The 6 Best Resume Review Services (plus which to AVOID)

By Tom Parry on January 29, 2024 How we wrote this article

Are you looking for a professional to review your resume? We've created a shortlist of the best resume review services available online in 2024.

Whether you're looking for an expert resume coach to get you interviews at highly competitive companies, or you want more affordable resume help, you'll find what you need.

These are the best resume review services available right now:

#1 IGotAnOffer (Best if you're applying to highly competitive companies)
#2 R/resume thread on Reddit (Best place for a free resume review)
#3 TopResume (Best for including an ATS check)
#4 The Muse (Best for new grads)
#5 LinkedIn Resume Coaches (Best for accommodating broad range of industries)
#6 MentorCruise (Best if you're looking for long-term mentoring)

We'll explain more about each one below, and we'll also reveal which resume services you should steer clear of.

Okay, let's get into it.

Click here to get 1-to-1 expert feedback on your resume from an ex-recruiter or interviewer

1. What is a resume review?

A resume review service enables you to get your resume looked over by a resume professional. They will offer you detailed suggestions on how you can improve it and better tailor it to the jobs you're applying for.

A professional resume review will usually include the following:

Suggestions to help you quantify your achievements
Advice on what areas /skills/achievements to focus more /less on
Suggestions on how to optimize for your target role or company
Ideas on how you can stand out if you're in a very competitive field
Corrections on spelling or grammar mistakes
How to improve formatting, style, and tone.
Advice on making your resume the right length
Applicant tracking system (ATS) keyword and formatting compatibility

With some resume review services, you upload your resume to their site and then receive written feedback on your resume usually within a few hours. Many of these are free, as the hope is that you'll then buy a resume-writing package.

However, there are some resume review services where you get your resume feedback in person, as part of a 1-hour feedback session. This allows for a deeper, two-way conversation about what you want to achieve with the resume and how to do it.

1.1 Resume Review vs. Resume Writing

Many people don't understand the difference between these services, and a Google search for term each brings almost identical results. It shouldn't, because resume review services and resume writing services serve distinct needs:

Resume Review Services: These focus on evaluating and enhancing your existing resume. With a resume review service, you submit your self-crafted resume, and the experts provide detailed feedback, suggesting improvements to fine-tune your document for success.

Resume Writing Services: You provide them with your career history, accomplishments, and any relevant information, and they create a resume from scratch for you. These services are for people who want a professional-looking resume without the hassle of doing it themselves. As you'd expect, this comes with a higher cost - for a quality result you'll need to pay upwards of $500. For more budget services, expect a more generic end result that is less accurately tailored to your needs.

You'll need to make your own decision, but we believe that a resume review is usually a better option, for the following reasons:

as you're also putting some work in, it's a less expensive route to a strong resume
you end up with a resume that is 100% unique
you actually learn how to create a strong resume, so next time you won't need help

If you're still set on a resume writing service, then our recommendation would be Executive Drafts, as they have a lot of positive reviews on Reddit and other platforms, and have reasonable pricing options (we have no affiliation).

2. How much do resume review services cost?

The price of resume services can vary significantly, depending on the type of service you choose and the level of expertise you're looking for. Here's a breakdown of the typical costs you can expect:

Resume Review Services: These services, which focus on evaluating and improving your existing resume, are often the more budget-friendly option. Prices range from $0 to ~$550, as you'll see in the list below. The price generally reflects the expertise of the person reviewing your resume, the time they spend on it, and how much two-way feedback is offered.
Resume Writing Services: If you opt for a resume writing service, where professionals create a new resume from scratch, the cost tends to be higher. On average, you can expect to pay anywhere from $100 to $1000, depending on the complexity of your career history and the expertise of the writer.
Additional Services: Some resume service providers offer add-on services, such as cover letter writing, LinkedIn profile optimization, or job interview coaching. These extras can increase the overall cost but may provide valuable support in your job search.

For a more detailed look at resume service prices see "Resume service costs: price comparison table".

Okay, let's take a look at the best resume review services around right now.

3. Six best resume review services in 2023

One surprising thing we discovered is that there aren't actually that many good resume review services available. The resume market seems to be completely dominated by resume writing services, which have their place but, as mentioned above, serve a different need.

To find good resume review services you'll have to sift through a lot of resume writing services, and it can be hard to get lost in the noise. That's why we created this list.

Let's take a look.

#1. IGotAnOffer (Best if you're applying to top companies or competitive roles)

Pricing: $149 for a 1-hour resume review session.
Format: 1-to-1 video call
Reviews: 5.0 on Google, 4.96 rating on own site.
Reviewer expertise: All resume coaches have been recruiters/interviewers at top companies (Google, McKinsey, etc)
Satisfaction guarantee: 100% refund if you're not satisfied.

On IGotAnOffer you can book a 1h resume review session with resume coaches who have worked as recruiters or interviewers at top companies. It specializes in Tech, Consulting, or Finance, so if you're targeting a role in one of these industries, it's exactly what you need.

You can search by company, role, specialty, timezone, etc, and book a timeslot that suits you. There are well over 100 resume coaches on the platform, all vetted and highly qualified, so plenty to choose from.

Of course, $149 is still a significant investment so if you're going for a lower-paid or non-competitive role, you might prefer to try options 2 or 3 below.

#2. R/resume thread on Reddit (Best place for a free resume review)

Reddit resume page

Pricing: Free
Format: online forum
Reviews: not applicable
Reviewer expertise: Varies
Satisfaction guarantee: not applicable

It's technically not a resume "service". But if you want to get some different opinions on your resume without spending money, this resumes page on Reddit is a very useful place to go. Post it there (you may want to anonymize it first) and after a day or so you should have a few comments giving you ideas on how to improve it.

Of course, it's hard to tell if the people commenting really know what they're talking about, and sometimes the criticism could do with a bit more sugar-coating (!), but hey, it's free. Plus, you can gain a few tips and insights by browsing other people's resumes and the comments on those.

#3. TopResume (Best for including an ATS checker)

TopResume website

Pricing: Free
Format: Emailed feedback
Reviews: 4.1 on TrustPilot
Reviewer expertise: Low
Satisfaction guarantee: not applicable

As part of my research for this article, I tried some of the free resume review sites that seemed to be frequently recommended: ExecutiveDraft, TopResume, and Resume Worded.

While ResumeWorded uses 100% AI to give you an instant rating with feedback that is too generic to be very useful, I was impressed by both ExecutiveDraft and TopResume. Both came back within a few hours with some useful pointers that would have helped me take my resume from "weak" to "fair".

I've selected TopResume as the pick of the bunch because it gives the most detailed feedback breakdown and includes a ATS check which was interesting.

Is a free resume review from TopResume or anyone else going to help you generate a truly excellent resume? No, of course not. Nothing that valuable comes for free! But it's still a good option if you're on a budget and just looking for a few general pointers.

Click here to read our in-depth review on TopResume's paid resume writing service.

#4. The Muse (Best for new Grads)

Muse resume review service

Pricing: $139 (30 mins, 1 round of edits), $259 (45 mins, 2 rounds of edits), $549 (60 mins, unlimited edits, top coach)
Format: 1-to-1 video call
Reviews: 4.1 on TrustPilot
Reviewer expertise: Good quality, vetted resume coaches.
Satisfaction guarantee: Yes, 80% or 50% refund depending on when you ask for it.

The Muse is a very well-established site offering a wide range of services including resume coaching. The Muse gets generally good reviews and we've included it as #2 on this list because its coaches are properly vetted and have real expertise. A browse of the resume coaches available reveals that many specialize in working with students or new graduates.

We also like that you can look through coaches' profiles and reviews, and choose the one that best matches your requirements. It's not super cheap, as you'd probably want to go for at least the $259 option to get enough talking time and 2 rounds of edits, but you can be pretty confident of a good outcome.

#5. LinkedIn Resume coaches (Best for accommodating a wide range of needs)

LinkedIn resume review coaches

Pricing: Huge variation, usually on request.
Format: Usually 1-to-1 video call but can vary
Reviews: Depends on which resume coach you choose
Reviewer expertise: Varies
Satisfaction guarantee: No

You probably don't think of LinkedIn as somewhere to go to when you're looking to buy a service. And in many ways, it's not very well set up for this. You have to message a coach rather than book them immediately, prices are often only available on request, etc. In other words, it's not a great user experience.

However, it's worth including in this list as a useful option due to the sheer range of recruiters, hiring managers, and resume coaches that you can get in touch with. Whatever industry, role, and location you're looking for, LinkedIn has pretty much got you covered.

(Tip: Add 'resume review' as a skill in the search bar to get people who will review your resume rather than offer to write it from scratch)

#6. MentorCruise (Best if you want a long-term resume /career mentor)

Mentor Cruise resume review

Pricing: Starts at $79 per 30 min session
Format: 1-to-1 video call
Reviews: 4.6 on TrustPilot
Reviewer expertise: Good quality, vetted resume coaches.
Satisfaction guarantee: No

There are some good resume coaches available on Mentor Cruise and at $79 for a 30-minute session, it's a good option if you're looking for some quick expert feedback without spending too much.

You can find coaches or "mentors" from a large range of top companies - Amazon, Zalando, DoorDash, to name a few - though bear in mind that the more prestigious the companies they've worked for, the more your mentor is likely to charge.

MentorCruise is set up as a longer-term, mentoring service. The idea is that you pay monthly for the right to a number of calls and communications with your coach/mentor. If that's what you're looking for, it's a solid option.

If you're just looking for a one-off resume review, you can still do that too but the UX is a bit clunky and it can be hard to find exactly what you're looking for.

4. Which resume services you should AVOID

As mentioned above, there is a lot of variation in the resume service market: there are some good services, but there are plenty of poor ones too.

A lot of people ask whether the Indeed resume review service is worth using, due to its relatively low price. We would NOT recommend Indeed if you're hoping for a considered, detailed evaluation, as we've seen reports from its reviewers that they get very little time to spend on your resume.

In general, be sure to avoid resume services that show any of these red flags:

Lack of Transparency: Avoid services that are not transparent about their pricing, processes, or the qualifications of their reviewers or writers. You should know exactly what you're paying for and who will be handling your resume. If not, you risk paying for a resume that's been written by someone completely unqualified.
Price is too low. Top-quality individual resume writers usually charge around $500 per resume or more. So if a site is charging you $150, you should know that your writer will not be a real expert. Likewise, you can find well-reviewed writers on sites like UpWork for $35 but don't expect the expertise that would help you get interviews at top companies.
Cookie-Cutter Templates: Steer clear of services that rely heavily on generic resume templates. Your resume should be tailored to your unique skills and experiences, not a one-size-fits-all solution.
Guaranteed Job Offers: Be cautious of services that promise guaranteed job offers or unrealistic outcomes. Job success depends on various factors, and no service can guarantee employment.
Inadequate Customer Support: Avoid services that provide poor or nonexistent customer support. Good communication and responsiveness are crucial, especially if you have questions or concerns.
No Revisions: A resume service that doesn't offer revisions or edits is one to avoid. Revisions are essential to fine-tune your resume to perfection. It's extremely unlikely that someone else can nail your resume at first time around without at least one opportunity for feedback.
Lack of Samples or Examples: Reputable services should have samples or examples of their work available for you to review. If they can't provide these, it's a red flag.
Overly High Prices: While quality comes at a price, avoid services that charge exorbitant fees without clear justifications. Don't assume that a high price is a guarantee of quality.
No Satisfaction Guarantee: Services that don't offer any form of satisfaction guarantee should be approached with caution. A guarantee demonstrates the service's confidence in its quality.
Unverified Reviews: Be wary of services with no or unverifiable customer reviews. Check sites like TrustPilot or Sitejabber to see real, independent customer reviews.
Hidden Fees: Ensure there are no hidden fees or additional charges that might surprise you after you've committed to the service.

5. Resume review FAQs

Hopefully, you've now got a pretty good idea of how you should go about getting help on your resume, but in case you've still got questions, let's answer a few more here.

5.1 How long does it take to receive feedback from a resume review service?

That really depends. Turnaround times vary a lot by service. Basic reviews might provide feedback within a few days, while more comprehensive reviews can take a week or longer. If you pay more you can usually get quicker results. On IGotAnOffer, you can usually book a resume review session for the next day.

5.2 Are online resume review services as effective as in-person services?

In our experience, yes. Online services provide access to experienced professionals who can offer valuable insights and feedback remotely. In-person services work for some people, particularly older candidates, but it naturally is more time-consuming for everyone involved and you end up paying for other costs such as room rental, transport time, etc.

5.3 Do resume review services guarantee job placement or interviews?

No resume review services can truly guarantee job offers or interviews. While they can enhance your resume's quality, job success depends on various factors, such as your skills, experience, and the job market. Be cautious of services that make unrealistic guarantees.

That said, using a good resume review service should result in a lot more interview invitations. To properly take advantage of this, you might want to consider interview coaching: see our list of the best interview coaching services across different categories. If you're considering doing mock interviews, take a look at our deep dive, "What is a Mock Interview" and our list of the best mock interview sites if you're looking for options.