Expert-Reviewed: Top Resume Review Options to Boost Your Job Search

The 6 Best Resume Review Services, According to a Resume Expert

This article features insights from Caitlin Proctor, a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW). Her opinions are based on her own experiences and don't necessarily reflect the views of Minova.

Key Takeaways from Caitlin

• If you're aiming to enhance your resume, consider using a reputable resume review service. These services are a great starting point, offering valuable insights into areas needing improvement.
• Carefully assess each service. Free or low-cost reviews can provide useful advice but often come with the expectation that you'll purchase additional services.
• Leverage Minova's Resume Builder to get an analysis score and recommendations for optimizing your resume based on industry best practices and identifying any gaps.

Many talented professionals across all career stages question whether their resume is holding them back from job search success.

You might be asking yourself: Is my resume too short or too long? Is it boring? Should I include photos, colors, or infographics? Does everyone else's resume look better than mine?

Fortunately, numerous resume review options exist, which can be both a relief and overwhelming. The best services offer actionable feedback for improving your resume. You can learn how a well-structured resume showcases your qualifications, but a personalized review from an expert can show you how to achieve that.

In this guide, I'll share my experience from years in the resume writing field to help you choose the right review option for your specific needs.

Looking for a resume writer? Use Minova to build and write your resumes with AI for free.

What Exactly Are Resume Review Services?

A resume review service provides feedback on your resume's format and content. The top services offer personalized and actionable advice to help you create a polished resume that stands out in today's competitive job market.

Given that many companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to screen resumes, some review services also assess whether your resume is keyword-optimized and ATS-friendly, which is crucial for navigating the modern hiring process.

With advancements in AI, some review services are now incorporating artificial intelligence to give faster results, although these may be less personalized. AI can also assist in crafting your resume by generating content based on data analysis.

To understand how AI can truly enhance the resume creation, review, and optimization process, explore Minova's leading Resume Builder.

How Do Resume Review Services Operate?

Online platforms typically ask you to upload your resume, await feedback, and then make revisions on your own. If you haven't updated your resume in the last six months, now is the time! Once your resume is current, select a review service that aligns with your budget, timeline, career aspirations, and preferences.

Advantages of Using Resume Review Services

The primary benefit is gaining insights into how to improve your resume, learning what a successful resume should look like, and how it should function in today's online job search environment. You'll receive advice that can guide you through a self-directed resume makeover. With valuable feedback, you can make informed decisions about whether to improve your resume independently or seek professional assistance. Remember, your satisfaction with the final resume is paramount, as it represents you. Revisions can usually be requested if needed.

Disadvantages of Resume Reviews

Resume reviews often require payment for each version you want reviewed. However, tailoring your resume to each specific job is a recommended practice. Therefore, you're still responsible for the tailoring process unless you use a resume builder that offers keyword suggestions based on the job description, like Minova.

While general resume feedback is valuable, be cautious about signing up for every free resume review. Resume writing services often use these free reviews to gather your information and upsell you on more expensive packages.

How We Evaluated These Resume Writing Services

Since "best" is subjective, I considered several factors:

• Reviewer Qualifications: Who is reviewing your resume, and what are their credentials? Ideally, reviewers should be certified resume writers or have expertise in the field.
• Turnaround Time: How long does it take to receive feedback? Faster turnaround times are preferable, especially for motivated job seekers.
• Cost: How much does the service cost? Most people seek valuable information quickly and affordably, especially when unemployed.
• Feedback Quality: Is the feedback valuable and high-quality? I assessed the feedback I received and reviewed customer testimonials to gauge others' experiences.
• Actionable Recommendations: Does the review provide actionable suggestions? It's crucial that reviews include quality feedback and practical steps to implement.
• Modern Tools: Are reviewers using modern tools like AI, and are suggestions compatible with ATS software? The more attuned a reviewer or platform is to modern technology, the better. A blend of AI and human expertise can offer the best results.

Why Trust Minova?

The most reliable software and service reviews come from industry experts who have used the tools themselves. As a certified resume writer with experience in the SaaS resume builder space, I was glad to meet Minova's SaaS review criteria and test free versions of the tools below.

Minova has supported job seekers for over five years, growing to over 678,000 members and with over 934,000 resumes created. Founder David Fano has experience across the job search spectrum, from resume reviews to product and system development.

Additionally, Minova's expert editors and hiring specialists contributed their insights to ensure the most accurate and current resume review information for 2025.

Steps to Take Before Requesting an Online Resume Review

Before exploring online resume review services, take these steps:

1. Update Your Resume: Ensure your resume reflects your most recent job experience. Otherwise, the review won't be accurate.
2. Consult Your Network: Seek introductions to recruiters, hiring managers, or resume writers through your personal and professional network. This is often the best way to get useful feedback, as personal referrals are more likely to dedicate time to reviewing your resume. Individual professionals can be challenging to find, as they lack the marketing budgets of larger resume writing services. Ask your network for recommendations.
3. For a step-by-step guide on updating your resume yourself, check out Minova's post on how to update your resume.

The 6 Best Resume Review Services

Now that you have a better understanding of your options, here’s my list of the top resume review services:

1. ZipJob

ZipJob offers a free resume review with feedback after you upload your resume.

• Best For: Early-career professionals
• Price: Free reviews; paid resume writing packages range from $139 to $299.
• Turnaround Time: Not specified
• Guarantee: 60-day interview guarantee with Fast Track and Premium tiers
• Tiers:
  • Launch: Matches you with a resume writer
  • Fast Track: Includes everything in the Launch tier, plus a cover letter and a 60-day interview guarantee
  • Premium: Includes all available services, plus a LinkedIn update and expedited delivery

ZipJob is a professional resume writing service that provides job seekers with a tailored resume aligned with current hiring trends. They offer a free resume review to promote their services.

After uploading my resume, I received a review link within 24 hours. The report from a "Certified Resume Expert" included sections on design, structure, formatting, language, writing, resume scanning software, and a recommendation.

The recommendation was to purchase a resume writing package, but the other sections detailed how to update my resume independently. There were specific examples relevant to my resume, though the advice didn't draw from my resume's bullet points.

2. Ladders

Ladders provides a free resume review.

• Best For: Executive resumes
• Price: Free review; Premium members get a discount on professional resume writing packages ($99), while Basic members pay $119.
• Turnaround Time: 2-3 business days for writing; review in minutes
• Guarantee: None
• Tiers:
  • Professional Resume: Includes a rewritten resume matched to your target role and optimized for keywords
  • Professional Bundle: Includes a rewritten resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn optimization guidance

Ladders is a job search engine focused on executive-level candidates. They offer various resume services, including an automated review in minutes. My Ladders review provided feedback on content and style/formatting.

The report was fairly accurate but flagged "images and elements" as problematic, even though my submission only included bullet points. It highlighted elements of strong executive resumes, such as length, professional headline, punctuation consistency, avoiding first-person language, and using reverse-chronological order.

3. Resumeble

Resumeble offers resume writing services.

• Best For: Writing advice
• Price: Free review; paid resume writing packages start at $157.
• Turnaround Time: 48 hours for a review; four business days for a written resume
• Guarantee: 60-day interview guarantee with Professional or Premium packages, and 180-day job guarantee with Executive Pro package
• Tiers:
  • Standard: A resume and cover letter
  • Professional: Standard, plus a LinkedIn profile makeover
  • Premium: Professional, plus backup resume, follow-up emails, and recruiter contact templates
  • Executive Pro: Premium package, plus a call with a resume writer

Resumeble is a resume writing company with writers across over 80 industries, offering a free 48-hour review to promote their services. They employ professional writers to review and rewrite resumes, ensuring each document is tailored to the client's needs and optimized for keywords.

My free review arrived within one business day and included an overall score, plus scores for brevity, impact, and depth. There were notes on suitable industries, file size, and contact information. The analysis covered visual presentation and organization/branding.

The report suggested simplifying my writing, making my career summary more like a sales pitch, and avoiding unused white space. This advice is good, if generic. A "Resume Analyst" recommended buying a professional resume rewrite.

4. TopResume

TopResume offers resume reviews.

• Best For: Second opinions
• Price: Free review; paid resume writing packages start at $179.
• Turnaround Time: First draft in about a week
• Guarantee: TopResume guarantees twice as many interviews within 60 days.
• Tiers:
  • Professional Growth: Includes a written resume, three done-for-you applications, access to a Career Services platform, and a 60-day interview guarantee
  • Career Evolution: Includes all of the above, plus a cover letter
  • Career Confidence: Includes all of the above, plus interview coaching and a LinkedIn makeover

TopResume provides a professional resume writing service with industry-specific content and expertise in hiring trends. Their resume analysis was similar to the others, including sections on ATS assessment, visual presentation, organization, writing quality, digital readiness, and next steps.

I received my review within 24 hours. The "TopResume Resume Expert" accurately described my resume as "not polished" and suggested reducing the number of bullet points.

The review used examples from my resume to highlight "doer" versus "achiever" language, a common piece of advice associated with the brand. Interestingly, this was the only service that reviewed my resume—detailing five years of experience—and concluded I had no experience. This is either a major oversight or an automated review glitch. Unsurprisingly, TopResume recommended buying a professionally written resume from their service.

5. ChatGPT for Resume Feedback

• Best For: Instant feedback
• Price: Includes a free plan; paid subscriptions start at $20 per month.
• Turnaround Time: Immediate
• Guarantee: None
• Tiers: None

I used this prompt in ChatGPT: "You are an expert resume reviewer familiar with the writing industry. Based on the resume below, what are three actionable tips for improving it to land more interviews?"

I received a detailed response, including these tips:

• Quantify achievements with specific metrics
• Tailor your Skills section to the job description
• Enhance the presentation of your work experience

ChatGPT can also provide insights into resume services, highlighting the benefits of hiring professional help to ensure your resume stands out and passes screening software.

While the first tip was good, my resume already quantified achievements. I didn't provide a job description, but my skills are already tailored to a specific role.

The third tip was accurate and actionable; my resume was a plain text document with minimal formatting. ChatGPT recommended adding an introductory statement (professional summary) and key achievements, but my resume already included these elements, which was confusing. There were no tips on improving the layout.

6. Reddit for Resume Feedback

• Best For: First resume drafts
• Price: Free to join the Reddit community
• Turnaround Time: Varies
• Guarantee: None
• Tiers: None

Reddit is an online forum with subsections for various topics. The "r/resumes" subreddit has over a million members.

People regularly post their resumes and offer feedback. You can crowdsource your review for free and may get responses from people who have solved similar resume challenges or work in your field. However, responses may be low-quality or nonexistent, and you might not know who is offering feedback, making it difficult to assess its usefulness. This option is less discreet, as someone may identify you. If you choose this route, post a version of your resume that omits identifying information.

In my opinion, all of these options have drawbacks. You'll have to compromise on time, budget, or feedback quality. You'll also likely be marketed to, whether or not your resume needs it. The advice might be irrelevant or too broad, and you'll still need to learn how to implement it effectively.

How to Use a Resume Builder to Review and Update Your Resume

An alternative to getting feedback and working with a resume writing service is to use a resume app. AI resume builders are useful for optimizing not just one resume, but multiple versions tailored to each job.

Here's how I used Minova:

Using Minova's Resume Builder, I got a free analysis of my resume and much more. This tool combines real-time review with an AI Match Score to provide insights into improving your resume.

Minova's Matching Mode suggests which keywords from the job description to add to your resume.

It analyzes your resume and identifies whether you have all the necessary information and ensures your resume is keyword-optimized and ATS-ready.

Minova is a reviewer and builder in one app, so I quickly adjusted my resume's format. Just by uploading my text document, I improved its appearance significantly. I already knew my resume's format needed work, and this was the only option on my list that took that action.

After uploading my resume, Minova's AI Resume Builder analyzed it and suggested improvements to make it more appealing to hiring managers, assigning a resume score. My initial score was 71%. After adding a location, my score increased to 75%. While some services offer a score, you often can't update your resume directly within the platform to see if your score improves.

After implementing the suggestions, I used Minova's Matching Mode to compare my resume to a job description.

I pasted a job posting link, and Minova gave me a "Match Score" based on how closely my resume aligned with the job description. I got a low score because I compared my writer's resume to a marketing manager job description. Minova also broke down which hard and soft skills best aligned with the job description but were missing from my resume.

How Does Minova's Resume Builder Compare?

As a standalone analysis, Minova's AI Resume Checker is similar to the reports I got from ChatGPT, Ladders, ZipJob, and Resumeble. However, the ability to review and improve a resume simultaneously is a feature no other service offers.

Apart from Minova, ChatGPT was the only review that called out the need to tailor my resume to a job posting. However, Minova's Resume Builder addresses that with its Matching Mode feature.

Choose the Right Resume Review Service

Selecting the right service to review your resume can be challenging, but understanding what each offers can help you decide. Some services provide quick, broad feedback, while others take more time but start updating your resume for you. It’s important to know what you want from a resume review service. Some people want a quick confidence boost, others want to update an outdated resume, and many need to tailor their resume to different jobs.

Minova's free resume review tool stands out because it uses AI to provide real-time tips and helps you improve your resume immediately. Having reviewed and written many resumes, I find Minova's tool very helpful. Ultimately, the best service depends on your needs and budget.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is paying for a resume review worth it?

It depends. A professional review can be costly or time-consuming. Most job seekers want fast, free insights, making automated reviews handy. However, if free or automated reviews aren't helping you get interviews, paying for a service might be a good investment.

How much does it cost to get your resume reviewed?

The cost varies depending on the service. Some offer free reviews as part of their sales process, while others charge a fee. Research different options to find what fits your budget and needs.

Can I pay someone to review my resume?

Yes, you can pay professional resume writing services, college career centers, freelance writers, or online review services.

Can you get your resume reviewed for free?

Yes, there are many free online options. Explore these to get feedback without paying. Remember that free reviews may not be as comprehensive or personalized as paid reviews.

How much do resume writing services cost?

Costs vary depending on the service size, writer qualifications, your industry, experience level, and resume complexity. Prices range from $5 to over $1,000 for an executive resume. Research the best services, read reviews, and compare prices to find a company that meets your expectations.