# Resume writing service, or resume writing software? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 8, 2007, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resume-writing-service-or-resume-writing-software/407292 "2007-06-08T18:40:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![zeno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zeno/32/15040_2.png) [@zeno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zeno)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resume-writing-service-or-resume-writing-software/407292/1 "2007-06-08T18:40:27Z")
I’m mid-40ish, looking to get into another career, and need to rework my resume. Can anyone inform me of the pluses and minuses of a service versus software? Can anyone recommend particular ones? ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resume-writing-service-or-resume-writing-software/407292/2 "2007-06-08T20:23:25Z")
Have you considered the possibility of simply writing your own resume? If you’re unable to do that, I wouldn’t hire you. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resume-writing-service-or-resume-writing-software/407292/3 "2007-06-08T22:40:23Z")
[QUOTE=panache45] Have you considered the possibility of simply writing your own resume? If you’re unable to do that, I wouldn’t hire you. [/QUOTE] True to an extent but not entirely fair. Not everyone is a writer and good with words. If the OP wanted a job as a journalist (for example) then writing skills are obviously important but if they are going for a job as, say, a construction worker then writing skills are not really necessary. That doesn’t mean it isn’t worthwhile to have a well laid out and easily readable resume and some are better at it than others. I have no experience with resume writing software but I cannot see how it’d be all that great of a help. There are resume templates freely available for programs like Microsoft Word which will handle the layout for you. After that it is up to you to write it. But again I have not used this software…maybe it asks questions and then generates a resume from that. Not sure how it’d generate a decent cover letter though. A resume writing service will interview you and take most of the effort off your hands. Generally these writers are savvy about “better” phrasing in a resume which can help. That said there are a lot of people out there offering this service and how to sort the really good ones from just any person with a word processor will take some research. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resume-writing-service-or-resume-writing-software/407292/4 "2007-06-08T22:49:32Z")
I think there’ve been a few threads in IMHO where people have posted resumes, had them ripped to shreds, reassembled, and polished. ---
**Author:** ![zeno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zeno/32/15040_2.png) [@zeno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zeno)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resume-writing-service-or-resume-writing-software/407292/5 "2007-06-08T23:13:08Z")
[QUOTE=panache45] Have you considered the possibility of simply writing your own resume? If you’re unable to do that, I wouldn’t hire you. [/QUOTE] It’s not so much that I can’t write one, but I hear so many stories about resumes programmatically scanned for key words, or visually scanned for several seconds before being consigned to the slush pile…I thought a professionally prepared resume might offer an opportunity I might otherwise miss. Mind you there are executive level job seekers who _can_ write their own, but who will pay $700 or more to have someone who really knows the ropes do it for them. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resume-writing-service-or-resume-writing-software/407292/6 "2007-06-08T23:54:23Z")
[QUOTE=panache45] Have you considered the possibility of simply writing your own resume? If you’re unable to do that, I wouldn’t hire you. [/QUOTE] I’d create a poor resume. But then, I’ve worked for the same employer for 13 years, I’m rusty at jobhunting, & don’t really “get” the buzzwords needed to excite reume scanning software. At the same time, I’m motivated, & regarded by local management as “the only guy for a @#$% in the photo lab”. So, I’m a good employee. You’d lose out.