10 Best Resume Writing Services for 2024
Every month, there are over 5,000 searches for phrases like "best resume writing service."
You’ll find results for local and national options, as well as professional resume writers in different industries.
While browsing the listings, you’ll notice hundreds of companies and freelancers offering resume writing services that appear to be quite shady. Since your resume can get your foot in the door and help you land the right job, it’s important to select a quality service that gets you results.
To help take the guesswork out of choosing the right resume service for you, our team of career experts researched more than 200 resume services for job seekers in the US and Canada. This post discusses our top picks, as well as an overview of each resume service.
At the end of this post, we have some valuable advice about how to tell if other service reviews are legitimate.
Top resume writing services
This list does not include any affiliate links or paid placements.
Should you use a local or national service?
While searching for resume services, you will find both national and local results. The only time you would choose to use a local service is when you are meeting the writer face to face.
The majority of local services will work with you virtually (not in person) so you may be better off hiring a national company that has access to a wide network of writers and an ATS resume test built into the process.
Expert Tip
We found that the average cost of a quality resume is around $157. This number doesn't reflect add-on offers like LinkedIn profiles, career advice, or cover letter services.
1. ZipJob
Pricing: $139 – $299
Turnaround: 3 to 7 days
Writers: 100+ professional resume writers with backgrounds in HR, Fortune 500 recruiting, career coaching, job placement, and professional writing.
Industries: 65+ industries including Business, Finance, IT, Healthcare, Sales, Marketing, and more.
You didn't think we were going to put a different service here, did you? Yes, our team may be biased...but we also live and breathe resume writing, so we know why our service is top-notch.
ZipJob uses a tech-informed, expert-designed protocol to create resumes that appeal to hiring managers and Applicant Tracking Systems: the same technology used by more than 90% of employers to screen and parse resumes.
ZipJob’s resume writing services are designed for companies hiring in the USA and Canada, which is where all of the writers are located. Most companies use applicant tracking systems to manage and sort through job applicants. A single job post averages 250 applicants, so the ATS helps employers keep track of those applications.
However, the ATS has another important job: filtering out the resumes that don’t meet the pre-set requirements. On average, applicant tracking systems filter out 75% of the resumes submitted. Here are the most common reasons applicants get rejected automatically:
Improper resume formatting
Incorrect use of keywords
So if the ATS can mistakenly reject otherwise qualified candidates, what does that mean for you? That's exactly what ZipJob is here to help with.
Resume writers experienced in resume keyword optimization add an extra step at the end of the process to ensure your new resume will be parsed correctly by an ATS scan.
Pros of using ZipJob
Professional writers — ZipJob only hires professional resume writers with experience and ATS training.
60-Day interview guarantee — ZipJob guarantees that you’ll get at least 200% as many interviews or we will rewrite your resume for free.
ATS technology — ZipJob uses the same ATS technology employers use to help ensure every resume gets through to a hiring manager.
Direct communication — One of the few services that allow you direct, unlimited access to your personal resume writer until your project is complete.
Reputation — ZipJob’s reputation speaks for itself. ZipJob has been featured in Forbes, Reader’s Digest, Marketwatch, Glassdoor, The Muse, and other big-name media outlets. ZipJob is accredited by the Better Business Bureau. In addition, ZipJob has earned more than 800 five-star reviews and 10,000+ happy clients.
A ZipJob review
"I spent a lot of time researching resume writing services. That was quite a feat and stressful with everything out there. I finally decided on ZipJob...After several revisions we hit on a resume that appears to be working. Prior to my latest revision I had sent out close to hundred resumes and had one interview. I've put out about another 40, and I've had movement in making it past the ATS system to pretesting with 2 jobs and an initial interview with another job. Considering this is the holidays and we're in a pandemic I'm heartened by the response. Thank you ZipJob and Julie!"
-Floyd, verified ZipJob customer
Note: this review was edited slightly for length and clarity.
How ZipJob works
Upload your resume and answer a few questions. If you don't have a current resume, these questions will help your writer get started on your new resume from scratch.
Get matched with a resume expert in your field who will overhaul your resume. Each project focuses on ATS-friendly formatting, keyword optimization, and value-focused language.
Collaborate directly with your writer through multiple revisions until you're satisfied with your resume.
Approve a final draft. This will trigger the last step in ZipJob's resume writing process: the ATS resume test. Your new resume will go through our in-house system to ensure that your resume will pass through recruitment software used by more than 90% of employers.
Start using your new resume and watch your interview requests triple!
You can contact ZipJob by phone at (888) 944-9929 or via live chat from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET. You can also email customer service any time at support@zipjob.com.
View Services
2. LinkedIn
Pricing: $250 – $700+
Turnaround: 3 to 14 days
Writers: 100+
Industries: All industries including Finance, IT, Healthcare, Marketing and more.
Most people use LinkedIn to search for jobs and career-related information. However, many are unaware that it offers a “service marketplace” called LinkedIn Services (formerly LinkedIn ProFinder) for interviewing, career coaching, and resume writing.
Technically, yes, this is a platform and not a resume writing service. However, we are rating this option highly because LinkedIn takes steps to ensure its pros are legit. For example, each professional submits an online application that must be approved by LinkedIn, and past client reviews are readily available for anyone considering a certain resume writer.
Pros of using LinkedIn
Time efficient — Receive proposals quickly from your potential resume writer.
Person to person — Pick from a number of resume critique and expert review professionals whom you want to work with, based on their LinkedIn profiles and other information they provide.
Cost effective — Since these are resume critique and expert review freelancers, the prices may be more competitive than a company. Still expect to pay $150+ for a quality resume, but know that your money is going directly to your writer.
Local options — You can opt for local-only professionals, making this a great option if you feel strongly about meeting with your resume writer in person.
Speaking of LinkedIn, do you know how to include your LinkedIn URL on a resume? Most employers will look you up on LinkedIn before interviewing you anyway, so it's common to include a link to your profile in your resume's contact section.
Working with LinkedIn
Answer a couple of questions about the services you’re looking for.
Within 24 hours (and likely much sooner), get up to 5 proposals from professionals on LinkedIn’s list. Each proposal will include a price quote.
Research and select your resume writer. Every writer will have a different system to process from there.
LinkedIn helps you find freelance resume writers, but doesn’t have a company-wide standard for resume writing. Instead, you should look into multiple freelancers based on their proposals and pick the resume style you like best as not all freelancers are created equal.
If you need any help, LinkedIn offers a concierge team, which is essentially tech support and customer service for hiring a pro. You can use live chat or a contact form to reach out.
Visit LinkedIn Services
3. TopResume
Pricing: $149 – $349
Turnaround: 7 to 14 days
Writers: 1,500+ professional writers including certified career coaches, recruiters, and experienced hiring professionals.
Industries: All industries including Military transition, Academic, and Federal resumes.
This list would not be complete without TopResume. TopResume is technically one of our direct competitors, but any list of the best resume writing services would be incomplete (and misleading) if we omitted them. Their writers do great work--as evidenced by their Trustpilot reviews--and the company does belong on this list.
One of the most common questions is if TopResume is legit. The answer, from our professional perspective, is that they are legit. Look at real reviews on unbiased review sites and check out our tips later in this article on how to spot a resume writing service scam.
TopResume’s website includes many compelling statistics about working with a professional resume writer. According to its research, a professionally written resume makes you:
38% more likely to be contacted by recruiters
31% more likely to land an interview
40% more likely to land a job
Pros for TopResume
Large, well-established company — TopResume was founded in 2014 by Jeff Berger and has a network of 1,500+ resume writers across the country as well as an international network through their sister brand, TopCV, specializing in professional CV rewrites.
History of success — According to its website, TopResume has helped 600,000+ professionals “land more interviews and get hired faster.” You can check out some of their success stories here.
Positive reviews — Given how big it is, TopResume has had the opportunity to help thousands of people. It has more than 7,000 five star reviews on Trustpilot.
TopResume review
"Fantastic service that gave 100% to get my resume in a professionally formatted, scan friendly format / content - saw great increase in activity from headhunters and recruiters post TopResume’s assistance. My professional writer was intelligent, understood my personal situation and desired objectives - and delivered the goods!"
-Joseph, TopResume customer
Working with TopResume
Upload your resume and get matched with an expert writer from its vast network.
Collaborate one-on-one with your writer via TopResume’s dashboard to revise your resume.
Receive a resume tailored to your goals.
TopResume guarantees that you’ll receive two times more job interviews or they’ll rewrite your resume again one time, free-of-charge.
There is also the option to add on a phone call for an additional fee--otherwise, your communication happens online. If you need to contact the company, you can email them at support@topresume.com or call 800-604-1929 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET on weekdays. There is also have a live chat option from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday.
Visit TopResume4. The Muse
Pricing: $119 – $1,699
Turnaround: 4 to 7 days
Writers: 80+
Industries: All industries including HR/recruiting, fitness/health, and fashion.
The Muse offers a different model to provide resume help. Instead of a text-based collaboration, The Muse has a resume review coaching service that includes a resume update. Depending on the coaching service you purchase, you get 30, 45, or 60 minutes for a video call or phone call with your career coach.
Pros of using The Muse
Highly interpersonal — If you are looking for a conversation about your resume, this coaching service is a great option.
Lots of options — The Muse has a wide network of experts in a range of fields. Mentors, coaches, and master coaches are vetted and backed by The Muse.
Working with The Muse:
Choose a service such as “Resume Review” coaching, “Resume and LinkedIn Review” coaching, or the “Ultimate Job Search” Kit.
Book a coach, based on filters like your industry and years of experience.
Schedule your coaching call. Your coach will contact you within one business day of your booking.
After your coaching session, you will get an updated version of your resume that is designed to be “eye-catching” and “ATS-beating.” Depending on your service, you may get one, two, or unlimited rounds of edits within a two week time period.
This is a highly personalized service, so you need to do your research before picking a coach. If you have any problems with your service, you can contact the company at care.coaching@themuse.com
Visit The Muse
5. Monster
Pricing: $129 – $349
Turnaround: 2 to 5 days
Writers: 50+
Industries: All industries including Finance, IT, Healthcare, Marketing, and more.
Although Monster is primarily a job board, it also offers resume writing services. Like many of these resume companies, there are tiers of services with additional add-ons for cover letters and LinkedIn profiles.
Monster stands out as a recruiter-focused resume writing service. Based on their decades of job searches and working with recruiters to source talent, their resumes are easy for recruiters to filter and scan.
Pros of using Monster
Established — Monster has been around for 20+ years and has earned a positive name recognition.
60-day guarantee — If you aren’t completely satisfied with your resume or other products, you can get it rewritten for free.
Additional services — Monster has a job board so you can take your new resume and upload it quickly to apply for jobs.
International reach — Monster provides services for the US and Canada as well as the UK, France, Germany, and The Netherlands
A review of Monster
"I had the pleasure of using Monster to update my resume and cover letter. They asked relevant questions, formulated a concise and thoughtful resume and cover letter that played to my strengths and goals. The thing most worth noting was that I felt like a person in my industry wrote my resume - as she was able to extrapolate all the necessary verbiage as it specifically related to my experience and field. It was a very positive experience - one that landed me my first interview within my field that will take me in the direction that I was hoping to pivot into."
-Joann, verified Monster customer
How it works
Upload your resume and answer additional questions via a brief questionnaire.
Get a resume draft with additional keyword opportunities.
Provide feedback for up to one revision.
Monster resume writing services have limited revisions: only one draft and one revision. The modes of communication with your writer is also limited to text-based messages through email. They don’t offer phone services.
If you’re having trouble communicating with your writer, you can email seekerhelp@monster.com or call Monster at (978) 461-8000. Its website also has a live chat function that can connect you with a real person within a few minutes.
Visit Monster
6. CareerPerfect
Pricing: $179.95 – $499.95
Turnaround: 4 to 5 days
Writers: 5+
Industries: All, including Federal, Executive, and Entry-Level
CareerPerfect is an online resume writing service with additional cover letter, interview, job search, and career planning services. It offers resume writing services in four categories: student and entry-level, professional and mid-career, executive, and federal and military. Since CareerPerfect’s start over 30 years ago, it has helped plenty of job seekers with both advice and career services.
Pros of CareerPerfect
Global presence — Specializing in US employers, CareerPerfect has a global reach and partners with several high-profile career websites internationally.
Online career services pioneer — CareerPerfect started offering career service online in 1996 and has been leading online career services ever since.
Editing service — In addition to CareerPerfect’s resume writing services, you can also opt for a resume editing service from a professional.
Working with CareerPerfect
Place your order using several payment options including PayPal and most major credit cards.
Provide information by uploading your previously prepared materials or CareerPerfect’s SkillNet tool to identify additional accomplishments and strengths.
Develop your document with the help of a professional resume writer.
Have a keyword-rich personal marketing document in 4 to 5 business days.
CareerPerfect advertises that its team is made up of only US-based writers with four-year college degrees, and collectively have expertise in over 90 industries. The company is a member of the Career Management Alliance as well as the National Employment Counseling Association.
For resume writing inquiries, you can call 1-877-844-5724 between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. ET. You can also email the support team or your resume writer from within your account after logging in.
Visit CareerPerfect
7. Capstone Resume Services
Pricing: $149 – $299
Turnaround: 5 to 7 days
Writers: 5+
Industries: All industries, including Professional, Academic, and Federal.
Capstone Resumes offer a variety of specialized resume services, such as Federal and Executive Level resumes. The company was started by Amy Giles, who has been writing resumes since 2003. Capstone Resumes was formerly called Gies Career Services, but now specializes in the resume writing portion of the business.
Pros of using Capstone Resumes
Conversation-first approach — Capstone Resume services begin with a 15 to 30 minute phone call, instead of the questionnaire approach most companies use.
Certified writers — The resume writers are introduced with a photo and a certification on the Capstone website. Each member is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) with a different background.
Specializations — Certain resumes, like Executive and Federal, require specialized formats. Capstone Resumes has different payment options for their resume services, as opposed to the more common tiered approach. With the team’s background in HR, recruitment, and the U.S. Navy, it is likely these formats are effective.
Quick delivery time — Many positive reviewers mention how they received their resumes with 1 to 3 days of their initial phone consultation.
Easy to contact — Amy, the owner of Capstone Resumes, makes her direct email very easy to find. She appears to be quite responsive and open to revisions to ensure client satisfaction.
Working with Capstone Resume Services
Schedule a phone consultation–you can upload your resume at the same time.
Purchase the services you need, selecting your resume format as well as any additional cover letter or LinkedIn services.
Work with your writer to finalize your resume.
You can reach the company by phone at (650) 445-5301 or through the contact form on its website. You can reach Amy directly at amy@capstoneresumes.com.
8. iHireFinance
Pricing: $395
Turnaround: 5 to 7 days
Writers: 5+
Industries: Finance
iHireFinance is a niche job board that focuses on open, vetted opportunities in the financial sector. The resume services they offer integrate well with their job board service.
Because it was built for finance professionals specifically, iHireFinance is a great option for budget analysts, equity traders, tax managers, and all finance specialists. The writers are educated, certified, and trained in modern resume writing especially for finance.
In addition to their resume writing service, iHireFinance has a separate cover letter service. If you only need help with a cover letter instead of a resume/cover letter bundle, this is a good option.
Pros of using iHireFinance
Made for the finance industry — iHireFinance is hyper-focused on people and companies in the financial services industry.
Optional membership — With a membership, you get a discount on the writing services as well as access to a handy iScore Resume Match tool to use on the job board.
Formatting service — In addition to iHireFinance’s resume writing services, you can also opt for just a resume formatting service to improve the design of your existing resume. This is priced at $99.
Working with iHireFinance:
Create an account. Select a service from entry-level, professional, or executive resume services.
Complete a questionnaire and upload your current resume.
Finalize your resume–your first draft should arrive within 5 to 7 business days–and work with your writer until you are 100% satisfied.
For resume writing inquiries, you can call (877) 840-6217 between 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. ET. You can also email the support team through a contact form on the website.
Visit iHireFinance
9. LiveCareer
Pricing: $99 – $299
Turnaround: 5 to 7 days
Writers: 5+
Industries: All industries, including Professional, Academic, and Federal.
LiveCareer started as a career test site in 2004 and eventually launched a resume builder and a professional resume writing service. It is one of the largest resume builders around, with over 10 million resumes created for people in 180 countries.
In addition to its resume writing service, LiveCareer has a separate cover letter writing option. If you only need help with a cover letter instead of a resume/cover letter bundle, this is a good option.
Pros of using LiveCareer
Established — LiveCareer has been around longer than most resume services, and features a large network of writers and career experts.
Global — LiveCareer is headquartered in New York City, and has offices in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the UK. While its employee information on LinkedIn states that most of its workers are located in India, the resume writers seem to be located mostly in the US.
Large resume database — LiveCareer has 700,000 resumes from various locations, industries, and roles that you can filter and search.
More than just resumes — This career service company also has a mobile app, job apply tool, job board, and salary calculator.
Working with LiveCareer
Choose from three resume services based on your career stage.
Answer a few additional questions about your background.
One-on-one optional consultation with your writer, ranging from 10 to 20 minutes based on the package you purchased.
Receive your completed resume within 3 business days.
LiveCareer offers many services in addition to the resume writing services. It’s one of the most popular choices for resume building.
If you need to contact the company about your resume services, you can reach customer service by phone at (844) 485-4050 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m CT. There is also a live chat service if you have an account login, or you can email the team at customerservice@livecareer.com.
10. ResumeSpice
Pricing: $479-699
Turnaround: 2 days (first draft)
Writers: 5+
Industries: Multiple industries, with services targeting everything from entry-level resume needs to resumes for professionals and executives.
ResumeSpice was launched by a team of recruitment professionals who wanted to create a dynamic job service firm that offered first-class coaching for job seekers.
ResumeSpice’s team of experienced resume writers focuses on crafting expert-level resumes that are designed to pass screening from Applicant Tracking Systems, while delivering the compelling content job seekers need to capture the attention of hiring managers and recruiters.
The company also provides career coaching services to assist job seekers in navigating an increasingly complex job search environment. Their certified experts are there to offer free consultations on resumes, cover letters, interview preparation, optimization of LinkedIn profiles, and more.
ResumeSpice writers utilize the industry’s best practices for resume creation, relying on formats that consistently attract hiring managers’ attention. They are experts in utilizing keywords in an optimal manner, ensuring that the end results can pass those ATS screenings.
While they are one of the newest and costliest services on our list, reviews suggest that ResumeSpice yields the results needed to justify the expense.
Pros of using ResumeSpice
Expert writers and coaches— ResumeSpice’s team is comprised of certified resume specialists and career coaches with years of experience in their field.
60-Day interview guarantee — ResumeSpice provides a guaranteed interview within 60 days, or they will “make it right.”
ATS— ResumeSpice is committed to ensuring that every resume they create has the optimization needed to satisfy any ATS.
Direct communication —ResumeSpice offers a direct line of communication for you to consult with your resume expert, including up to two revisions of the resume.
Reputation — ResumeSpice has been featured by MarketWatch, the Job Network, and the Houston Business journal, and has helped clients land jobs at companies like Nike, Amazon, Goldman Sachs, and Charles Schwab.
A ResumeSpice review
"Caitlin was amazing!! I was changing careers after being in the financial industry for 24 years. She revamped my resume, provided amazing cover letters explaining my transition and also provided me with a Thank You letter and updated my LinkedIn profile. Caitlin totally got me and made me look like a superstar/qualified candidate!!
I worked with Kathy on my Interview skills since I hadn't interviewed in 24 years, to say I was rusty was an understatement lol. Kathy provided me with helpful documents and amazing answers to interview questions I found to be annoying and difficult. Kathy gave me the confidence to nail my interviews!! TOTALLY worth the money!!”
- Donna, ResumeSpice customer
How ResumeSpice works
You start by choosing your preferred resume option, as well as any supplemental services you need like interview prep, cover letters, etc.
ResumeSpice will then email you with a short questionnaire link and a link to help you schedule your consultation.
At your consultation, your resume expert will work with you to identify your career needs and gather information for your resume or other products.
With that information, your writer will create your personalized resume and deliver the draft copy to you within two days.
At that point, you get to review the document and make any requests for modifications. You have up to seven days to make those change requests, and can have revisions made a total of two times.
Once the revision process is completed, you receive your finished resume in both Word and PDF formats.
If you ordered any other services, those are completed only after your resume is finished.
You can contact ResumeSpice by phone at (832) 930-7378 or using live chat at their website. For more information, you can email them at info@resumespice.com.
Summary
There are many professional resume writing services to choose from, such as the 10 on this list. Since there is no shortage of fraudulent services out there, do your due diligence before giving your private information to a less than reputable company.
The best resume writing services have good examples, positive reviews, and responsive customer service teams. Remember that resume writing services are mainly digital today, so you don’t need to limit your search to local options. When in doubt, however, keep in mind that if an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is.
We hope this article helps you pick the best resume writing service for your career goals. Good luck with your job search!
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Written by
Caitlin Proctor, CPRW, Certified Professional Résumé Writer
Caitlin joined the ZipJob team in 2019 as a professional resume writer and career advisor. She specializes in strategic advice for executives, career pivots, and remote workers. Read more resume advice from Caitlin on ZipJob’s blog.