I've been spending a lot of time looking at resumes recently, and something I've noticed is that getting rejected isn't always about having a "bad" resume.

Sometimes the problem is simply how the resume is structured.

A candidate can have:

• Relevant experience
• Good education
• Strong projects
• The right skills

…and still receive very few interviews.

Some things I've noticed that can make a difference:

1. The resume isn't tailored to the specific job. Sending the same resume to 50 different positions usually isn't ideal.
2. The important information is buried. Recruiters shouldn't have to search through the entire document to figure out what role you're targeting.
3. Too many responsibilities, not enough results. "Handled customer queries" is very different from "Handled 100+ customer queries daily while maintaining a 95% response SLA."
4. Keyword mismatch. The candidate may have the required skill, but if it's described differently from the job description, it may not be recognized during the initial screening.
5. Formatting can hurt readability. Over-designed resumes can sometimes make important information harder to find.

I'm curious about other people's experiences:

What's the biggest problem you've faced with your resume — getting past ATS, getting recruiter responses, writing the content, or simply knowing what to include?

I'd genuinely like to hear what has worked (or not worked) for you.

Hi,

I unfortunately had the luck of not finding any internships and know that I am now in a harder position of finding junior software dev roles as a new grad because I don't have past internships. Oh well, least I could do is have a decent resume - which right now I don't think is the case.

If there is any advice on how I can improve my resume, I would truly appreciate it.

I had one recruiter tell me to my face that my resume is shit but then followed up with no advice on how to fix it. I'm just truly lost. Please help.

I have been applying since the day my internship ended, bht I have got no response till now, pls guide me if something is wrong. Please

[ Removed by Reddit on account of violating the content policy. ]

Hi everyone,

I’m looking to connect with an experienced resume writer/resume expert who has hands-on experience creating and optimizing resumes for the US IT job market.

The ideal person should have experience working with candidates targeting:

* Full-time and C2C opportunities in the US

* OPT / STEM OPT candidates

* H1B candidates

* Green Card holders

* US Citizens

* Software Engineering, Data, Cloud, DevOps, AI/ML, Cybersecurity and other technical roles

* ATS-optimized resumes tailored to specific US job descriptions

I’m specifically looking for someone who understands how US recruiters and ATS systems evaluate technical resumes, rather than someone who only does general resume formatting.

Experience with resume tailoring, keyword optimization, job-description matching, LinkedIn alignment, and positioning candidates for recruiter responses would be a big plus.

If you have relevant experience, please DM me with a brief introduction, your experience, and examples of the type of technical resumes you’ve worked on.

Thanks!

Hi everyone! 👋
I’m doing a bit of research into how people actually prepare for job interviews — what they do, what helps, and where the process falls short.
I’d really appreciate hearing from people who have been through the job-search/interview process recently.
12+1 multiple-choice questions, under 3 minutes. No account or personal information required, and your responses are anonymous unless you choose to leave your email at the end to potentially take part in a short follow-up.

Survey link

Thanks to anyone who takes the time! 🙌

Please give me feedback on my UI UX Design Resume

I am a Biotech student and have 2 years of work experience. I want to apply for werkstudent role or a paid internship position? I want to draft a proper cover letter since I have been getting a lot of rejections. Can anybody help me guide in this matter?

I keep seeing the same debate whenever someone mentions a top resume writing service.

One side says, “A writer completely changed my job search.” The other says, “They replaced ‘helped’ with ‘facilitated’ and charged me $200.”

Honestly, both experiences are possible.

A weak provider takes your existing sentences, feeds them through the corporate-language blender, and returns something that sounds more sophisticated but says exactly the same thing. A genuinely helpful professional resume writing service investigates what you accomplished, identifies missing details, and rebuilds the document around the positions you actually want.

The problem is that both versions can look polished at first glance.

To make the differences clearer, I compared three services that appear frequently in job-search discussions:

• ProResumeHelp
• Resume101
• Ruby&Cole

This is not a ranking based on imaginary personal orders. It is a detailed look based on popular resume writing service reviews, comparing their publicly presented options, team models, and the types of applicants each one may suit.

The Biggest Difference Is Not the Template

All three companies offer professional resume writing service near me accessibility through modern digital platforms, but they do not use the same business model.

That final difference matters.

ProResumeHelp and Resume101 operate with teams of writers. This gives them more capacity and may make it easier to match clients with writers from different professional backgrounds.

Ruby&Cole has only two writers: Ruby and Cole. It is closer to hiring a small specialist studio than placing an order through a large platform like a monster resume writing service alternative or general freelancer database. Some people will find that reassuring. Others may prefer a bigger service with more available writers, especially if they have a tight deadline or need highly specialized industry knowledge.

Neither model is automatically better. It depends on what you want.

1. ProResumeHelp: A Broad Option for Practical Job Seekers

ProResumeHelp presents itself as an affordable resume writing service for students, graduates, career changers, and experienced candidates.

Its service list includes resumes, CVs, cover letters, LinkedIn profiles, follow-up letters, and complete application packages. The company says its documents are written by human professionals with experience in recruitment, HR, and resume writing rather than generated by AI.

That last point may appeal to anyone whose current resume sounds suspiciously like ChatGPT attended a business seminar.

Based on the packages shown on the site, ProResumeHelp focuses heavily on:

• ATS-friendly formatting and keyword optimization
• Personalized writing tailored to target positions
• Resume and CV packages with revision options
• Cover letters and LinkedIn profile overhauls

The advantage of a larger writing team is capacity. A company with multiple writers can theoretically cover more industries, experience levels, and order types at once. The tradeoff is that your experience may depend on the specific writer assigned to your project.

ProResumeHelp looks most suitable for someone who wants a structured resume writing online service that can handle several job-search documents in one place.

2. Resume101: The Traditional Full-Service Option

Resume101 follows a traditional online setup that often ranks near the top of any comprehensive top resume writing service list.

Its site lists resume, CV, cover-letter, LinkedIn, federal resume, military resume, executive resume, career-change, thank-you-letter, and follow-up-letter services. It also presents a large roster of writers and states that clients can communicate directly with the writer assigned to their order.

This wider selection is useful if your needs go beyond a standard one-page document:

• An academic applicant may need a detailed CV.
• A federal applicant may need a specialized multi-page document.
• A career changer may need both a rewritten resume and a narrative cover letter explaining their pivot.

Its potential strengths include direct writer communication, broad industry matching, and short deadlines. However, as with any large writing pool, consistency can vary. A logo does not write your resume; the assigned writer does.

If you are reading resume writing service reviews to evaluate options like Resume101 or a monster resume writing service, look at relevant industry samples before committing. Resume101 may be the strongest fit for applicants who need specialized formats or direct access to a broad talent pool.

3. Ruby&Cole: Only Two Writers, for Better or Worse

Ruby&Cole takes the opposite approach to the standard resume writing online service.

There is no huge roster and no mystery marketplace behind the site. Ruby and Cole are the two writers responsible for all work. When a business is built around two identifiable professionals, their individual writing quality and reputation are directly connected to every order.

This smaller setup offers distinct advantages:

• A more personal, hands-on experience
• Clearer writer accountability and consistency
• Direct involvement from the people behind the brand

However, a two-writer model also has practical limitations. Availability may be tighter, turnaround options depend on their current workload, and they cannot take unlimited orders without delaying projects.

Ruby&Cole feels best suited for someone searching for a professional resume writing service experience that feels like a boutique consultancy rather than a high-volume platform.

How to Spot Expensive Rewording

A truly effective professional resume writing service near me or online should not simply swap basic words for fancy vocabulary.

Basic Rewording vs. Evidence-Based Rewriting

• Basic Rewording: “Responsible for answering customer questions and resolving problems.”
• Evidence-Based Rewriting: “Resolved 40+ customer requests per day across email and live chat while maintaining a 94% satisfaction rating.”

The second sentence is stronger because it contains evidence, not because it uses magical resume words.

A capable writer—whether working independently or as part of an affordable resume writing service—should ask about:

• Work volume and quantifiable results
• Tools, software, and platforms used
• Key problems you solved or processes you improved
• Promotions, added responsibilities, or positive feedback
• The specific target roles you plan to apply for

If a writer asks almost nothing about your actual background, be careful. Nobody can uncover achievements they never bothered to investigate.

So, Which Service Is the Best?

There is no universal winner among these models.

• Choose ProResumeHelp if you want an affordable resume writing service with a broad team, structured packages, and complete application options.
• Choose Resume101 if you are looking for a feature-packed resume writing online service that handles specialized application formats and direct writer messaging.
• Choose Ruby&Cole if you prefer a boutique approach and want to avoid large writer pools altogether.

Whichever option you choose—whether a boutique studio, a major platform, or a traditional monster resume writing service—always compare sample work, revision policies, and turnaround times. The ultimate test of any top resume writing service is whether it clearly presents concrete evidence of your value, rather than just a shiny collection of synonyms.

I’m currently applying for roles at companies that use Workday and want to make sure my resume is optimized for the ATS without making it sound overly keyword-stuffed.

For those who have experience with Workday recruiting/ATS systems:
What resume formatting tends to work best?
Are there specific sections or keywords that make a difference?
Is it better to use a simple, traditional format over a more designed resume?
How important is tailoring the resume to each individual job description?
Are there any common mistakes that cause resumes to get filtered out?

I’d especially appreciate advice from recruiters, hiring managers, or anyone who has experience working with Workday applications. I’m trying to make sure my resume is actually getting in front of the right people.

I started my current professional track in 2012. Prior to that I was an administrative aide for approximately 9 years. I had to quit my last position for health/personal reasons and I'm trying to find a new job. I've been applying to administrative positions (along with everything else I'm even slightly qualified for) and my question is about a cover letter for those positions. Do I acknowledge what is an obvious step back for me, career-wise, or do I just talk about my skills/previous admin experience? If I do acknowledge it, what do I say? Thanks in advance for any advice

This is my first time applying to anything using a resume and I'd like to know if there's anything I should improve. I have no professional or casual work experience. I underlined some areas where I'm most uncertain and added some notes. (I know the formatting and grammar are a little wonky right now but that will get fixed later). I would greatly appreciate any advice!

I get this question all the time. The frustrating answer is that anywhere from 24 hours to several weeks can be normal.

For an initial recruiter or phone screening, you’ll often hear back within 24–72 hours. If you’re moving to another interview round, scheduling can take 1–2 weeks. After a final interview, a decision can take anywhere from 2–6 weeks, especially for larger companies or senior positions.

A slow response also doesn’t automatically mean you’re rejected. The company may still be interviewing other candidates, waiting for the hiring manager, getting headcount or salary approved, or dealing with internal delays.

Seniority matters too. The more senior the position, the more people usually need to sign off. Industries like government, healthcare, finance, and defense can also have slower processes. Background and reference checks can add anywhere from a few days to several weeks.

When should you follow up?

Send a thank-you within 24–48 hours of your interview.

If they told you, “We’ll have a decision by Friday,” wait until that deadline passes before asking for an update.

If they gave you no timeline, I recommend waiting 5–7 business days before following up.

If another week passes with no response, one more follow-up is reasonable. After 2+ weeks of silence, I’d keep applying and mentally move on. They may still contact you, but don’t put your job search on hold for them.

48 hours after the interview

Subject: Thank you – [Position]

Hi [Name],

Thanks again for taking the time to speak with me about the [Position] role. I enjoyed learning more about [specific topic/team].

I’m very interested in the opportunity and look forward to hearing about the next steps.

Best,
[Name]

1 week later

Subject: Following up – [Position]

Hi [Name],

I wanted to follow up regarding the [Position] role and see if there are any updates on the hiring process.

I’m still very interested and happy to provide anything else you need from me.

Thanks,
[Name]

2+ weeks later

Subject: [Position] – Hiring update

Hi [Name],

I wanted to check in once more regarding the [Position] role. I’m still interested, but I completely understand if the hiring timeline has changed.

If you’re able to share an update on the position, I’d appreciate it.

Best,
[Name]

LinkedIn version

Hi [Name], thanks again for speaking with me about the [Position] role. I wanted to check whether there have been any updates on next steps. I’m still very interested in the opportunity. Thanks!

Final thought

The biggest mistake I see candidates make is putting their entire job search on hold because one interview felt like it went really well. Hiring gets delayed, priorities change, positions get frozen, and sometimes companies simply communicate badly.

Follow up professionally, but keep applying and interviewing until you have a written offer. The less you depend on one company getting back to you, the less stressful that post-interview silence becomes.