Is Resume Writing a Scam?

The following post explores the question: Is Resume Writing a Scam?

The internet is absolutely loaded with Resume Writing companies and providers. From $5 same-day delivery to $3,500+ executive level packages, you’ll find no shortage of options online.

Read: How Much Does Resume Writing Cost?

Related: Best and Worst Resume Services on BBB

So, is Resume Writing a legitimate practice? Or is it just a scam? The short answer: No, it’s not a scam. Resume Writing is a legitimate service that is coveted by highly competitive job seekers.

Here’s what you need to know about whether Resume Writing is a scam.

Professional Associations & Certifications

One way to verify Resume Writing isn’t a scam are the many professional associations in the industry.

From the PARW to CTL, NRWA, and more, this industry features at least nine Career Services Professional Associations that I know of.

These are independently operated organizations that are dedicated to providing education and resources to help Resume Writers and Career Coaches serve their clients best. If Resume Writing were actually a scam there probably wouldn’t be all these organizations and certifications.

Predatory Scammers

It’s unfortunate but true that a certain percentage of individuals on the internet are simply bad actors that are out to steal your money.

These predatory scammers have been known to use the Resume Writing industry as a strategy for meeting new potential victims (by posing as a legitimate Resume Writer).

There’s really nothing anyone can do about it, but this does happen, and contributes to the bad name and ‘scam’ claims to some degree.

Pictured: Screenshot of a LinkedIn user’s post about Resume Writing being a scam.

Resume Outsourcing Companies

As the Owner of JobStars, I get emails (like the one below) quite regularly from Resume Outsourcing companies that want my business.

Their pitch is simple. I charge you (the customer) full price and then pay the Resume Outsourcing company something crazy low like $60 to develop your new Resume.

It’s a sweet deal, everyone wins! Except for you (the customer) who receives a dreadful, half-baked Resume.

Of course, I always politely say no thanks to these proposals. But, it’s important to note that these companies are out there, and I guarantee some Resume Services use them (or they wouldn’t hit me up so much).

Pictured: Screenshot of a solicitation email I received from a Resume Outsourcing company.

Negative Experiences

Aside from actual scammers that have no intent to serve you – there’s also low end services that just aren’t very good. Some of these less than desirable services get called a scam.

In actuality, Resume Writing is pretty hard. A well-crafted Resume is not merely a laundry list of past jobs and responsibilities; it’s a strategic marketing tool. It takes a lot more skill and time than meets the eye.

On top of it being difficult, many Resume Writing Services simply don’t charge enough money. They slash prices to get your business. The problem with this strategy is they are dis-incentivized from doing a good job. Naturally, they cut corners and invest as little time into your project as possible.

There are lots of negative experiences in the Resume Writing world because of the high difficulty + low compensation issue. Here’s an example of what I mean.

Pictured: Screenshot of a LinkedIn user’s post about a disappointing Resume Writing experience.

Bad Reputations

Some of the most well-known Resume Writing companies (TopResume, ZipJob) have some of the worst reputations in the industry. These are the ‘big box’ services with low prices and large teams of Resume Writers.

When the biggest names in the industry have a bad reputation, it makes everyone look bad.

As an example, below is the ZipJob BBB page from February 2024. It shows a 1.25 rating and 13 complaints filed in 12 months. Sheeesh! I don’t mean to pick on ZipJob, but that’s pretty rough.

Pictured: Screenshot of ZipJob’s BBB page.

By comparison, my (admittedly smaller) business JobStars USA has received multiple consecutive BBB Complaint Free Awards since 2018.

Fake Reviews

Some Resume Writing companies pay for fake 5-star reviews. The logic is to artificially inflate their reputation and credibility, thereby attracting more clients.

In my experience as a business owner, I’ve found that most satisfied customers actually don’t bother to leave a review. When a customer is upset, they’re far more likely to take time to visit a review platform and leave a negative review.

So, when a company has hundreds or even thousands of five-star reviews (usually all from unverified accounts), consider thinking twice about the validity of those reviews!

Here is a screenshot of an email I received about buying fake reviews.

Pictured: Screenshot of a solicitation email I received about purchasing 5-star reviews.

In Conclusion

In conclusion, is Resume Writing a scam? No! It’s an established, credentialed profession with countless talented and dedicated practitioners that have successful track records helping job seekers.

However, like most industries, we do attract some scammers as well as certain underwhelming services that might fall into the scam category.

Shopping for a Resume Service? Check out the Best and Worst Resume Services on BBB. Looking for a service nearby? Try this list of Resume Writing Services (by City).