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If you’re looking for reviews of the best resume writers online, then you’ve come to the right place.
We’re going to highlight the top 8 paid resume writing services that we recommend, including:
- The best low-cost, affordable professional resume writer
- The 3 best mid-level options to have your resume professionally written
- The 2 best high-end, executive resume writing services
- The top resume writer for Silicon Valley and Tech leaders, Managers, and Executives
- How to decide: What is the best resume writing service for you?
Best Affordable/Low Cost Resume Writer: TopResume.com
TopResume is recommended on over 5,000 job sites and is the best online resume writing service for lower budgets (their services start at just $149 and include a monthly payment option, too).
It’s possible to find even cheaper resume writing services, especially on freelance websites like Fiverr or Upwork, but this is the lowest-priced, most affordable professional resume writing service that we’d trust or recommend.
The problem with extremely cheap resume writing services is: Below a certain price, it’s just not worth it in most cases, and you run the risk of dealing with a writer who isn’t experienced enough or qualified enough to know what hiring managers look for on a resume.
So, TopResume is the cheapest and most budget-friendly resume writing option on our list at just $149.
I had a phone call with a VP from TopResume last year, and he walked me through their process… and it’s extremely thorough for the price paid.
When you order, you get matched directly with a professional resume writer who will discuss the project with you, primarily via email, to ensure they deliver what you need.
You’ll work back and forth with this resume writer to provide information and make sure you’re getting the ideal resume for you – usually in 7-10 days total. The back-and-forth communication ensures there are no surprises at the end, and you get a document that you’re satisfied with.
They also offer a satisfaction guarantee where they’ll make changes/edits in the rare case that it’s needed.
So this is the ideal resume service for anyone who is budget-conscious but still wants a great-looking document that will get past applicant tracking systems and “wow” an employer.
View TopResume’s resume writing services here
Free Resume Review Tool:
Top Resume also offers a free software-based resume review tool that you can use even if you’re not sure you want to hire a professional resume writer yet. Here’s the link to use it:
Best Mid-Range Resume Writing Service (Option 1 of 3): JobStars USA
JobStars USA provides professional resume writing and career coaching for entry-level up through executive-levels. They’re versatile but very good (and very experienced).
Their cheapest package starts at $450.
If you decide to use JobStars USA, use the coupon code “Sidekick50” to save $50 off your order of $450 or more. I spoke with the founder, Doug, and got this as a special deal just for readers of CareerSidekick.
View JobStars USA’s Services Here
They also offer a resume “refresh” service:
A lot of job seekers ask me who I recommend for just improving/updating their existing resume. They want help from a pro resume writer, but they’ve already got a resume started.
And JobStars USA has a great service for this for all levels, which includes:
- Transitioning content to an ATS-friendly format
- Improving and proofreading content
- Adding recently held jobs
So if you have an older resume that you feel is pretty good, but could use an update, and needs to be refreshed to include your most recent position(s), then this service above is a good choice.
Best Mid-Range Resume Writing (Option 2 of 3): Let’s Eat, Grandma
Let’s Eat, Grandma is an award-winning professional resume writing service and one of the best resume companies for most job seekers.
They’ve kept their resume services affordable for the majority of job seekers while aiming to be at the top-end of the quality when it comes to mid-range resume writing.
Unless you’re looking to spend a thousand dollars or more and specifically need an executive resume, I recommend Let’s Eat, Grandma.
I’ve spoken with the founder, Chris Villanueva, who is a Certified Professional Resume Writer, and I found that we agree on everything in terms of career advice, job searching, and writing resumes.
When you visit the Let’s Eat, Grandma website, you’ll see a breakdown of their writing services and packages available.
At the time of writing this, packages range from $399 to $649.
If you have a budget in the above range, then Let’s Eat, Grandma is one of the best resume writing options to look at.
All packages include a cover letter, and higher-end packages include a LinkedIn profile and guide to outreach messages.
On their website, you’ll also find a free resume review, as well as samples of real resumes they’ve written for other job seekers, plus a description of their resume writing process.
Best Mid-Range Resume Writing Service (Option 3 of 3): CV Labs
CV Labs, led by Canadian career and resume writing expert Ana Lokotkova, offers professional resume writing services for a mid-range budget.
She takes a practical, straightforward approach to create a resume/CV and job search strategy that will get you results without any unnecessary steps or wasted time.
Along with a professionally written resume that will get you past the applicant tracking system of employers, CV Labs also offers LinkedIn profile writing services, cover letter writing services, and more.
Professional resume packages start at CAD $575 (equivalent to USD $455 at the time of writing this).
You can view details and packages/options here.
Ana also offers coaching and is included in our list of best recommended career and interview coaches, too.
Best Executive Resume Writing Service (Option 1 of 2): Virginia Franco Resumes
Virginia Franco offers certified professional resume writing for professionals with a higher budget ($1,000+)
She also writes LinkedIn profiles, cover letters and professional bios.
We’d recommend her for job seekers with a large budget (services start at $925 and go much higher), which we realize is *not* most people.
However, if you’re an Executive or very experienced professional who needs a resume, LinkedIn, or professional bio written, then Virginia Franco is a great choice.
At this level, it’s worth paying a premium for a Certified Professional Resume Writer who is accustomed to working with high-level professionals.
Best Executive Resume Writing Service (Option 2 of 2): Briefcase Coach
What makes this one of the top resume writing services? Like me, Sarah Johnston of Briefcase Coach is a former recruiter and understands what recruiters and hiring managers look for in a resume through first-hand experience.
Her services are on the higher-end in terms of pricing, and are best suited for an experienced professional or somebody with a budget of $750-1,000+. If you fit that demographic, then she is an excellent choice.
She does offer resume writing for recent graduates, too, and her services come with some great extras like a custom cover letter.
However, because of the price, this is probably best for somebody who is at least a couple of years into their career or wants to pay for a very high-tier resume service.
Sarah’s firm also offers a specialized service for Medical and Academic CV writing. So if you need that type of specialized service, I recommend her writing services. It’s important to hire someone who understands the nuances of this particular type of document, rather than hiring a general resume writer in this case.
Best Resume Writer for Silicon Valley/Tech Managers and Executives: Kyle Elliott
In addition to the resume services reviewed above, there is one more resume writer who I highly recommend if you fit his target demographic.
If you’re a Senior Manager, Director, or Executive for a Silicon Valley or tech company, I recommend Kyle Elliott of Caffeinated Kyle.
Kyle takes a unique approach from other professional resume writers when it comes to helping job seekers write their resumes.
Rather than writing your resume for you, he uses what he calls a “co-creation” process to support you in rethinking, recreating, and reimagining your story.
His resume writing methodology helps you better understand yourself, your career story, and what makes you unique (or as he likes to say, what makes you fabulous).
Kyle has a track record of helping clients land jobs at Meta, Google, Facebook, Amazon, and all the other big tech giants as well as numerous hyper-growth startups.
If you want more in-depth help than a typical professional resume service provides, and if you want someone who acts as an advisor and coach in your job hunt, Kyle’s resume writing services are a fantastic choice. He’s one of the resume writers I’ve recommended for years.
Kyle can also help with your cover letters and LinkedIn profile.
If you are unsure what you want to do for a living or genuinely feeling stuck in your career, Kyle may also be a great fit, as he offers career coaching services in addition to his resume writing services.
Best Affordable CV Writing Service for UK/EU: StandOut CV
I’ve recruited in both the US and Europe, and there are some big differences in formatting and what’s expected on a US resume and a European or British CV.
So if you need a CV for the UK/European job market, you may want to pay for writers that specialize in that market and know the nuances of the format (For example, I’d never recommend putting an image/headshot on a US resume, but there are some cases where it’s acceptable on a European CV).
So for this niche, I recommend the British company StandOut CV.
From what I’ve seen, they’re the best and most affordable CV writing service for non-US markets.
How to Decide: Which Resume Writer is Best For YOU?
We tried to offer a mix of price points and options in the professional resume writing reviews above… but if you’re still unsure or wondering, “how do I find the best resume writer for my specific situation?” then here’s what I recommend…
If you’re in the first 10 years of your career and don’t want to spend too much, I’d recommend TopResume because it’s affordable and they’ve done thousands of resumes and have a great, proven process.
If you have a bit more experience (and more to spend) then you can look through the other options on the list and see which resume writers seem to fit your background and level.
Also, if you need additional services, make sure you research the resume service to make sure they can do everything you need (cover letter, LinkedIn, etc.) – although most will offer all of these add-ons.
And finally – make sure you ask questions and address any concerns you have before making a decision.
Ask for samples. Ask if they offer an interview guarantee. Ask for testimonials. Ask what their experience is in your particular industry. Check out their LinkedIn profile to see if it looks professional.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions when selecting a resume writing service provider! This is an important decision that will impact your career significantly.
The Risks of Going With Ultra-Cheap Resume Writing Services
We included some budget-friendly resume writing services above, and we’re confident in recommending them because they have a great process, good writers, and good management/leadership with the necessary experience to deliver the best resume possible.
However, if you do enough searching online, you can find even cheaper professional writers – sometimes for $50 or less – and while it can be tempting to pay to get a new resume for less than a night out at a restaurant, we don’t recommend it.
The problem is: These resume services can’t spend much time or effort on your resume if you’re paying so little. (These are businesses, and they’re trying to make a profit, right?)
So the resume service is going to do the minimum amount of work possible, and their resume writers are likely being paid very little (and may be lacking the qualifications and knowledge to deliver good work).
They may lack the expertise to write a resume that gets past applicant tracking systems or gives hiring managers what they really want. (Especially if they’ve never recruited or hired anyone themselves).
So – while you may save $50-100, your new resume won’t get you interviews, which defeats the purpose.
Once you find a new job, you’ll be making thousands of dollars. So I recommend viewing it as an investment rather than lost money when you pay to have a professional resume done.
When you pay for a resume (and possibly a cover letter), you should be doing so because it’s going to help you find a better job or advance your career.
The whole point of paying to have a professional resume done is to succeed in your job search or find your dream job. You don’t want to sabotage that to save $50. That way, you’ll be sure they can help you succeed in your job search or find your dream job, rather than just taking your money.
So keep that end goal in mind, follow the tips above, and choose the best resume writer for your career level, situation, and budget!
Conclusion
If you read everything above, you now know our recommended choices for affordable professional resume writers, higher-end/executive resume writers, and everything in between (plus some tips for determining the best resume writer for your specific situation).
Paying to get your resume done can be a great investment in your career and can help you find a better job in less time. Just make sure to review the info above so that you’re choosing the right resume service for your situation.
Additional Resources:
- The 10 best online job search engines
- The best books for your job search
- The best job search resources – master list