Choosing An Online Resume Service
By Ann Baehr, Best Resumes of New York

There are two distinct types of resume services – local and online (Internet-based). Which one is right for you? Many factors must be considered to make that decision – most of which include credibility, convenience turnaround time, and price.

Many job seekers are skeptical about hiring a resume writer over the Internet because they are afraid of getting ripped off. That is very understandable in today’s day and age. So what can you do to make sure you are working with a credible online resume service?

Check their credentials. If they are legitimate, their credentials should be listed on the homepage of their website. Also, you should be able to speak directly with someone on the phone. You should also check the sample resumes on their website so you can see the quality of their work.

Most online resume services have a toll free number and communicate with their clients via email and Live Chat as well. If the resume writers respond within a day to answer inquiries and you do not get an answering service or a switchboard, that is a good sign that you are working with a resume service that writes resumes full time as their primary line of work and not part time as a second income.

Local in-person resume writing services are slowly becoming a thing of the past. Unless a resume service’s local Yellow Pages ad lists every aspect of their business services and credentials, you will not know if they are the right resume service for you until you are sitting across from the resume writer in their office. The advantage in finding a resume service on the Internet is that you can view their work, services, and fees online before calling them.

As for the local resume service, if you decide they are not for you after traveling to their office to meet with them in person, you must venture out to find another resume service that is. That alone can take hours, if not days. Chances are you will probably end up choosing a local resume writer just because you’re tired of running around town! Even then, you’re not done. You still have the revision process ahead of you. Unless you are going to do that via email, you will have one chance in person to catch errors and make changes.

If you are in a rush, you might have a hard time finding a local resume writer who is available to meet your deadline because they usually have office hours from 9 to 5, Monday through Friday, and have someone in their office. It is difficult for a local resume writer to speak with clients on the phone with another client sitting across from them. For starters, there is a level of confidentiality that must be maintained and because it is simply and interruption. Furthermore, you only have a few local resume services to choose from versus the number of resume services available to you online.

If you visit an online resume service that has great resume samples, excellent credentials, and communicates with you to answer any of your questions via phone or by email within a few hours, you should seriously consider using them. If they are in another state or country, you shouldn’t let that stop you. Working by email and telephone is a convenience that you should embrace.

The main thing to consider is their ability to write a strong resume for you and the price. If there is a telephone consultation, the price is generally higher than if you were filling out a questionnaire or online resume form without speaking directly with the writer. If cost is a major consideration, then it is great to know that filling out a questionnaire is an option. It sure beats developing the resume yourself!

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Ann Baehr, Best Resumes of New York