Resume pricing: are you finding resume services to be ridiculously expensive? If you've been shopping for a resume service and you've been set back on your keister at the cost of resume services, two things you should know. First, you might be shopping in the wrong places. Secondly, some of that resume pricing might actually be justified. Consider the following Top Five Tips to see whether you're being taken to the cleaners by a resume writing service:

Tip # 1 - Resume Pricing Isn't Scaled To Experience

One size doesn't fit all when it comes to resumes. The resume for a senior-level executive with 30 years of work experience should take considerably longer to craft than the resume of newly-minted college grad with only two part-time jobs under his belt. Run from any resume service that advertises single pricing for all resumes - even if that price seems to be reasonable. The reason? That resume service is operating a factory, and in this tough job market, a cookie-cutter resume will get you nowhere fast.

Tip #2 - No Sample Resumes For Your Review

Found a resume service with a beautiful website... but no samples of their work? Not a good sign. I understand that a writer might not want to give away all his writing secrets. However, a good and confident resume writer shouldn't be afraid to showcase a sample of his work for prospective clients to see.

Tip #3 - Resume Pricing Doesn't Include An Interview

If the price you're asked to pay seems like big bucks and you're not getting a personal conversation with the writer, you're not getting value. Lower-priced resume services can get by without an interview. Rather, they have to get by without an interview: at $25 or even $50 bucks a pop, there's not enough money on the table for the writer to spend half an hour getting to know the client over the phone. And then spend another 2-3 hours working up the resume. These services - resume factories - rely on the client to fill out a questionnaire. That alone is the source of their information about you. Such a limited and impersonal experience with your resume writer might be fine in a perfect world where jobs are begging for candidates, but I'm looking out my window right now and I don't see that perfect world. Bottom line: you want to spend some time actually talking with your resume writer.

Tip #4 - No Mention Of Writers' Credentials

If a writer can write, credentials are meaningless. Problem is, you often don't know whether a writer can write until he's made a mess of your resume. A resume service that hires writers who are certified - either through the Professional Association of Resume Writers (RARW) or the National Resume Writers' Association (NRWA) - is signaling that they understand your concern. Their writers have at least met a minimal set of industry standards. Beyond that, and more importantly, the better resume writers have hands-on industry experience. Ideally, hands-on experience in your industry, hopefully giving them an insight into the language and the nuances of your profession.

All things being equal, a certified resume writer should get the nod. Keep in mind that things are rarely equal, and certification alone isn't a perfect measure of a writers skill at writing marketing copy (which is what a resume comes down to). Still, no mention of writers' credentials whatsoever is not a good sign.

Tip #5 - Resume Pricing Doesn't Include A Guarantee

Can't find a guarantee anywhere on that company's website? No offers to rewrite the resume if you're not happy with it? No offers to rewrite the resume if it goes "out there" into the job market and never makes the phone ring?

Run.