This page will provide you with some information about how our service works, who we are, etc. If your question is not answered here, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Q. Why should I consider hiring a professional résumé writer?
A. When you want a hair cut, massage, or almost any professional service for that matter, you usually go to a licensed, trained professional who specializes in that area of expertise. Shouldn't you make the same decision when it comes to the one thing that will ultimately help you get the job that helps pay for all of life's needs and luxuries — your career?

Q. What does a certified résumé writer bring to the table?
A. A certified résumé writer is thoroughly trained in the finer points of résumé writing. We are tested and required to re-certify every few years to ensure that we remain current with hiring trends. And, as members of the various professional organizations specializing in professional résumé writing, we are required to uphold stringent customer service requirements, including the safeguarding of our clients' personal information and engaging in sound, on-the-level business practices.

In addition, professional résumé writers have access to resources that are often not available to the general public. And if nothing else convinces you of the value a professional résumé writer has to offer, consider this: The average price for a résumé package is often covered by less than your first day's pay on your new job. That means an investment in a professionally prepared résumé will pay for itself over and over!

Q. What are the certifications and who does the certifying?
A. There are multiple resume writing certifications offered by the main resume writing organizations — National Resume Writers Association, Career Directors International, Career Masters Institute and Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches. Each organization has its own separate training and certification requirements, with some organizations offering different levels of certifications based on one's experience. For more information about each organization and its certifications, please click on the links leading to their home pages, or for a digest version of the some of the common certifications, please see the information on certifiedresumewriters.com.

Q. What certifications does Prism Writing Services hold and what do they mean?
A. Pat Duckers, our president, holds the following certifications: Certified Expert Resume Writer (CERW), given to writers with at least five years' industry experience who demonstrate excellence in their resume preparation skills; Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW), awarded to those who pass a three-part comprehensive exam; Certified Federal Resume Writer & Coach (CFRWC), given to those who demonstrate proficiency in preparing federal resumes and guiding clients through the federal job search process; Certified Employment Interview Professional (CEIP), given to those who train to be interview and career coaches; Certified Web Portfolio Practitioner (CWPP), given to those who learn how to build a client's career web portfolio.

Q. Who is "The Résumé Writer"?
A. Patricia Duckers, CPRW, CERW, CEIP, CFRWC, CWPP is the president of Prism Writing Services, LLC, home of "The Résumé Writer." We are an internet based résumé service that strives to provide value-added, professional and personalized service to clients in all industries and at all levels. Pat is the only known résumé writer in the state of New Jersey to hold three different certifications in résumé writing (including one in federal résumé preparation), one certification in interview coaching and her latest certification, web portfolio development.

Pat's goal is to provide personal, affordable, and expert career advice. She has prepared résumés for nearly every career imaginable, including IT, sales, professional athlete/coach and more. Every package is custom-prepared with care to best showcase the strengths of the client.

Pat's work has appeared in several résumé books. She is also a regular attendee of job fairs throughout the New York Metro area. Recently, she was appointed to the Career Directors International certification committee, a distinction reserved for the most advanced résumé writers.

Q. What does having a résumé cost?
A. Every project is unique in terms of the number of hours required; as such, we do not provide a "one size fits all" pricing structure; we instead encourage prospective clients to open a dialogue with us so we can gain a better understanding of what your specific needs are. This way we can arrive at the fairest price for all.

We are not the most expensive service out there, nor are we the cheapest. However, here's another reason why we urge you to consider our service over a "mill." You see, most services that offer an inexpensive résumé service give you what you pay for: a lot of unanswered questions and, often times, an inferior product.

For starters, it's not always communicated to you before you lay down your payment who your writer is going to be. You could get someone with loads of experience or someone who's just starting out in the business and who isn't even certified. You could get someone who specializes in your particular industry or who has no familiarity with the jargon and what's important for your target position.

So while you're paying a very budget friendly fee for your brand new résumé, the truth is you're not always getting a superior product, thus you're not going to get interviews and you're going to miss out on thousands of dollars for each week your employment status remains as is.

Q. How do I work with your service?
A. We work with our clients by phone, fax and e-mail. As such, we encourage our prospective clients to open a dialogue with us by sending an existing copy of their résumé (if available). We'll then contact you to learn more about your employment goals, obstacles and such so that we can prepare a written price estimate for your consideration.

Q. How long does it take to have a resume written?
A. Many résumé services promise you anywhere from 48-72 turnaround time on a first draft. Why the rush? Because the more résumés they do in a day, the more money they make. As such, many of their writers have to knock out anywhere from 6-8 (or more) résumé/cover letter combinations a day. That amounts to less than one hour spent per client. Don't you think your career documents deserve more time than that?

We do. We typically work on no more than two resumes per day in order to ensure our clients are receiving the maximum attention to their project. Overall, we can complete a draft of your resume within one business week; rush service is available for an additional fee and upon request.

Q. What is your refund policy?
A. Fees for services rendered are non-refundable.

Q. What service guarantees do you offer?
A. We guarantee our best effort incorporating our full use of our resources in composing your project. We cannot guarantee that our resumes will land you a job because there are many factors beyond anyone's control which affect a company's hiring decision.

Don't see your question answered here? Contact us for assistance.