How to Find the Best Executive Resume Writing Service

In today’s competitive job market, crafting a polished, powerful, and persuasive executive resume is more important than ever. As a high-level professional, you understand that your resume is not just a summary of your work history, but a critical tool for showcasing your unique value proposition, personal brand, and leadership qualities. With the increasing demand for executive talent and the growing number of qualified candidates, it’s crucial to stand out from the crowd. This is where an executive resume writing service comes into play.

Resume writing services specialize in creating tailored resumes that effectively communicate a candidate’s strengths and accomplishments, making it easier for recruiters and hiring managers to identify top talent. However, with numerous providers in the market, finding the best executive resume writing service can be an overwhelming task. This comprehensive guide aims to help you navigate this process, ensuring that you make a well-informed decision that aligns with your career goals and budget. We will discuss the essential components of an executive resume, how to assess your resume needs, evaluate potential services, and ultimately, make the right choice to elevate your job search strategy.

Understanding the Executive Resume

Before diving into the process of selecting a resume writing service, it’s important to understand the key differences between professional and executive resumes, as well as the essential components that make an executive resume stand out.

Key differences between regular and executive resumes

  • Scope and focus: Executive resumes emphasize strategic leadership, decision-making, and the ability to drive results on a larger scale compared to mid-level or entry-level resumes.
  • Length: Executive resumes tend to be longer (2-3 pages) to accommodate the more extensive experience and accomplishments of high-level professionals.
  • Format and presentation: Executive resumes utilize more sophisticated formatting and design elements to project a polished and professional image.

Essential components of an executive resume

  • Personal branding: A strong personal brand sets the tone for your executive resume, making it easier for potential employers to grasp your unique value proposition. This includes a compelling headline, a well-crafted summary or executive profile, and consistent branding throughout the document.
  • Accomplishments and impact: Rather than simply listing job responsibilities as you would for an entry-level/junior resume, an executive resume should focus on quantifiable achievements, emphasizing the impact you’ve made in previous roles. Use metrics, percentages, and specific examples to demonstrate your success in driving revenue growth, cost savings, or organizational improvements. It is also important to have keywords that optimize your resume and align with the developed strategy.
  • Leadership experience: As an executive, your ability to lead, inspire, and manage teams is paramount. Showcase your leadership qualities by highlighting examples of team development, change management, and strategic decision-making that have positively impacted the organization.
  • Industry-specific expertise: Tailor your resume to the industry and opportunity you’re targeting, emphasizing the skills, knowledge, and experience most relevant to the role. This might include subject-matter expertise, technical proficiencies, or familiarity with specific markets and regulations.

By understanding the nuances of an executive resume, you’ll be better equipped to evaluate the capabilities and expertise of potential resume writing services. This will ensure that the chosen provider can effectively convey your strengths and accomplishments while positioning you as a top candidate in your desired industry.

Identifying Your Needs

Before beginning your search for the best executive resume writing service, it’s crucial to assess your specific needs and career goals. This will help you identify the most suitable provider and ensure that their services align with your objectives.

Assessing your career goals and target positions

  • Define your career objectives: Determine your short-term and long-term career goals, such as the desired job title, industry, company size, or geographical location.
  • Identify target positions: Research opportunities that align with your career goals or analyze previous opportunities presented by recruiters, taking note of the required skills, qualifications, and experiences.
  • Evaluate your fit: Assess how closely your background matches the target positions, identifying any gaps that may need to be addressed in your executive resume.

Determining your resume needs

  • Resume update or overhaul: Decide whether your current resume simply needs updating and refining or if a complete overhaul is required to better showcase your executive-level accomplishments and skills.
  • Tailoring for specific roles: Determine if you need a general executive resume or multiple versions tailored to specific industries, roles, or job functions.
  • Additional documents: Identify any supplemental materials you may need, such as a updating your LinkedIn profile, a cover letter, networking emails, or executive bio.

Evaluating your budget

  • Establish a budget: Determine how much you are willing to invest in an executive resume writing service, considering the potential return on investment.
  • Assess the value of add-on services: Evaluate the importance of additional services, such as LinkedIn profile optimization, interview coaching, or job search strategy consultation, to your overall career goals.
  • Research industry pricing: Familiarize yourself with the typical pricing structures for executive resume writing services, ensuring that your budget is realistic for the level of expertise and quality you seek.

By taking the time to identify your specific needs, career goals, and budget, you’ll be better prepared to evaluate potential resume writing services and select the one that best aligns with your objectives. This will help you maximize the value of your investment and enhance your chances of securing your desired executive role.

Evaluating Executive Resume Writing Services

Once you have a clear understanding of your needs and career goals, you can begin evaluating potential executive resume writing services. Here are some key factors to consider when assessing the expertise and quality of these providers:

Credentials and certifications

  • Certified Professional Resume Writers (CPRW): This certification, offered by the Professional Association of Resume Writers & Career Coaches (PARW/CC), demonstrates a writer’s commitment to professional development and adherence to industry standards. PARW/CC is the first professional organization, established in 1990, dedicated to career professionals in the world.
  • Academy Certified Resume Writer (ACRW): Offered by the Resume Writing Academy, the ACRW certification requires writers to undergo comprehensive training and pass a rigorous exam, ensuring their proficiency in resume writing best practices.
  • National Certified Resume Writer (NCRW: Provided by another industry leading professional organization, The National Resume Writers Association, shows a writer dedicated to upholding the highest standards.

Specialization and industry expertise

Executive-level focus: Ensure that the resume writing service specializes in executive resumes and has a proven track record of success in crafting resumes for professionals at your level.Industry-specific experience: Look for providers with experience in your target industry, as they will be more adept at highlighting the most relevant skills, knowledge, and accomplishments for your desired role.

Experience and location

  • Company and writer review: Review how long the business has been in operation to determine if they have the years of experience that can support the development of an executive resume. Additionally, determine which professional resume writer you will be working with and analyze their background, experience, and of course reviews. It is important to note that you will also want to research if your project will be completed by one professional or if there is a team of ghostwriters.
  • U.S./Global location: Dive deep to determine if you are reviewing a local, U.S., or global company as this may be a strong preference for you.

Writing style and customization

  • Resume samples: Review the provider’s resume samples to assess their writing style, formatting, and overall presentation, ensuring it aligns with your personal brand and desired image. It is important to note, however, that not all businesses share samples due to confidentiality and content/formats being utilized by other companies in the professional resume writing field. If this is the case, review testimonials on LinkedIn and analyze the content on their profiles to try and determine if this was written professionally.
  • Customization approach: Confirm that the service offers tailored resumes that are customized to your specific career goals, target positions, and unique value proposition, rather than relying on generic templates.

Client testimonials and reviews

  • Testimonials: Review client testimonials on the provider’s website or third-party platforms like LinkedIn to gauge their overall satisfaction and success rate.
  • Online reviews: Research independent reviews and ratings on platforms like Google and Yelp to gain insights into the provider’s reputation, customer service, and reliability.
  • Referrals: Reach out to contacts personally or via LinkedIn who may have a connection with the company to try and gather more information.

Turnaround time and communication

  • Turnaround time: Assess the provider’s turnaround time for resume writing and revisions, ensuring it aligns with your job search timeline.
  • Communication process: Inquire about the service’s communication process, such as the availability of an initial consultation and how long, opportunities for feedback, and the number of revisions included in the package prior to finalizing the resume.
  • End-to-end process: Discuss how the entire process works including future updates, typical amount of expected time you need to invest in the project, and if they utilize an intake questionnaire – a common practice that requires you to complete ahead of starting the resume process.

By thoroughly evaluating each executive resume writing service based on these factors, you’ll be better positioned to select the provider that can best showcase your unique strengths, accomplishments, and personal brand, ultimately setting you apart in the competitive job market.

Comparing Costs and Packages

When selecting the best executive resume writing service, it’s important to compare the costs and packages offered by various providers to ensure that you’re getting the best value for your investment. Here are some considerations to keep in mind when comparing pricing structures and service inclusions:

Pricing structures and considerations

  • Flat fee vs. tiered pricing: Some services charge a flat fee for all executive resumes, while others offer tiered pricing based on factors such as experience level, industry, or complexity (unfortunately, also if the company determines the fit may be more challenging they may increase the price). Determine which pricing model best aligns with your needs and budget.
  • Add-on services: Consider whether the provider’s pricing includes any additional services or if they are available at an extra cost. This may impact the overall value of the package.

Package inclusions

  • Resume writing: Ensure that the provider’s package includes a professionally written and formatted executive resume tailored to your career goals and target positions.
  • Cover letter creation: Some services offer cover letter writing as part of their package or as an add-on service. This can be beneficial in presenting a cohesive and consistent personal brand across all job application materials.
  • LinkedIn profile optimization: Since LinkedIn plays a crucial role in modern job searches, many executive resume-writing services offer profile optimization to ensure that your online presence effectively complements your resume.

Additional services

  • Interview coaching: Some providers offer interview coaching services to help you prepare for executive-level interviews, providing valuable insights, strategies, and techniques to improve your performance.
  • Job search strategy: A comprehensive job search strategy can be an invaluable asset, and some resume writing services offer guidance on identifying target companies, networking, and leveraging online job boards and resources.
  • Personal branding consultation: For executives, personal branding is critical for establishing credibility and showcasing your unique value proposition. Some resume writing services offer personal branding consultation to help you refine your brand message and strategy.
  • Executive Bio/One-Pager: You may determine you also wish to have a ‘leave behind’ document that is a one page colorful condensed resume format or a professionally written bio for speaking engagements, etc. This oftentimes may be a hourly fee writing rate for custom requests or an additional flat fee service.

By carefully comparing the costs and packages offered by various executive resume writing services, you can make an informed decision that best meets your needs, budget, and career goals. This will ensure that you get the most value from your investment and position yourself for success in the competitive job market.

Making the Final Decision

After evaluating potential executive resume writing services based on credentials, expertise, costs, and package inclusions, it’s time to make the final decision. Here are some important factors to consider before selecting the best provider for your needs:

Importance of compatibility and rapport

  • Personal connection: A successful collaboration with a resume writer depends on effective communication and a good rapport. Ensure that you feel comfortable discussing your career goals, accomplishments, and challenges with the chosen writer.
  • Responsiveness and professionalism: Assess the writer’s responsiveness and professionalism during your initial interactions, as this can be indicative of their approach to client relationships and commitment to customer satisfaction.

Assessing potential return on investment

  • Value for money: Weigh the cost of the executive resume writing service against the potential return on investment, considering the impact that a professionally crafted resume can have on your job search and career trajectory.
  • Long-term benefits: A high-quality executive resume can serve as a valuable foundation for your future career moves, making it a worthwhile investment that pays dividends over time.

Leveraging guarantees and revisions

  • Satisfaction guarantee: Analyze which providers offer a satisfaction guaranteed or flexible revision policy.
  • Revision process: Inquire about the provider’s revision process and the number of revisions included in the package. This will help you understand their commitment to delivering a resume that truly reflects your unique value proposition and aligns with your career goals.

By taking these factors into account, you can confidently make the final decision and select the best executive resume writing service for your needs. Investing in a professionally crafted resume can significantly enhance your job search strategy, positioning you for success in the competitive job market and increasing your chances of securing your desired executive role.

Conclusion

Selecting the best executive resume writing service is a critical decision that can significantly impact your job search and career trajectory. By understanding the unique components of an executive resume, identifying your specific needs and goals, and thoroughly evaluating potential providers based on credentials, expertise, costs, and package inclusions, you can make an informed choice that maximizes the return on your investment.

Remember, a professionally crafted executive resume is more than just a summary of your work history; it serves as a powerful tool for showcasing your personal brand, leadership qualities, and accomplishments. By investing in a top-tier executive resume writing service, you’ll position yourself for success in the competitive job market, ultimately increasing your chances of landing your desired executive role.
Take the time to carefully assess your options and choose the provider that best aligns with your needs, budget, and career aspirations. With the right executive resume writing service by your side, you’ll be well on your way to achieving your career goals and unlocking your full potential as a high-level professional.

About Simply Great Resumes

Simply Great Resumes is an Executive and Professional Resume Writing Service located in Milwaukee who partners with business leaders and emerging professionals within Global Fortune 500, large private, mid-sized, and start-up enterprises since 2012.

A solopreneur business, Simply Great Resumes is owned by Kerry Gustafson, a recognized, award-winning professional who holds industry-leading certifications – Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW), Certified Career Coach (CPCC), and Certified Interview Coach (CIC) through the first association for career professionals in the world. Dedicated to partnering and delivering on client career goals and branding strategies, Gustafson holds an incredible industry-high referral rate of over 90% year-over-year – a testament to the results she delivers and value she provides to her high-performing clients.