The 7 best online resume services of 2023, per an expert

In the mix of college assignments and perhaps your 9-to-5, piecing together an attractive resume for employers can be a difficult feat.

Not only is this one-pager the bread and butter of what will lead to a first-round interview (fingers crossed!) but it’s an excellent portrayal of your skillset, employment history and unique skills that help a company’s HR department gauge if you’re the right fit.

Whether you’re a senior in college applying for your first full-time job or you’ve been in the biz for years and are looking to segue into a different role, we rounded up the best online resume services you can use as a resource to help get your application in tip-top shape.

Not only that, but we interviewed a career expert on the different types of online resume services and what you can expect when enrolling in one of their services. In other words, consider this your all-you-can-ask-for guide to write your resume like a pro.

Click to jump to the best online resume services:

Which resume service is best?

The golden question, right? This depends mostly on your career goals. There are a range of services available, and many are now even offered through LinkedIn. 

“When considering a resume service, it is important to consider the extent of guidance you are seeking,” Shannon Conklin, director of career and leadership development at The College of New Jersey — with 15 years of experience in higher education — told the New York Post. “Are you overhauling your resume? Are you transitioning industries, and need to consider a different format or approach? What are your financial resources to pay for one, or should you explore services that might be offered from your alma mater, or current institution, if you are a current or graduate of higher education?”

You’ll also want to consider the resume services’ reputation, Conklin suggests: Are there reviews or endorsements of a service, especially if you are paying for one? What is the background, and is the resume service aligned with your industry of interest? 

Is it worth paying for a resume service?

“It depends on the service and one’s circumstances as to whether it is ‘worth’ paying for the service,” Conklin says. “There are very reputable services out there, especially for more experienced career seekers. If you’re transitioning to a new field, or you are seeking to move to a senior or executive level, it could definitely be worth the cost.”

As a preliminary step, Conklin advises to really make sure you are an informed consumer when considering a resume service, and if you should pay or if you have a network or connections you can leverage for advice first. 

How much does it cost to get your resume professionally done?

“When an individual pays for a resume service, there may be a flat rate or it is calculated on an hourly rate, and requires at least two sessions,” Conklin explains. “For example, it could cost $150 for a single session.”

However, there are resume services that can significantly exceed that rate and are part of a package that might include a quick return and other support, from LinkedIn to interview coaching that are over $600, she highlights.

What to include on your resume, according to an expert

“Your story is the focus of your resume, and it is critical to be honest and reflect on how you want to tell that, ultimately,” Conklin notes. “The order also depends on the stage of your career (early, mid, senior, executive) and the industry you are seeking.”

In academia, for example, you’ll see a curriculum vitae (CV) and it is pages long to reflect one’s research, publications, and roles held.  In financial services, you would have a one page resume until you have significant work experience. Or, in the creative fields, you may have a one page resume and then an online portfolio or website, that exhibits your work to complement your resume, she explains.

“No matter the field you are pursuing, you always want to make sure you list your experiences in reverse chronological order, you include your education/training, think of the keywords and skills (and make sure those are prominently displayed and included), and also think of what is most relevant,” she lists. “The most relevant should be at the top.”

It is also key to consider Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), automated review systems that scan resumes as part of an organization’s vetting process. “The format could align or cause issues with an ATS system,” Conklin adds. “This is why it’s important to do your research, leverage any connections you have to gain insights into a field and their preferred format, and get advice on keywords, skills and experiences to include.”

Best Online Resume Services

1. TopResume, $149 to $699

TopResume is a beloved favorite — and for a good reason. It has four different packages depending on your career goals, some of which include unlimited revisions, a LinkedIn makeover, a cover letter and two interview prep sessions.

With TopResume, you also get a 60-day interview guarantee. If you don’t get twice as many interviews, the platform will rewrite your resume for free. It’s pretty top tier, to say the least.

2. Resume Companion, $8 a month

With Resume Companion, you’ll be able to build your resume step by step, from selecting a professional template to answering a few simple questions to have your experience and skills added directly to your digital file. Namely, if you’re not much of a writer, you’ll appreciate its pre-written work experience bullet points to craft your resume in minutes and then apply away.

Not to mention, it’s only $8 a month, so if you want a one-and-done service, this one’s your best bet. Keep in mind that you will have to renew your subscription to edit in the future, but it’s a great budget-friendly option to pursue if you don’t want to be completely in the dark.

3. Resumeble, $149 to $339

Resumeble not only has a fun name, but it includes a resume and cover letter in its baseline package. If you’d like to upgrade, you can receive a LinkedIn write-up, a second resume version, thank you and follow-up notes and cold emails to recruiters.

This all-in-one service is fairly priced and is one of the best for its pick-and-choose structure: if you’re only looking to refresh your LinkedIn, you’ll just pay a one-time $99 fee. For just your resume, it’s a one-time purchase of $129 for the service.

4. BrandResumes, $349 to $999

BrandResumes made the cut as one of our top choices for online resume services for a few reasons: it’s one of the platforms best for ATS keyword optimization and formatting for interviews, LinkedIn branding and a customizable interface. If you buy the deluxe package, you’ll have your resume distributed across the 60 top job boards (including industry-specific ones) so you’ll spend less time applying.

5. TopStack Resume, $139 to $649

TopStack Resume is a force to be reckoned with in the career development sphere. Notably, it’s one of the only services to provide career consulting. So, in addition to resume and cover letter formatting, you have the option to partake in one-on-one sessions with a career advisor.

Plus, TopStack Resume is unique in that it has a team of well-qualified writers to ensure your one-pager is the best it can be. At a fair price point, you can always upgrade to add on more benefits in the future.

6. ResumeSpice, $449 to $689

ResumeSpice is ready to add that much-needed spice to your resume. It doesn’t just provide three different package options but it specifically tells you which one would work best for you. For example, if you have no more than two years in the workforce, you should select its baseline package ($449) that includes a phone consultation, an eye-catching resume format, keyword optimization, a personalized draft, two rounds of revisions based on your feedback and finalized versions in both Microsoft Word and PDF formats.

Plus, ResumeSpice offers other à la carte services, too, including cover letter help, LinkedIn profile revamping, interview preparation and career coaching.

7. Craft Resumes, $229 to $500

Craft Resumes has an engaging, user-friendly interface that makes resume-building a fun, less-stressful process. With ATS keyword optimization and a dedicated writer on your resume, rest assured that it will be in a healthy state to pass along to recruiters and job posters.

For its most popular package, The Basic, you’ll have access to a single writer and unlimited revisions (which is a score, compared to some other services on this list), strong and optimized words, unique formatting and a cover letter to increase your chances of landing an interview. However, Craft Resumes has other great packages worth exploring.

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