Resumes are the foundational document for your job search. It's so important that you get it right. You need it to act as your marketing document in your job search. It should grab the attention of the reader and make them want to talk to you to find out more.

Because it's such a big deal, many candidates don't trust themselves to craft it and instead hire a resume writer or resume service. In itself, that's not a bad thing. But just as in any other situation, you need to make sure that not only are you getting what you pay for, but that you're getting what you really need as a candidate.

For instance, it's not uncommon for candidates to pay hundreds of dollars for a professionally-written resume, only to have the recruiter they're working with say that it needs revision. That's frustrating, for sure, but your resume can only benefit from input from people who are experts in your career area. (FYI: Always listen to your recruiter, who would qualify as the aforementioned expert.)

When you're gathering opinions on your resume, or choosing a writer, make sure you're getting input from people whose opinion you value. Do they have an insider's perspective? Can they tell you why they like it or don't like it? Does it make sense to you?

When you make revisions to your resume, evaluate for yourself whether it looks stronger. Ask others if it looks stronger, and find out what looks stronger and why. Have a reason for everything, and be sure it makes sense.

How much should you spend to have a resume done? On the one hand, you should spend however much you need to spend to get a great resume that represents you well and gets you the job. Your job is a principal determining factor for the rest of your lifeit affects the car you drive, the home you live in, and how much money is in your 401k. Whatever investment you have to make in order to land the job you deserve is worth it.

On the other hand, that doesn't mean you have to spend a lot of money. You can find a tremendous number of resume writing tips online. Maybe you've got a talented friend, or maybe you're far enough along that you only need an hour or so with someone who has some special expertise about your industry. A bit of advice to make small revisions that shine it up may be all that you need.

The bottom line: No matter what, you absolutely must have a winning, selling, resume.

Peggy McKee owns Career Confidential, a job search coaching website for top sales talent, sales management, marketing and service personnel! Peggy's 10+ years as a top recruiter and owner at PHC Consulting filling roles for leading national companies gives her proven perspective on the process. Visit http://job-search-success-secrets.com/customer-feedback.htm to see testimonials of real job hunting success stories. See how to create a LinkedIn profile that will attract hiring managers like a magnet at http://linkedin-for-jobseekers.com/linkedin-profile-tutorial.htm.