Resume help for seniors: free and paid options
You have more choices than most people know about, and four of them cost nothing. Here they are, with the trade-offs.
Free resume help
American Job Centers. There are about 2,300 across the country, paid for by the Department of Labor. Staff will review your resume and many run resume workshops. Find yours at careeronestop.org or call 1-877-872-5627. Trade-off: quality depends on the office, and you may wait for an appointment.
Your public library. Many libraries have a career desk or a regular job-seeker hour, and some run groups just for people over 50. Call and ask. Trade-off: a librarian can fix the format but usually can't spend an hour drawing out your history.
AARP Foundation BACK TO WORK 50+. Free job coaching and workshops for people over 50, in person and online. You don't need to be an AARP member. Trade-off: it's group coaching on a schedule, not one-on-one writing.
SCSEP (Senior Community Service Employment Program). Paid part-time job training for people 55 and older who are unemployed and have a low income. It includes job search help. Trade-off: there are income limits, and many areas have a waiting list.
Paid resume help
| Service | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| TopResume | $179 to $599 | A writer builds your resume from a questionnaire. A phone call is an add-on on the $179 and $229 plans. Our review |
| Independent resume writer | About $350 to $2,500 | One writer, usually a phone interview. Price climbs with seniority |
| Keen | Free for early users | You talk, the resume writes itself on screen, and openings you'd be a real candidate for come by email or text |
How to choose
- Money is tight: start with the American Job Center and the library. Both are free and you can go this week.
- You have a decent resume that needs polish: a library review or TopResume's cheapest package will do.
- You don't know what to write: you need something that interviews you. That's an independent writer or Keen.
- You were a senior executive: an independent writer who knows your field is worth the higher price.
What to watch for with any paid service
- Anyone who promises interviews or a job. Nobody can.
- A low trial price that renews.
- A "guarantee" that turns out to be a rewrite, not a refund.
If you'd rather do it yourself
Start with resume for older workers.