How Much Does It Cost To Have Someone Write Your Resume In Australia?

Writing a good resume takes time. Unless you’re a good writer with a recruitment background, you’ll spend many hours planning, writing, editing and proofreading. That’s why there’s a growing number of Australian resume writing services that are lining up to take this task off your hands.

Their cost depends on two factors:

What Are The Pricing Tiers Of Resume Writers?

Let’s examine the three categories of resume writers to get to the bottom of how much it costs to have a resume professionally written.

Tier 1: Too Good To Be True ($300 And Under).

Mostly occupied by resume mills, this tier represents a classic case of exercising false economy.

Your resume will be outsourced to an external writer, possibly with a poor grasp of the English language, and will be written in about 45 minutes.

You can expect the writer to add some formatting improvements and a lot of generic, meaningless platitudes. For example:

“Energetic, dynamic product manager with extensive experience across various industries, responsible for delivering projects on time.”

If your budget is tight, you can use a good online resume builder.

Tier 2: Value Range ($300-$1000)

Most Australian resume writers fall into this range. You can expect them to make a relatively honest attempt at:

Shop around to ensure that you find the best Australian resume writer in this category. Skill levels in this tier vary significantly, so insist on speaking with a writer on the phone before signing up.

Test the writer by asking them difficult questions specific to your career. For example:

Tier 3: Top Shelf ($1000 And Above)

Price acts as a filter and paying a premium can help you weed out resume writers who aren’t good enough for your needs.

A top-tier Australian resume expert who charges over $1,000 should have the ability to:

In other words, resumes at cheaper levels often communicate “I worked here, then I worked there“, while the best resumes shape your experience in a way that adds up to a commercially meaningful narrative.

How Does Your Seniority Affect The Cost Of Your Resume?

Seniority impacts the amount of work a resume writer has to do. A junior project manager’s resume, for example, does not have as many achievements, or as much nuance as that of a seasoned CFO.

It’s normal for Australian resume writers to have a tiered pricing system that takes this into account. In most cases the tiers are:

Don’t be surprised if the cost of an executive’s resume is 3-5 times more than that of a graduate.

Should I Pay More For A “Certified” Resume Writer?

No.

After 10+ years in this industry, I’m yet to see a positive correlation between the quality of a resume writer’s output and their certifications.

In fact, I’m known for speaking out against resume writer bodies, which I view as borderline scams that have failed to keep up with the expectations of Australian hiring managers and recruiters.

Final Words On Paying For A Resume Writer.

Having someone write your resume is worth it – if you choose the right resume writer.

Do your due diligence to create a shortlist of writers with a good reputation. Once you’ve found a few resume writers you like, ask them difficult questions about your career to test their ability.

Listen to their answers and ask yourself – “do I trust this person with my career?”

– Irene

P.S. What are your thoughts on paying for a resume writer? Have you found a good one for a great price? Have you overpaid for a mediocre resume? Share your opinions and stories below. Let’s start a conversation!