A friend of mine recently asked me why there was such variation in resume writing prices.  It was a good question and I decided to turn her question into a blog entry. 

There are three categories of resume writing companies and corresponding pricing structures.

The first is the part-time resume writer.  These are often editors, writers, English majors who write resumes “on the side.”  They often work from home, advertise on craigslist and typically charge from about $50 to $150 for a resume package.  They are rarely members of the Professional Association of Resume Writers (PARW), but often produce a decent product at a low price point.  Don’t expect much customization, or in-depth inquiries into your experience or skill set.  These part-timers might be acceptable for someone on a really tight budget, but better options for most may exist.

The second is the small business, PARW member.  These are often one-person businesses, working from a small office, or a home office and specialize in writing professional resumes.  They often have a moderate web presence, may advertise in their regional area and charge from about $100 to $300 for a resume package.  Their services and price points are often categorized into entry level/new grad, experienced or mid-career, and executive or specialized.  You will typically be dealing with the actual resume writer that will be interviewing you and writing your resume.  This category guarantees their resumes and will re-write and edit them for a time period.  Generally speaking, many feel this category offers a superior mix of value, one-on-one communication, and pride of work.  The certified professional resume member category writes the bulk of resumes written each year.

The third is the large, resume “farm.”  These corporations, often market nationally, have tremendous web foot-prints, and employ dozens of resume writers, often from foreign countries.  They typically have a webpage that encourages a form to be filled out and emailed in.  It is then assigned to a resume writer, and a resume is emailed back to you within a week.  Often, there is no communication between you and the resume writer.  Some edits are allowed, but there is not the one-on-one direct communication.  These large resume corporations also guarantee their resumes.  Prices range from “come-on” $49 packages (that rarely end up at $49), all the way up to $700 and more.  These resume farms often produce a substandard resume. 

All three types of resume writing companies have their pros and cons and it is up to you to decide which one is right for you. 

Good luck, and if you want a free resume critique by a San Diego based, Professional Resume Writer, please contact me at www.sdresumes.com or 858-414-9603.