Resumes and Cover Letters

Guide to Resume and Cover Letter Writing Services

Where to go to get a winning resume and cover letter
By LaRita M. Heet

	Resume and Cover Letter Smarts Find a service that writes business cover letters focused on your industry. If you use a sample resume cover letter or cover letter templates, always customize them to reflect your personality. An error-free resume tells employers you are serious about your career.

The right resume and cover letter can mean the difference between a job of drudgery and life of financial strife, and a career that is professionally, personally, and financially rewarding. Not everyone has the skill, time, or energy to devote to writing a great resume and introductory cover letter, and that’s where the oh-so-valuable resume and cover letter writing services come into play.

The top three things to know about resume and cover letter writing services:

1. Choose a writing service that gives you resume and cover letter templates and a variety of sample resume/cover letter options.
   
2. Resumes and cover letters should not just list your skills and experiences, but articulate them powerfully in a way that the “you” on paper is as impressive as the real you.
   
3. A resume and cover letter that are written with precision and flawlessly executed – free of typos and other errors – go a long way toward securing an interview AND the job.

Action Steps to Find the Right Resume and Cover Letter Writer

The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Evaluate the resume and cover letter writing services Figure out your needs, budget, and time frame before approaching a writing service for assistance. Many resume services offer quick turn-around – 48 hours or less – at a somewhat higher price. But if this is the job of your dreams, then it’ll be worth every dime spent to get a resume that really promotes your qualifications.

I recommend:  Business.com helps you find the resources for writing or editing your professional resume.

Resumes and cover letters by industry One resume writer doesn’t fit all. If you want to be considered for the top positions in your industry, you – and your resume and cover letters – better be able to talk the talk, and know which things should and should not be said.

I recommend:  Find expert resume writers in the Business.com directory. Check out the great solutions from ResumeEdge, where you’ll find “certified” resume writers in 40 industries, plus many sample resume/cover letter options.

Find resume writing services that also post your resume online It’s true – there are many resume writing companies that not only write the resume, they post it online to strategically place you in view of the recruiters you want to notice you.

I recommend:  With the Resume Clinic’s Resu-Blast, your resume is written by Resume Clinic, and then instantly posted on more than 90 job boards, where it is exposed to up to 280 employers each day.

Sample resumes, sample cover letter options, cover letter templates, and more – oh my! Want to write your resume and cover letter in your own words? Then check out sample business cover letters and resume choices and personalize them with your own skills/experiences. Or, use cover letter templates to guide your own business cover letters – and watch the interviews line up!

I recommend:  Looking for a sample cover letter or sample resume? Business.com lists numerous sources, including Vault.com, which offers a sample cover letter for a variety of types of jobs. Check out Pongo Resume for a free trial and use their resume templates.

Tips & Tactics for Getting the Most Out of a Resume and Cover Letter Writing Service

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• Most resume and cover letter writing services allow you to work one-on-one with your resume writer so that person really gets to know you.
• Look into the different types of resumes offered by resume and cover letter writing services, to create a functional, chronological, or hybrid-modern resume.
• Find sample cover letter templates that include top resume phrase suggestions, dos and don’ts, and other resume creation tools.
• Your resume and cover letter shouldn’t just focus on your past accomplishments, but also on what you will contribute to the prospective employer.
• Find a service that will provide updated or a variety of business cover letters that are unique to the position(s) you’re seeking.