Can you afford to be out of work for a prolonged period? High-quality resumes have been shown to help job-seekers attain interviews and job offers faster than weak resumes. Can you afford the lost salary that results when you're not even getting interviews? How much money are you losing for each week you're out of work?

Can you afford to be miserable and stuck in a job you hate? If it's time to change jobs -- or even change your career, can you afford to be saddled with a resume that's not working for you? A self-written resume might get you interviews and even offers, but chances are you won't get your dream job or ideal salary. A professionally written resume will likely yield faster and more rewarding results.

Can you afford a resume that doesn't stand out from the pack? Employers are inundated with resumes these days. If yours isn't visually pleasing, reader-friendly, sharply focused, and packed with industry-specific keywords, you probably won't get the employer's attention, let alone an interview. Can you afford to be in the "B" pile?

Can you afford to be perceived as someone who doesn't take his or her career seriously? Investing in professional career-marketing documents shows you are serious about your career -- that you are proactively taking control. Employers appreciate the care and seriousness that go into high-quality resumes. A resume that demonstrates how well you value your strengths, skills, and accomplishments will win favor with employers.

Can you afford to pass up the higher salary that a stellar resume can inspire? Job-seekers with professionally crafted resumes are positioned to negotiate for higher salaries than they've commanded before and higher than those with inferior resumes.

Can you afford not to market your hard-earned education and training? You probably spent thousands on your degree(s) and/or advanced training. The resume you will use to market that education deserves an investment that will yield a strong return.

Can you afford the time it takes to develop and write a dazzling resume? We do ask job-seekers to invest a bit of time in providing their information. But the time and stress we save you by crafting that information into an effective marketing tool is well worth it. Just ask the many job-seekers who've agonized over how to write a resume that works.

Can you afford to write a resume without knowing cutting-edge trends in resume writing? Many customers tell us they haven't needed a resume in years. Now that they do, they're grateful for a professional service that understands how much resumes have changed and knows what today's employers look for.

Can you afford to shop resume prices and choose the cheapest service? The money you waste on an ineffective, cheap resume might not be much, but the time you spend and salary you lose finding out it doesn't work is gone forever. Remember, you get what you pay for.

A few more reasons to consider investing in professional resume-writing services:

• You're in good company. In 2004, 11 percent more job-seekers turned to career professionals than did in 2001, and 100 million job-seekers are estimated to have had their resumes professionally written. There's no shame in wanting to present yourself in the best light.
• The confidence you gain from an outstanding resume will pay for itself many times over.
• Resume-writing services may be tax-deductible. Check with your tax consultant.

We're Your Resume Resource
If you're seeking to enhance your job-search success, consider making an investment in your future by hiring an expert write your resume, CV, and job-search letters: Quintessential Resume Writing Service, powered by CareerPerfect.

Quintessential Resumes and Cover Letters
is part of the Quintessential Careers Network of Career Sites.