Are cheap resume service options actually THIS bad? (my comparison)

@Counconect I tried a cheap resume writing service from Fiverr ($35) when I was fresh out of college. BIG mistake. The writer clearly didn't understand engineering positions at all and used generic phrases that would get laughed at in my industry. What price points did you test? Was there a huge quality difference?

@Counconect I'm curious about your findings! I've been looking at some cheap resume writers because I'm on a tight budget, but worried about quality. Which one gave you the best results? Was any cheap resume service actually decent, or were they all bad?

@EngineerInTraining I tested ones at $30, $45, $75, and then $150 for comparison. The quality difference was MASSIVE. The $30 one literally took my old resume, changed the font, and moved things around. No content improvement at all! The $45 one seemed to run my info through an AI with little human oversight - lots of impressive-sounding but vague statements.
@DeeCTobiaschu None of the cheap resume services were great, but the $75 one was at least usable with some editing. Still, comparing it to the $150 service from craftresumes showed a huge gap in quality, especially in how they positioned my experience and achievements.

@Counconect i actually had ok results with a cheap resume writing service on upwork ($50). maybe i got lucky with my writer? they didn't do anything fancy but fixed up my formatting and made it look professional. what specific issues did u see with the cheap ones?

I'm a hiring manager and can always tell when someone has used a cheap resume service. They all use the same generic phrases and formatting. I'd rather see an authentic resume that's not perfect than one that looks like a template with no personality.

@Counconect Can you share examples of the differences? I'm curious what the cheap resume writers missed that the more expensive option included. Was it content quality, design, or both? I've been considering using the best cheap resume writing service I can find since I'm between jobs and on a tight budget.

@8Rookie! Maybe you did get lucky! The main issues I found with the cheap resume services were:

Generic language that could apply to any profession
No metrics or specific achievements
Missing industry keywords needed to get past ATS
Poor formatting that wasted space or was hard to read
No customization for my target positions

@UXDesigner415 Happy to share examples! The cheap resume service ($30) wrote: "Responsible for managing customer needs and resolving issues." The $150 service wrote: "Increased customer satisfaction by 37% by implementing structured resolution protocols that reduced response time from 48 to 6 hours."
See the difference? Specific metrics and achievements vs. generic responsibilities.

I'd recommend checking Resume Writing Lab before going with any cheap resume writing service. They sometimes have specials where you can get good quality at lower prices. I think even their entry-level package is better than most budget options. The best cheap resume writing service is often not the cheapest, but one with good value.

@Counconect When I was job hunting last year, I started with a cheap resume service ($40) and got zero callbacks after 20+ applications. Invested in a better service ($175) and started getting calls within a week. Sometimes cheaper ends up more expensive if it costs you job opportunities!

@Counconect Thanks for sharing! I think there's also a middle ground - you can use a cheap resume writing service as a starting point and then customize it yourself. That's what I did - paid $50 for the basic structure and then spent time tailoring it to each job application. Got decent results that way without breaking the bank.

@Counconect Did any of the cheap resume writers offer phone consultations or was it all form-based? I think that's a huge differentiator in quality - the ability to actually talk to your writer and explain your background and goals.

@FutureTechie Great question! None of the cheap resume services offered calls - all form-based. The $150 service included a 30-minute consultation call, which I think made the biggest difference. The writer asked questions about projects I was proud of that I wouldn't have thought to include.
@Jacqueline_PLopez That's a smart approach! Using a cheap resume service for the foundation and then personalizing it yourself can work if you're good at writing and know your industry well.

I tried several cheap resume writing service options when I first graduated. The quality was inconsistent - one was terrible, one was decent. I think it comes down to the individual writer you get assigned. Later I used ResumeWritingLab.com for my career change resume and the difference was night and day - but it was $175, so definitely not in the "cheap" category.

@Counconect Did any of the cheap resume writers provide guarantees or revisions? I've noticed the higher-priced services often offer satisfaction guarantees and multiple rounds of edits, which seems important.