Question about whether paying for a premium resume service is worth it

I spent $200 on a professional resume writer last month for a career change into IT. Got more callbacks in 2 weeks than I did in 6 months of my own edits. But my buddy says it's a waste because you can DIY with free templates online, and he landed a job doing that. Which side is right in your experience? Has anyone else tried one of those services and seen a real difference?

2 comments

2 Comments

sethr1116d ago

Same goes for cars - a pro detail costs money but beats your own bucket wash every time.

john_murphy16d ago

How's that working out for your buddy long term though? Because landing a job with a free template is possible but usually means you're competing on the lowest common denominator. I've seen both sides and the difference is the writer knows what keywords and phrasing hiring managers in IT actually scan for. Your $200 got you something that passes the ATS system better. Free templates don't do that. Your buddy got lucky or had a strong network backing him up.