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When a client comes to us to write their résume, it is usually the first time they have invested their time and money in such a project. We have felt not only our duty, but obligation to provide a service with the utmost standards and quality.
The goal of potential clients is to 'Find A Job' and to better their chances in career advancement. This seems like a very simple request, but making a bad choice in choosing a résume writer can end in a nightmare of expensive mistakes, a poor end product, and disappointment.
Hopefully this information will equip you with the tools to successfully purchase a presentation that not only will get you the job, but result in a positive experience.
 Below are questions you might have when searching for a writing service. Give us a call if your question is not discussed on this page @ 309.842.1246 or Email Us_
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. NOTE: This page of guidelines is solely the opinion and viewpoint of Image Résumes and not associated with other writing services or industry association viewpoints.
Which Writing Service should I hire? At best, It Is A 'Roll Of The Dice'!
All writing services do not offer the same quality of service, talent, or creativity. In order to receive the best end results, preview as many writing services you can find before making your choice. A good service should have a professional website that offers a detailed overview of price, service options, and procedures. In order to write an effective résume, a detailed outline of your history should be requested. There is no way a professional résume writer can understand who you are and accurately write a résume over a short email exchange.
Samples of résumes should be offered and are nice to see, but beware:
1. Don't be surprised if the fancy one you like is not their standard layout and snowballs into unexpected add-ons.
2. "Cut'n Paste", is still alive and well! .. Are those great looking résumes really their work?
How long has the writing service been in business and what do they have to offer
Ideally the longer the better .. The writer should have at least 5 years experience producing résumes before being termed a professional expert in their field. Again, years of experience as a professional writer can be hard to verify. Most services honestly represent the longevity of their business, but as always, buyer beware!
 As store fronts continue to disappear and internet based services are taking their place, it might be hard to know who you are really hiring. Presently, promoting industry association memberships and client referrals are a big part of authenticating internet writing services.
Basically, none of these carry much weight ... WHY?
1. To our knowledge no college offers a degree in résume writing-design nor is this industry State licensed or regulated, meaning all professional credentials are industry driven with a variety of standards (or lack of standards).
2. Client referrals are easy to make-up and often 'imaginary business' .. impossible to verify!
3. 'The Better Business Association' membership is another 'fee' driven association that offers questionable value.
Belonging to professional associations does provide current industry information. However, don't go overboard with your association requirements. Associations in this industry usually require a simple membership fee or free .. and do not necessarily reflect the writer's skills or ethical standards.
"The writing and design skills" of the writer are far more important than
associations or certificates behind their name.
Note: As the economy remains in a down swing, many people are looking for quick ways to make money .. résume writing is unfortunately an industry that seems to have its fair share of part-time, amateur start-ups. If you have a question as to the longevity of a writing service, Google their business name for more detailed information.
A new trend on google are groups of self rated websites which typically are advertised as "Top Rated Writing Services Of The Year" or something similar. Writing services on these websites pay to be a part of that site. Careful hiring services on these sites. Their results are very poor end products that are riddled with typos and often identical copies of the client's original submitted résume.
The 'WOW Factor'
What is the WOW Factor? ... Simply, a résume that is loaded with graphics, funky fonts, and a layout that is an ultra-chic masterpiece. At first sight the client goes WOW 'gotta have this', but stop! Is this a résume or piece of graphic art? Can this be used as a functional piece of information or should it be framed! Seriously, evaluate what you are really seeing.
There is a reason the conventional résume has remained the workhorse of millions of job seekers over the years, it works! Nothing fancy, simply easy to access information that a potential employer can read, scan, photocopy, and email.
Here are a few reasons the 'WOW Factor' can be a terrible choice _
1. If a résume can't be read and understood within a 2 minutes forget it.
2. Express yourself in word not in a graphic statement of confusion.
3. Forget about making any small changes down the road such as new address or phone number yourself, that service has used desktop publishing software, hope you own the same software program!
4. And the last point, any layout other than a writing services' standard layout is going to cost you $More$. The more complex the layout, the more it is going to cost you.
If you want something that is a little different .. add color to the heading or a small graphic (that reflects that industry). Just a small highlight can make a huge difference and not effect the integrity of the résume itself.
What should I expect to pay?
The cost of using a professional writing service can range from $100 to $700 (or even more). Higher costs can result if frills are thrown in like electronic | database distribution, posting on job boards, or custom designs. Evaluate to what extent you need these extra services, it may very will cost you $more$ than you think in the long run.
A few 'Areas Of Caution', please take the time to read _
► Be aware of additional add-on or draft editing charges that might not be spelled out in the beginning.
► Do not depend on long term storage of your order on their hard drive or server, they may not be in business long.
► If a CD purchase of your order is offered, buy it > It is a good investment!
► A great résume service is not necessarily a great job placement service.
► Coaching services may only be a a short version of the Do's and Don'ts of a standard job search. Buy an employment how-to book!
► Posting charges for résume placement on tons of job posting websites is a waste of your money, results show very poor results. Do that yourself for free!
► If pricing is not spelled out plainly on their website and there are tons of price options (ex. gold, silver, platinum packages), add-ons is their $Specialty$.
► If you have to make a phone call for pricing, forget it, that usually means there is no established pricing structure and the business will charge as much as they can get from you!
► Beware of money-back guarantees and special offers .. Read their 'Term Of Service' and refund requirements. Search their website for restrictions and additional charges, usually hidden in hard to locate places and are in fine print. Some 'free' services will $cost$ you!
► A basic résume information update can often be as pricey as a total rewrite. The results can be ineffective and not enough to solve your phrasing and formatting problems. A full re-write and total redesign might cost a few extra pennies, but might be the best choice.
An expensive résume is 'No Better' than an reasonably priced résume
'Hire The Writer, Not The Hype'!
Make The Right Choice The First Time
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