FAQs
- What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?
Precise Delivery's editorial fees will fall within the ranges indicated below for flat rate or hourly projects. Repeat service will be negotiated for discounts per customer per project. Rates vary considerably depending on the nature of the work, the time frame of the assignment, the degree of special expertise required, and other factors. PRECISE DELIVERY — Resume Writing Rates, Translation Services Rates & Editorial / Writing Rates for 2025-26 RESUMÈ WRITING rates: Professional resume writer rates typically range from $200 for entry-level resumes to over $3,500 for C-suite executive services, with prices varying based on career level, the writer’s expertise, and additional services bundled. Typical Cost Breakdown by Career Level The cost generally increases with experience and the complexity of the role you are targeting. Career Level Average Cost Range Details Entry-Level $200 – $500 For recent graduates or those with limited experience (under 3 years). Focuses on education, internships, and transferable skills. Mid-Career $350 – $800 For professionals with 3-15 years of experience, often for advancing or changing roles. Includes branding and Applicant Tracking System (ATS) optimization. Executive $1,000 – $3,500+ For senior executives (Director, VP, C-suite) with 15+ years of experience. Involves extensive consultation and highly tailored documents emphasizing leadership and strategic impact. Factors Influencing the Cost * Experience and Expertise of the Writer: Certified writers or those with a proven track record in specific industries generally charge more. * Level of Customization: Services that offer in-depth, one-on-one consultations and personalized branding cost more than those using generic templates. * Add-on Services: Many writers offer packages that include supplementary services for an additional fee, such as: * Cover letter writing: $50 – $150 * LinkedIn profile optimization: $100 – $500 * Rush delivery (often 2-3 days): an additional fee * Guarantees: Some services offer an interview guarantee, which may be included in the price or an upsell for premium packages. Choosing a Writer When selecting a service, be wary of extremely low prices (under $100) as they often indicate a lack of customization or outsourced work. Instead, look for writers who understand your specific field and offer transparent pricing and a clear writing process with opportunities for revision. What should I look for in a good resume writer? When selecting a resume writer, look for a professional who offers a personalized, collaborative approach, has relevant credentials and experience, and can provide a final product optimized for both human reviewers and Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). Here are the key qualities and red flags to consider: Green Flags (Things to look for) * Customization and Collaboration: A good writer will insist on a one-on-one consultation (phone, video, or in-person) to understand your career history, accomplishments, and specific goals. They should ask probing questions to uncover details you might overlook and tailor the resume to your unique story, rather than using a generic template. * Relevant Expertise: * Industry Knowledge: Ideally, they should have experience writing resumes for your specific industry or job function, and understand the relevant terminology and trends. * Hiring Experience: Writers with backgrounds in recruiting, human resources, or career counseling often have valuable insight into what hiring managers look for. * Professional Credentials: Look for certifications from recognized professional associations, such as the Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) from the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches (PARW/CC) or the Nationally Certified Resume Writer (NCRW) from the National Resume Writers’ Association (NRWA). * Strong Reputation and Samples: Check online reviews and testimonials, particularly on platforms like LinkedIn where they are linked to real people. Ask to see samples of their previous work to ensure their style and quality match your expectations. * ATS Optimization: The writer should be knowledgeable about how Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) work and ensure your resume is formatted and keyword-optimized to pass these initial screenings. * Clear Policies and Support: A reputable service will have a clear written agreement outlining the process, fees, and revision policy. They should offer multiple revisions to ensure your satisfaction Red Flags (Things to avoid) * No Direct Communication: Be wary of services where you only interact with a salesperson and never speak directly to the person writing your resume. * Generic or Template-Based Work: Avoid writers who rely heavily on basic forms or generic templates and do not incorporate your unique experiences. * Unrealistic Guarantees: No resume writer can guarantee you a job or a specific number of interviews, as many factors in the hiring process are beyond their control. They should, however, guarantee satisfaction with the document itself. * Extremely Low Prices: As the saying goes, you often get what you pay for. Unusually low rates often indicate a lack of personalized service, inexperience, or a “resume mill” approach. * Flashy, Graphics-Heavy Designs: While a modern look is good, overly complex designs with graphics, images, or unusual layouts can often cause problems with ATS scans. An Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is a software application that helps employers manage the entire recruitment and hiring process electronically, acting as a digital assistant to collect, sort, and filter the large volume of applications they receive. Over 98% of Fortune 500 companies use an ATS. How an ATS Works The core function of an ATS is to streamline recruitment and present recruiters with the most qualified candidates quickly. The process generally involves these steps: 1. Job Description Input: Recruiters create a job posting and enter the specific requirements, skills, experience levels, and keywords into the ATS. 2. Application Collection and Parsing: When a candidate submits a resume online, the ATS “parses” the document, which means it extracts relevant information (contact details, work history, education, skills) and organizes it into a standardized, searchable digital profile in a central database. 3. Screening and Filtering: The system then compares the candidate’s parsed information against the job requirements and assigned keywords. It may use algorithms to assign a compatibility score or ranking to each applicant based on how well their resume matches the job description. 4. Recruiter Review: Recruiters can filter candidates using specific criteria (e.g., years of experience, specific certifications, location) and focus their attention on the top-ranked profiles. The goal is to quickly identify the most promising applicants for human review. 5. Workflow Management: The ATS helps manage the candidate’s progression through the hiring pipeline, from initial screening to interview scheduling, feedback collection, and offer generation, often sending automated updates and emails to the candidate and hiring team. Why it Matters for Job Seekers For job seekers, understanding the ATS is crucial because your resume needs to be machine-readable to pass the initial screening. An incorrectly formatted or keyword-deficient resume might be filtered out, even if you are a qualified candidate. Key tips for an ATS-friendly resume include: * Using simple, standard formatting (avoid tables, columns, images, or complex graphics). * Including relevant keywords and phrases from the job description naturally throughout your resume. * Using conventional section headings like “Work Experience,” “Education,” and “Skills”. * Saving your resume in a compatible file format, usually .docx or PDF, as specified in the application instructions. To ensure your resume successfully passes an ATS scan, you must avoid complex visual elements and stick to a simple, text-based structure. The most common formatting mistakes that deter ATS scans include: Complex Layouts and Visual Elements * Tables and Columns: ATS software typically scans a resume linearly from top to bottom, left to right. Content placed in tables or columns can get scrambled or completely skipped, making key information unreadable to the system. * Graphics, Icons, and Photos: The software cannot interpret images or graphics. Any information embedded within an image (like a logo or a skills icon) will be ignored. * Headers and Footers: Many older ATS are unable to read text placed within the header and footer margins. It is best to keep all critical information, especially contact details, within the main body of the document. * Text Boxes and Sidebars: Similar to tables, text boxes often confuse the parsing logic, causing the information inside to be missed or misinterpreted. Font and Typography Issues * Unconventional or Multiple Fonts: Stick to standard, professional, and widely accepted fonts such as Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman. The ATS may not recognize unique or decorative fonts and could replace them with random characters. * Non-Standard Bullet Points: While simple standard bullet points (like plain circles or hyphens) are fine, unusual symbols (e.g., arrows, stars, or checkmarks) can cause parsing errors. * Small Font Sizes: Ensure your body text is between 10 and 12 points for optimal readability for both the ATS and human reviewers. Content Structure and Consistency Problems * Unconventional Section Headings: The ATS looks for standard headings to categorize data. Using creative titles like “My Journey” or “What I’ve Done” instead of “Work Experience” or “Education” can result in entire sections being overlooked. * Inconsistent Date Formats: Varying between formats like “01/2023,” “Jan ‘23,” and “January 2023” can confuse the system, leading to incorrect calculations of your experience or employment gaps. * Acronyms Without Full Forms: If you only use an acronym (e.g., SEO) and the system is searching for the spelled-out version (“Search Engine Optimization”), it might miss the keyword match. Include both the full term and the acronym the first time you use it. * Wrong File Type: Always check the job posting for the preferred format. If none is specified, .docx is typically the safest bet, though most modern ATS also accept text-based PDFs. Avoid image files (.jpg, .png) or rich text formats (.rtf). By focusing on these factors, you can make an informed decision and find a writer who can effectively highlight your value to potential employers. A professional resume writer tailors a resume by intensely analyzing the target job description and mirroring its language, priorities, and requirements to show the applicant is an ideal fit. Key strategies they use include: * Keyword Optimization: They identify specific skills, qualifications, and industry-specific terminology (keywords) from the job description and strategically integrate them throughout the resume. This is crucial for passing through Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and catching a recruiter’s eye. * Customized Professional Summary: The writer crafts a summary at the top of the resume that serves as a unique value proposition, directly referencing the target job title and highlighting the most relevant experience and skills the employer is seeking. * Prioritizing Relevant Experience: They reorder bullet points within the work history section to put the most pertinent achievements and responsibilities first, ensuring the hiring manager sees the alignment with their needs immediately. * Focus on Quantifiable Achievements: Instead of listing general job duties, they use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) or similar methods to describe specific accomplishments using metrics and data (e.g., “Increased sales by 25%” rather than “Managed sales”) that align with the employer’s goals. * Selective Content Inclusion: Irrelevant or older experiences that do not support the target role are minimized or removed to keep the resume concise and focused on what matters most to the employer. * Mirroring Company Culture and Values: The writer researches the company’s website and mission to understand its culture (e.g., “collaborative,” “innovative”) and subtly incorporates that language to demonstrate a good cultural fit. * Tailored Skills Section: The skills section is updated to reflect the exact tools, software, and soft skills mentioned in the job description, often prioritizing the most critical ones. What are the downsides of using a cheap resume service? The main downside of a cheap resume service is that you often “get what you pay for”, resulting in a generic, low-quality, or poorly tailored document that may not effectively help your job search. Key downsides include: * Generic Content and Templates: Cheap services often rely on “cookie-cutter” templates and canned language, which hiring managers quickly recognize. The resume won’t be personalized to your unique strengths or specific job targets. * Lack of Customization: Inexpensive writers may not take the time to deeply understand your career goals or accomplishments, leading to a resume that lists general duties rather than impactful, quantifiable achievements. * Poor ATS Optimization: Many low-cost or “designer” resumes use formatting elements like graphics or tables that are not compatible with Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), meaning your application may never reach a human recruiter. * Grammatical Errors and Poor Writing: Some services outsource writing to non-native English speakers with little oversight, which can lead to grammatical mistakes, awkward phrasing, and an unprofessional tone. * No Industry Expertise: Writers may lack knowledge of specific industries or current hiring trends, resulting in a resume that misses crucial keywords and industry-specific nuances. * Limited or No Revisions: You may be restricted to only one or two rounds of edits, which may not be enough to get a final product you are happy with. * Data Privacy Risks: Some highly inexpensive companies are “data mining” operations that may sell your personal and professional information to third parties, leading to unwanted spam or even identity theft risks. * False Guarantees: Beware of services that offer unrealistic promises like “guaranteed job placement,” as a resume alone cannot ensure employment, and these often have strict, unachievable terms. Instead of saving a small amount of money initially, investing in a quality resume writer can provide much greater value in terms of increased interview opportunities and career advancement potential. * How Much Do Resume Writing Services Cost? (2025) - Talo, Jul 20, 2025 — * $200 – $500 average cost for entry-level resumes. - Thumbtack, Aug 25, 2020 — * $130 - $180 average cost for entry-level resumes. TRANSLATION SERVICES rates: Translation service rates primarily depend on the pricing model (per word, per page, or per hour), the complexity of the content, the language pair, and the required turnaround time. Common Pricing Models and Average Rates: Pricing Model Average Cost Range (US) Best Use Cases. Per Word $0.08 – $0.40 per word Most common method for general documents, websites, and manuals. This is the industry standard. Per Page $25 – $100 per page Often used for standardized personal documents like birth certificates, academic transcripts, and legal contracts (a standard page is typically 250 words). Per Hour $30 – $100 per hour Suitable for editing, proofreading, machine translation post-editing (MTPE), or multimedia projects where word count isn’t the primary measure. Key Factors Influencing Cost * Language Pair: Common language pairs (e.g., English to Spanish) typically cost less due to a larger pool of available translators ($0.09 - $0.15 per word), while rare language pairs (e.g., English to Icelandic) cost more ($0.25+ per word). * Subject Matter Complexity: Highly technical or specialized content (legal, medical, engineering, financial) requires expert translators with specific knowledge, leading to higher rates than general content. * Turnaround Time: Rush jobs or urgent deadlines (e.g., 24-hour service) generally incur an additional fee. * Service Type: Certified translations (often required for official government or legal submissions) usually involve a per-page flat fee and a certificate of accuracy. * Quality Level: The level of quality control, such as a second round of editing and proofreading by another linguist, can increase the price. Key Expensive Languages and Why They Cost More * Nordic Languages (Norwegian, Icelandic, Finnish, Swedish, Danish): These languages are often among the most expensive because the countries where they are primarily spoken have a very high cost of living, so translators must charge more to sustain their standard of living. Also, the pool of translators for some of these languages is smaller. * Asian Languages (Japanese, Korean, Chinese/Mandarin): These languages are costly due to their complex writing systems (e.g., thousands of characters in Chinese, three different scripts in Japanese) and unique grammatical structures that are very different from European languages. These complexities make the translation process more time-consuming and require a high level of expertise to capture cultural nuances and context correctly. * Arabic: High costs for Arabic translation stem from its unique script, right-to-left writing system, complex grammar, numerous dialects, and extensive vocabulary. The demand for highly skilled Arabic translators often exceeds the supply, which drives up prices. * Rare or Niche Languages: Any language with a very small number of speakers or a limited number of professional, qualified translators will be more expensive due to simple supply and demand. Examples might include certain African or indigenous languages. Summary of Factors Driving High Costs Factor Explanations: Supply and Demand Fewer qualified translators available for a specific language pair lead to higher prices. Cost of Living Translators residing in countries with a high cost of living (like Norway or Iceland) charge higher rates. Linguistic Complexity Languages with complex grammar, unique writing systems, or significant cultural nuances require more time and specialized expertise. Specialized Subject Matter Regardless of the language, content that is highly technical (medical, legal, financial). EDITORIAL / WRITING rates: Professional freelance editors review manuscripts, web content, academic work, technical documents, business plans and more. Most editors specialize in one or more editing style manuals, including Associated Press (AP), Modern Language Association (MLA), Chicago and others. Some editors coordinate projects entirely online, and others meet with clients in person to kick off projects. Editors can help people who are self-publishing a book, completing a dissertation or building a business website to ensure that copy is polished and effective. The national average for this type of work is $108 - $589. National average cost $252 Low-end average cost $108 High-end average cost $589 Editors assist with many stages of the writing process. Substantive—or developmental—editing focuses on the structure of an entire project to ensure cohesion and organization throughout. Copy editing ensures grammatical correctness, accurate spelling, proper language usage, clarity, and overall consistency in style. Several factors affect the cost of professional editing services. Precise Delivery operates currently on the Tier 2 PREMIER LEVEL for the following services: Line editing, copy editing, in-depth improvements to language usage, organization, phrasing, scholarly tone (in the case of academic texts), style formatting (AP, Chicago or MLA) and feedback on content. For fiction, tier 2 includes a critique of plot development and characterization. For nonfiction and academic works, feedback identifies any unsupported or underdeveloped points or arguments. * Up to 2,000 words: $100 flat rate * 2,000–3,999 words: $125 flat rate * 4,000–5,999 words: $150 flat rate * 6,000–39,999 words: $28 per 1,000 words * 40,000–59,999 words: $27 per 1,000 words * 60,000–79,999 words: $26 per 1,000 words * 80,000–150,000 words: $25 per 1,000 words * Any amount greater than 150,000 words: $24 per 1,000 words Minimum fee Some editors charge a minimum fee for their services to cover the cost of their time and energy spent on a particular project in lieu of other work. Many editors also work in academics or hold advanced degrees, and this fee reflects the value of their time and their expertise. While the pricing below reflects my typical rates, all projects are reviewed, assessed, and quoted on an individual basis. Premier $1,000 minimum Senior $3,000 minimum Executive $5,000 minimum Copy Edit Edits for spelling, grammar, punctuation, syntax, clarity, consistency, and general formatting. $0.029/word Line Edit and Content Review Editing: grammar, punctuation, readability, flow, diction, syntax, and minor rewriting and restructuring on the phrasal level. Review and Feedback: detailed commentary on the manuscript’s flow, structure, cohesiveness, story arc, character development, plot structure, marketability, readability, and any other issues that may affect the quality of the work. $0.049/word Line Editing Plus • Two hours of direct phone consultation with the line editor to discuss the manuscript and their revisions and recommendations • Line editing with content review • A second round of review to assess post-edit changes • Final “cold read” edit by a second editor, secured at the discretion of Precise Delivery. • A custom-written query letter for targeting agents and publishers • A contact list of 5-10 recommended agents. $0.10/word Critical Review and Analysis Feedback on all aspects of the manuscript’s flow, structure, cohesiveness, story arc, character development, plot structure, marketability, target audience, and readability, as well as any other issues that may affect the quality of the book. The critique and feedback is provided in the form of liner notes along the margins of the manuscript, a separate editorial letter that provides in-depth analysis and suggestions, and a one-hour phone consultation with the editor. * $0.029/word Heavy Edit Substantive editing and rewriting, as well as detailed critical feedback on structure, coherence, concept, positioning, audience, and marketability. * Pricing varies per manuscript. Please contact me for an exact quote. Cultural Accuracy Editing: Picture Books and Early Readers (including art) Feedback on a manuscript (and illustrations)’s overall concept, structure, characters, language choices, and marketability; in-line corrections and fact checking (in relation to issues of cultural accuracy; not a replacement for a full nonfiction fact check). * Pricing starts at $300 Cultural Accuracy Editing: Graphic Novels (including art) Feedback on a manuscript (and illustrations)’s overall concept, structure, characters, language choices, and marketability; in-line corrections and fact checking (in relation to issues of cultural accuracy; not a replacement for a full nonfiction fact check). * Pricing starts at $750 Cultural Accuracy Editing: Fiction and Nonfiction, all ages Feedback on a manuscript (and illustrations)’s overall concept, structure, characters, language choices, and marketability; in-line corrections and fact checking (in relation to issues of cultural accuracy; not a replacement for a full nonfiction fact check). * $0.029 cents per word Cultural Accuracy Live Consultation Meet with an expert editor to discuss book ideas and concerns in real time (can bundle with other services) * Please contact me for an exact quote. Cultural Accuracy Editing: Bulk pricing or retainer available Feedback on a manuscript (and illustrations)’s overall concept, structure, characters, language choices, and marketability; in-line corrections and fact checking (in relation to issues of cultural accuracy; not a replacement for a full nonfiction fact check). * Please contact me for an exact quote.
- What is your typical process for working with a new customer?
I bid on the job, contact the client to get a personality queue and specifically curate the project to tailor that person's life.
- What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I have an AA in Journalism Broadcasting and a BA in Broadcast Programming and Production. I am a published author and poet, a streaming service BoFilmWorks movie production manager, and State of Florida licensed massage therapist. I am trained and qualified as a HR Manager, Consultant and Financial Operations Analyst V. I am a former English and Humanities teacher. I am great at Marketing myself and others.