Why should I pay someone to write my résumé?
How much will it cost?
I’ve seen résumés online for $50. Why are your prices higher?
What is the process?
Can you help me with my cover letter?
Will my résumé be scannable and include keywords? Will you send me plain text and/or PDF versions?
What is Background Check Coaching?

Why should I pay someone to write my résumé?
For the same reason you should pay a dentist to pull your tooth. It’s a lot less painful and you’ll be happier with the results.

A professional résumé writer is trained to create, in word and design, a document that represents you in the best possible light. This document is targeted to get you interviews, help you shine during the interview and be evidence of your interviewer’s good judgment when he or she recommends you to superiors. A strong résumé also builds your value during salary negotiations.

Few people could do as good a job as a professional, just as a résumé writer coming to your workplace and trying to do your job would have a difficulty. Even someone with good writing and graphics skills would take a lot of time researching technique and current trends such as searchable, scanable and web-based résumés. This time would be better spent figuring out where you’re going to send your beautiful résumé.

Lastly, it can be tough to write about yourself. It is extremely helpful to have the benefit of another’s vision. An outsider can often spot patterns and important information more readily and can save you from committing puffery or being overly humble.

How much will it cost?
A typical résumé package costs between $200 and $330. You’ll find a complete breakdown on our Pricing Page.

Ask yourself about the cost of having a mediocre résumé and the value of having a great one. What salary do you expect to earn from the positions you are applying for? How much would it be worth to you if you were able to win a job a day, a week or a month earlier than you would have if your résumé was not up to snuff? How much is an impressive résumé worth during salary negotiations? What else could you be doing with the time you would spend writing your own résumé?

I’ve seen résumés online for $50. Why are your prices higher?
Our prices are in line with industry standards, but our services are the cream of the crop.

Companies that make résumés by plugging your information into a pre-existing template may be able to offer a lower cost, but they will not be providing you with the marketing tool you need to distinguish yourself from other candidates.

Designing a Movin’ On Up Résumé takes many hours and much care. To get an idea of the depth and quality of the work we do, you may want to take a look at our Movin’ On Up Toolkit.

We start with a blank page and design a document that is unique to you and that specifically speaks to your target audience. This is invaluable when it comes to getting your dream job faster, negotiating the salary you deserve and justifying future salary increases. A Movin’ On Up Résumé pays for itself almost immediately.

Our writers maintain memberships in professional organizations, attend career services conferences and take at least one continuing education class every month. This costs us more, but it ensures that we are providing you with a cutting edge product that gets results.

If you choose a company that just fills out a template, you may never see a return on your $50.

What is the process?
The first step is to complete our in-depth questionnaire. We call it the Movin’ On Up Toolkit because it gives us all the tools we need to understand who you are, where you’ve been and where you are going. If at all possible set aside a quiet place and time to complete the Movin’ On Up Toolkit. The better the tools, the better the résumé, so please give thought to your answers. If you find you need help, we will always support you over the phone or via e-mail.

If you are more of a talker than a writer, we can take your information over the phone. This consult takes about an hour.

Once we receive your completed Movin’ On Up Toolkit, we may contact you with questions. We also ask that you send your current résumé if you have one. Please make yourself available either by phone or email so your project will not be delayed. When we have all of the information we need, we will email a rough draft to you within a week. When you review the rough draft, let us know if any changes need to be made and we will make them within one business day. If you have time constraints, let us know and we’ll do our best to accommodate you.

The same rough draft/revision process applies to cover letters.

You are responsible for printing and distributing your résumé and cover letter.
   
Please note: We are happy to answer your questions and discuss your situation whether or not you are a current client. You have free access to the Movin’ On Up Toolkit because we want you to have an understanding of the thoroughness with which we will undertake your work. However we offer support in answering questions in the Movin’ On Up Toolkit only once you have ordered a résumé package. Also, we must receive your payment before we begin work on your résumé. If you have decided on a package and would like to pay, you may pay on our checkout page , fax or e-mail us your credit card information along with the package you would like to purchase or call us Monday through Friday 8am to 4pm Pacific Standard time.

Can you help me with my cover letter?
Absolutely! Many people underestimate the importance of the cover letter. It is often your first introduction to an employer, so it better be good. An effective cover letter gets the reader excited about seeing the résumé and meeting the candidate. It is also an excellent place to share information that would not be appropriate on a résumé but could help you land the job. A cover letter puts you in control. You are stating what the next step will be, i.e. that you will contact them on a certain day to set up an interview time. This is a more powerful place to be than sending your résumé out into the void and hoping someone will call you.

Will my résumé be scannable and include keywords? Will you send me plain text and/or PDF versions?
Because a majority of employers use scanning and keyword searches to find candidates, our résumés are all designed to be understood by scanning equipment and to be picked up in appropriate keyword searches.

The exception to this is people in artistic and/or non-traditional fields. If you are applying for a job in which creativity is a prerequisite, your résumé should show that creativity. Unfortunately, scanners have a hard time recognizing information that is presented in a non-traditional way. If this conundrum applies to you, we will be happy to help you decide on the best strategy.

Your résumé and / or cover letter will be delivered to you via email in Word, PDF and ASCII formats.

What is Background Check Coaching?
More than 90% of companies perform background checks on candidates before they’re hired.

More than 50% of background checks uncover inconsistencies in the résumé or application.

More than 80% of companies say that a background check which is inconsistent with an application will take an otherwise qualified candidate out of the running.

A Movin’ On Up Résumé may get you the interview. Your excellent interview skills could put you on the short list for a job. But a discrepancy in your background check will most likely take you out of the running. We won’t let that happen to you.

A background check coaching package includes:

• Two half-hour phone sessions, one preparatory and one follow-up.
• The crafting of any résumé addendums you may need to clarify:
  • Discrepancies
  • Gaps in employment
  • Conviction
     
• Assistance in choosing references that will help your candidacy, not
  hinder it. This is especially important now that many states have passed laws allowing employers to speak candidly about former employees.

If you have questions that were not answered here, feel free to call or email us. We would love to hear from you.

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