A sizable number of job seekers had their CVs written by hired resume writers, paying between $50 an hour to $800 for the service.  It isn’t hard to see why some people resort to this.  After all, writing your whole professional career in a single, bullet-pointed page is not easy.  And once it’s complete, you won’t feel confident that you’ve done it right.

These resume writers offer their services either through classified ads or online.  They claim that they have "helped thousands to articulate their qualifications and land jobs at the nation’s top employers."  However, no matter how these experts can polish and provide editing for a reasonable price, they may not know first-hand what turns a hiring manager on or off.  What’s more, resumes written by "resume experts" that are submitted through recruiter sites are most likely edited by the headhunters themselves, undoing all the work before being submitted to employers.

How do hiring managers tell that a CV is most likely handed over to a resume writer?  Here are some tell-tale points:

Glowing adjectives – Such resumes usually describe the job seeker with vague, subjective adjectives such as "results-oriented" and "detail-oriented."  The best resumes should fit the job description, and with an overwhelming amount of CVs that recruiters receive, it is best if you just tell it as it is.  Excessive adjectives can also bury the facts you want to get across.

Cookie-cutter formats – Having your resume written by a hired writer would most likely become indistinguishable from the other resumes that he or she has written previously.  Resume writers usually use the same fonts, formats, and words regardless of the careers they are describing, resulting to what appears as a lack of communication  Good resumes should be able to inject more of yourself by adding words that you like to use to describe the job.  Meanwhile,people applying for executive jobs should apply their communication skills on their resume and cover letter.

So, should you ask for help from resume writers?  In some cases, yes.  A professional writer can help you smoothen out the problems in your resume, like employment gaps.  Resume writers can also help in updating your CV, especially if you haven’t written one in the long years that you were employed or when changing careers.

But before resorting to hiring a resume writer, try finding free resume assistance.  Aside from this blog, there are also job-search support groups that usually provide informal resume feedback to one another, which local HR managers also attend to provide free resume critiques.  Schools can also offer career support to alumni, providing free, or nearly free, resume guidance.  Finally, companies conducting mass layoffs sometimes offer outplacement services such as workshops on analyzing your skills, strengths, and preferences.  However, many employees do not accept this free service, no matter how beneficial is could be, especially when they are mad at the company.

If these sources can’t help, seek a resume writer who would include you in the writing process.  Be wary of anyone who would not provide examples of their work or names of satisfied customers you can contact.  After all, claiming to be a resume writer is not that hard.  You may feel more comfortable choosing a resume writer who is a member of a professional resume-writers organization like the Professional Association of Resume Writers & Career Coaches, which is based in St. Petersburg, Florida.  Some of these groups offer certifications to members who pay a fee and pass various tests.  However, it is not a guarantee that a certified writer would do a better job than an equally-talented uncertified writer.

Also, avoid writers who won’t say what the job might cost or agree up front to rework it for free if you aren’t happy with the first draft.  Some resume writers offer fees ranging from $35 to $1,500, with an average price of about $200 an hour for executive-level resumes.  Some resume writers would offer a local touch by offering its clients to work with him while he revises their resumes on his computer.

Remember to update your resumes, reworking sections that you feel miss the mark, or adding new accomplishments and work experiences.  You could also tweak the resume so it matches new job offerings.  After all, a resume is a work in progress.