How to Interview a Professional Resume Writer

I just finished reading Jobacle’s post, 6 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Resume Writer. I  agree that these are important questions to ask, but I think some of them should be expanded to uncover the value a writer can bring to your search. Below are the 6 Jobacle questions with my recommendations for how to elaborate on these questions to focus more on value and less on process.

1.  What is your process? While it is important to understand what you are getting yourself into if you hire a professional to write your resume, I think the bigger question is “Can you tell me why your process is effective?” At first glance, the collaboration between the client and the writer can seem like a lot of work and it can be a turn-off to some. But if the writer can explain to you why they recommend completing a questionnaire, interviewing you, etc. you will feel more confident that the process will lead to tangible results.
2. How much time do you have to commit to my project? I’m not convinced that time spent on the project translates into results. I think a better question would be “What level of support can I expect from you on this project” or “How do you ensure that my resume will be a unique representation of my qualifications and value-add?”
3. How much do you charge? Sure, everyone has a budget, but if price is your deal-breaker, you could find yourself penny wise and pound foolish. A more strategic question might be “What services can I expect for this price” or “Can you elaborate on the value I will derive from this investment?”
4. Are you the actual writer? This is a fair question, but if the person you speak to about the project is not the writer, this doesn’t mean that the service is inferior. Perhaps better questions would be “How do you select your writers” or ” Who trains your writers”, or “Can I see samples of your writers’ work”. By the way, I do all the writing for my clients and samples of my resumes are posted on my site.
5. Do you understand my industry? I get asked this question all the time and again, I think this is the wrong question. My knowledge of your industry is just a small piece of the overall writing strategy. Good resumes minimize job descriptions and discussions of task. Good resumes maximize accomplishment-focused, metrics-driven achievements. The better question is “How would you market the qualifications of someone in my industry”  
6. Are you certified? This is a good question to ask, but perhaps a follow up question should be “What standards did you have to meet to achieve your certification?” or “What is the value of working with a certified writer?”