Amanda Clark — November 8, 2019 
Hiring a professional resume writer can feel oddly personal; after all, in a sense, you’re essentially enlisting someone you barely know to tell the story of your career.
Actually, it’s not quite as strange as it seems. You obviously know your professional history and your value as an employee better than anyone, but a professional resume writer will know how to condense that history and capture that value in a way that hiring managers will notice.
Ideally, the relationship between you and your resume writer will be smooth and open; you’ll feel comfortable telling them about your professional life, and they’ll articulate and format it in a way that helps you shine.
To ensure this kind of relationship, we’d recommend clear, consistent communication even before you hire a resume writer; specifically, ask the right questions to make sure you’re picking the right person for the job.
What to Ask Your Resume Writer
- What are your credentials? Are you working with someone who has ample experience? Someone who has worked with key recruiters? Someone who’s well-versed in industry standards? Always ask your resume writer about their background and expertise.
- What services are included? When you hire a resume writer, you should seek someone who will provide you with a one-on-one consultation via phone or Skype; a full draft, complete with any necessary rewrites or revisions; and delivery of the document in a file format that you can work with.
- Are there any additional services you can deliver? In addition to a resume, you might also consider having a cover letter written, or your LinkedIn profile professionally optimized. Ask about having all of these tasks done at once!
- What is your process like? Make sure you have a good sense of how the resume writer will learn about your professional experience; and, how long the process will take. Also make sure you have clarity about how to request any necessary additions or revisions, e.g., if you forget to mention a few things in the initial consultation.
- Do you have experience in my industry? Some industries come with their own unique formal requirements; for example, teachers or military veterans may have resume needs a little different from, say, a marketing executive or a customer service employee. Additionally, federal resumes are different from corporate resumes aimed at the private sector.
By asking the right questions, you can feel more confident about the resume writer you hire.
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