When you want a resume that will make your phone ring with calls from hiring managers who are eager to interview you for jobs you’d die for, how do you know who to hire?

The resume writing industry is not regulated. The internet is teeming with wannabe and would-be resume writers who would love to take your cash and give you a rubbish resume in return, written in broken English on a stencil, like thousands of other resumes churned out daily in resume factories for $99 each.

Or maybe they’ll take one you already have and just re-enter it in another format. You may be laughing, but hey, it happens every day to people who aren’t thoughtful and wary of web advertising and careful in how they choose a resume writer. Your resume is one of the most important documents of your life. It should represent you very well.

The good news? There are great writers out there, waiting for your resume assignment. You can find one by following these steps. Follow these tips and you will not be able to fail.

1. Read online ads analytically and critically. Do not believe claims that are not supported by credible evidence. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Be especially wary of aggressive advertising based on dark emotions, garish graphics, and strange formats. And guarantees that are so good they’re obviously ridiculous. No one can guarantee that you will be hired based on a resume, even if a teacher writes it.

2. Understand what prices are reasonable and common in the legitimate resume industry. Be prepared to pay a fair price for the value received. The most frequent victim of a resume scam is someone who is trying to get something for less than it is actually worth. Remember, the cost of your resume is an investment in your future success.

3. Interview the writer by phone. Listen to how they talk and ask them questions about their background, like how they became a resume writer, who they’ve written for, and what their process is. Trust your feelings. If the person sounds believable and intelligent, great. If they don’t sound like someone you’d like to introduce to your next boss, move on.

4. Review some sample summaries. Start with the writer’s own resume. Then check out a couple they’ve written for others. Would you hire the people who are represented by the samples? If not, why expect someone to hire you based on that writer’s work?

5. Don’t use an online resume factory. You are not like everyone else. Your resume can’t be done right by someone who puts them out like cookies. Get a real writer, someone who writes based on specific research for a living. Probably someone with an English or writing degree.

6. You really can’t fully contract the responsibility of creating your perfect resume. Expect to stay involved and provide many answers to the writer’s questions.

7. The writer must be doing research and you are the only source for all the detailed data they will need to represent you well. Expect (and check for) a streamlined and organized process. The writer should ask you to fill out forms and submit any old resumes. They should also interview you over the phone and ask you lots of relevant questions. They must be able to explain what they do and why they do it.

8. What questions do they ask you? In order to write well for you, the writer needs to collect specific types of information. They should be asking you questions like these:

What major requirements does the job require?

What are your best and highest grades?

Tell me about the high points of your career.

Is there something we should keep in the background?

What stands out about you that will help you win the job?

Describe your best skills and most experience.

Do you also have minor qualifications that are relevant?

Are there personal traits that make you a good fit?

What have you accomplished that you are proud of?

Can we express any of your qualifications numerically?

How did you develop your particular skills?

What do people in your field find impressive?

Have you accomplished things in those areas?

Is there any special language that is frequently used in your field?

Etc.

9. Does the editor offer you all the documentation and help you need? It takes a lot more to get a job than just a resume. Do they also write your cover letters, follow-up letters, reference sheet, and salary history? Do they offer you an elevator pitch to help you market yourself? Do they advise you on how to use all parts of your job change documentation to your best advantage?

10. What are the writer’s special qualities? Have they written for people like you? Do they have experience writing persuasively, perhaps with some form of marketing? Do they talk about resumes to the groups? Do they have experience as a hiring manager so they understand how people who make hiring decisions think?

When it comes to your resume, quality control is up to you. The best guarantee of quality in your resume is in the skill and integrity of your resume writer. You deserve a writer who is above, the kind that would be picked by a CEO or another executive. Check your writer carefully. Don’t settle for less than one that really captures exactly who you are professionally and how qualified you are for the job you want.