strategically.

For instance, if you just list your hobbies as reading, watching TV and going to restaurants and movies, this sounds more than a bit dull. It’s better to add hobbies such as running marathons, taking gourmet cooking classes, volunteering at a food bank or binge-watching a particular quirky show. Here’s two Hobbies & Interests for comparison:

Hobbies & Interests
Hiking
Music
Volunteering
Writing/Blogging

Hobbies & Interests
Long-Distance Hiking (Hiked Grand Canyon & John Muir Trail)
Playing Classical Guitar
Volunteering at Westside Pet Shelter
Blogging about my search for great Mexican food

The first effort provides no real details and lacks punch, while the second effort provides a hiring team with a glimpse of your personality. The long-distance hiking shows that you can work hard toward a goal. The volunteerism showcases your willingness to help others and work as a team. The blogging and guitar playing showcases your creativity. This section can be a powerful tool provided you use it wisely.

While these resume must-haves can set you apart from the competition, there are two huge mistakes that can greatly reduce your chance of getting interviews and getting hired, including:

1. Resume Errors
Even a single spelling error can cause a hiring manager to toss your resume in the trash. Make two or three errors, and you definitely won’t be getting called in for an interview. Unless they simply want to see, in person, the job candidate that thought it was a good idea to not edit their resume.

It’s not just spelling errors that can cost you a great job. Using poor grammar and syntax also can be a problem that indicates you may not really possess the attention to detail necessary to be a great employee.

While professional resume writers can ensure that your resume is free from spelling, grammar and syntax errors, they won’t know if you email address and phone numbers are correct, so this is information that you must double and triple check before handing out your resume.

2. Lack Of Preparation
A great resume can get you through the door and into the interview process, but that’s all it can do. Once you sit down in the hot seat facing the hiring manager, it’s all on you to make a great impression and that takes some preparation.

Dress for the part with well-fitting, ironed business-appropriate clothing. Trim you hair and make sure it’s tidy and neat. Carry a briefcase or professional bag filled with paper and pens for taking notes, as well as copies of your resume and cover letter just in case the hiring manager wants an extra copy.

Be a few minutes early to the interview, turn off your cell phone and remember to make eye contact and truly listen to the hiring manager. Jot down a thoughtful list of questions to ask regarding day-to-day responsibilities, company culture, goals, etc. Be sure to practice your answers to typical interview questions again and again until you are comfortable.

Lastly, never walk into the interview room without knowing a thing or two about the company. Research the company’s mission statement and any recent articles about the company. If the company has a blog, read a few of the blog posts. Research the hiring manager so that you know a bit about this person. If you can do all of this, you will walk into the interview feeling much more confidently and are likely to make a better impression. All the resume must-haves in the world won’t help you if you walk in late and unprepared.

To ensure that you’ve included all of these resume must-haves and aren’t making any huge mistakes; it can be smart to hire professional resume writers. Who should you pick? There are tons of companies out there, and we’ve reviewed resumes from many of them. Take a look at our top pick, Resume Writing Group. We believe they can provide you with a stellar, job-winning resume that will help you land a fantastic new job.