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The Best Resume Writing Services Of 2024, Chosen By Our Editors

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A good resume can make a lasting impression on a potential employer, and the best resume writing services can help you get your foot in the door that much faster. Sure, you can tackle the task yourself, but between navigating computerized application tracking systems and adapting to their ever-changing standards, building a modern resume that stands out in the crowd is no easy feat. That’s why we researched dozens of resume writing services to help you land the role you deserve. Our overall favorite is TopResume , which lets you choose from four different packages, but we included seven more options below.

The best resume writing services can help you make a lasting impression on employers.

When selecting our favorite resume services, we considered how easy each was to use, customization options available and turnaround times. Whether you’re looking for a little polish or have no idea where to start, there’s a service on this list for you. After all, why wouldn’t you hire a professional to handle one of the most important documents standing between you and your dream job: a finely-tuned resume? Below, the best resume writing services that cover everything from editing to one-on-one career counseling. And once you get the job, make sure you’re set up for WFH success with our favorite office chairs , standing desks and business laptops .

• Best Overall Resume Writing Service: TopResume
• Best Resume Writing Service With Custom Bundles: Resumeble
• Best Resume Writing Service With Career Consulting: TopStack Resume
• Best Resume Writing Service For Executives: ZipJob
• Best Resume Writing Service Built By Recruiters: ResumeSpice
• Best Quick-Turnaround Resume Writing Service: Craft Resumes
• Best Value Resume Writing Service: ResumeCompanion
• Best Free Resume Building Service: Resume.com

Best Overall Resume Writing Service

A popular service for professionals.

Tiers: Starter, Premium, Ultimate and Executive Elite | Turnaround time: 4 to 7 days

Pros: 

• Free resume review
• Customizes your resume by writers certified in 65+ industries 
• 60-day guarantee; double the job interviews or they’ll rewrite it for free

Cons: 

• Limited to two revisions 

TopResume is a popular option for mid- to high-level professionals seeking resume advice. You can choose from four different packages (Starter, Premium, Ultimate and Elite) that range in price from $149 to $699 and offer a variety of services. No matter which package you choose, you’re guaranteed a professionally written resume from an expert in your chosen industry. If you already have a resume, you can also opt to get a free review on it, and receive feedback on its layout, language and how effectively it communicates your skills.

Best Resume Writing Service With Custom Bundles

A great combo service for your resume and cover letter.

Tiers: Standard, Professional and Premium | Turnaround time: 4 days

• Standard package includes resume and cover letter
• Customizable based on your industry
• 60-day guarantee; receive an interview or rewrite for free
• No refunds on Standard and Professional packages (however, Premium packages include a Money Back Guarantee)

Resumeble offers three package tiers: Standard, Professional and Premium. If you’re just starting your career, the Standard package offers bang for your buck, since it includes a resume and cover letter (most services require you to at least upgrade to the mid-level package for both). Next up, the Professional package is geared toward mid-level employees looking to promote or pivot and includes a LinkedIn profile refresh; and the Premium package, designed for seasoned executives, offers all that plus a back-up resume, cold emails to recruiters and more. While no refunds are offered on Standard and Professional packages, the Premium package comes with a Money Back Guarantee if clients don’t receive at least one job offer within 180 days.

Best Resume Writing Service With Career Consulting

A global platform that focuses on the full professional picture, topstack resume.

Tiers: Basic, Standard, Professional and Premium | Turnaround time: 1 to 2 weeks

Pros:  

• Can view final resume before paying 
• Provides advanced career consultations and interview prep
• Donates 5% of profits to the Fisher House Foundation
• 60-day guarantee limited to Professional and Premium packages
• Longer turnaround time; takes 1 to 2 weeks

TopStack offers four different packages that range from $139 for your basic professional resume to $649 for a more robust selection of services (including career consulting plus help with your resume,​ cover letter and LinkedIn profile). It also focuses on ensuring your resume is ATS-optimized, a must in the modern hiring world.

Best Resume Writing Service For Executives

A service built with leaders in mind.

Tiers: Launch, Fast Track, Premium, Executive | Turnaround time: 3 to 7 business days

• Comprehensive; includes resume, cover letter, thank-you note and LinkedIn profile
• Resumes are ATS-optimized
• 60-day interview guarantee
• On the pricier side

ZipJob is a great choice for professionals at all levels, but its comprehensive executive package makes it especially suited for those at the top of their game. Offerings include an executive-level resume and cover letter, LinkedIn profile optimization and a customizable thank-you letter. To ensure everything is up to standard, you also get a phone consultation with your writer and multiple revisions for all of your documents. And just like ZipJob’s other packages, the executive bundle checks that your resume is ATS-ready (Applicant Tracking Systems), so you can pass early screenings with flying colors.

Best Resume Writing Service Built By Recruiters

A highly rated platform developed by hr and hiring managers, resumespice.

Tiers: Entry Level, Professional and Executive | Turnaround time: 2 days

• Wide range of services offered including for resume, cover letter, Linkedin profile, interview prep and career coaching 
• Quick 2-day turnaround
• 60-day guarantee; rewrite if you don’t get an interview 

Cons:  

• Expensive; $479 for an entry-level resume

ResumeSpice is more expensive than other services. That said, it was developed by recruiters, aka people who’ve truly homed in on what prospective employers are seeking. It’s also one of the highest-rated services on Trustpilot . The company offers a quick two-day turnaround, pre-built packages depending on your experience and the option to tack on its highly rated career-building services. ResumeSpice also has free resume resources and a selection of sample templates, if you’re more interested in the DIY approach.

Best Quick-Turnaround Resume Writing Service

A platform that gets you the fastest first draft, craft resumes.

Tiers: Resume Writing, Basic, Optimal, All-In-One | Turnaround time: 1 day

• 24-hour turnaround time for first draft 
• Writers are PARWCC- or NRWA-certified
• International service; some users experience grammar issues due to language barrier

If you’re in a time crunch, this writing and editing service has a 24-hour turnaround for the first draft of your resume. Craft Resumes features an easy-to-navigate website and delivers resumes tailored to your experiences and desired career path. Like a few other services, Craft Resumes offers a series of à la carte options, such as LinkedIn profile writing, thank-you letters and follow-up letters.

Best Value Resume Writing Service

A subscription-based diy resume builder, resumecompanion.

Tiers: Monthly or 2-week access | Turnaround time: Self-paced

• Affordable; subscription costs $8 a month or 14-day access for $3
• Choose from dozens of professional resume templates
• Offers cover letter, job search and tracking tools
• Self-directed; no hands-on help from writers

This resume builder is a great budget option for a self-starter who wants to learn the ropes and take things into their own hands. You can select from a variety of templates, narrow down the type of job you’re seeking and follow a step-by-step process to perfect your own resume. However, because it’s subscription-based, you’ll have to renew the service if you want to edit your materials in the future.

Best Free Resume Building Service

A robust resume and cover letter resource—at no cost to you.

Tiers: Free | Turnaround time: Self-paced

• Free with dozens of templates to choose from
• Integrated with Indeed; easy to apply to jobs
• Some users say it’s difficult to cancel subscription

If your budget is tight and you don’t mind going the DIY route for your resume, Resume.com is a great resource. It has an intuitive user interface and offers over 20 different resume and cover letter templates to choose from. There’s also an open career advice portal where you can read about career development, interview tips and more.

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The Forbes Vetted team has published a large library of tech guides , including reviews on a variety of online tools and home office essentials like the best document scanners and all-in-one printers .

• Consumer tech editor Rebecca Isaacs and executive editor Dave Johnson oversee this guide and its iterations; they have over a decade of experience in the industry and both enjoy testing and reviewing the latest in tech.
• Assistant editor Jordan Thomas has over four years of experience covering deals and consumer shopping. For this guide, she scoured the web for the most reputable resume writing services and compared each option to find the best.
• We continue to monitor the best resume services and routinely update this guide to provide the most current information about pricing and offerings. It was last updated in May 2024 by tech updates writer Alexandra Garrett to expand our buyer’s guide.

How We Chose The Best Resume Writing Services

To compile this list, we sought out well-known resume writing services with overwhelmingly positive customer reviews and compared key offerings.

• We looked for reputable resume writing services with proven results; each service had to meet our standards in terms of overall value, turnaround time, professionalism and satisfaction guarantees.
• We evaluated each service side-by-side to determine which performs better at writing a robust resume in an accurate, timely manner.
• Everyone has unique needs when it comes to searching for a job, so we made sure to recommend options that span different career goals and budgets, whether that includes getting career consultation or polishing up an existing resume.

What To Look For When Choosing The Best Resume Writing Service

Resume writing services come in a wide range of prices, and the best options for you will largely depend on your needs and budget. Affordable services like ResumeCompanion offer a step-by-step process for building your own resume for $8 a month, while other services provide a more hands-on approach for around $150. Packages typically go up to $250-$300 when you add Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)-optimization, cover letter writing, interview prep and career coaching.

Turnaround Time

If your job application has a set deadline, take a look at the service’s turnaround time before committing. Most services take anywhere from two days to two weeks to provide a finalized resume. Some promise a draft in 24 hours, like Craft Resumes .

Ease Of Use

When deciding on a resume writing service, take a look at how easy the website is to navigate. Is it difficult to browse different templates, download your files or customize your resume? The job application process is often stressful, so a resume writing service should alleviate—not contribute to—some of that stress.

Customization Options

A resume needs to accurately reflect your unique qualifications, skills and industry standards. For this reason, consider which customization options the service provides. Many of our recommendations use writers, recruiters or HR professionals to tailor your application documents to your unique needs.

Writer Qualifications

With AI solutions like ChatGPT readily available, you’ll want to check whether or not your resume writer is qualified to provide the help you need. To do this, take a look at the service’s writer qualifications. Some services use writers certified by the Professional Association of Resume Writers & Career Coaches (PARWCC) or National Resume Writers Association (NRWA), while others are run by recruiters or HR professionals.

Privacy Policies

Because some websites and apps collect your personal information, it’s important to check the privacy policies before signing up. Look for whether the site stores or shares that information with third parties, and whether you can adjust your privacy settings to opt out of this setting.

Is It Worth Paying For A Resume Writing Service?

Professionally-written resumes through a reputable service can help you stand out from the competition. They’re often designed to highlight your best qualities, and are keyword-optimized for most applicant tracking systems. If you’re struggling with employment gaps or career changes, a resume writing service can help give you a leg up. And some services will also provide reviews for custom cover letters, Linkedin profiles, interview prep and career coaching.

What’s The Best Resume Writing Company?

The best resume writing company is affordable, offers high-quality review and writing services and is easy to use. Our top pick overall— TopResume —provides the professionalism and quality most mid- to high-level job seekers need, from its free resume review to its customizable options.

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Best Resume Writing Services of 2024

In an increasingly competitive job market, seeking the best resume writing services is vital. While individuals and businesses still offer those services, some job seekers use AI resources as a shortcut. In fact, according to a recent study by MIT’s Sloan School of Management, using AI to help with overall help with resumes increased hiring odds by up to 8%.

Resources like ChatGPT are growing in popularity to help generate resumes and cover letters outright. However, many job searchers know that while they can use AI to formulate a generic resume for free, it is a tool that cannot fully replace a specialized, personal touch from a long-time professional. In this round-up, we review our choices for the best resume writing services to recommend the option that can best aid you in your job search.

Table of Contents

• Best Resume Writing Services
• Things To Consider When Looking
• How We Chose

TopResume  »

Offers free resume reviews

60-day interview guarantee

Able to customize resumes by industry

2x more interviews or will rewrite resume for free

Limit of two revisions

Results might be disappointing if not willing to buy highest-priced package

TopResume is a popular service providing free critiques of existing resumes and a relatively low starting cost for a new and customized resume. The process works by first having you answer a detailed questionnaire and then matching you with an experienced professional knowledgeable of your industry who assists with customizing your resume accordingly. TopResume employs a network of 1,200 writers.

Your document gets carefully written to pass through applicant tracking systems, or ATS, to provide the best chance of getting your documents in front of a hiring manager and increasing your interview odds. In addition to resumes, TopResume also writes cover letters and LinkedIn biographies. You should expect your first draft back within a week. TopResume offers a maximum of two rewrites.

While TopResume aims to get things right the first time, the service provides up to two rewrites if you aren’t satisfied with the result; while this is a good start, those in highly specialized or less common fields may not have access to as wide a pool of experts as others. If you are willing to pay top dollar for the most expensive plan, your access to writers with specialist knowledge will likely expand.

TopResume’s pricing plans work for professionals at all levels, making it the ideal service for the broadest range of job searchers.

Free resume templates and samples

Coaching is available for as low as $56

Options for all career levels

Job board with positions across various industries

Not a straightforward resume writing service

Slightly longer turnaround window than alternatives

No refunds for final resume or cover letter

TheMuse may primarily be known for sharing available jobs across multiple industries, but it is also a coaching and mentorship resource for job seekers. You not only have the chance to get your existing resume rewritten, but you can chat with a coaching professional by phone or Skype for 30 minutes; if unsatisfied, you get at least one round of edits.

In addition to tailored resumes, TheMuse provides coaching sessions, updated LinkedIn bios, and more. The service offers a combination of services meant to fit every budget and level of need. It’s easy to select only the features you need and avoid overpaying.

Although TheMuse provides valuable resume writing services, it does emphasize its coaching services over its resume and cover letter resources. TheMuse also works to update your existing documents instead of aiming to provide a resume built from scratch. If you already have a good foundation to work from, these services can be very useful for polish, but you may want to consider another service on this list if you are looking to start from the ground up.

Also be aware that you must be mindful of any errors in the draft as, aside from correcting spelling and grammar, no refunds get issued for final resumes or cover letters. You may be entitled to a single rewrite or unlimited rewrites depending on the service package you select. However, if you are simply displeased with the final version of the product for non-grammatical reasons, then it’s unlikely a refund will get issued.

Craft Resumes  »

Free resume review

Writes resumes and CVs.

Affiliated with the NRWA and PARWCC

Relatively fast turnaround

Packages available for professionals range from entry to executive-level

Price listings could be more precise

Possible grammar issues due to language barrier

Craft Resumes is an internationally-based resume writing service with a team dedicated to assisting jobseekers worldwide. In addition to resumes and CVs, you can receive a custom cover letter, thank you note, and LinkedIn page. Additionally, you can order career coaching and receive round-the-clock support from team members. Its pricing ranges from about $139 to $630, making it suitable for job hunters of all economic backgrounds.

Craft Resumes offers one of the fastest turnaround windows we could find when researching resume writing services. You should receive your first draft within a day of requesting service, and the process takes about five days on average. If you need a new resume fast, this resume writing service could be your best bet.

One major caveat for native English speakers is that Craft Resumes often employs resume writers who are not; this means there is a potential for language barriers and miscommunications. Some customers have complained of this previously. Even so, most customers tend to be satisfied with the work provided by this company. Craft Resumes works with people worldwide, so they are ideal for people seeking employment outside of North America.

Let’s Eat, Grandma  »

30-minute consultations

Completely customized resume

Free resume critique

Special executive-level concierge service

Very expensive compared to alternate services

Limit of rewrites unless you buy most expensive package

Let’s Eat, Grandma, sometimes called LEG, is one of the leading resume writing services available, though best suited for jobseekers with a more generous budget. Though it might be more expensive than some alternatives, its Executive Concierge Package is formulated and streamlined toward supporting the most senior-level members of the workforce who are looking to navigate from one role to the next.

If you want an executive-level resume writing service and experience, then Let’s Eat, Grandma is perhaps the most suitable option. That said, this company may not be the best fit if you are closer to entry-level or have a restricted budget. Let’s Eat Grandma’s main selling point is that it is not a budget resume writing service and is best suited for those seeking a premium, expert-level experience. If quality and expertise are your main concerns, and budget is not a primary consideration, then there’s a good chance Let’s Eat, Grandma represents good value for the money.

Federal Resume USA  »

Plans are specifically available for those seeking government jobs

Also provides resume services for military spouses

Plan options for veterans

Range of affordable plan options

Website is a bit dated

Payment plans and pricing a little confusing

Federal Resume USA is a resume writing service that is specifically tailored towards supporting those seeking government and military positions. It differs from practically every other resume writing business reviewed in that it is primarily government-focused. Federal Resume USA works with customers trying to obtain a government job or who are transferring away from federal and military roles and need a civilian or private sector-friendly resume. The pricing varies from around $100 for a critique to $300 for resumes tailored toward GS-14, GS-15, and SES PO positions, putting the pricing plans within the budget of most potential customers.

Though Federal Resume USA may be a service that is ideal for government job seekers, it is hard to ignore how dated the website is. It can be hard to distinguish one pricing plan from the next, raising the risk of customers accidentally opting for the wrong plan. Though the pages lack a modern charm, the service is well-suited to customers who want writers specifically familiar with creating resumes for federal government and military jobs.

ResumeSpice  »

Creates resumes for a broad range of industries

Offers outplacement services to companies

DISC assessment to assist in navigating career path

Expensive resume service plans

No option to just get a resume written up

No clear refund policy

If you are looking to make a career change or need outplacement assistance, ResumeSpice is a leading resource for job hunters either making a change or preparing to move on from a current position. The process varies depending on the exact services you choose. For resumes, you select your preferred package; you can also choose to add other items, such as a cover letter.

After making your purchase, you should get an email from ResumeSpice and complete a quick questionnaire; the email also includes a link to schedule a consultation. Following a phone call with your resume writer, where you further explain your career goals and further expand on your questionnaire, the writer will get to work on your resume. ResumeSpice shares that first drafts are usually completed within two business days.

If you aren’t satisfied with the final product, ResumeSpice will rewrite your resume at no additional cost. The brand will also rework your resume if you fail to get a single interview within 60 days of working with them. While this may be agreeable to some customers, getting a refund appears difficult if you aren’t completely happy with the service.

Affordable plans

ATS optimization

No clear indication of turnaround time

Not necessarily transparent about refunds

ZipJob is a resume writing service that provides a series of resume writing plans that work for entry-level job seekers as well as specialized package for executive-level customers. The service works by asking that you send a copy of your most recent resume and answer a few questions. You are paired with a writer who collaborates directly with you to create a brand-new resume. Once the draft is complete, ZipJob runs your resume through an ATS scanner.

ZipJob is so confident in its process and the quality of the resume that it promotes a 60-day guarantee for its Fast Track and Premium tiers; if you don’t get twice as many interviews as before using their service, ZipJob will rewrite your resume for free. The terms of service indicate that all sales are final aSpcend there are no refunds.

Aside from questions about turnaround and refunds for dissatisfied customers, ZipJob is a comprehensive service provider that works to ensure you are provided the best quality ATS-friendly resume that it can.

The Bottom Line

Resume writing services remain a valuable resource for job hunting, whether you are unemployed or presently employed and seeking a move elsewhere. For those lacking resume writing experience, these services can help you connect with someone able to take your work experience or accomplishments and present them in a streamlined manner while representing your best qualities.

Unlike utilizing AI alone, working with a person or team of people allows you to prep for interviews, acknowledge and work on any professional setbacks, and get used to comfortably collaborating with other people. The best resumes go beyond SEO and keywords – they empower you to self-advocate. The best resume writing services empower and coach you in ways only possible when humans are involved.

Things To Consider When Looking for Resume Writing Services

Hiring the best possible resume writing service comes down to a core group of considerations, each contributing to the increased odds of landing your ideal job. Here’s what to look for in a great service.

Experience level and writer certifications: You should aim to work with a writer with at least a few years of resume writing experience. Be sure to look for a resume writing service that is open about its writer’s qualifications and willing to showcase its team members.

Be wary of businesses that make lofty, general claims without any verifiable output or customer testimonials. As Sarah Johnston, expert resume writer and owner of Briefcase Coach, notes, “Reviews can be faked, and follower count is not a direct correlation of quality of service.” Popularity alone is not always enough to indicate future satisfaction. Johnston recommends a closer look at the process and an eye toward “how the company is extracting your career narrative.”

In addition to considering resume writing experience, opting for certified resume writers is also best for increasing your odds of getting a good result. Certifications through the National Resume Writer’s Association (NRWA) or the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches (PARWCC) are the most widely sought and respected. If you are seeking a verified resume writing professional or service, check to see if they are certified through these or similarly reputable organizations.

Pricing and value for the money: Consider everything that’s provided as part of the service when comparing plans or getting a quote. Are you only getting a resume written, or will you also receive a cover letter? Will you be speaking to someone over the phone or via video conferencing? The more features that come with the service, the more you can expect the price to rise. That said, receiving a valuable series of services that will strongly assist you in finding a new job should be considered good value for the money.

Entry-level jobseekers with a small budget may be more concerned with affordability, sticking to plans that provide just the necessities. However, a senior employee seeking an executive-level role will more likely seek higher-tier premium packages that offer far more than a well-written resume. Good value for money here will include high-caliber coaching, extensive interview preparation, and ensuring their resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn profile are all flawless.

It is a good idea to aim for the best quality service you can afford, instead of prioritizing services strictly by which ones cost the least.

Combines AI with human expertise: While some services think of AI as something that could usurp their customer base, it has the strong potential to be a reliable resume-writing tool when combined with an organization’s pre-existing expertise and skill. Says Johnston, “AI can shorten the writing time, which, as a result, should decrease the cost of service.” As such, she says it makes sense for more price-conscious consumers to opt for a company that leverages AI.

Still, when it comes to AI, there should be a balance. For instance, some websites rely entirely on artificial intelligence or automation to construct a resume. You would input all the relevant information and generate a document. While that may be fast and convenient, there’s always the risk that you get left with something generic that doesn’t highlight your unique qualities as an employee or contractor. By working with a resume writing service, you are more likely to be paired with an expert who will showcase your best qualities.

Turnaround time: The turnaround period refers to how long it typically takes a service to receive your questionnaire, existing resume, or instructions and then return a first draft. The average time among top-tier resume writing services is typically 7 to 10 business days; some brands will skew slightly faster or slower depending on their experience, the type of resume work requested, or their workload. In some cases, especially if you only need a critique or a single-page resume, you might come across a service offering a window of one or two days.

Please note that turnaround time isn’t strictly about how fast you can get a draft back; it also demonstrates how thorough a service is with your case. When considering a resume writing business, you should know how long it should take to get back a first draft and how long it should take to complete any necessary revisions. If you are in a hurry, check to see if the resume writing service will expedite the process, but be prepared to pay an extra fee in exchange for getting your documents back within a notably shorter window.

Customization and personal approach: There are resume writing services that use the same formatting and font for virtually every resume they create, which could be an issue if your goal is to stand out. Having a resume that is visually forgettable and features the same jargon and keywords as everyone else’s will ultimately work against your chances of getting selected for a role.

To avoid falling behind, you should seek out a resume writing service that provides custom resumes and takes a personal yet professional approach to formulating your documents. For example, Johnston shared that she and her team spend an average of 15 hours on each executive resume. “The whole goal of a resume is to demonstrate to the reader that you, as the candidate, are the solution to their pain points.” Johnston notes that jobseekers have a habit of trying to tell a “kitchen sink” story with their resumes, throwing in everything without much regard to how naturally items fit. As Johnston puts it, “[Resume writers] help refine their messaging, so it resonates with their target audience.”

How We Chose the Best Resume Writing Services

At U.S. News 360 Reviews, our writers and editors combined consultations with industry experts, including a former recruiter and executive-level resume writer, with in-depth research to curate a list of high-quality resume writing services. We formulated a methodology based on the most relevant features that jobseekers often look to when deciding on a reliable resume writing service.

We considered affordability and value for the money, turnaround time, customization, and even what services are best according to where one finds oneself in their career path. With these features in mind, we narrowed our list down according to the resume writing services we felt best fit each category and so are most suited to your specific needs.

WHY SHOULD YOU TRUST US?

Our contributors and editors each have years of experience with product research and testing and are often directly knowledgeable of the topics they write for us. For instance, Toni Matthews-El, the writer of this article, has years of experience drafting resumes and cover letters. She not only wrote and critiqued resumes for numerous clients, but she also earned a professional branding certification through Randstad RiseSmart.

Even if writing your own resume or using an AI-based generator saves money, there’s a good chance there are crucial qualities you may fail to include because you don’t think of them as essential or feel awkward promoting your achievements. As Johnston notes, “The majority of people are quite terrible at tooting their own horn. It truly helps to have an external party unearth your story. “

A high-quality resume writing service is staffed by professionals who’ve spent years polishing professional careers to achieve the highest luster so your resume shines when placed in front of a hiring manager. And as competition for roles tightens, it will take more than the right keywords to impress. Many top resume writing services also provide interview preparation and one-on-one coaching.

Finding an affordable resume writing service that provides a low-cost first draft and at least one rewrite is very easy. While it is tempting to go the free route to save money whenever possible, premium resumes and cover letters help you put your best foot forward in the job market.

If you are worried about not getting the best value for the money, check confirmed reviews of past customers. You should also ensure the service has a money-back guarantee, draft rewrites, and is willing to provide refunds to unhappy customers.

Whether resume writing services help with cover letters usually depends on your purchase package. In researching this article, the author found that some services had plans that only created or updated resumes and other upgraded packages that handled both. Some services bundled resumes and cover letters, while others offered the items separately. Because many companies often request a cover letter with a resume, it is generally a good idea to combine both items when possible.

If you opt for freeware or a resume generator, then there is a good chance your resume is the result of automation or AI rather than an actual person’s work. If you work with a reputable writing service, then there is almost always at least one confirmed human behind the process, especially if the writer or coach emails you directly to begin putting the resume together.

It is important to note that top-tier resume services are increasingly using AI as part of the writing process, which isn’t something to automatically be afraid of. “If you are a price-conscious consumer,” says Johnston. “It might make sense for you to use a company that leverages AI. AI can shorten the writing time, which as a result, should decrease the cost of service.”

Johnston recommends seeking resume writing services that are transparent regarding how much AI figures into the overall process. “My company does not use AI for our document creation. I have concerns over data privacy and limited control over content. “

If you don’t like the resume the service writes for you, make a note of everything you have an issue with. Are there numerous spelling and grammatical errors? Highlight them and ask that they be corrected.

If it is a matter of incomplete or incorrect professional information, or dissatisfaction with the formatting, make detailed notes and ask if the writer can make changes so that the final product will be in line with your preferences. It is important to be aware of how many rewrites you are entitled to and to ensure that you make every desired change with the allotted drafts; a final version may not be entitled to the rewrites you desire.

If the problems involve poor spelling and grammar, you might be entitled to a refund or extra rewrite for an otherwise final draft. It is best to check the resume writing service’s FAQs or terms of service to know exactly what you are entitled to. If it is a matter of preference, there is a chance that refunds aren’t available. If that’s the case, your best recourse is to note everything you didn’t like in the first draft and work carefully with the writer to get it to align with your preferred version.

About Our Team

Toni Matthews-El

Contributor

Lauren Swift

U.S. News 360 Reviews takes an unbiased approach to our recommendations. When you use our links to buy products, we may earn a commission but that in no way affects our editorial independence.

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Article updated on May 10, 2024 at 5:00 PM PDT

Best Resume Writing Services for 2024

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Even you've written a resume before, the job market is always changing and it can be hard to keep up with. Having a fresh resume ready when you aren't searching can make a huge difference if you need it in a pinch. New formats, new terms and making sure your experience is not only up to date but relevant to the job you're applying for can be stressful. Take the pressure off with the best resume writing services.

Some of what you'll need to include in your resume will depend on the industry you want to work in. While it can vary, employers will likely look at your education, work history and skills. We’ve combed through dozens of resume services looking at the most helpful features across a variety of needs. We looked especially closely at the number of custom templates, the amount of guidance the service offered, the ease of navigation and the robustness of the service's privacy policy. Each of these templates and professional writing services will help you create a complete resume that best reflects your skills and experience at an affordable price.

What’s the best resume builder website?

The best resume template and builder should give you a variety of options to customize your resume. Resume.com has many options and customization features that make it a useful tool for almost any candidate applying to any job. You can upload and edit an existing resume, customize an available template from its collection or let the service guide you through creating one from scratch. Resume.com also offers helpful guidance throughout your resume creation process, making sure you include and optimize all your content. Once you’re happy with your resume, you can download it for free in multiple formats.

Depending on where you’re at in the job application process, you might need more guidance than a template. These professional writing services will pair you with experienced writers and coaches to help you craft and perfect resumes, LinkedIn profiles, cover letters and more. These services include more personalized coaching and features, but they tend to be more expensive. We’ve collected a range of options for your budget and needs. Because your resume likely includes your contact information and some personal information, we've also included information about each service's privacy policy.

Best resume templates and builders of 2024

A well-constructed resume can help you stand out during a job search.

• Can create new resume or customize templates
• Many free features, guidance while writing
• Integrated with Indeed job search site
• Difficulty unsubscribing from paid services

Best free resume builder

Resume.com is a free resume writer offering dozens of templates for creating your resume or cover letter, as well as job boards and career advice. You have the option to upload and edit an existing resume, create a new one, or customize one of the sample resumes offered on the site. It's intuitive and easy to use, and it creates a professional-looking final product.

When starting from scratch, you'll go section by section, entering your education, employment history, hobbies and interests, professional skills, languages and references. Resume.com provides question prompts and tips for guidance, as well as career-specific examples you can add if you're struggling to find the right words. You can also choose to forgo any of these sections, rearrange sections and add custom ones depending on what you need. As you update and save each section, you can see how it will appear on the page on your resume preview to the right. You can also change the template, font style and size, or spacing at any time and see it update in real-time in the preview. 

Once you're done, you can download your new resume (in PDF, DocX, RTF or TXT format), create a custom URL or print it out. You also have the option to upload it to Indeed, a job search site that partners with Resume.com . The account you make will work with both Indeed and Resume.com . On the privacy side, the site does collect user information. If you want to delete your account, simply click your profile icon and then Account . Clicking Close My Account deletes your account and your data. If you didn't make an account, you can still choose Delete Guest Data . You can also request your data, and the company will send you an email with what it has collected. 

On the review site Trustpilot , Resume.com only has 38 reviews, but of those, 53% of them awarded the site four or five stars. Some negative reviews speak of difficulty unsubscribing from paid services, so read carefully as you use the free aspects of this service . 

• Guided help writing work experience descriptions
• Cover letter and CV help
• Easy to change layout and color styles
• Must pay to download resume

Best option for your first resume

Resume genius.

The website Resume Genius says you can "make a professional resume in 12 minutes." We tested it out and indeed had a solid first draft of an easy resume completed in about 10 minutes. Resume Genius takes you step-by-step through the process, prompting you with questions about your education and work experience to help you fill out the applicable sections. Resume Genius is particularly helpful because you can search for a job and see prewritten text for the description that you can add or edit. When finished, you can easily toggle between different templates to see what looks best for the final product. You also have the option to directly share your resume with Indeed or Resume Library. 

The site can also help you build cover letters and curriculum vitae. After you input all your information, you can choose different layout styles and colors. It's easy to move through, but you have to do it in order and fill in all the information before continuing. Resume Genius also offers examples of resumes, CVs and cover letters for specific jobs, as well as recommended jobs near you. You can download the resume you create for $3 (which starts a 14-day trial for Resume Genius Pro), or $8 (which kicks off a monthly subscription plan). If you fail to cancel your trial before the 14 days are up, you'll be billed $24 every four weeks, according to the site. 

On Trustpilot at the time of this publication, the site has 4.6 out of 5 stars based on more than 38,000 reviews. Note that if you register on the site, Resume Genius does collect personally identifiable information and may share it with third parties for advertising and other purposes, according to its privacy policy. The account deletion process is buried in the Terms of Service . According to Resume Genius, complete data erasure can take up to 30 days, but they may retain "certain information in accordance with privacy laws."

• Easy to customize
• Free downloads
• Optional paid extra assistance with Indeed professionals
• Unclear how to delete personal information

Easiest resume builder to use

Indeed resume builder.

It's free to create a resume or post your current resume on Indeed. If you're building a new one, you can choose between eight templates. The resume sections are highlighted and when you click, each section expands specific text fields. You can swap templates at any time without losing your work, as well. There are also options for toggling sections on and off, in addition to rearranging them. When you're finished, you can download a free PDF of your work history.

Indeed Resume Builder also offers optional professional advice for your new resume. After you download the resume you created, you'll get a prompt and can click Get Resume Help From a Real Person. Fill out a short questionnaire about what type of help you want and upload your resume (it's OK if you haven't built one). This service usually costs $89 unless you've applied to at least 10 jobs using your Indeed resume. According to Indeed, if you haven't received an interview request within 60 days of receiving your new resume, you can request a one-time rewrite. 

For $19, you can take a quiz and get feedback from a professional to get you started. You can also use Indeed's automated instant report system for free. The system returns quick tips to improve your resume. 

Indeed's privacy policy says that it does collect and share user data with third-party providers to connect job seekers with employers and improve services. According to Indeed's privacy policy, you can request an account or personal data deletion and request that your data not be shared while your account is active. CNET reached out to Indeed for more information and we'll update when we hear back.

• Guides resume creation
• Free resume downloads
• Paid tier offers interview advice and cover letter builder
• Have to pay for additional downloads

Most affordable paid resume builder

Cv engineer.

CV Engineer is an easy-to-use smartphone app that creates a professional-looking resume. With 16 templates to choose from, you can tap to enter information into all of the usual sections and add custom ones. When you tap on each section, you can tap through the bottom toolbar to get advice on what type of information to add, as well as view resume examples to show you how the section could look. 

CV Engineer lets you send or download your first completed resume for free, but upgrading to CV Engineer Pro for a one-time payment of $6 gives you access to unlimited downloads. A Scan My CV feature is also included, which can detect common mistakes and suggest improvements, such as places where you can add more information. The Pro version also offers interview advice and a cover letter builder. 

You can download CV Engineer from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store . CV Engineer does collect personal information and can share it with Google Play Services and Firebase Analytics, according to its privacy policy. The app is free to download and ad-free.

• Strong privacy policy
• Example resumes available
• Only one layout available
• Little guidance during creation

Best free iOS resume builder

Resume star 2: pro cv designer.

Resume Star 2 isn't the most visually stunning resume design app for iOS, but it gets the job done. To use, tap each section of the resume, fill in your information and it will fill in a traditional template (you only get one layout). The app offers some example resumes you can start with and edit as needed, including job-specific ones for a: cashier, dental hygienist, receptionist, waitress, mechanic and senior manager.

You can add or delete any sections you like without needing to hit save every time you add information, and you can see your resume update as you go. The autosave feature makes it easy to toggle quickly between the different sections as well. At the end, you'll have a basic resume ready to go. The app's interface doesn't offer as much guidance about how to write your resume or what types of information to include. If you need extra help, tap the information icon in the bottom left and choose the Resume Writing Guide. This will open up a crash course on resume writing in your mobile browser. It also includes a job search feature. 

The app collects payment via donations after you use the service -- you don’t have to pay if you don’t want to. The app connects to iCloud, and you can export your resume as a PDF to any location on your device(s). If you are happy with the service, you can choose the $6 "helped a bit" tier, a standard donation of $10, or the "really helped me" tier for $25. 

Resume Star 2 has a 4.8 out of 5 rating, and more than 1,800 ratings in the App Store . The first version, Resume Star: Pro CV Maker, which is the same except for the iCloud connection, had a 4.9-star rating and more than 16,000 reviews. The site does not collect personally identifiable information without user consent, which seems to make it one of the more secure options available.

• 42 templates to choose from
• Easily customizable
• Little to no guidance during creation

Best free Android resume writing service

Intelligentcv resume builder app.

Intelligent CV's Resume Builder App offers 42 resume templates and allows you to change font colors. Each resume section appears on a list, and you can move through sections in whichever order you choose, save and go on to another. You also have the option to add, delete or rearrange sections such as education, experience and skills. There’s a Help icon in each section for a little bit of extra guidance. Once you're finished, you can download your document for free as a PDF, which you can then save on your device or send via email or text. 

On the downside, the app is ad-supported and ads for other resume creators do pop up, which can get confusing. The app also offers less guidance than some of the other services, which means it's not a great option if you're new to resumes.

Resume Builder App has one of the strongest privacy policies of the bunch. The app does not collect personally identifiable information , though third-party services (including Google Play services and analytics firms) may collect information. The app has 4.6 out of 5 stars and more than 424,000 Google Play Store ratings and is free to download.

• Easy-to-use interface
• Inclusive premium package

Best range of professional tools

VisualCV has an easy-to-use interface that lets you build your resume in the way that works best for you. After signing up, you can upload an existing resume, begin with a prewritten sample or start entirely from scratch. You can use the basic editor to input information in a list form, the visual editor to edit directly on the resume and preview mode to see changes made on either version in real time. Revision history is also available. 

The free basic edition allows you to select from over a dozen professional templates to create, edit and download one resume as a PDF. You can also create one free cover letter and apply to jobs through its job search feature.

To download or share additional resumes, you’ll need to buy VisualCV Pro for $15 a month quarterly or $24 a month monthly. Upgrading unlocks more templates, unlimited creations, downloading, career tracking and the ability to build a personal resume website. The website URL goes through VisualCV but can be shared online. 

In terms of privacy, VisualCV's policy says that it does not sell, trade, rent or license personal information to third parties. As of publication, VisualCV has 4 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot but only 131 reviews.

Best professional resume writing services of 2024

Depending on where you’re at in the job application process, you might need more guidance than a template. These professional writing services will pair you with experienced writers and coaches to help you craft and perfect resumes, LinkedIn profiles, cover letters and more. 

As these services include more personalized coaching and features, they tend to be more expensive. We’ve collected a range of options depending on your budget and needs. Best professional resume writing services of 2024.

• Resume writing and career coaching
• Builds your resume from the ground up
• Quick turnaround
• More expensive options

A premium option for a tailored resume

Resumespice.

Suppose you're totally lost and are willing to invest several hundred dollars into your job search. In that case, ResumeSpice is a resume writing and career coach service created by recruiters that connects you with a "resume expert" to build your CV from scratch. 

Once you choose, you'll fill out a short questionnaire and schedule a phone consultation with a resume expert to discuss your experience, job search and career goals. The expert will take that information and turn around a personalized resume draft within two business days. You can review the draft and request any changes, and you'll get the final version in PDF and Word formats. 

An entry-level resume costs $479, a professional resume costs $589 and an executive resume costs $699. In addition to these packages, you can also add a cover letter, LinkedIn profile, interview coaching or other services to help you be more competitive in the job market.

• 60 day interview guarantee
• Industry-specific advice
• Variety of packages
• Limited non-resume add-ons

A 60-day interview guarantee

Resumewriters.com.

ResumeWriters.com offers a guarantee: If you don't get a job interview with a potential employer within two months of getting your new resume, they'll rewrite it for free. The service claims that in the 20 years and tens of thousands of resumes completed under this guarantee, it averages fewer than five requests for rewrites per year. 

To use the resume writing service, submit your current resume or career information on the site, and an experienced resume writer will contact you to assess your materials and plan out what you need. You'll get a first draft back within 72 hours and can work with the writer on revisions until you're satisfied with the result. 

ResumeWriters offers student, professional, executive and career-change resume services, as well as CV services for those conducting their job search in fields specific to the military, IT and research. The resume services cost $170 for students and $200 for the professional level, with a cover letter, one-on-one consultation and LinkedIn profile. The career change level ($250) is a comprehensive package that includes everything plus a post-interview follow-up letter, and the highest tier is the executive package that guarantees applicants its most experienced writers for $300.

• ATS screening
• Unlimited revisions
• Longer turnaround time (3-7 business days)

A fast pass through HR screening software

Zipjob’s professional resume writers optimize your resume to get through the applicant tracking system (ATS) software used by the majority of employers to automatically scan and sort resumes. An expert writes your resume and scans it through the ATS to ensure it will make it through to the hiring manager's desk. 

To use the service, upload your resume or fill out a form to start from scratch. You'll be matched with a professional resume writer who will work with you to improve it and will then scan the final product to make sure it passes through the screening algorithms. Depending on which package you choose, your resume will be ready in three to seven days. 

You can choose from three packages: Launch (resume writing and unlimited revisions for $139), Fast Track (adds a cover letter and a 60-day interview guarantee for $189) or Premium (adds a top resume writer, LinkedIn profile optimization, future resume updates and expedited delivery for $299).

• Career coaching
• Industry-specific feedback
• Ability to customize packages
• Longer turnaround time (3-5 business days)

An executive resume solution

Find my profession.

Find My Profession offers professional resume writing services as well as career coaching. Every resume gets reviewed by two different consultants. 

You'll find packages that include entry-level, professional, C-level and executive resume writer services, as well as federal. In each, you can choose a base, premium or VIP package depending on your needs. For example, the professional resume package starts at $595 for a resume compatible with automated systems. You can also add help with a cover letter for an additional $119 or a LinkedIn profile for $399. 

You'll get the first draft of your resume within three to five business days after you consult with a writer. Or, upgrade to a priority service for another $149 to get it within 48 hours.

How we tested resume sites and services

When we evaluated the different resume templates and builders, we looked at how each site or app allowed you to create new resumes, browse templates or upload and edit existing resumes. We also looked at how easy or hard it would be to customize different templates and sections, how much guidance was available, how user-friendly it was to navigate, plus reading and understanding each company’s privacy policies.

Some of our picks are free, some enlist the help of professional writers and some require a subscription or one-time payment. When it comes to premium or paid services, we evaluated how inclusive its packages were compared to basic or free versions. In many cases for the professional writing services, these paid tiers included more guidance and additional job search support like a cover letter and LinkedIn editing, suggested jobs to apply to and interview coaching.

Factors to consider when choosing a resume writing service

This was a key factor when compiling this list. Whether you’re looking for a free service to boost your current resume or interested in professional editing services, there’s something for everyone’s price range.

Ease of use

When looking at each website, we looked at how easy it was to navigate, browse templates and add, edit or remove different sections. We also considered whether you can download and share your resume for free and in what format.

Customization options

Customization options were essential, as everyone’s resume is going to look different. Having easy user control over your resume helps you create a resume that meets your industry’s standards and showcases your professional experiences.

Privacy policies

Privacy policies were the final important factor to consider, as many of these are websites and apps that can collect and store your personal information. All of the services and websites included on this list have decent privacy settings, and we noted which ones have exceptionally clear use cases and account deletion policies.

Resume writing FAQs

What is a resume builder.

A resume builder is a company that has a website or app that helps you create and customize your resume. You can use pre-existing templates or create your own from scratch.

What is a resume writing service?

A resume writing service is a company that pairs you with a coach or writer to work with you to create, perfect and tailor your resume, cover letters and other job application materials. These tend to be more inclusive packages and therefore more expensive than simple resume template websites.

What is the best resume format to use?

The best format for your resume is going to depend on the job you are applying to, along with your work experience. Resume templates can help you format and include all the necessary information like your education, work experience, skills and contact information.

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3 out of 4 resumes never get seen.

Employers receive hundreds of applications and most get filtered out. Upload your resume to get through the filters.

Drag and drop resume file or click to upload

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TopResume opens more doors for you.

With our resume writing services, you’ll get:

One-on-one support from a professional writer.

A personalized, modern resume that tells your career story.

ATS keyword optimization to seamlessly filter through Applicant Tracking Systems.

View Packages

How it works

1. Tell us about yourself

Complete a quick 5 minute questionnaire to prepare your future writer.

2. Meet your match

We’ll match you with the writer best suited to work with your industry and experience.

3. Review first draft

Have notes on the first draft? Send them to your writer to edit and update.

4. Receive your resume

Download your final draft and get ready for a renewed job search.

Trusted by professionals from

Reviewed by the community. trusted by professionals..

based on 13,221 reviews on

based on 13,221 reviews

Resume updating and rewriting

The update and rewrite of my resume was well done. They listened to my input and organized it around my interest and to the interest of my preferred market. I also used the service to update my linkedIn profile to ensure consistency.

Danita was excellent

Danita was excellent. My Cover Letter, Resume, and Thank You Letter were well done. My LinkedIn makeover was incredible.

From Doer to Achiever

My writer turned my resume from sounding/looking like a desperate person hoping to land a job to a mature professional with valuable contributions to offer. I chose the resume+Linkedin option and am blown away by my "online makeover." Far and above all my expectations

Muoki Musau

I got hired shortly after my resume was created

I got hired shortly after my resume was completed. I feel like having the professional level of resume and cover letter that my Top Resume writer created gave me a little boost of confidence that I needed.

My resume writer took the time to…

My resume writer took the time to gather my work experience and explained the approach to writing a descriptive resume. The video clip allowed me to understand how to effectively update my resume using the same approach and therefore gain confidence in showcasing my qualifications, work experience, and skills sets.

Thanks Sam at TopResume!

After working with TopResume, my documents were ready to share with all the professional outlets. TopResume was responsive, professional, knowledgeable, and friendly. I didn’t realize my professional documents needed so much work. I would recommend to anyone whether actively looking for a job or just keeping options open. Thanks TopResume for pairing me up with Sam!

George did an excellent job making my…

George did an excellent job making my resume look as good as I do! I may have spent a long number of years working, but I do not have any confidence, especially as I am looking to change the direction of my career. Thank you for helping me out with this as it was very difficult for me to do on my own!

I am very pleased with the final…

I am very pleased with the final product "Abe M." developed. The improved resume helped me get past the first round of screening with several employers; I also received unsolicited recruiter inquiries, which I had not received before. The best part of my new resume is that it used my original skills, key achievements, and experience, but the wording was more concise, lively, and highlighted my strengths much better than I had done on my own.

Faster than expected, interviewing for 3 positions already.

The process was much faster than I'd expected. Jessika was diligent in returning my messages quickly so we could finish as soon as possible in order to start sending the resume out. I was very pleased with the aesthetics improvement as well as the general cleaning up of my resume.

Detailed and good

They provided me many useful information, from how a big company sorting through thousand of CV and pick the most suitable to why my CV short sell me. Before, I’ve failed many application, more than half never passed the CV round. Now, just understand why, I’ve could already adjusted my CV accordingly to appear better in the employer.

I took the feedback I got from the free…

I took the feedback I got from the free assessment and revised my resume. I did not end up using the survive further though. The feedback was the nicest and most constructive way of telling me my resume is terrible both aesthetically and at selling me. They gave examples and details that helped me redo it and now I am getting more calls after sending applications.

Our career expert is here for you!

TopResume’s in-house career specialist, Amanda Augustine, is here to help you get hired faster and move ahead in your career. A well-recognized expert and speaker in career advancement, Amanda’s advice can help you with everything from developing your professional brand to acing the next interview.

Why You Shouldn't Rely on AI to Write Your Resume

Before you rely on a resume prompt to create your resume, make sure you understand the reasons you shouldn't!   Read more

What is an ATS?

Many job seekers don't realize that 75 percent of job applications are rejected by applicant tracking systems before they are seen by human eyes. Here is everything you need to know about applicant tracking systems and how to beat them.  Read more

Busting Myths: What You Get From a Free Resume Critique

A free resume critique online provides the foundational, expert opinion that knows your industry, knows hiring managers' needs, and knows how to make your resume the best it can be.  Read more

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10 Best Resume Writing Services for 2024

22 min read

Every month, there are over 5,000 searches for phrases like "best resume writing service."

You’ll find results for local and national options, as well as professional resume writers in different industries.

While browsing the listings, you’ll notice hundreds of companies and freelancers offering resume writing services that appear to be quite shady. Since your resume can get your foot in the door and help you land the right job, it’s important to select a quality service that gets you results.

To help take the guesswork out of choosing the right resume service for you, our team of career experts researched more than 200 resume services for job seekers in the US and Canada. This post discusses our top picks, as well as an overview of each resume service.

At the end of this post, we have some valuable advice about how to tell if other service reviews are legitimate.

Top resume writing services

CareerPerfect

Capstone Resume Services

iHireFinance

ResumeSpice

Before you buy: how to find legitimate service reviews

This list does not include any affiliate links or paid placements.

Should you use a local or national service?

While searching for resume services, you will find both national and local results. The only time you would choose to use a local service is when you are meeting the writer face to face.

The majority of local services will work with you virtually (not in person) so you may be better off hiring a national company that has access to a wide network of writers and an  ATS resume test  built into the process.

We found that the average cost of a quality resume is around $157 . This number doesn't reflect add-on offers like LinkedIn profiles, career advice, or cover letter services.

Pricing : $139 – $299

Turnaround : 3 to 7 days

Writers : 100+ professional resume writers with backgrounds in HR, Fortune 500 recruiting, career coaching, job placement, and professional writing.

Industries : 65+ industries including Business, Finance, IT, Healthcare, Sales, Marketing, and more.

View Services

You didn't think we were going to put a different service here, did you? Yes, our team may be biased...but we also live and breathe resume writing, so we know why our service is top-notch.

ZipJob uses a tech-informed, expert-designed protocol to create resumes that appeal to hiring managers and Applicant Tracking Systems : the same technology used by more than 90% of employers to screen and parse resumes.

ZipJob’s resume writing services are designed for companies hiring in the USA and Canada, which is where all of the writers are located. Most companies use applicant tracking systems to manage and sort through job applicants. A single job post averages 250 applicants, so the ATS helps employers keep track of those applications.

However, the ATS has another important job: filtering out the resumes that don’t meet the pre-set requirements. On average, applicant tracking systems filter out 75% of the resumes submitted. Here are the most common reasons applicants get rejected automatically:

Improper resume formatting

Incorrect use of keywords

So if the ATS can mistakenly reject otherwise qualified candidates, what does that mean for you? That's exactly what ZipJob is here to help with.

Resume writers experienced in resume keyword optimization add an extra step at the end of the process to ensure your new resume will be parsed correctly by an ATS scan.

Pros of using ZipJob

Professional writers  — ZipJob only hires professional resume writers with experience and ATS training.

60-Day interview guarantee — ZipJob guarantees that you’ll get at least 200% as many interviews or we will rewrite your resume for free.

ATS technology —  ZipJob uses the same ATS technology employers use to help ensure every resume gets through to a hiring manager.

Direct communication  — One of the few services that allow you direct, unlimited access to your personal resume writer until your project is complete.

Reputation  — ZipJob’s reputation speaks for itself. ZipJob has been featured in  Forbes ,  Reader’s Digest ,  Marketwatch ,  Glassdoor ,  The Muse , and other big-name media outlets. ZipJob is accredited by the Better Business Bureau. In addition, ZipJob has earned more than  800 five-star reviews and 10,000+ happy clients.

A ZipJob review

"I spent a lot of time researching resume writing services. That was quite a feat and stressful with everything out there. I finally decided on ZipJob...After several revisions we hit on a resume that appears to be working. Prior to my latest revision I had sent out close to hundred resumes and had one interview. I've put out about another 40, and I've had movement in making it past the ATS system to pretesting with 2 jobs and an initial interview with another job. Considering this is the holidays and we're in a pandemic I'm heartened by the response. Thank you ZipJob and Julie!" -Floyd, verified ZipJob customer

Note: this review was edited slightly for length and clarity.

How ZipJob works

Upload your resume and answer a few questions. If you don't have a current resume, these questions will help your writer get started on your new resume from scratch.

Get matched with a resume expert in your field who will overhaul your resume. Each project focuses on ATS-friendly formatting, keyword optimization, and value-focused language.

Collaborate directly with your writer through multiple revisions until you're satisfied with your resume. 

Approve a final draft. This will trigger the last step in ZipJob's resume writing process: the ATS resume test . Your new resume will go through our in-house system to ensure that your resume will pass through recruitment software used by more than 90% of employers.

Start using your new resume and watch your interview requests triple!

You can contact ZipJob by phone at (888) 944-9929 or via live chat from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET. You can also email customer service any time at  [email protected] .

2. LinkedIn

Pricing : $250 – $700+

Turnaround : 3 to 14 days

Writers : 100+

Industries : All industries including Finance, IT, Healthcare, Marketing and more.

Most people use LinkedIn to search for jobs and career-related information. However, many are unaware that it offers a “service marketplace” called LinkedIn Services (formerly LinkedIn ProFinder) for interviewing, career coaching, and resume writing.

Technically, yes, this is a platform and not a resume writing service. However, we are rating this option highly because LinkedIn takes steps to ensure its pros are legit. For example, each professional submits an online application that must be approved by LinkedIn, and past client reviews are readily available for anyone considering a certain resume writer.

Pros of using LinkedIn

Time efficient  — Receive proposals quickly from your potential resume writer.

Person to person  — Pick from a number of resume critique and expert review professionals whom you want to work with, based on their LinkedIn profiles and other information they provide.

Cost effective  — Since these are resume critique and expert review freelancers, the prices may be more competitive than a company. Still expect to pay $150+ for a quality resume, but know that your money is going directly to your writer.

Local options  — You can opt for local-only professionals, making this a great option if you feel strongly about meeting with your resume writer in person.

Speaking of LinkedIn, do you know  how to include your LinkedIn URL on a resume ? Most employers will look you up on LinkedIn before interviewing you anyway, so it's common to include a link to your profile in your resume's contact section.

Working with LinkedIn

Answer a couple of questions about the services you’re looking for.

Within 24 hours (and likely much sooner), get up to 5 proposals from professionals on LinkedIn’s list. Each proposal will include a price quote.

Research and select your resume writer. Every writer will have a different system to process from there.

LinkedIn helps you find freelance resume writers, but doesn’t have a company-wide standard for resume writing. Instead, you should look into multiple freelancers based on their proposals and pick the resume style you like best as not all freelancers are created equal.

If you need any help, LinkedIn offers a concierge team, which is essentially tech support and customer service for hiring a pro. You can use live chat or a contact form to reach out.

3. TopResume

Pricing : $149 – $349

Turnaround : 7 to 14 days

Writers : 1,500+ professional writers including certified career coaches, recruiters, and experienced hiring professionals.

Industries : All industries including Military transition, Academic, and Federal resumes.

This list would not be complete without TopResume. TopResume is technically one of our direct competitors, but any list of the best resume writing services would be incomplete (and misleading) if we omitted them. Their writers do great work--as evidenced by their Trustpilot reviews --and the company does belong on this list.

One of the most common questions is if TopResume is legit. The answer, from our professional perspective, is that they are legit. Look at real reviews on unbiased review sites and check out our tips later in this article on how to spot a resume writing service scam.

TopResume’s website includes many compelling statistics about working with a professional resume writer. According to its research, a professionally written resume makes you:

38% more likely to be contacted by recruiters 

31% more likely to land an interview

40% more likely to land a job

Pros for TopResume

Large, well-established company  — TopResume was founded in 2014 by Jeff Berger and has a network of 1,500+ resume writers across the country as well as an international network through their sister brand, TopCV , specializing in professional CV rewrites.

History of success  — According to its website, TopResume has helped 600,000+ professionals “land more interviews and get hired faster.” You can check out some of their success stories here .

Positive reviews  — Given how big it is, TopResume has had the opportunity to help thousands of people. It has more than 7,000 five star reviews on Trustpilot .

TopResume review

"Fantastic service that gave 100% to get my resume in a professionally formatted, scan friendly format / content - saw great increase in activity from headhunters and recruiters post TopResume’s assistance. My professional writer was intelligent, understood my personal situation and desired objectives - and delivered the goods!" -Joseph, TopResume customer

Working with TopResume

Upload your resume and get matched with an expert writer from its vast network.

Collaborate one-on-one with your writer via TopResume’s dashboard to revise your resume.

Receive a resume tailored to your goals.

TopResume guarantees that you’ll receive two times more job interviews or they’ll rewrite your resume again one time, free-of-charge.

There is also the option to add on a phone call for an additional fee--otherwise, your communication happens online. If you need to contact the company, you can email them at  [email protected]  or call 800-604-1929 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET on weekdays. There is also have a live chat option from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday.

4. The Muse

Pricing : $119 – $1,699

Turnaround : 4 to 7 days

Writers : 80+

Industries : All industries including HR/recruiting, fitness/health, and fashion.

The Muse offers a different model to provide resume help. Instead of a text-based collaboration, The Muse has a resume review coaching service that includes a resume update. Depending on the coaching service you purchase, you get 30, 45, or 60 minutes for a video call or phone call with your career coach.

Pros of using The Muse

Highly interpersonal  — If you are looking for a conversation about your resume, this coaching service is a great option.

Lots of options  — The Muse has a wide network of experts in a range of fields. Mentors, coaches, and master coaches are vetted and backed by The Muse.

Working with The Muse:

Choose a service such as “Resume Review” coaching, “Resume and LinkedIn Review” coaching, or the “Ultimate Job Search” Kit.

Book a coach, based on filters like your industry and years of experience.

Schedule your coaching call. Your coach will contact you within one business day of your booking.

After your coaching session, you will get an updated version of your resume that is designed to be “eye-catching” and “ATS-beating.” Depending on your service, you may get one, two, or unlimited rounds of edits within a two week time period.

This is a highly personalized service, so you need to do your research before picking a coach. If you have any problems with your service, you can contact the company at  [email protected]

Pricing : $129 – $349

Turnaround : 2 to 5 days

Writers : 50+

Industries : All industries including Finance, IT, Healthcare, Marketing, and more.

Although Monster is primarily a job board, it also offers resume writing services. Like many of these resume companies, there are tiers of services with additional add-ons for cover letters and LinkedIn profiles.

Monster stands out as a recruiter-focused resume writing service. Based on their decades of job searches and working with recruiters to source talent, their resumes are easy for recruiters to filter and scan.

Pros of using Monster

Established  — Monster has been around for 20+ years and has earned a positive name recognition.

60-day guarantee  — If you aren’t completely satisfied with your resume or other products, you can get it rewritten for free.

Additional services  — Monster has a job board so you can take your new resume and upload it quickly to apply for jobs.

International reach  — Monster provides services for the US and Canada as well as the UK, France, Germany, and The Netherlands

A review of Monster

"I had the pleasure of using Monster to update my resume and cover letter. They asked relevant questions, formulated a concise and thoughtful resume and cover letter that played to my strengths and goals. The thing most worth noting was that I felt like a person in my industry wrote my resume - as she was able to extrapolate all the necessary verbiage as it specifically related to my experience and field. It was a very positive experience - one that landed me my first interview within my field that will take me in the direction that I was hoping to pivot into."

-Joann, verified Monster customer

How it works

Upload your resume and answer additional questions via a brief questionnaire.

Get a resume draft with additional keyword opportunities.

Provide feedback for up to one revision.

Monster resume writing services have limited revisions: only one draft and one revision. The modes of communication with your writer is also limited to text-based messages through email. They don’t offer phone services.

If you’re having trouble communicating with your writer, you can email  [email protected]  or call Monster at (978) 461-8000 . Its website also has a live chat function that can connect you with a real person within a few minutes.

6. CareerPerfect

Pricing : $179.95 – $499.95

Turnaround : 4 to 5 days

Writers : 5+

Industries : All, including Federal, Executive, and Entry-Level

CareerPerfect is an online resume writing service with additional cover letter, interview, job search, and career planning services. It offers resume writing services in four categories: student and entry-level, professional and mid-career, executive, and federal and military. Since CareerPerfect’s start over 30 years ago, it has helped plenty of job seekers with both advice and career services.

Pros of CareerPerfect

Global presence — Specializing in US employers, CareerPerfect has a global reach and partners with several high-profile career websites internationally.

Online career services pioneer  — CareerPerfect started offering career service online in 1996 and has been leading online career services ever since.

Editing service  — In addition to CareerPerfect’s resume writing services, you can also opt for a resume editing service from a professional.

Working with CareerPerfect

Place your order using several payment options including PayPal and most major credit cards.

Provide information by uploading your previously prepared materials or CareerPerfect’s SkillNet tool to identify additional accomplishments and strengths.

Develop your document with the help of a professional resume writer.

Have a keyword-rich personal marketing document in 4 to 5 business days.

CareerPerfect advertises that its team is made up of only US-based writers with four-year college degrees, and collectively have expertise in over 90 industries. The company is a member of the Career Management Alliance as well as the National Employment Counseling Association.

For resume writing inquiries, you can call  1-877-844-5724  between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. ET. You can also email the support team or your resume writer from within your account after logging in.

7. Capstone Resume Services

Pricing : $149 – $299

Turnaround : 5 to 7 days

Industries : All industries, including Professional, Academic, and Federal.

Capstone Resumes offer a variety of specialized resume services, such as Federal and Executive Level resumes. The company was started by Amy Giles, who has been writing resumes since 2003. Capstone Resumes was formerly called Gies Career Services, but now specializes in the resume writing portion of the business.

Pros of using Capstone Resumes

Conversation-first approach — Capstone Resume services begin with a 15 to 30 minute phone call, instead of the questionnaire approach most companies use.

Certified writers  — The resume writers are introduced with a photo and a certification on the Capstone website. Each member is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) with a different background.

Specializations  — Certain resumes, like Executive and Federal, require specialized formats. Capstone Resumes has different payment options for their resume services, as opposed to the more common tiered approach. With the team’s background in HR, recruitment, and the U.S. Navy, it is likely these formats are effective.

Quick delivery time  — Many positive reviewers mention how they received their resumes with 1 to 3 days of their initial phone consultation.

Easy to contact — Amy, the owner of Capstone Resumes, makes her direct email very easy to find. She appears to be quite responsive and open to revisions to ensure client satisfaction.

Working with Capstone Resume Services

Schedule a phone consultation–you can upload your resume at the same time.

Purchase the services you need, selecting your resume format as well as any additional cover letter or LinkedIn services.

Work with your writer to finalize your resume.

You can reach the company by phone at  (650) 445-5301  or through the contact form on its website. You can reach Amy directly at [email protected].

8. iHireFinance

Pricing : $395

Industries : Finance

iHireFinance is a niche job board that focuses on open, vetted opportunities in the financial sector. The resume services they offer integrate well with their job board service.

Because it was built for finance professionals specifically, iHireFinance is a great option for budget analysts, equity traders, tax managers, and all finance specialists. The writers are educated, certified, and trained in modern resume writing especially for finance.

In addition to their resume writing service, iHireFinance has a separate cover letter service. If you only need help with a cover letter instead of a resume/cover letter bundle, this is a good option.

Pros of using iHireFinance

Made for the finance industry — iHireFinance is hyper-focused on people and companies in the financial services industry. 

Optional membership — With a membership, you get a discount on the writing services as well as access to a handy iScore Resume Match tool to use on the job board.

Formatting service — In addition to iHireFinance’s resume writing services, you can also opt for just a resume formatting service to improve the design of your existing resume. This is priced at $99.

Working with iHireFinance:

Create an account. Select a service from entry-level, professional, or executive resume services.

Complete a questionnaire and upload your current resume.

Finalize your resume–your first draft should arrive within 5 to 7 business days–and work with your writer until you are 100% satisfied.

For resume writing inquiries, you can call (877) 840-6217 between 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. ET. You can also email the support team through a contact form on the website.

9. LiveCareer

Pricing : $99 – $299

LiveCareer started as a career test site in 2004 and eventually launched a resume builder and a professional resume writing service. It is one of the largest resume builders around, with over 10 million resumes created for people in 180 countries.

In addition to its resume writing service, LiveCareer has a separate cover letter writing option. If you only need help with a cover letter instead of a resume/cover letter bundle, this is a good option.

Pros of using LiveCareer

Established  — LiveCareer has been around longer than most resume services, and features a large network of writers and career experts.

Global  — LiveCareer is headquartered in New York City, and has offices in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the UK. While its employee information on LinkedIn states that most of its workers are located in India, the resume writers seem to be located mostly in the US.

Large resume database  — LiveCareer has 700,000 resumes from various locations, industries, and roles that you can filter and search.

More than just resumes  — This career service company also has a mobile app, job apply tool, job board, and salary calculator.

Working with LiveCareer

Choose from three resume services based on your career stage.

Answer a few additional questions about your background.

One-on-one optional consultation with your writer, ranging from 10 to 20 minutes based on the package you purchased.

Receive your completed resume within 3 business days.

LiveCareer offers many services in addition to the resume writing services. It’s one of the most popular choices for resume building.

If you need to contact the company about your resume services, you can reach customer service by phone at (844) 485-4050 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m CT. There is also a live chat service if you have an account login, or you can email the team at [email protected].

10. ResumeSpice

Pricing: $479-699

Turnaround: 2 days (first draft)

Writers: 5+

Industries: Multiple industries, with services targeting everything from entry-level resume needs to resumes for professionals and executives.

ResumeSpice was launched by a team of recruitment professionals who wanted to create a dynamic job service firm that offered first-class coaching for job seekers.

ResumeSpice’s team of experienced resume writers focuses on crafting expert-level resumes that are designed to pass screening from Applicant Tracking Systems , while delivering the compelling content job seekers need to capture the attention of hiring managers and recruiters.

The company also provides career coaching services to assist job seekers in navigating an increasingly complex job search environment. Their certified experts are there to offer free consultations on resumes, cover letters, interview preparation, optimization of LinkedIn profiles, and more.

ResumeSpice writers utilize the industry’s best practices for resume creation, relying on formats that consistently attract hiring managers’ attention. They are experts in utilizing keywords in an optimal manner, ensuring that the end results can pass those ATS screenings.

While they are one of the newest and costliest services on our list, reviews suggest that ResumeSpice yields the results needed to justify the expense.

Pros of using ResumeSpice

Expert writers and coaches— ResumeSpice’s team is comprised of certified resume specialists and career coaches with years of experience in their field.

60-Day interview guarantee — ResumeSpice provides a guaranteed interview within 60 days, or they will “make it right.”

ATS— ResumeSpice is committed to ensuring that every resume they create has the optimization needed to satisfy any ATS.

Direct communication —ResumeSpice offers a direct line of communication for you to consult with your resume expert, including up to two revisions of the resume.

Reputation — ResumeSpice has been featured by MarketWatch, the Job Network, and the Houston Business journal, and has helped clients land jobs at companies like Nike, Amazon, Goldman Sachs, and Charles Schwab.

A ResumeSpice review

"Caitlin was amazing!! I was changing careers after being in the financial industry for 24 years. She revamped my resume, provided amazing cover letters explaining my transition and also provided me with a Thank You letter and updated my LinkedIn profile. Caitlin totally got me and made me look like a superstar/qualified candidate!!

I worked with Kathy on my Interview skills since I hadn't interviewed in 24 years, to say I was rusty was an understatement lol. Kathy provided me with helpful documents and amazing answers to interview questions I found to be annoying and difficult. Kathy gave me the confidence to nail my interviews!! TOTALLY worth the money!!”

- Donna, ResumeSpice customer

How ResumeSpice works

You start by choosing your preferred resume option, as well as any supplemental services you need like interview prep, cover letters, etc.

ResumeSpice will then email you with a short questionnaire link and a link to help you schedule your consultation.

At your consultation, your resume expert will work with you to identify your career needs and gather information for your resume or other products.

With that information, your writer will create your personalized resume and deliver the draft copy to you within two days.

At that point, you get to review the document and make any requests for modifications. You have up to seven days to make those change requests, and can have revisions made a total of two times.

Once the revision process is completed, you receive your finished resume in both Word and PDF formats.

If you ordered any other services, those are completed only after your resume is finished.  

You can contact ResumeSpice by phone at (832) 930-7378 or using live chat at their website. For more information, you can email them at [email protected].

There are many professional resume writing services to choose from, such as the 10 on this list. Since there is no shortage of fraudulent services out there, do your due diligence before giving your private information to a less than reputable company.

The best resume writing services have good examples, positive reviews, and responsive customer service teams. Remember that resume writing services are mainly digital today, so you don’t need to limit your search to local options. When in doubt, however, keep in mind that if an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is.

We hope this article helps you pick the best resume writing service for your career goals. Good luck with your job search!

What to read next:

How Much Should a Resume Writing Service Cost?

Hiring a Resume Writing Service | Is it Worth the Money?

Caitlin Proctor, CPRW, Certified Professional Résumé Writer

Caitlin joined the ZipJob team in 2019 as a professional resume writer and career advisor. She specializes in strategic advice for executives, career pivots, and remote workers. Read more resume advice from Caitlin on ZipJob’s blog .

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Resume Writers Review

Friday, May 24th

2024 Resume Writer Service Reviews

• Resume Writers
• Prices from $169.95 to $299.95 for resumes
• Field-specific writers on staff
• 24+ years of experience
• 24-72 hour turnaround
• Interview guarantee within 2 months
• "A+" rating and accreditation from the BBB

When you choose a resume service like Resume Writers, you get the benefit of working directly with your own independent writer. The goal is for customers to feel like they have a personal resume assistant.

Commitment to personalization

What really sets Resume Writers apart, though, is their commitment to creating unique and personalized resumes for each candidate. This service offers a collaborative approach, allowing customers to work closely with experienced writers who have similar backgrounds to ensure the resume aligns with the industry's tone. This level of individualized attention is unmatched in the industry.

Professional writers who know your field

Resume Writers has been operating since 1999 and stands as the largest network of independently-contracted resume writers. With over 24 years of experience, Resume Writers knows how to put together a resume. When it comes to bringing in the best professionals, Resume Writers makes sure all their writers go through rigorous training and apprenticeship programs to meet the high standards set by the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Directors International. So when you order a resume from them, you can feel confident about two things: first, your writer will have the skill to whip up a killer resume that fits your unique situation like a glove. And second, they'll have all the insider knowledge about resume writing formats, procedures, and standards for your specific field.

Collaborative process with quick turnaround

The resume process with Resume Writers follows a quick and easy 3-step approach.

• First, customers select the desired resume type and make the payment. For the record, all the resumes at Resume Writers are separated by 6 different styles including student resumes, professional resumes, executive resumes, career change resumes, military/civilian resumes, and Tech/IT resumes.
• Once the customers have decided which type fits their needs, then step two is to upload an existing resume or provide current career information through the website.
• Step three is in the hands of the Resume Writers staff. A dedicated writer is then assigned to assess the materials and plan the project according to the specific needs of the candidate. Within 24-72 hours, customers receive the first draft, and the collaboration continues until the final draft meets their satisfaction.

Competitive prices for tailored experience

Resume Writers offers eight different pricing plans based on the categories of resumes. So, on top of offering student resumes, professional resumes, executive resumes, career change resumes, military/civilian resumes, and Tech/IT resumes, there are two extra pricing tiers for LinkedIn profiles and CV writing. The pricing is reasonable, and not overly expensive, especially for a collaborative service where your writer works closely with you to generate an accurate resume.

The pricing schedule shakes out as follows:

• Student Plan: $169.95
• Military-to-Civilian Plan: $169.95
• Professional Plan: $199.95
• LinkedIn Profile: $199.95
• Tech/IT Plan: $229.95
• Career-Change Plan: $249.95
• Executive-Level Plan: $299.95
• Curriculum Vitae (CV): $299.95

Additional writing services

In addition to resume writing, Resume Writers provides additional items such as cover letters, thank-you notes, follow-up letters, and other important documents. These can be added to the base price for an additional cost ranging between $70 and $90.

Interview guarantee

One standout feature of Resume Writers is their Interview Guarantee. If customers don't land a job interview within 2 months of receiving their professionally-written resume, Resume Writers will rewrite it for free. All customers need to do is shoot an email with their order number, and the Resume Writers team will get in touch with a new, revamped resume. Customers even have the option to stick with their original writer or get assigned a new one for a fresh perspective.

High-quality writing

The impressive reputation of Resume Writers is further evident through their "A+" rating and accreditation which they've held since 2010 from the Better Business Bureau. Further, Resume Writers has a fantastic average rating across different verified third-party review sites. Including Sitejabber, Trustpilot, and reviews on the BBB site, Resume Writers has an impressive average rating of 4.6 stars out of 5. While it doesn't have as many total reviews as some of the other options in our review, customers are clearly satisfied. Customers complimented Resume Writers' professionalism and the quality of the work when it was complete.

Best-in-class for resume writing

Considering the competitive fees, one-on-one collaboration with professional resume writers, field-specific writers that help you through every step of the process, and the added interview guarantee, Resume Writers receives our highest rating. The variety of resume options they offer, combined with their quick 72-hour turnaround time, showcases their commitment to customer satisfaction. Their transparent pricing structure simplifies the process of finding the right service for individual needs. If you're looking to create a resume from scratch or enhance your existing one, Resume Writers is a reliable and top-notch choice.

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The 10 Best Resume Writer Services

Where can you find the best resume writing services.

Are you on the hunt for the best resume writing service to give your career a boost? Crafting a standout resume is essential in today's competitive job market, but it can be a daunting task. Whether you're a recent graduate looking to land your first job, or a seasoned professional aiming for a career change, finding the right resume writing service is crucial to showcase your skills and experiences effectively.

With countless applicants vying for the same positions, your resume needs to stand out from the crowd and grab the attention of hiring managers. That's where professional resume writing services come into play. They understand the intricacies of resume writing and can help you create a powerful document that highlights your strengths and captures the interest of potential employers.

Resume Writer Service FAQ

What are resumes for, are resumes always needed when applying for a job, is there a specific way my resume should be written, who sees my resume, how much does resume writing cost, can i use my resume to apply for multiple jobs, what do resume writers do, why should i use a resume writing service instead of doing the work myself.

Continued from above...

Using resume writing services provides a range of benefits for job seekers, including expert advice on resume structure, tailored content that aligns with your career goals, and the ability to showcase your accomplishments in a compelling manner. By collaborating with skilled resume writers, you can ensure that your resume not only meets industry standards but also stands out as a unique representation of your qualifications.

With the abundance of resume writing services available, it can be overwhelming to choose the right one for your needs. It's important to select a service that understands your industry and has a track record of success in helping individuals like you land those dream jobs.

If you're not sure where to start, here are a few things to look for:

• Price: If you're searching for a new job, odds are you don't want to be burning extra cash when you don't need to be. There are tons of pricing options for resume writing services. Some offer free trials and others start in the hundreds. Knowing how much you're willing to spend on a resume is important to help you narrow your options.
• Hands-on or DIY: Are you looking for a resume writing service to take your work history and make some magic? Or do you want to be involved in the process? Some services are better for DIYers than others, so if you want to work on your own resume, keep an eye out for services that offer free or low-cost templates. If you don't want to touch your resume until it's ready to submit, there are plenty of full-service options out there just for you.
• Range of services: Not all resume services are the same. Some focus only on the basics: resumes and cover letters. Others offer a total package including updates for your LinkedIn profile as well as thank-yous or follow-up letters for employers. So, it may help you to decide what exactly you want updated: just your resume or something more comprehensive?
• Success stories: Getting a new resume isn't super helpful if you don't get the interviews from it, right? Keeping an eye on the reviews and feedback from customers as well as a company's BBB ratings can help you get a clear idea whether a resume writing service is turning out job-finding resumes or not.

Get ready to take your career to new heights with the help of a trusted resume writing service. To make sure you've got the best fit possible, Top Consumer Reviews has evaluated the top resume writing services on the market today. This way you can take the stress out of the job search and let a professional worry about highlighting your accomplishments and optimize your resume for applicant tracking systems. Armed with this information you should be able to find the perfect resume writing service that will propel your career forward!

Compare Resume Writer Services

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Best Executive Resume Writing Services

Advance your career with a laser-targeted branding package

We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more .

Executive resume writing services can help professionals land top-salary positions with a resume, cover letter, and personal branding package targeted to their skills and goals. Most are run by former executives or recruiters who know exactly what it takes to compete in the upper echelons of the executive world.    

According to professional resume writer Mary Elizabeth Bradford, only 10% of executive positions in the $300K+ range are advertised online. A laser-targeted resume and a well-polished executive bio can help an executive get discovered by recruiters and headhunters, giving them a leg up on the competition.

We reviewed over a dozen executive resume writing services and chose the best based on experience, personalized service, career support, cost, and more. Here are our top picks. 

The 7 Best Executive Resume Writing Services

• Best Overall: Career Steering
• Runner-Up, Best Overall: The Writing Guru
• Best Customer Service: TopResume
• Best for Experienced Executives: Briefcase Coach
• Best for ATS Software: ZipJob
• Best for C-Suite Executives: CEO Resume Writer
• Best Value: Capstone Resume Services
• Our Top Picks
• Career Steering
• The Writing Guru
• Briefcase Coach
• CEO Resume Writer
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• Methodology

Best Overall : Career Steering

 Career Steering

Work directly with Rosa

Comprehensive approach with graphics, LinkedIn, etc.

À la carte resume service

Four-week turnaround, or more

No interview guarantee

Career Steering was founded in the early 2000s by Rosa Elizabeth Vargas, a certified resume writer and career coach with a background as a senior-level executive. For over 10 years, the company has been providing boutique resume writing services for C-suite executives, general counsels, and board-level leaders. We chose it as the best overall because it offers personalized, one-on-one resume consulting and writing as well as career branding.

Every resume is written by Rosa herself with editing, research, and preliminary preparation done by one of her certified, executive resume writing assistants.

Clients start by choosing an executive resume service package, then email their career documents (resume, cover letters, LinkedIn profile, etc.) and fill out an executive career assessment. From there, Career Steering schedules a 60- to 90-minute writing session to map the resume branding strategy by phone, Skype, or Zoom. 

Because clients work directly with Rosa, the turnaround time for a completed resume is four plus weeks with back-and-forth consultation as needed. Career Steering’s most basic package includes a resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn profile optimized for search .

In addition to the packages listed below, Career Steering also offers à la carte resume writing services that include a one-hour resume branding phone session, resume branding and value proposition, career assessment personal branding questionnaire, and two rounds of edits and edit phone calls, all for $1,695.

Runner-Up , Best Overall : The Writing Guru

 The Writing Guru

Plenty of experience writing resumes

Focused on senior attorneys, executives, and board leaders

Plenty of coaching and consulting time

Turnaround time can be relatively long

Relatively expensive

The Writing Guru was founded in 2010 by Wendi Weiner, a professional writer with a long career as a college professor and lawyer. Wendi is recognized as a top executive resume writer and has been published in major media outlets including HuffPost , Forbes , and Thrive Global . We chose The Writing Guru as our runner-up because it offers the most one-on-one time with each client.

The Writing Guru focuses its services on senior attorneys (general counsels), senior executives, and C-suite/board leaders. Wendi handles each project from beginning to end and doesn’t outsource any work to a subcontractor or another writer. Projects typically take over 15 to 20 hours and include more than three hours of coaching and consulting.

Using an existing resume review, an extensive questionnaire, and a one-hour interview process, Wendi digs in to craft a resume tailored to the career objectives and experience of each client and a detailed cover letter that emphasizes their credentials and accomplishments. Wendi updates her clients on the progress of their resumes and will ask additional questions and request more information on follow-up calls if needed.    

The Writing Guru offers tiered packages focused on the type of professional served. Due to the focus and attention Wendi gives to each client, the typical turnaround for a resume and cover letter package is 14 to 21 days.

C-Suite, General Counsel, BOD, International Execs

Senior executives, executive managers, business leaders, best customer service : topresume.

Relatively simple signup process

Inexpensive (lowest package is $149)

Quick response

Attentive resume writer and clear communications

The length of the Summary and Job Scope sections on our resume was rather long

The Training section wasn’t highlighted enough

Founded in 2014, TopResume boasts a network of over 1,200 writers, certified career coaches, recruiters, and experienced hiring professionals with experience in over 65 industries. We chose it as the best customer service because it offers a free resume review and a free rewrite of resumes it creates that don’t generate twice the number of job interviews.   

TopResume uses a unique approach to the resume writing process, combining the knowledge of its resume writers with feedback from resume-scanning software that filters applicants based on keywords. This dual approach ensures that resumes created by the company satisfy both humans and the machines that sift through resumes before passing them on.

TopResume’s certified resume writers collaborate with each client to deliver the first draft of a resume within about a week. Clients have another week to offer feedback to the writer and receive up to two rounds of revisions. The entire process normally takes one to two weeks.  

In addition to its paid resume writing services, TopResume lets users upload a copy of their resume for a free review that includes feedback on the layout, how the resume communicates skills and expertise, and personalized recommendations for improvement. The company will also rewrite a client’s resume if it doesn’t double the number of interviews within 60 days. 

Best for Experienced Executives : Briefcase Coach

 Briefcase Coach

Experienced resume writer

Job search assistance

Turnaround time: 7 business days

Short consultations in lower-tier packages

No LinkedIn branding in lower-tier packages

Briefcase Coach is the creation of Sarah Johnston, a former corporate recruiter and development professional who has helped executives move up the ladder with professional resumes and career coaching. We chose Briefcase Coach as the best for experienced executives because it offers tiered resume writing packages based on the needs of each client.

Although Briefcase Coach also offers resume writing services for graduates and non-executive professionals, its experience in the latest trends of the recruitment process and applicant tracking system (ATS) software allow it to offer executives support in branding, networking, and interviewing as well as resume writing.

Briefcase Coach clients start with a 60 to 90-minute intake and strategy interview with Sarah where she works to understand each client’s strengths, goals, and achievements. From there, she crafts a custom resume from scratch, typically spending an average of 12 to 20 hours per resume. Turnaround time from consultation to final draft is typically seven business days. 

In addition to resume and cover letter writing, Briefcase Coach also helps executives improve their skills in networking, personal outreach, navigating LinkedIn, and even handling job searches and interviews.        

Beyond the executive resume writing packages offered below, Briefcase Coach also offers à la carte pricing with an executive resume as a standalone product starting at $1,300.

Best for ATS Software : ZipJob

Easy signup process

Insightful testimonials on their website

Resume’s Skills area contained strong keywords

Resume draft was delivered on time

Design and format made reading the resume difficult

Education and Training sections were poorly formatted

After learning that his wife’s resume was being filtered out by automated resume screeners, Michael Krikheli created ZipJob in 2017 to help job seekers build resumes that make it through the filters to real recruiters. We chose it as the best for ATS software because it focuses on creating keyword-optimized resumes that will land more interviews.

ZipJob asks users to either upload an existing resume or answer some questions to create one from scratch. From there, a dedicated writer works with each client to build a properly formatted resume that highlights their skills and goals. Writers communicate with their clients through the entire process, asking questions and getting clarification along the way.          

All of ZipJob’s resume writers are experienced in resume keyword optimization to ensure that every resume has the best chance of being scanned and accepted by automated screeners. Once a resume is written, the writer will scan it through ATS software and adjust it as needed. 

ZipJob claims that its optimized resumes get their clients two to three times more interviews. It backs this up with a 60-day interview guarantee and will offer a free rewrite of a client’s resume if it doesn't generate more interviews after 60 days. 

ZipJob  offers three packages:

Best for C-Suite Executives : CEO Resume Writer

Comprehensive service

Only higher-tier packages include consults with Mary Elizabeth

Having built a successful recruiting business in the 1990s, Mary Elizabeth Bradford launched her personal brand in 2008 and more recently rebranded to CEO Resume Writer. Today, her team of certified resume writers offers boutique resume writing services to executives across the globe. We chose it as the best for C-suite executives because it helps them make high-level career transitions with professional resumes, personal branding, networking, and more.

CEO Resume Writer offers directors, VPs, CxOs, and board members both executive resume packages and the option of working directly with Mary Elizabeth herself. In addition to providing its clients with resumes, the company also helps them find a clear focus of direction and lock down some concrete strategies for reaching their career goals.

Clients who choose one of CEO Resume Writer's lower-tier executive resume packages won’t be working with Mary Elizabeth herself, but with one of her certified executive resume writers and coaches. All packages include a resume, a value proposition letter, digital storage, an executive thank-you letter, and three of Mary Elizabeth Bradford’s bestselling Career Artisan guidebooks.    

CEO Resume Writer's VIP packages are for high-earning executives looking for private coaching during executive transitions. Many corporations and private equity firms also use these services to outplace their top executives. 

CEO Resume Writer offers multiple packages ranging from one-on-one consulting with Mary Elizabeth to working with her team of certified executive resume writers. The company also offers à la carte “resume only” services for $2,597.

Best Value : Capstone Resume Services

Relatively inexpensive

Add-on services like cover letters and LinkedIn profile updates

Fast turnaround times

Capstone Resume Services was created by Amy Gies who has written resumes for and coached over 7,000 clients worldwide. The company offers one-on-one consultation to ensure that its clients’ resumes match their target jobs. We chose it as the best value since it offers basic and affordable resume writing with add-on services to suit the needs of any client.

Rather than starting with a questionnaire like many other services do, Capstone offers each client a one-on-one personal consultation to discuss career goals, work experience, and achievements. From there, a certified professional resume writer will work to create a custom, targeted, keyword-optimized resume that will get the attention of ATS , hiring managers, and recruiters.

Rather than offering tiered pricing packages, Capstone keeps things simple and relatively affordable. Clients can choose to start with just a consultation and resume and add cover letters, LinkedIn profiles, resume distribution, and executive bios. The typical turnaround time for an executive resume is three to four business days and includes two revisions if necessary.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are resume writing services.

Resume writing services help job seekers craft a resume, cover letter, and sometimes LinkedIn profile that showcases their skills and helps them stand out above the competition. Since most resumes are filtered by automated resume screeners, known as applicant tracking systems (ATS) , good resume writers also ensure the documents they create make it through to an actual person.      

Ideally, resume writing services should be run and staffed by certified resume writers who understand exactly what employers and recruiters are looking for with any given profession or job title. This in-depth knowledge allows resume writers to help an executive climb the ranks of the C-suite.  

How Do Resume Writing Services Work for Executives?

Executive resume writers start with a detailed interview process and questionnaire to understand every skill, accomplishment, and goal of an executive looking for a new position. From there, they build a professional resume targeted to the client’s career goals to help them rise above the competition and land more interviews.  

How Much Do Executive Resume Writing Services Cost?

Due to the level of expertise required, executive resume writing services can be considerably more expensive than other resume writing services . Competition at the top can be fierce, so writers who get results often work one-on-one with a limited number of clients to create truly customized and targeted resumes that will catch the eye of key decision-makers. 

Many of the services we reviewed offered specialized, executive-level resume writing packages for a one-time fee between $1,350 and $11,997. These packages include a one-on-one interview with either the company owner or a certified resume writer, a cover letter, some level of career consultation, and email support for three to six months. Higher-tier packages tend to offer a LinkedIn profile rewrite, a professional bio, and even resume distribution to executive recruiters. 

Is Using a Resume Writing Service Worth It?

Although many top executive positions aren’t advertised or only advertised internally within a company, a professionally crafted resume can help executives apply to their dream companies and possibly edge out the internal competition. What’s more, a keyword-optimized resume and LinkedIn profile can help executives get discovered by headhunters and hiring managers.

How We Chose the Best Executive Resume Writing Services

We looked at over a dozen executive resume writing services for this review. At the top of our list were firms with extensive experience and a long track record of success. Services that offered one-on-one consultation with the business owner also caught our eye since that kind of personalized relationship can result in the most targeted and customized resume.

We also looked at providers that offered additional services, including optimizing LinkedIn profiles, writing executive bios, distributing resumes to recruiters, and career counseling. Finally, we looked at executive resume writing services that paired best practices with technology to ensure every resume makes it through ATS software to a real decision-maker.

The success of an executive staying in their current role or climbing through the ranks of the C-suite can rest on the quality of their resume and online profile. Since a new executive position can result in a $5,000 to $100,000 salary increase, paying a professional resume writer who knows the ins and outs of executive hiring can be the best investment of an executive’s career.

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LinkedIn. " 10 Top Executive Resume Writing Services Share Expert Resume And Job Search Tips For 2020 ."

TopResume. " What's an ATS-Friendly Resume? ."

Best Resume Writing Apps 2022

We find the best resume writing apps to get you applying for jobs fast.

There’s one app that sits at the top of our listings of the best resume writing apps, and that’s LiveCareer. As a web app, there are few compatibility concerns, and it’s full of useful features. There’s more to it than resume creation too - the app is well connected, and is capable of publishing your resume directly to job sites and social media. It’s hard to beat.

The web app is a huge trend in software at the moment, and resume writers have capitalised on it. Every single one of the best resume writing software packages we tested was a web app, with downloadable applications now looking rather out of date in comparison. It helps that resume writing software has a defined end, and therefore can limit the amount of tools and options it throws at the user rather than a general-purpose app such as a word processor or desktop publishing program. In this way, having the application run entirely in the browser makes a lot of sense, as it speeds up the process, and means you’ll be downloading completed files and applying for employment in no time. 

If you need more advice we have guides to the best online grammar checkers , and the best typing software to help you get faster.

1. LiveCareer: Best resume writing app overall

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LiveCareer: My Perfect Resume

Our expert review:

Reasons to buy

Reasons to avoid.

More than just a resume-building site, LiveCareer is a fully featured web app that combines templates, connectivity with other sites, and cover letter creation to form one of the very best pieces of resume software available today.

The whole process of creating your resume is automated using a wizard and a limited number of templates. Answer its questions, inputting information where necessary, and you’ll receive tips as you work, pointing the way to a better resume.

If you’ve already got a resume, you can import it into LiveCareer and use the information already on it to speed along the creation of a new one. This is an uncommon feature among resume creation services, and certainly makes building a new, better, resume much faster. Also helping to speed things up are the helpful pre-written phrases the app can suggest if you’re stumped by how to describe some aspect of your career.

The interface is clean, and intuitive to use, and while we’ve seen larger numbers of templates elsewhere, the whole thing comes together to make LiveCareer the best we’ve found for making a striking resume.

2. Resume Genius: Best value resume app

Resume Genius

If you subscribe, you can download your resume in more useful formats, such as a Word document or PDF, or send it by fax from the site. You can also store unlimited resumes on the site, so you can tailor them for specific jobs, and you can get help to create a cover letter to accompany your resume. There’s even job search functionality, and a resume critique from an experienced career consultant.

A web app with a minimalist aesthetic, you pick a template, answer questions on your education and experience, and it generates your resume. It’s a very quick process, although it’s wise to get your thoughts in order before you begin, lining up in your mind the answers to questions about exactly when you left your last few jobs, and exactly what kind of college degree you have.

The finished result can be downloaded as a text file, but you’ll need to register with the site to do so. If you choose to register, and pay the subscription, however, a few more options open up, though you’ll need to pay for them. The $2.95 14-day trial is the best value of many we’ve seen, but it’s very difficult to get off the payment plan page and on to the dashboard page where the resume you’ve created is stored.

3. CakeResume: Best for social connectivity

A web app with a free version and an intuitive drag and drop interface, CakeResume makes the creation of your resume a straightforward process, and even hosts its own LinkedIn-like network for employers seeking new talent.

It’s a good-looking app that’s easy to navigate, and can link to your social media. If you already have a resume, you can upload it to the site and it will use it to populate the fields of your profile. When the profile is completed to the site’s liking, you can turn this into a new resume, editing the information as you go. Of course, you can always create a brand new resume from scratch, and there is a good selection of templates to choose from to get you started.

There’s a choice of two web apps to use, and we’d recommend the newer one, even though it’s still in beta. It removes a lot of the limitations placed by the original editing app. There’s no help with cover letters though, and it lacks the pre-written phrases that are a highlight of other services. There’s support in the form of a blog, however.

A further useful feature is the creation of a link, which you can use to give people access to your online resume - it’s really handy for pasting into an email, but recruiters may still prefer an attachment.

4. Visual CV: Best for templates

Another web app, but one that does things in a slightly different way. It has some bold, unusual template choices too, making it a good option for someone who wants to stand out from the crowd.

Visual CV sets your resume up as a kind of web page, with a unique link you can share with potential employers. You’ll need to subscribe to unlock this ability, but if you’re applying for jobs with the kind of employer who prefers to look at a screen rather then drown in paper, it might be worth it.

You can download your resume as a PDF too, and as long as you use one of the (rather dull, but still professional-looking) free templates, you’ll not be charged for doing so. If you want a little more flair, however, it’s well worth registering for the Pro service, as this also unlocks the ability to download your resume as a Word document, so you can continue editing it on your computer.

There are twice as many templates as LiveCareer’s offering, but it loses ground in terms of the options and control over layout that it offers. Overall, though, this is a strong entrant in the resume app market.

5. Pongo: Best for online help

Not one of the most fully featured resume builders we’ve seen, but one that we can still recommend thanks to the amount of support it offers while you compose your resume.

There’s a lot happening on the Pongo website, and it can be easy to feel lost, but in among all the videos offering advice on everything from cover letters to interview techniques, and success stories from those who got hired using the site, there’s a resume builder you can use for free. Subscribe, however, and the options keep growing. There are templates (although not as many as we’d like to see), sample phrases, matching cover letters and more, though there aren’t as many ways to customize your resume away from the template as we’ve seen elsewhere.

Download options include text, Word and PDF, while the ability to turn your resume into a website is a nice addition. For anyone new to the jobs market, or perhaps returning after a long time away, this is an excellent choice to create your resume.

How much do resume writing apps cost?

Resume writing programs have largely segued into web apps rather than downloadable ones, with subscription charges that range anywhere from a $3 one-off charge for a few days’ access up to about $20 a month. Pay attention when you subscribe, though, because most services offer several different plans – and some plans limit the features or number of resumes you can create. Make sure to find a selection that works for your job search. Also, several of the programs we tested come with a free trial, but frequently the company won’t remove their watermark from free templates. It’s best to pay a little extra and remove the companies’ branding. Being able to download your resume as a Word document is also important, as unlike a PDF you can continue to edit this in Word or one of its compatible free competitors as your skills and experience grow.

How we tested resume apps

We read dozens of articles and researched the current industry standard in resume writing software before we selected which programs to test. Then we downloaded or subscribed to the ones we selected. Most of the current software is web-based, but there are few downloadable programs that have enough features and support to be worth mentioning.

In each program we created a resume and then tested the available features. We evaluated how intuitive the input options and wizard (the tool that you use to input your data) were in each program. We also looked for programs that offer additional support beyond simple resume creation. Resume software that connect with popular job search engines or give tips about acing your interview ranked higher in our comparison.

We looked for import and export options that allow you to easily transfer your completed work to new systems and give you flexibility to use the information from older resumes to create new ones. We also graded the software on customization tools, like margin spacing and font choices, as well as text size and watermarks to make sure you can create a resume that’ll stand out.  We learned there’s often a balance between having plenty of options and having so many that they become overwhelming, so we looked for a number of templates and features that was just right.

Are resume apps actually worth it?

In a word, yes. Based on our experience with the sites and services we tested, it's helpful to have the task of creating a resume broken up into more manageable chunks. Many of the programs that we used have wizards that provide helpful tips or guidance on each section. It's also convenient to be able to save personal information, like your address and home phone number, to be used over and over again as you customize resumes for different job applications. Overall, because resume writing is such a common experience, we think its hard to go wrong with these programs. They are also inexpensive enough that it’s worth a try.

Resume and job hunting trends for 2021

Economists are predicting an uneven recovery from the spike in unemployment caused by the pandemic, and the US rate might stay above 6% until the end of the year.

Keep It Short, but Not Too Short: A recent study by ResumeGo shows that recruiters are twice as likely to prefer a two-page resume than a single-page resume. The common wisdom used to be that anything beyond a single page is a strike against you, but if you have the work experience and qualifications, don’t skimp on including them. Be as thorough as possible.

Start Strong: The top third of your resume is the most important real estate. Use it to make an impression and to give the hiring manager the most important information. Include contact information, your LinkedIn account info, your most recent job and a summary statement. The summary isn’t an objective – instead, it should be a statement that catches the recruiter’s eyes. In the summary, talk about your successes and what you can add to the company you’re applying at.

Optimize Your Resume: Many companies use applicant tracking systems to monitor and update you on your application’s progress. Some of these systems can be overzealous about filtering resumes, so you may need to include some keywords used in the job posting. In some cases, you can benefit from using the particular jargon preferred by the company you’re applying at.

Customize & Cut: Make sure each resume is tailored to the specific job you’re applying for. One-size-fits-all resumes don’t really work any more. Trim your resume to the last 10 to 15 years of your job history – anything further back could date you or may be irrelevant. If you’re applying for a job as a software developer, the company hiring you isn’t interested in your high school dishwashing job.

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Ian has been a journalist for 20 years. He's written for magazines and websites on subjects such as video games, technology, PC hardware, popular (and unpopular) science, gardening and astronomy. In his spare time he has a pet tortoise and grows his own vegetables. He also has a passion for cameras and photography, and has written for TTR on these subjects.

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Use the best resume builders to enhance visibility on job search engines and employee finder services

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Best for features, best for ease-of-use, best job finder, best ai-powered, best affordable, best for speed, best for style, best for versatility, best for phrases, best for recruiters, how we test.

The best resume builders make it simple and easy to write up and manage a CV.

1. Best overall 2. Best for features 3. Best for ease-of-use 4. Best job finder 5. Best AI-powered 6. Best affordable 7. Best for speed 8. Best for style 9. Best for versatility 10. Best for phrases 11. Best for recruiters 12. Best free 13. FAQs 14. How we test

If you’re on the hunt for a new career, you simply can't skip making an effort with every part of the application process, and that means getting your resume right. And to truly stand out, you need to create one with an eye-catching design alongside the relevant information.

The best resume builders transform your resume to create a bold, eye-catching document, and you might not even have to spend any money. Some of the best use free templates with a proven success rate – templates that have helped people land their dream positions.

There are loads of options if you do want to spend some cash, too. Loads of the best resume builders will go above and beyond the best free alternatives if you hand over a bit of money.

Whether you need a free resume builder or a paid option, we’ve got you covered – we’ve compared various resume builders to arrive at the best ones for you. We looked at the variety of templates they offered, the quality of design, the website/app interface, and the pricing plans. We also assessed how swift and hassle-free the entire resume-building process was.

We've also rounded up the best online learning platforms .

Post Your First Job in Minutes with ZipRecruiter Find qualified candidates and get distribution on at least 100 job sites with one click. Start your 4-day free trial today and then pay as low as $16/day after that. 

The best resume builders of 2024 in full:

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1. Resume.com

Reasons to buy, reasons to avoid.

 It’s no surprise that Resume.com is where many people start looking when they want to buy a new resume – after all, that name is a pretty good sign of this site’s key strength.

True to form, the site has loads of fantastic templates that you can use, and the huge popularity of this site means that they’re proven to work – as vast numbers of people have already used these templates to secure interviews and new positions. Resume.com has also spoken to thousands of employees and employers to find out what people are looking for in a candidate, and its templates are based on that evidence.

The company behind Resume.com also owns Indeed.com , which is one of the web’s biggest recruitment websites. That means Resume.com has loads of data available for creating its resume builder and CV templates. That also means it’s easy to share your CV to Indeed.com when it’s finished, so you’ll be able to apply for jobs in no time.

Resume.com is free to use, and its templates cater to dozens of different jobs and industries, so it’s easy to start. Once it’s finished, you can easily download it to your PC or laptop . This may not be the only resume builder on the market, but you shouldn’t ignore Resume.com.

• ^ Back to the top

2. ResumeGenius

A site with a name like ResumeGenius must step up if it’s going to live up to its moniker, and this resume builder does the job in terms of quality and features.

ResumeGenius starts the process by deploying dozens of different CV templates. There are plenty of good-looking resumes available here, although they do veer towards the conventional – you’ll find plenty of traditional resumes but few graphics-heavy modern options.

You can fill out your resume with more than 50,000 pre-written bullet points. They cover all industries and mean you can sound as professional as possible. You can download your resume as a Word document or PDF, and the site also has a cover letter builder and tools that can help you with resignation letters, thank-you notes, and letters of recommendation.

This site doesn’t have the in-depth options of many others, but it’s a free tool that can quickly produce a professional resume – and that makes it worth using.

3. CakeResume

CakeResume uses an intuitive and straightforward drag-and-drop interface to make resume creation easier, even for users who may not be particularly savvy when using technology.

The interface allows you to customize your layout, elements, and information quickly, and CakeResume pairs this intelligent user experience with a range of attractive and impressive templates. You can download your resume at any point in the creation process, which is handy for checking your progress or getting feedback from others.

You can download your finished resume as a PDF for free, but you’re only allowed to create one basic resume using the free service. With the Advanced plan, you can use more than twenty premium resume designs as often as you want, and you can remove the CakeResume branding from your finished CV. The Pro option allows you to track your resume using Google Analytics and share the finished product using a custom domain name.

CakeResume is fast, easy to use, and has loads of attractive and straightforward resume templates. Still, it’s only worth considering if you’re willing to buy one of the paid options – the free tier is minimal.

4. Reed.co.uk

Reed.co.uk is a UK-focused site that offers a resume creation tool as part of its wider set of employment features, like job listings, skills modules, and career advice articles.

You start to create a resume when you register your account, and the site takes you through a simple four-step process to create a basic resume. You add your personal information, work experience, and qualifications alongside a personal statement, and then your basic resume will be available for download as a Word document. You can also make it visible on Reed.co.uk’s wider website so it’s easy for employers to view.

You can download Reed’s Word template to do it all yourself if you’d prefer, and your resume and profile are linked – so you can add more experience, qualifications, and information alongside information about your skills and job hunting journey. It’s a free service, and it’s a welcome addition to this popular job site, but be aware that you don’t get to use sophisticated templates or advanced design elements here.

5. Novoresume

Novoresume deploys dozens of different resume templates to help you find the perfect job. They’re all created in conjunction with experienced recruiters, and they’re applicable to loads of different career paths and industries.

You can choose to start with a traditional template, a professional design that includes a photograph or a creative template, and you’ll find other templates that offer a simple, modern, and professional range of designs.

Those templates are a suitable place to start, and Novoresume aims to go further with its extra features. You can use cover letter templates alongside the resume templates. This site has an AI -powered analysis service that suggests resume improvements as you tweak the layout and enter your information.

It’s an intuitive and effective site with straightforward features, and you can use the Basic tier to create a free resume.

The Premium option allows you to use a broader range of fonts and colors, add special sections and graphics to your resume, create more resumes and deploy distinctive styles and templates. That’s all welcome, but this is one of the better sites if you want to create a free resume – it’s not particularly restrictive.

6. ResumeHelp

ResumeHelp is the perfect resume builder to use if you’re not particularly confident with written English, or if it’s not your first language.

This site allows you to create a resume with confidence by inserting pre-written bullet points that emphasize your strengths without focusing on potentially tricky linguistic errors. There are thousands of points that can work in all sorts of resumes, so you won’t be short of things to say, and you’ll also receive help from extra tips as you build your resume.

The site has fifteen different templates available. The designs focus on more traditional, conventional layouts, so this site is ideal if you want to put together a classic, familiar resume. You can customize all the information as you go through the process, upload an old resume to kickstart your new document, and it’s free to download the document after you’re finished.

The upgrade plans are cheap, too: you can buy two weeks of access or a month of access and that plan means you can create more resumes, use more templates, and build cover letters too.

CVmaker is one of the easiest resume builders to use, so it’s an ideal choice if you want to put together a resume quickly and without any fuss.

Creating a resume on CVmaker is simple. The site uses a step-by-step process to gather information about your work experience, education, interests, and references. When that’s done you can switch the design between a selection of different styles and download the document for your use in job applications. You can also add your own sections to the resume, which is a feature that isn’t available on some other sites.

CVmaker is a simple tool, though, especially in its free guise – at this point it’s fine for building a basic resume, but that’s it. If you upgrade to the site’s premium tier you can add more custom sections, use better templates and take advantage of an advanced text editor. It only requires a one-off payment, so it’s one of the cheapest paid resume builder options available.

8. VisualCV

VisualCV is one of the most powerful and versatile resume-building websites around. The process begins with loads of attractive and modern templates that offer more color and visual pop than most other resume building tools, and once you’ve chosen the right look, you’re able to customize each resume to properly suit your needs.

This site goes far beyond resume building. You can use advanced resume tracking to see when your document has been viewed or downloaded, and you can access free guides, blog posts, and articles if you need some extra help. You can import data from LinkedIn to make CV building easier and consult cover letter templates too.

VisualCV allows you to easily share your resume with family and friends for quick feedback, and it has more privacy options than most resume builders, so your information is more secure.

This site’s free package allows you to create one resume using a single template and then download it, but it will have VisualCV branding that can’t be removed. The Pro option gives you more templates and the ability to create an unlimited number of resumes.

9. Resume.io

Resume.io is one of the broadest resume sites on the internet, with a massive range of features that offer impressive quality in every department.

As with any other resume builder, you can quickly use an attractive template to produce a rock-solid CV using Resume.io. This site also benefits from thousands of pre-written phrases alongside automatic spell checking and the ability to export your file in any format you choose.

Elsewhere, this site deploys cover letter templates too. You can also generate automatic summaries for your documents, access recruitment tips, and track any applications that have used the documents you create on the site.

If you use Resume.io for free, you can create a resume and cover letter and share links to those files with prospective employers, but you can only download the resume as a basic text file. If you buy its professional plan, you can create an unlimited number of resumes and cover letters using the site’s full library of tools. That’s the option we’d recommend.

10. KickResume

KickResume places a big emphasis on easy resume creation, and it includes loads of different tools that will simplify the process and help you avoid common pitfalls.

This site serves up more than fifty professional templates that cover traditional and modern design alongside many key jobs and industries. The site has more than 20,000 pre-written phrases that can be slotted into your resume – perfect if you want to include professional language in a quick and straightforward fashion.

You can view resumes that have helped candidates land jobs at companies like Facebook, NASA, and Google . KickResume has in-built proofreading alongside a cover letter builder.

It’s free to create four resumes using KickResume, and you can have a basic website and get access to the full library of pre-written phrases too – this is one of the more generous options for free resume creation. But if you upgrade to the Pro plan, you’ll get more templates, full customization options and AI resume review alongside priority support.  

Zety prides itself on its speed and ease of use, and there's certainly lots to like here: users can build a comprehensive and attractive resume with more than 20 templates, and you can upload your existing CV or add new information to get a document produced within minutes.

The site's resume generation tool delivers context-sensitive tips from professional recruiters as you create your document, and once it's done you can tweak the file with extensive editing options.

Zety has a cover letter builder alongside its resume tools, and users can also access resume and cover letter templates. The site also explains which resume formats are best-suited to different industries and employment situations, and Zety's extensive blog has in-depth articles about resumes, cover letters, and loads of other employment topics.

It's free to build a resume on Zety, but you'll have to pay if you want to download that file in different formats and access the site's full range of features. Happily, it's affordable.

Indeed is one of the largest and most reliable job boards on the web. It offers job listings, great options for employers, and impressive salary data and career advice – and, alongside all of that, it’s got a great resume builder.

Once you’ve registered and verified your account you’ll be ready to get started, and Indeed’s resume builder is pleasingly straightforward. There are eight clean, modern templates to use, and users can deploy a small selection of different accent colors and fonts to personalize the document. It’s easy to type in your personal details, education history and previous employment, and Indeed suggests relevant skills that you can add to the document with a single click.

Once you’ve added those and any extra professional certifications, the basic resume is finished, and you’re given a preview of the document alongside the option to add sections for languages, website links, awards, community achievements and more.

You can make the document public or private – if you choose the former, it can help you apply for jobs on Indeed.com – and you can also download the resume as a PDF file if you’d like to use it for applications elsewhere. And, if you don’t want to use Indeed’s full resume builder, you can use a wizard to create a basic document with a step-by-step process.

It’s extremely easy to edit your resume and add information after you’ve been through the initial creation process, and a personalized link is also available if you want to share the document with other people online. And, if you pay extra, Indeed.com also offers resume reviews.

Indeed.com’s resume builder is basic compared to many of the others mentioned here – you don’t get as many editing and layout options as other sites. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, though, because it means that Indeed.com can quickly and easily create an effective resume that contains all the information that recruiters need – and, as an added bonus, it’s completely free.

Also check out the best freelancer websites .

What is a resume builder?

Resume builders are online apps that offer interactive templates and forms for swiftly building a seamless resume. While some resume builders need you to fill out all the information manually, some provide relevant pre-written phrases and allow you to import data. 

You'll find various free and paid resume builders online. 

How to choose the best resume builders for you?

To determine the best resume builder for yourself, start with considering whether you want a free or paid option and all the areas you need support with — design, content, or review. If you have your content ready and just need a tool to set up a cohesive and attractive resume, go with a resume builder that offers lovely templates and allows you to import data. 

If you need help with the content, check out builders that offer context-relevant insights and pre-written phrases. For those who want further assistance in reviewing the quality of their resume, you’ll want to opt for a builder that has a review or consultation service.

We tested many resume builders to select the best resume builders. We looked at their pricing plans — whether they were free, subscription-based, or if they had one-time payment options. We evaluated the variety of templates they had, the quality of their designs, the level of customizability they offered, and if there were data-importing options.

We considered whether they offered pre-written phrases and context-relevant tips, if there was a review service, and how straightforward the interface and resume-building process was. We also analyzed their customer service to check how prompt, helpful, and customer-oriented they were.

Read more on how we test, rate, and review products on TechRadar .

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Désiré has been musing and writing about technology during a career spanning four decades. He dabbled in website builders and web hosting when DHTML and frames were in vogue and started narrating about the impact of technology on society just before the start of the Y2K hysteria at the turn of the last millennium.

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12 Best Executive Resume Writing Services (2024)

Find the best resume writing services for executives. Compare cost and customer reviews of the top executive resume writing services.

2024 Winners: Add your badge to your marketing materials.

If you’re an executive, you need a resume writer that matches your expertise.

Your resume is an investment in the future of your career.

Gone are the days of searching for the least expensive resume service. More often than not, those are the services that use ghostwriters and templates and your resume looks like everyone else’s.

Experienced executive resume writers know what it takes to get you an interview.

They highlight your accomplishments, showcase your transferrable skills, emphasize your leadership skills… It’s much more than copying and pasting information into a one size fits all template.

It takes time and expertise to write a high-quality, executive-level resume. Understandably, this increases the cost of these resumes. So you aren’t going to find $100 – $200 services on this list.

You’re going to find high-caliber, senior-level resume writers on this list of the best executive resume writing services. These are the writers that take the time to do it right!

Best Executive Resume Writers

Best resume services for executives.

How We Choose Winners

Each of the executive resume writing services below was reviewed by a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) taking into consideration the following:

The cost of the service compared to other executive resume writers.

The speed at which the resume is completed.

Overall experience, awards, and certifications.

The design, style, and overall look of the resume.

Guarantees, number of edits, and reviews.

This list was designed to serve all industries and executive professions. We focused on resume writing services that cater to Director, Vice President, and C-Level roles.

Average Executive Resume Cost

Executive resume writer reviews.

Find My Profession

Find My Profession is much more than a resume writing service. They are a global career services company whose work has been featured on sites like Forbes, Inc., Zety, Fast Company, and more.

With their team of elite resume writers who have experience in over 85 industries and professions, they can match you with a writer who understands your unique background and experience. Additionally, every resume comes with a one-on-one phone consultation with your writer.

Find My Profession has an impressive track record of successfully landing clients jobs at top companies such as Apple, Amazon, EA, Oracle, GM, Facebook, DoJ, Morgan Stanley, and Tesla.

Their 900+ 5-star reviews speak to their commitment to delivering high-quality service. They also offer a 60-day interview guarantee and ensure that every resume created is Applicant Tracking System (ATS) compatible and highly customized to meet your specific needs.

You will work one-on-one with an elite and certified resume writer based in the U.S. Find My Profession is committed to ensuring that every client is 100% satisfied with their resume, which is why they do not limit the number of edits or time spent working with your writer.

Find My Profession is a virtual company allowing them to provide services worldwide. While they do not have a physical office for in-person visits, they ensure direct communication with your writer through email and phone calls.

4.9/5 based on 521 Trustpilot reviews 4.9/5 based on 319 Sitejabber reviews 4.9/5 based on 151 Google reviews 5/5 based on 52 Facebook reviews

3 – 5 business days (can expedite to 2 business days)

$795 – $995

(831) 888-0967 or [email protected]

Check out some of our 5-star reviews:

Alex on January 4, 2024

Resume & LinkedIn Profile

Belda Villalon on July 1, 2022

Michael on December 19, 2023

Exceptional resume

Michelle T on November 10, 2022

Professional Resume

Brigit on October 25, 2023

Highest quality of work

Beh on September 20, 2021

Professional. Experts…

Matt B on July 17, 2023

Excellent Experience

Chad B on May 2, 2022

Wonderful investment

ResumeZest is trusted by professionals from companies like Google, Amazon, Apple, Oracle, GE, Adobe, Uber, and Facebook. Their resume writing team has written resumes for more than 75 industries. A 60-day interview guarantee backs up every resume they write. Each resume is also ATS compliant and keyword-optimized.

ResumeZest is a very well-rounded company. They offer affordable pricing and quick turnaround times. You will work with a high-quality, certified writer and receive excellent customer service. They are also members of the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches (PARW/CC).

ResumeZest is one of the newer companies on this list. While they do a great job and their writers have many years of experience, the company was only founded in 2020.

4.8/5 based on 175 Trustpilot reviews 4.8/5 based on 93 Google reviews 4.9/5 based on 91 Sitejabber reviews 5/5 based on 12 Facebook reviews 5/5 based on 4 Yelp reviews

(888) 530-4911 or [email protected]

Need Help With Your Job Search?

Did you know there are companies you can hire to help with your job search? Whether you need resume help or want someone to apply to jobs for you, we’ve reviewed the 20 best agencies to help you find a job.

The Writing Guru

The Writing Guru specializes in writing executive and attorney-level resumes. The company was created by former college professor Wendi Weiner in 2010. Wendi is a member of the Professional Association of Resume Writers & Career Coaches (PARWCC). Most of her clients earn at least $250K – $3M+ annually.

Working with the Writing Guru means you’ll be working directly with Wendi, an award-winning resume writer who has written over 1,500 resumes. Since she specializes in executive resume writing, Wendi has developed a proven methodology for writing interview-winning resumes for her clients.

The Writing Guru’s services are among the most expensive on this list, with resume packages costing as much as $8,495. Their turnaround period of 4 – 6+ weeks makes this service a no-go if you have a tight deadline. Finally, you’re entitled to only two rounds of revisions.

4.9/5 based on 45 Google reviews 5/5 based on 24 Yelp reviews

4 – 6+ weeks

$2,395 – $2,695

(888) 285-9982 or [email protected]

Briefcase Coach

Briefcase Coach is owned by Sarah Johnston, a former recruiter. Sarah created the company in 2017 to market qualified job seekers and give them worthwhile employment opportunities. Balance Careers named this company one of the top executive resume writing firms for experienced executives.

Due to her experience on the other side of the hiring table, Sarah knows exactly what is needed to make her clients’ executive resumes stand out from the others. Also, executive-level resume samples are available on the website for prospective clients to view and assess.

Briefcase Coach offers no interview or satisfaction guarantees. The service also has very few online reviews from its previous clients. Although Sarah is experienced, she does not have any industry-recognized writing certifications.

5/5 based on 2 Google reviews

7 – 10 business days

(614) 706-3788 or [email protected]

Storeyline Resumes

Storyline Resumes   was founded by Robynn Storey in 2000. She has a powerful approach to resumes based on her experience as an HR executive. Robynn has a small, hand-picked team of professional resume writers based in PA. Their clients typically enjoy a 300% increase in interview requests.

The founder, Robynn, has more than eight years of HR experience and 22+ years of resume writing experience. You’ll find executive resume samples available on their website to view. Their team of 50+ US-based experienced writers and interviewers are skilled in every major career industry and field.

They promise to “work with you until you love what they’ve done for you.” However, this promise doesn’t expressly mean that they offer an interview guarantee. Also, aside from the founder, details of other members of their executive resume writing team are not provided.

4.4/5 based on 559 Google reviews 3.9/5 based on 81 BBB reviews

10 – 12 business days (can expedite to 48 hours)

$789 – $989

(724) 832-8845 or [email protected]

Great Resumes Fast

Great Resumes Fast was created in 2008 by Jessica Hernandez. Jessica has extensive experience in HR as a recruiter. She draws on this experience to create compelling resumes that showcase her clients’ strengths. Several recruiters and firms have touted the company as the “#1 resume writer for executives.”

Great Resumes Fast has been featured on popular media outlets such as Forbes, CNN, CNBC, and the like. Their resume writing team possesses four resume writing certifications including Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW). The team is also experienced in more than 75 industries.

Great Resumes Fast does not seem to require all its writers to have a resume writing certification. The company’s resume writing service is also one of the most expensive on this list. Also, the services do not come with any form of guarantees.

4.3/5 based on 239 Trustpilot reviews 4.3/5 based on 24 Google reviews 4.6/5 based on 13 Facebook reviews 5/5 based on 6 BBB reviews

3 – 5 business days

$895 – $1,195

(800) 991-5187 or [email protected]

Is Your Resume Working Properly?

If you are having trouble landing interviews, it might be time to hire a professional resume writer. Check out our list of the 750+ best resume writers and start landing more interviews!

ResumeGo was co-founded in 2015 by Peter Yang. Peter is a former HR manager at Hewlett-Packard, one of the most prestigious companies in America. Today, each member of the ResumeGo team has written hundreds of resumes for their numerous clients. They also have 70+ years of combined experience.

ResumeGo is one of the most affordable services on this list. The company provides you with unlimited revisions, a free LinkedIn profile makeover, and a money-back guarantee. Also, the details and qualifications of their resume writers are provided on the website.

Their “unlimited revisions” is actually limited to a period of 14 days. The standard turnaround time of 1 – 2 weeks is longer than most services. Also, we could not find any industry-recognized resume writing certifications for any member of their writing team.

4.6/5 based on 141 Sitejabber reviews 4.1/5 based on 65 Trustpilot reviews

1 – 2 weeks (can expedite to 48 hours)

[email protected]

Klaxos joined the resume writing industry in 2009. The company was created by former sales and marketing professional, Christian Moritz. Christian uses his sales and marketing experience to write resumes for professionals of all career levels, including executives. So far, he and his team have written 5,000+ resumes.

Klaxos offers a 60-day interview guarantee with all of their resume and LinkedIn profile writing services. They have a small team of in-house resume writers and never use overseas freelancers to write their clients’ resumes.

If you’re not satisfied with the initial resume you receive, Klaxos only offers three revisions. They don’t write long-form federal resumes. In addition, only one of their resume writers possesses a resume writing certification.

4.9/5 based on 180 Google reviews 4.6/5 based on 20 Yelp reviews

3 – 4 business days

$998 – $1,198+

(703) 679-7719

Chameleon Resumes

Chameleon Resumes has been recognized by Forbes as a Top 100 Career Website. Their team of corporate and search firm recruiters has 80 years of combined recruiting experience. This makes them a great resource for anyone looking to hire an executive resume writing service.

Chameleon Resumes has been in the resume writing business for quite some time. With over 13 years of recruiting experience, company founder Lisa Rangel knows what it takes for a resume to grab and retain the attention of hiring managers. There are also executive resume examples on the site to review.

With a price tag of over $7,000, you would think that the founder of this company writes the resumes herself. Unfortunately, she does not, and it is unclear what credentials the resume writers have. Also, there are no satisfaction or interview guarantees.

4.8/5 based on 48 Facebook reviews 4.5/5 based on 25 Google reviews 5/5 based on 15 Sitejabber reviews

3 – 4 weeks

(917) 447-1815

CareerProPlus

CareerProPlus specializes in writing corporate, military, and federal resumes. Created in 1986, they are a part of CareerPro Global (CPG), a national career group. CareerProPlus has written 65,000+ resumes and has been featured on CNN, NBC, and ABC. Barbara Adams is the current CEO of the company.

The CareerProPlus team consists of Certified Professional Resume Writers and Certified Advanced Resume Writers with more than 30 years of writing experience. The team has also been nominated for seven Toast of the Resume Industry (TORI) nominations.

For a company that has been in business for more than three decades, it’s strange that they have so few online reviews from previous customers. Also, there is no mention of the cost or turnaround time of their resume services. You would have to contact them for pricing details.

4.9/5 based on 94 BBB reviews 4.8/5 based on 47 Facebook reviews 4.5/5 based on 8 Yellowpages reviews 2.6/5 based on 5 Yelp reviews

(800) 471-9201

Career Steering

The founder of Career Steering, Rosa Elizabeth Vargas, has been writing executive resumes for more than 17 years. She also has a corporate background in HR and is a certified resume writer with multiple organizations. She has earned 26+ Toast of the Resume Industry (TORI) awards and nominations.

Your executive resume would be written by Rosa Elizabeth herself. This is great because she is a Nationally Certified Resume Writer and Academy Certified Resume Writer. She also has a small team of editors consisting of multi-certified resume writers with at least 15 years of experience.

Career Steering offers no interview guarantees. The service is also usually booked to capacity in advance. So, it may not be available when you need it. In addition, you’re entitled to only two rounds of revisions throughout the writing process.

4.9/5 based on 14 Google reviews

2 – 4+ weeks

(321) 704-7209 or [email protected]

iCareer Solutions

iCareerSolutions provides resume and LinkedIn profile services to professionals of all career levels. Founder Arno Markus is an experienced writer with 15 national and international resume writing awards and honors. He has prior experience as a recruiter and has helped 1,200+ clients with career advancement.

iCareerSolutions has helped their clients secure positions with top companies such as Apple, Google, NASA, and more. They offer a 60-day interview guarantee on some of their executive resume packages. Their writers are Certified Professional Resume Writers and Certified Advanced Resume Writers.

A turnaround time of 5 – 10 business days is fairly longer than the industry’s average. While the offices are located locally in New York and San Francisco, you cannot meet with your resume writer in-person. Also, the details of most members of their resume writing team are not provided on the website.

4.9/5 based on 56 Google reviews 4.7/5 based on 46 Trustpilot reviews 3/5 based on 2 BBB reviews

5 – 10 business days (can expedite to 2 business days)

$895 – $1,295

(914) 297-8807 or [email protected]

Previous Years Winners

Resume writing winners (2023).

Find My Profession, ResumeZest, The Writing Guru, Briefcase Coach, Storeyline Resumes, Great Resumes Fast, ResumeGo, Klaxos, Chameleon Resumes, CareerProPlus, Career Steering, iCareer Solutions

Resume Writing Winners (2022)

Resume writing winners (2021).

Find My Profession, The Creative Advantage, An Expert Resume, Great Resumes Fast, Mary Elizabeth Bradford, Chameleon Resumes, Kelly Donovan & Associates, AvidCareerist, Career Steering

Key Takeaways

Selecting the best executive resume writing service is crucial for your career success. This article has provided a comprehensive list of top services to help you make an informed decision.

Among these, Find My Profession stands out as a leader in the industry, offering personalized and effective executive resume writing services.

With a 60-Day Interview Guarantee, executive-level writers, and a proven track record, Find My Profession is the go-to choice for professionals seeking to elevate their careers.

Invest in your future today by choosing Find My Profession’s executive resume writing services.

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I tested 5 AI resume builders to help get a job — here's what happened

Here’s how to apply for a job using AI

I long for the day when I’ll wake up in the morning and get my AI ready to go to work for me . Until that time comes, the least AI could do for me today is to help me land a job I like.

Not everyone is a fan of resume and cover letters, but they remain staples in many recruitment processes.

For years, employers have also been using forms of AI to filter through these documents in order to narrow down the pool of applications they receive for any given vacancy. 

The latest advances in generative AI mean that right now employees can leverage AI tools at their disposal to empower themselves in the job-hunting process.

I wanted to see how powerful these tools are. To find out, I created a shortlist of AI resume and cover letter builders that I wanted to try. Tom’s Guide believes in fair fights, so I used each of them as though I was applying for the same job with the same profile.

A target was required and I found a LinkedIn ad for a real job as a remote Software Engineer with generative AI responsibilities at Meta (formerly Facebook) that looked promising.

The role asked for a candidate with over two years of coding experience and over two years of building large-scale applications. More experience was required in designing and completing medium to large features without guidance. Meta was looking for a candidate with, or in the process of obtaining, a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering or equivalent practical experience. In exchange, the company was offering a salary between $116k and $168k per year.

Sign up to get the BEST of Tom’s Guide direct to your inbox.

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I created a fictitious aspiring Meta software engineer, Tamsin Smith, in order to have some kind of profile I could submit to the AI. Smith holds two Stanford University degrees in computing science, completed an internship with Twitter and has been working at Google as a software engineer since 2019. 

If that’s not enough for Mark Zuckerberg to give her an offer, she also leads a local scouting group in her free time.

With an actual job ad and an alter ego in hand, I was ready to start reviewing AI tools. Read on to find out which tools I used, what they produced and my thoughts on their performance.

My first attempt was with Rezi.ai since it offers a free basic service and I wanted to check if the way I designed the review could work in principle. And it did!

Right after confirming my email, I was creating Tamsin Smith’s first resume.

I was presented with a choice between a “Job-Tailored Resume” and a “General Purpose Resume”; I went with the first choice as it was exactly what this test was about. It asked me for the role and company I’m targeting but I was blindsided when Rezi asked me to insert a job application I’d written for the role. Isn’t this something the AI should be doing for me?

I finished this side quest and then added basic details like my name and email, followed by my previous work experience. Here’s when I first encountered signs of AI life in the form of a bullet point generator to further explain my role. 

Rezi went on to ask me to add details on projects I’d worked on, my education history, certifications, coursework, involvement in other organizations, and my skills.

The next exciting step was the summary section, where I gladly let the AI take control. It was nothing I couldn’t have come up with myself if I simply wanted to summarize my resume, but it at least merits a pass mark. (I wanted to ask the AI to write a cover letter for me based on the finished resume but that feature requires a subscription.)

Overall Rezi marked the resume it produced at 87 out of 100, which I think is a bit too generous. If you have a rough idea of what you want your resume to look like, by all means, use Rezi so you don’t have to worry about the formatting. It might also provide a helpful AI-generated bullet point or two along the way.

If you were worried that not using Rezi’s AI was the one thing stopping you from getting your dream job, rest assured that (at least with its free version) this is not the case.

My score: 3/5

Resumaker.ai

“Designed templates that will get you hired at the world's leading companies,” Resumaker proudly displayed on its homepage. I also had to pay ($0.99) to download my resume and cover letter. Surely, I was on the verge of getting Tamsin hired?

By now I’d gotten the hang of inserting details like my education and work history. In this regard, little separates the resume builders tested here.

The AI kicked in to provide me with text I could insert as accomplishments in my jobs and as the headline summary. The latter left much to be desired but at least it was presentable. Resumaker didn’t offer to beef up my volunteering section so I had to write that part manually. As a whole, the resume felt a bit dry but at least it was presentable.

However, it’s a good thing this service isn’t called Coverlettermaker. Every sentence it generated started with either an “I am” or “I have”. When you’re working with such a structure, there’s only so much you can do to make the rest more exciting. Furthermore, it left the [Company Name] field for me to fill in. AI that’s supposed to help me land a job in a highly competitive market should come with higher standards. 

Resumaker.ai claims that thousands of applications it created landed people jobs. If there’s any truth to that, then on the bright side we really shouldn’t be overthinking what we’re sending to hiring managers.

The main question I asked myself before deciding whether each AI builder deserved a pass mark was: Can I send out the résumé as is? 

Teal didn’t quite make the cut here.

It asked me to connect the specific job I was applying for from LinkedIn to the resume and it started analyzing the job ad for keywords I should include. Fantastic! I was ready for a made-to-measure summary, past accomplishments, and cover letter — the areas where I wanted the AI to work its magic.

Unfortunately, this is where I felt let down. In the headline summary, Teal ended up giving me a compilation of the achievements it had previously generated but also prominently added that I had expertise in “work authorization”. The AI thought the right to work in the U.S. requirement from Meta’s job description was a hard skill. 

It scored its own resume at 79%.

As far as its cover letter goes, I appreciated that I could generate it for free without having to spend time adding more details than I already had. However, the result was something I could have just as easily written myself.

My score: 2/5

Kickresume.com

The last AI resume maker I wanted to test was Kickresume, which had the highest monthly fee out of the lot at $19 per month. You can bring that down by paying an annual lump sum that brings the pricing down to $9 a month or, as I did, utilize the free trial version. 

Right when I was losing hope in the resume generators, Kickresume lifted my spirits.

Its helpful AI writer was alongside me from start to finish, offering handy suggestions for work accomplishments, explaining my certifications, and also suggesting skills I should list specifically for a software engineering position. I ended up with a clean-looking CV and I didn’t even have to break a sweat.

Kickresume gave the resume it generated a score of 88/100.

If I’m in a pinch and need a new resume that I don’t have to scan for AI-generated sentences that would land me in the "rejected" pile, Kickresume.com is the first website I’ll be visiting.

I wanted to add a nice cherry to the cake, so I asked Kickresume to create a cover letter using the great resume it made. But this is where I was underwhelmed. 

While devoid of grammatical errors, I felt as though the AI didn’t take the résumé and job description I gave into consideration. It provided me with a few short lines that didn’t even name-drop Tamsin’s fictitious stints at Twitter and Google. You wouldn’t even know she completed two degrees at Stanford. Based on my positive experience with the résumé, I couldn’t believe this was the same AI content generator.

My score: 4/5

No subscriptions. No plugins. I wanted to see how well the free version of OpenAI ’s ChatGPT would do against the four dedicated AI resume and cover letter generators listed above.

I tweaked a prompt that I found online and, in 161 words, I asked the AI for a first draft of my new resume. I then asked the chatbot to refine its work based on the job description I gave it to make my resume less generic. In seconds, I had my second draft.

Since ChatGPT only gave me a plain text version of my resume, I then pasted what it gave me into a template from one of the previous builders.

I’m happy to announce that both myself and Tamsin were very pleased with the results. The resume easily rivals the ones generated from the other services I tested. I wouldn’t have minded some text to beef up the education section to explain what I had learned at Stanford. Also, the line pointing out that Meta was previously called Facebook is something I would never have included in a resume intended for Meta’s eyes. Other than that, ChatGPT gave me decent results in the shortest amount of time.

I was especially impressed with the cover letter I asked ChatGPT to craft for me. It was perhaps a bit too long for some tastes but it was arguably the most well-rounded out of the five.

Honorary score: 4/5

The verdict

There have already been reports of people using AI to write resumes and cover letters who ended up getting hired for the positions they’ve applied for, and I’m not surprised. But as this test has shown, a website’s claim that it uses AI to provide a service is not some kind of guarantee of the level of service you can expect. 

Shop around when looking for AI resume and cover letter writers. Perhaps combine two or more of them to leverage each one’s specific strengths. But add the finishing touches yourself.

More from Tom's Guide

• Google's new Gemini AI could beat ChatGPT — here's why
• Google’s plan to train its AI now includes the entire public internet
• 3 best AI synthetic video generators you can use today — tested and compared

Christoph Schwaiger is a journalist who mainly covers technology, science, and current affairs. His stories have appeared in Tom's Guide, New Scientist, Live Science, and other established publications. Always up for joining a good discussion, Christoph enjoys speaking at events or to other journalists and has appeared on LBC and Times Radio among other outlets. He believes in giving back to the community and has served on different consultative councils. He was also a National President for Junior Chamber International (JCI), a global organization founded in the USA. You can follow him on Twitter @cschwaigermt.

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How To Write A Resume In 7 Steps (With Examples)

• How To Write A Resume
• Resume Skills Section
• Resume Objective Section
• Career Objective Section
• Resume Reference Section
• Resume Summary Section
• Resume Summary Example
• Resume Interests Section
• Address On Resume
• Relevant Work Experience
• Anticipated Graduation Date On Resume
• Education Section On Resume
• Contact Information On Resume
• Statement Of Qualifications
• How To List Publications On Resume
• Accomplishments On Resumes
• Awards On Resume
• Dean's List On Resume
• Study Abroad On Resume

Resumes are still the most important document in your job search . Generating a professional and interesting resume isn’t easy, but there is a standard set of guidelines that you can follow. As hiring managers usually only spend a short time looking over each resume, you want to make sure that yours has a reason for them to keep reading.

If you’re looking to write a resume, rewrite a resume you already have, or are just curious about resume format, then you’ve come to the right place. This article will go through the steps to writing an excellent resume, as well as offering examples for what sections of the resume should look like.

Key Takeaways:

A resume is a short document that details your professional history in a way that tailors your experience and skill set for the particular job you’re applying for.

Resumes follow a few standard formatting practices, which hiring managers and recruiters expect to see.

Highlighting your work experience, skills, and educational background with relevant keywords can help you get past applicant tracking systems and into more interviews.

How to write a resume

Writing a resume involves using the proper formatting, writing an introduction, and adding your work experience and education. Stuffing your entire professional life into a single page resume can feel overwhelming, but remember that you’re distilling the relevant parts of your professional experience in order to catch the eye of the recruiter .

Formatting your resume. To start, use a word processor such as Microsoft Word or Google docs. Standard resume formatting calls for:

1 inch margins

10-12 point font

A professional, commonly-used font

Additionally, there are three resume formats that are commonly used. Most people should stick with a chronological resume format , but the combination resume format and functional resume format can be effective for more advanced workers or those who have significant gaps in their resume.

Write a resume header . It doesn’t matter if you have the best resume in the world if the hiring manager can’t contact you. Every single resume should include the following contact information:

Your full name. First and last.

Your phone number. Use a personal phone number, and make sure your voicemail is set up properly.

Your email address. Nothing inappropriate — [email protected] is a safe choice.

Location. City, State, Zip Code is fine, but you can include your full mailing address if you think it’s appropriate.

Your social media (optional). LinkedIn is the obvious one you’d want to include, but make sure your profile looks good. If you have an online portfolio , either on a personal blog/website or on a site like Journo Portfolio , feel free to include that here as well.

Your job title. Also optional, but can be useful for applicant tracking systems.

Resume introduction. You have four options for your resume introduction: a resume objective, summary statement, resume profile, or qualifications summary. For most job-seekers, a resume summary statement is the best choice. Regardless of which resume introduction you choose, avoid first-person pronouns (I/me/my).

Resume objective. A resume objective is the goal of your resume. Since the objective of every resume is to land a job, this is not the most original or impressive opener you can have.

On the other hand, it’s a good choice for an entry-level applicant or someone who is changing career paths . This should be a 1-3 sentence summary of why you’re motivated to get the position you’re applying for.

Who should use a resume objective: Entry-level applicants, career-changers, and recent college graduates.

Resume summary. This is the best opener for most job-seekers. As the name suggests, a resume summary highlights the most salient aspects of your resume.

It should include your current position, how many years of experience you have, some of your biggest achievements, and possibly your career goals. This should be a 1-3 sentence spiel and should include some quantifiable experiences.

Who should use a resume summary: Most job seekers; anyone with quantifiable accomplishments to emphasize and a broad range of skills.

Qualifications summary. A bullet point list (4-6 points is the sweet spot) of your qualifications for the position. It’s best used by applicants going for jobs that require a fixed skill set. It’s not a great choice for entry-level applicants who lack quantifiable achievements.

You’ll notice that a qualifications summary takes up more space than a resume objective or summary, but it can actually save the hiring manager time if you provide a bunch of valuable information right off the top.

Who should use a qualifications summary: Those applying to a job with requirements for certain skills and job-seekers who have a lot of experience in their industry and/or field.

Resume profile. A resume profile is similar to a resume summary, but goes into more detail about your accomplishments at your current or former job, while also telling the reader about your career goals. Think of a resume profile as a section that pulls all the best parts of your work experience section into one place.

Who should use a resume profile: Anyone with significant accomplishments under their belt, expertise in a niche field, or applying to a job in the same industry that they have lots of experience in.

Resume headline. Resume headlines aren’t necessary, but you can include one alongside any of the four types of resume introduction listed above. A resume headline comes between your contact information and the resume introduction of your choice.

Headlines can be used by entry-level applicants and experienced job-seekers alike. The important point is that your headline should be short and to the point. Additionally, you should use title case when writing your resume headline (capitalize words as you would for a book title).

Who should use a resume headline: Any job-seeker who wants to showcase their experience or unique value right off the bat.

Work experience. Your work experience section is the place to let hiring managers know that you have relevant experience that would allow you to handle the job you’re applying for.

If you’re using the chronological resume format, your work experience section would come after your resume summary/objective. In a funcitonal reumse, it would follow your skills section. Either way, work experience should be listed in reverse-chronological order (most recent experience at the top).

When listing your work experience, you should include all of the following information:

Job title. Start by stating the position you held at the company. These are easy cue for the hiring manager to look at and determine whether your past positions would help you succeed at their company.

Company Info. Include the name of the employer, the location where you worked, and perhaps a brief description of the company, if it isn’t a well-known name.

Dates Employed: Use the mm/yyyy format if you want to be sure that most applicant tracking systems (ATS) will pick it up. Whatever format you use for dates, be consistent, or your resume will look sloppy.

Job Description. Don’t just list your job’s responsibilities; hiring managers and recruiters already have an idea of your duties based on the job title. Instead, list your most important and impressive responsibilities/achievements at the job with bullet points. Determine which of these are most relevant for your new role based on the job description.

Ideally, each bullet should be no longer than a single line. However, two lines is acceptable, if used sparingly.

Always start with a strong action verb, followed by a quantifiable achievement and a specific duty. For example: “Developed ad campaigns for clients, increasing sales by an average of 27%.” Each job title should include 3-5 bullet points.

The order that you include this information can be changed around, as long as you are consistent throughout your resume. However, the bullet points detailing your job’s achievements should always be the last item for each entry.

It’s important that you tailor your resume’s work experience section to the job you’re applying for. We recommend reading the job description carefully and highlighting the action verbs in one color and the skills, adjectives, and job-specific nouns in a different color.

Educational background. In almost all cases, your education section should come after your professional history. If you’re a recent college graduate with limited work experience, you may choose to put your educational achievements first.

Like the section on your professional history, educational experiences should come in reverse-chronological order, with your highest level of education at the top. If you have a college degree, you don’t need to add any information about your high school experience. If you didn’t finish college, it’s okay to give a list of what credits you did complete.

Each educational experience can be listed in the following format:

Degree/Program Name College/University Name Dates attended

You don’t need to add anything else, especially if your resume is already impressive enough. But if you’re struggling to fill up the page, or you feel that aspects of your educational experience will help make you a standout, you may consider also including:

Minor. If you think it rounds out your not-exactly-relevant-to-the-job major nicely.

GPA. Only if it was 3.5 or higher. Otherwise, it’s not going to do you any favors to include this.

Honors. Dean’s List, Cum Laude, etc.

Achievements. If you wrote a killer thesis/dissertation that showcases intimate knowledge relevant to the job to which you’re applying, you can include its title and a very brief description.

Extracurricular activities. Only include if they’re relevant. For example, if you’re applying for a management position and you were president of your student government.

Certifications/Licenses. If the job you’re applying for requires/likes to see certain certifications or licenses that you have, you may include them in this section as well.

Skills section. Your impressive skills should be scattered logistically throughout your professional history section, but you should also include a section solely dedicated to highlighting your skill set . Skills can be broken down into two categories:

Hard skills are skills you learn through training and indicate expertise with a technical ability or job-specific responsibility.

Soft skills are your personality traits, interpersonal abilities, and intangible qualities that make you more effective at your job.

Your resume should have a healthy mix of hard and soft skills, as both are essential to job performance. However, since soft skills are harder to prove in the context of a resume, we recommend leaning more toward hard skills. Additionally, whenever you list a soft skill, make sure that it has a correlating item in your work experience section.

For example, if you say you are skilled in collaboration, you should mention a time when a team project was a major success somewhere in your work experience section.

Optional sections. If you still have space left or there’s more you want to show off that doesn’t quite fit in any of the above sections, you may consider adding an additional section covering one or more of the below categories:

Language . Being bilingual is always impressive, and can be included on a resume for any company. Highlight this more if your position involves liaising with international distributors and/or clients. Don’t lie about your proficiency level.

It may be best to not mention it if you’re not particularly proficient speaker . Such as if you took courses in school, or haven’t really managed to gain fluency. It can end up looking like an attempt to inflate your credentials, which you want to avoid.

Volunteer experience . Always a good thing to include. It shows you’re a team player who behaves in a way that promotes the greater good, without thought of personal gain. Especially good for entry-level candidates and those applying for jobs at a non-profit. If you have gaps in your work history, you can also consider including volunteer experiences in your work history section instead.

Personal projects. A personal blog, published works, or a portfolio of your past projects are all good things to include. They show you take initiative, enjoy and take pride in your work, and that you can handle the responsibilities of the job, if relevant.

Certifications/licenses. If you didn’t include these in your education section, this is another good place to list relevant certifications or licenses that you have.

Interests . This is largely just a space filler if your resume is light in other areas. However, if your hobbies are directly related to the job that you’re applying for, it’s not a bad idea to include them. And it might draw a recruiter’s attention if you end up sharing some of the same interests as they do.

If you have several seemingly random items that are valuable, but don’t warrant creating a whole separate section for, you can also make a section called “Additional Experience.” Here you can include all of the above categories in one place. Just make sure that each item is clear and easy for readers to understand.

Resume samples

Now that we have a good idea of how to write a resume, let’s take a look at some example resumes:

Jack Pilgrim Washington , DC 14015 – (555) 444-3333 – [email protected] – www.linkedin.com/jpilgrim Resume Summary Graphic designer with 3+ years of experience creating and implementing promotional materials and social media graphics. Worked with sales and marketing teams to increase inbound calls by 23% YoY through compelling digital media. Adept at planning, managing, and prioritizing multiple deadlines at once, and thrives in fast-paced work environment. Work Experience Creative Designs | Washington, DC Lead Graphic Designer | June 2018-Present Worked with sales and marketing teams to create landing pages, sales proposals, and supporting media elements to drive sales by over $250,000 per quarter Trained, managed, and mentored team of 4 junior designers to fulfill 40+ project orders on a weekly basis Conducted UX research through surveys, usability testing, and data analysis to plan content marketing strategy, driving organic search traffic by 12% Presented proposals, results, and status updates to set of 4-7 clients, ensuring customer satisfaction at or above 95% for 3 years straight Happy Place | Alexandria, VA Junior Graphic Designer | July 2016-May 2018 Translated client needs and branding strategies into design and content strategy, increasing client retention by 22% Reduced project turnaround time by 8% by Utilizing web-based ticket system for completing and archiving finalized pieces Posted digital artwork to network IPTV using web interface to produce high-end info-graphics and other materials Happy Place | Alexandria, VA Marketing Intern | September 2015-July 2016 Assisted marketing team with data collection, analysis, and presentation using Google Analytics Drew up storyboards for new marketing campaigns alongside sales team, increasing brand awareness through social media Wrote 500-1000 word articles to pair with graphical elements on page, leading to a 40% boost in engagement on company website Education Savannah College of Art and Design | Savannah, Georgia May 2016 Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design Skills Adobe Creative Suite Typography HTML/CSS WordPress Collaboration Organization

Allison Neederly Chicago, Illinois , 60007 | (333) 222-1111 | [email protected] | www.linkedin.com/allison.neederly Resume Summary Dedicated customer service representative with 4+ years experience resolving customers’ needs in-person, online, and over the phone. Top achiever at XYZ Inc. with a 100% customer satisfaction rate for Q1 of 2020. Friendly personable, and knowledgable about company’s products and services. Relevant Skills Customer Service Responded to upwards of 200 customer queries daily with XYZ Inc., reducing the average wait time by 56% and increasing customer satisfaction rates by 13% Ability to resolve conflict and create a positive atmosphere for shopping for both new and existing customers through technical proficiency Expert product knowledge and communication skills, and experience training and mentoring new customer service staff Web Chat and Phone Skilled in 3 web chat platforms for helping online customers resolve their queries quickly and accurately Achieved fastest call resolution rate at XYZ Inc., with an average resolution time of under 5 minutes per customer Performed outbound calls for customer satisfaction surveys, as well as writing web-based surveys for 10,000+ customers Troubleshooting Detailed product knowledge allowed for customer technical issues to be resolved at rate within top 5% of all customer service associates at XYZ Inc. Created manual for step-by-step directions for troubleshooting that was implemented for team of 100+ customer service reps Positive attitude took average tech-related negative response from 1/5 stars to 4/5 stars, increasing trust in brands and services Work Experience XYZ Inc. | Philadelphia, PA Customer Service Associate New Look Global | Burlington, VT Junior Customer Service Representative L.L. Bean | Burlington, VT Sales Associate Education University of Vermont | Burlington, VT May 2012 Bachelor of Arts in Humanities

Priya Laghari New York, NY | (222) 111-0000 | [email protected] | www.priyabizdev.com Resume Profile Strategy Development: Grew John Deere’s international sales by 13% by tapping into undeserved countries in Southeast Asia Management: Oversaw a team of managers representing marketing, sales, and product teams. Streamlined collaborative, cross-functional communications through agile and scrum management system CRM: Developed, customized, and implemented new customer relationship management database for accounts totaling over $10M in value Work Experience Business Development Manager 01/2015-Present Microsoft | Redmond, WA Developed product strategies and roadmap for Google AdWords, increasing inbound traffic by 26% YoY Reduced time training on new software by 50% for new and existing employees by implement e-learning programs Spearheaded digital marketing campaign worth $1M that saw a return of 200% in first year by qualifying leads earlier in the sales funnel Regional Sales Manager 11/2012-01/2015 Big Things Inc. | St. Louis, MO Managed territory encompassing 29 regional locations with an annual revenue of approx. $55M Worked with C-level executives to plan business strategies, resulting in 20% reduction in overhead costs Increased client retention by 12% in first year by implementing a CRM approach based on account profiling and elevating levels of relationship selling Account Manager 02/2009-11/2012 Solutions Corp. | Chicago, IL Implemented and developed CRM strategic plans, increasing retention of long-term clients by 22% Maintained 50+ accounts totaling over $35M in value Generated leads through one-on-one consultation via phone inquiries, online check-ins, and meeting office walk-ins Relevant Skills CRM: Proficient with Salesforce, Zoho, and HubSpot; some experience with Keap. Used various CRM software over a decade to successfully manage customer relations and quick to adapt to new software and tools that aid in quality of customer experience. Salesmanship: Negotiated and closed over several deals worth $1M+ and skilled in upselling and cross-selling. Adept at working closely with marketing and product teams to maximize the efficiency of the sales funnel for both inbound and outbound traffic. Presentation: Represented Microsoft Northwest Region at quarterly board meetings, ensuring all stakeholders were kept abreast of new developments and opportunities. Also deliver monthly presentations to big clients and vendors to maintain positive relationship. Data analytics. Expert at integrating data from various analytics platforms, including Google, Microsoft Power BI, and SAP BusinessObjects Education Colgate University | May 2008 MBA Fordham University | May 2006 Bachelor’s Degree in Business

For more resume examples and templates:

Resume examples by job

Google docs resume template

Resume templates

Resume builder

Resume Headers Samples:

Tip : Never put your contact info in the header of your document; some applicant tracking systems might miss it.

For more on how to write a resume header:

Resume Header

Resume Titles

Resume introduction examples

Entry-Level Resume Objective.

Recent graduate with a bachelor’s in Marketing from the University of Virginia seeking an entry-level role in content marketing. Excellent copywriter with 2+ years experience editing content as a member of the UVa Writing Center.

Career Change Resume Objective.

Eager to apply 7+ years of experience with customer success management to make successful outbound B2B calls, deliver customized business solutions to new and existing customers, and provide expert product knowledge in the role of Account Manager for XYZ Inc.

Example Resume Summary Statement.

Accountant with over 8 years of experience in the medical industry. Adept at advising on management of cash deficits, reconciling departmental accounts, and creating new accounts and codes. Coordinated invoice preparation system for ABC that reduced contractor overhead by 19% YoY.

English teacher with a love of language and 6 years of experience teaching high school students. Developed new curriculum that boosted freshman reading comprehension scores by 12% and created after school book club for AP Lit class, resulting in 100% of participating students achieving a 5 on the AP Lit test.

Example Qualifications Summary.

Executive assistant with 5+ years experience helping maintain efficiency in an office of 25 employees Communicated directly with internal and external stakeholders, helping Senior Vice President manage projects worth $5M+ Proactively managed office schedules, identifying and prioritizing changes to ensure client satisfaction Recognized in a company of 500 for “Outstanding Achiever” in May 2019

Example Resume Profile.

Detail-oriented IT Specialist with 4 years of experience overseeing and improving the infrastructure of IT systems. Adept at building and running troubleshooting systems and testing services. Decreased security risk by 47% through continual optimization, while also improving the speed of client portal by 22%. Excellent communicator both internally and for client-facing discussions. Achieved 98%+ customer satisfaction ratings through weekly and monthly check-ins with accounts valued cumulatively at $500,000.

Entry-Level Resume Headline.

Bilingual College Graduate with 80 WPM Typing Speed and Tutoring Experience

Experienced Resume Headline.

Business Development Specialist with 6+ Years Experience Scaling Start-Up Tech Teams

For more on resume introductions:

Resume objective statement

Resume summary statement

Resume summary statement examples

Qualifications summary

Sample resume work experience sections

Work Experience XYZ Industries | Seattle, WA Marketing Associate | May 2019-Present Delivered weekly presentations to client-base to communicate brand messaging, increasing client retention by 11% Served as liaison between marketing and product teams, resulting in projects finishing 2 weeks early, on average Leveraged Excel skills to create and maintain spreadsheet to track consumer insights, emergent trends, and inform decisions of marketing team through competitive analysis Managed team of 5 contractors to juggle multiple priority projects simultaneously, never missing a deadline Initiated an affiliate referral program that PR team went on to turn into a revenue-generating stream valued at $30,000 annually ABC Corp | Seattle, WA Marketing Intern | September 2018-May 2019 Developed, maintained, and processed 20+ digital consent forms and distributor forms Worked collaboratively with a team of 10 marketing professionals, closely aligning our goals with the PR team Provided data analysis using Google Analytics and performed keyword research to increase blog traffic by 56% over six months Answered up to 50 customer queries by phone and email each week

For more on building the perfect resume work experience section:

Resume work experience section

First resume (no experience)

Examples Of Education Resume Sections

Graduated recently from a 4-year program.

Western Illinois University | Macomb, Illinois May 2020 Bachelor of Arts in Sociology | Minor in Psychology 3.95 GPA magna cum laude Dean’s List all semesters

Two degrees.

Fordham University | Bronx, New York April 2016 Master of Chemical Engineering Stony Brook University | Stony Brook, New York April 2014 Bachelor of Science in Chemistry

Anticipated graduation date (not yet graduated).

DePaul Univeristy | Chicago, Illinois Bachelor of Arts in History – Degree anticipated May 2021 Current GPA: 3.8

Older job seeker (graduated 10+ years ago).

University of Chicago | Chicago, Illinois Bachelor of Business Administration

High school graduate (no college degree).

Johnston High School 2016-2020 Head of Computer Club

More on crafting the perfect resume education section:

Education resume section

GPA on resume

Dean’s list

Magna cum laude

Examples Of Skills For Resume

Examples of hard skills include:

Examples of soft skills include:

Here’s more information on how to incorporate skills into your resume:

Resume skills section

Hard skills

Soft skills

Top skills for professionals

Skills-based resume

Resume writing FAQ

What is a resume?

A resume is a one to two-page document that focuses on professional experience, past achievements, education and certifications, and specific skills tailored to the job you’re applying for.

Almost every job application requires a resume, and hiring managers use them as a first impression in determining which applicants get a shot at an interview.

Whether you’re fresh out of college or have 30 years of professional experience, this guide should help craft a resume that stands out from the crowd and get you one step closer to landing your dream job.

What is the format for writing a good resume?

Most people will want to use a chronological or reverse-chronological resume format. This format is compatible with most applicant tracking systems (ATS) and is easy for employers to read. Additionally it helps highlight your experience, which helps prove your qualifications.

How far back should a resume go?

A resume should go back no further than 10 to 15 years. However, it is important that all your information is relevant. Therefore, do not include job experience that is irrelevant to your application, even if it’s fewer than 10 years old. Save that information for later discussions.

Should you personalize your resume for each job?

Yes, you should personalize your resume for each job you apply to. Many recruiters use ATS now, which will search for keywords in a resume and reject those that don’t have them. That means that the skills you choose to highlight as well as your opening, such as your resume summary, should be altered to suit each job you apply to.

You don’t need to rewrite the entire resume for each job, but it does show attention to detail and initiative to make sure that your resume is customized. It also makes it more likely that you’ll get past the first step of the process.

State of New York Department of Labor – Resumes, Cover Letters and Job Applications

Harvard University – Create a Resume/CV or Cover Letter

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Matthew Zane is the lead editor of Zippia's How To Get A Job Guides. He is a teacher, writer, and world-traveler that wants to help people at every stage of the career life cycle. He completed his masters in American Literature from Trinity College Dublin and BA in English from the University of Connecticut.

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ChatGPT vs. Microsoft Copilot vs. Gemini: Which is the best AI chatbot?

Artificial intelligence (AI) has transformed how we work and play  in recent months, giving almost anyone the ability to write code , create art , and even make investments . For professional and hobbyist users alike, generative AI tools, such as  ChatGPT , offer advanced capabilities to create decent-quality content from a simple user prompt. 

Keeping up with all the latest AI tools can get confusing, especially as Microsoft added  GPT-4 to Bing Chat  and renamed it to Copilot, OpenAI added new capabilities to ChatGPT and released GPT-4o , and Google plugged Bard   into its ecosystem  and rebranded the chatbot as Gemini .

Also: How to use ChatGPT (and how to access GPT-4o)

Knowing which of the three most popular AI chatbots is best to write code , generate text , or help build resumes is challenging. Let's break down the biggest differences so you can choose the one that best meets your needs. 

Testing ChatGPT vs. Microsoft Copilot vs. Gemini

To help determine which AI chatbot gives more accurate answers, I'm going to use a simple prompt to compare them: 

"I have 5 oranges today, I ate 3 oranges last week. How many oranges do I have left?"

The answer should be five, as the number of oranges I ate last week doesn't affect the number of oranges I have today. First up, ChatGPT.

You should use ChatGPT if...

1. you want the most advanced ai chatbot for free.

OpenAI lets users access ChatGPT , powered by its GPT-3.5 and the GPT-4o models, for free with a registered account. If you're willing to pay for the Plus version, you can access GPT-4, use a higher prompt limit for GPT-4o, and get early access to new features for $20 per month.

ChatGPT with GPT-4o, available for free users, answered the question correctly. 

GPT-4o is a new multimodal model available to free and paying ChatGPT users. Rather than relying on three separate models to power its features -- GPT-4 for text, DALL-E 3 for images, and Whisper for voice -- ChatGPT now uses GPT-4o to process and generate text, images, and sounds. This makes it faster than GPT-4 for paying ChatGPT subscribers, and just as good for ChatGPT users who don't want to pay.

Aside from giving free ChatGPT users access to the latest GPT-4o model, the startup also announced that free users now get most of the features that until now were exclusive to ChatGPT Plus users. These include web browsing, access to custom GPTs, ChatGPT Memory, and advanced data analysis.

2. You want to try the most popular AI chatbot

OpenAI released a widespread preview of  ChatGPT  in November 2022. Since then, the AI chatbot quickly gained over 100 million users and has been at the center of  controversies , especially as people uncover its potential to  do schoolwork  and replace some work across industries.

Also: ChatGPT will put your data into interactive tables and charts with GPT-4o

Since its release, I've been testing ChatGPT almost daily. Although its user interface has remained simple, minor changes have greatly improved the tool, including GPT-4o for free users,  Custom Instructions , and easier access to accounts.

The free version of ChatGPT using the default GPT-3.5 model gave the wrong answer to our question.

Although ChatGPT has proven to be a valuable AI tool, it can be prone to  misinformation . Like other large language models (LLMs), GPT-3.5 is imperfect, as it is trained on human-created data up to January 2022. It also often fails to comprehend nuances, like it did with our math question example, which it answered incorrectly by saying we have two oranges left, when the answer should be five.

Also: I put GPT-4o through my coding tests and it aced them - except for one weird result

The GPT-4o model answered the math question correctly, having understood the full context of the problem from beginning to end.

Next, let's consider Microsoft Copilot , which is a great way to access GPT-4 for free.

You should use Microsoft Copilot if...

1. you want to use gpt-4 for free.

Although the free version of ChatGPT lets you use GPT-4o, access to free users is limited to about 15 messages every three hours or capped depending on peak hours, to keep it accessible to more people. After reaching your GPT-4o limit, your chat session reverts to GPT-3.5, limited to generating conversational text and information only until January 2022.

Also:  How to use Copilot (formerly called Bing Chat)

Meanwhile, Copilot can access the internet to deliver more current information than GPT-3.5, complete with links to sources.

Copilot's Creative conversation style was the only Copilot mode to answer the question accurately.

There are other benefits, too. Copilot is powered by GPT-4, OpenAI's LLM, and is completely free. Unfortunately, you are limited to five responses per conversation and can only enter up to 4,000 characters in each prompt. Copilot will eventually get GPT-4o built-in, but Microsoft hasn't made this update widely available, yet.

Also: Microsoft Copilot vs. Copilot Pro: Is the subscription fee worth it?

Copilot's user interface is a bit more cluttered than ChatGPT's, but it's still easy to navigate. While Copilot can access the internet to give you more up-to-date results compared to ChatGPT powered by GPT-3.5, I've found it is more prone to stalling before replying and will miss more prompts than its competitor.

2. You prefer more visual features

Microsoft has upgraded its platform several times to add visual features to Copilot, formerly Bing Chat. At this point, you can ask Copilot questions like, "What is a Tasmanian devil?" and get a response complete with photos, lifespan, diet, and more, for a more scannable result that is easier to digest than a wall of text. 

You can also ask Copilot to generate images for you. Give Copilot a description of what you want the image to look like, and the chatbot will generate four images for you to choose from. 

Also: How to use Image Creator from Microsoft Designer (formerly Bing Image Creator)

Microsoft Copilot features different conversational styles, including Creative, Balanced, and Precise, which alter how light or straightforward the interactions are.

The Balanced and Precise conversation styles in Microsoft Copilot answered my question inaccurately.

Finally, let's turn to Google's Gemini, formerly known as Bard. It uses Google's own LLM, also named Gemini, and has received considerable upgrades in the past few months.

You should use Gemini if...

1. you want a fast, almost unlimited experience.

In my time testing different AI chatbots, I saw  Google Bard catch a lot of flack for different shortcomings . While I'm not going to say they're unjustified, I will say that Google's AI chatbot, now named Gemini and powered by a completely different AI model than the one it debuted with, has improved greatly.

Also: How to use Gemini (formerly Google Bard): Everything you should know

Gemini gives speedy answers, which have become more accurate over time. It's not faster than ChatGPT Plus, but it can be faster at giving responses than Copilot and faster than the free GPT-3.5 version of ChatGPT, though your mileage may vary. 

Gemini answered accurately, like GPT-4o and Copilot's Creative conversation style.

Bard used to make the same mistake as other chatbots for my example math problem by incorrectly using the 5 - 3 = 2 formula, but Gemini, powered by Google's new Gemini Pro -- the company's largest LLM -- now answers the question accurately.

Also: Copilot Pro vs. ChatGPT Plus: Which is AI chatbot is worth your $20 a month?

Gemini is also not limited to a set number of responses. You can have long conversations with Google's Gemini, unlike with Copilot, which is limited to five replies in one conversation. Even ChatGPT Plus limits users to 40 messages every three hours. 

2. You want the full Google experience

Google also incorporates more visual elements into its Gemini platform than those currently available in Copilot. Users can generate images using Gemini, upload photos through an integration with Google Lens , and enjoy Kayak, OpenTable, Instacart, and Wolfram Alpha plugins.

Also: 6 AI tools to supercharge your work and everyday life

Gemini is slowly becoming a full Google experience thanks to extensions that add the wide range of Google applications. You can add extensions for Google Workspace, YouTube, Google Maps, Google Flights, and Google Hotels, giving you a more personalized and useful experience.

Artificial Intelligence

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