How Do You Tell if a Resume Writing Team Is Actually Good?

[jamesanderson]

Hi everyone,

I’ve been job hunting for a few months and I’ve reached the point where I’m thinking of paying someone to rewrite my resume. The problem is that every company I find claims to have the best team of resume writers, and I can’t tell the real experts from the ones who run everything through a template.

My background is in operations, and I’ve got about nine years of experience, but my resume reads like a list of tasks. I’d like someone who can pull out the results I actually delivered and present them properly, and who understands what recruiters in my field look for.

For anyone who has hired a resume writer or team, I’d love to know:

Did you work with one writer or a team, and did it make a difference?
How did you check their experience before paying? Did they share samples or credentials?
Did they ask you detailed questions first, or just take your old resume and go?
Were the writers experienced in your industry, or was it a general service?
How many revisions did you get, and did the team respond quickly to changes?
Did the final version actually lead to more interviews?

I’d also like to hear about red flags to avoid, such as guaranteed interviews, no contact with the actual writer, or samples that all look identical. Any before-and-after examples you’re willing to share would be really helpful.

Thanks in advance, honest feedback (good or bad) is very welcome!