Actual Recruiting/Job Hunting Experience
 
True resume writing experts couple professional training in resume writing with REAL-WORLD experience in hiring or recruiting.

Job Search Expertise & Assistance
 
An effective resume writer in the competitive market of 2011 must be a job search expert in order to understand what works for your unique situation.
 
Talented resume writers are more than expert wordsmiths: they understand that a one-size-fits-all resume strategy is not workable. They will have taken the time to learn about (and educate you on) job search techniques, rather than handing you a generalized packet of information. In other words, they're focused on RESULTS.

Verifiable Writing & Coaching Credentials
 
Significant time and study are required to earn credentials such as the Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW), Certified Expert Resume Writer (CERW), or Nationally Certified resume Writer (NCRW), the latter 2 of which have a high failure rate.
 
The CPRW is easy to earn, so you'll want to look for career coaching or social media certifications BEYOND this credential from renowned careers industry organizations, such as Career Coach Academy.

Ability to Work With You One-on-One
 
If you check a writer's website and it mentions their "team," this means that you'll be handed off to a junior resume writer - often one without the credentials advertised.
 
Be sure to ask if you'll deal with only the writer, and if this is the person creating your documents, start to finish.

Sample Resumes
 
Look carefully at resume samples to discern the extent of the writer’s business knowledge and effectiveness.
 
Resume samples demonstrate how well the writer knows your industry and career path. For example, a CIO should work with a writer who can show a focused and technology-driven strategy on a sample CIO resume, and a COO in the healthcare field will need a resume writer that demonstrates knowledge of operations management in a sample COO resume.

Social Media Aptitude
 
Like it or not, social media (especially LinkedIn) has become a huge component of a successful job search. To truly be effective, resume writers must be up to speed on the tools that YOU’LL need to market yourself effectively.
 
Does your resume writer use Twitter? How about LinkedIn? Do they have a bare-bones profile, or recommendations and frequent status updates? Check with each writer to find out if they offer tools and tips to assist you with social media. If these writers can develop a compelling social media presence for themselves, they’ll have a better chance of assisting you with the type of campaign needed in today’s competitive market.

Marketing Savvy
 
Google your writer! Do you find page after page of careers industry leadership examples and accolades? Strong resume writers will have an equally strong Internet presence and reputation.
 
It’s a safe bet to say that, if you can’t gain a clear picture of the writer’s competency by visiting his or her website (or performing a Google search on their name), you’ll find that this ISN’T the service for you.

Professional-Level Pricing
 
This may seem like an odd criterion, but think about it: writers who charge less than $300 are literally telling you that they either unwilling or unable to devote sufficient time to your project. Many will simply reformat your information without an in-depth consultation of at least 60+ minutes.
 
Make no mistake about it: a masterpiece resume that truly markets your strengths requires critical thinking skills to analyze your goals, plus the ability to draw out your achievements in context - all time-consuming processes that require YOUR collaboration.

Ongoing Careers Industry Development
 
Did your resume writer gain a quick CPRW and then move on? Writers on the cutting-edge possess more than 1 certification, and participate in numerous professional groups to learn as much as possible about best practices in job search!
 
Continuing development on the part of your writer benefits YOU. It's important for your writer to learn the latest strategies that will deliver results for YOUR resume.