Unlike in the 1990s and previous years, hiring professional CV writers today is the norm. The concept has become more popular due to its main benefits: saves you time, boosts your visibility and enhances the CV look. Without a doubt, it is a worthwhile investment. But like any other investment, you must be diligent in choosing a CV writing service provider. Otherwise, your investment could flop and fail to deliver the results you desire. This article will help you make crucial decisions like how to assess different agencies and how to eventually choose a CV writing service provider.
Questions to ask yourself
A simple Google search of the words “CV writing services in New Zealand” or “Best CV and Cover Letter writers nz ” shows how popular these services are. There are hundreds of hits, and of course, you could be overwhelmed if you don’t have a criteria to pick the most suitable.
Before you start clicking on different links, ask yourself the following questions:
Is the CV writing service provider reputable?
Set a standard for checking the track record of each service provider. You could opt to check reviews on their website or third-party review sites like Google Business and Yelp. Sample a few comments by previous clients and get a feel of how the agency handles its clients. Of course, choose the CV-writing service provider that receives positive feedback.
Are they at my level?
The next question to ask yourself concerning the CV writing service provider is if the agency is at your level. Are you a beginner (a budding professional fresh from college or with less than five years in the industry)? Are you a mid-level professional with more than 5 years of experience and handles managerial responsibilities? Or are you a top C-suite executive with several years of experience and an industry leader? Depending on your career level, the CV writing agency of choice must have experience working with job seekers at your career level.
Do they understand my needs and field?
Regarding your career preferences and field, a professional CV writing agency should also demonstrate that they understand your needs and have expertise in your area of specialisation. You can get this by interacting with the CV writing service provider (for instance, through their website) and assessing their content.
These self-reflecting questions will prepare you for the next phase of shortlisting and interviewing CV-writing service providers.
Questions to ask the CV writing service provider
For starters, the agency should be accessible via different channels. You could phone them, chat with a rep on their website (not just a chatbot), or call on them physically. When you do, use the following questions to guide your conversation:
How will the CV writer help me beat ATS?
Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) are specialized software that helps recruiters organise applications. ATS also parses and filters the best-qualified résumés. Your choice CV writer should help prepare a résumé that can beat the bots and give you the best possible chance of an interview. Find out from the CV writer their strategies for writing ATS-friendly CVs .
What is the process like?
In your plan to interview the CV writer, include questions that will inform you about the process. Don’t just stop at their privacy policy. Go further and find out how long it would take to produce a top-level executive CV. On average, a well-researched and crafted executive CV would take about 20 hours to complete. The CV writer might not do a splendid job if they take less time.
How is the revision/correction process like?
No professional CV writing service can guarantee you a job. However, it’s important to understand what their correction process looks like. If they have incorrectly interpreted your experience, are they happy to make changes? At ExecutiveONE, our process allows customers to request corrections when they order a standard CV and cover letter from us. This helps ensure your documents are accurate.
A final word on choosing a CV writing service
Choosing a CV writing service provider is not easy. Not all agencies offer excellent services or will give you great results. However, by seeking answers to the questions above, you will be better placed to hire a suitable agency. Once you shortlist, compare their prices. Pricing is an excellent indicator of the quality of service to expect. On average, an experienced, high-quality CV writing agency would charge about $300 for a complete job. You might want to double-check the quality of output, process, and time taken if the agency charges significantly lower.
