Buying Resume-Writing Help Requires Online Research
Buy resume help on eBay? Some job hunters might balk at hiring a
resume writer from the same place they'd seek that missing rookie for their
baseball-card collection. But more than a dozen resume writers are now offering
their services on eBay, and scores market their services elsewhere on the
Internet.
Some professionals contend eBay sellers aren't qualified to do the
job. But the Web does have its advantages. Unlike the Yellow Pages, for
example, the Web lets users compare prices and see samples of resume writers'
work. Plus, eBay sellers often use the site as a marketing vehicle to prospect
for new clients and so their prices can be a bargain for job hunters.
In December, Ron Johnson, 58, was the lone bidder on eBay for the
resume-writing services of Sean Colfer in
The resume was completed in about three days. "I would have
never even come close to doing the job" Mr. Colfer did, says Mr. Johnson.
He applied to three jobs with his new resume and garnered three interviews. He
was turned down for two and is still waiting to hear about the third. He's also
posted his resume on Monster.com.
Mr. Colfer says he has been marketing his services on eBay for a
year and has sold to nearly 44 eBay customers, earning about $1,600 in gross
sales. He now begins his auctions at $29.95 and averages about two clients a
week.
His "About Me" page on eBay links to his Web site, where
visitors can view samples of his work. They also can see he has a 100% eBay
seller feedback rating, which indicates the percentage of his eBay clients who
were satisfied doing business with him. Mr. Johnson says he chose Mr. Colfer
after reviewing 10 other resume auctions because his listing suggested he took
pride in his work.
Mr. Colfer runs CPM Professional Resume Services, which he began
in 2002 after earning a bachelor's degree in business from
Other eBay sellers, such as Ed Wooller in
For little or no charge, some resume writers on eBay provide other
services, such as cover letters or career coaching.
Bruce Degerdon, who sells resume services from his home in
Most eBay sellers advertise prices that are far less than other
resume-writing businesses. A recent search on the site turned up a list of
auctions starting at between $9.99 and $150. Several eBay sellers interviewed
say they'll do resumes for all levels of job seeker. Still, it's wise to check
whether an individual resume writer has written resumes like yours before.
Monster.com charges $335 for an executive-level resume, and $179
or $239 for a professional and mid-career resume, depending on whether you want
a standard, scannable or a text-based format (the latter is suitable for
e-mailing). Resume writers certified by the Professional Association
of Resume Writers & Career Coaches in St. Petersburg, Fla., typically charge
between $300 and $600 to produce an executive resume and $200 to $400 for a
document for a midlevel professional, says Frank Fox, executive director of the
organization. (CareerJournal.com partners with Career Development Services
Inc., a
Brian McCullough, chief executive officer of New York-based
resumewriters.com, an online network of certified resume writers, is skeptical
of eBay sellers who market resume-writing services. "Anyone can sign up
tomorrow with no qualifications and put him or herself out there," he
says. "Large, established [resume-services] companies on the Internet tend
to work only with credentialed professionals they know by reputation." His
firm charges $149.99 for resumes from job hunters at all experience levels and
promises a rewrite if your resume doesn't attract at least one job interview within
30 days.
Mr. Fox recommends job hunters check for the following when hiring
resume help: examples of resumes written for other customers, client references
and certification from and membership in a resume-writing association. He
declines to comment on resume services sold on eBay, explaining that he hasn't
reviewed their listings.
The Web sites of the Professional Association of Resume Writers
& Career Coaches and the National
Resume Writers' Association list their certified resume writers and their
contact information. These directories include links to members' individual Web
sites where visitors often can view "before and after" samples of
their work. Just by looking at these, you can glean some general ideas about
how to best present your credentials if, say, you're a student, a financial
professional, career changer or other typical client.
-- Ms.
Needleman is associate editor at CareerJournal.com.
Article from CareerJournal Today –
February 2005