| Some people want to start their own business, | | | | Once you have gained a working knowledge of |
| but are not in a financial position to take a risk. In | | | | various occupational areas and have mastered the |
| this case, it is wise to keep your job and start | | | | art of interviewing clients, you will need to have |
| slowly by working only in the evenings and on | | | | very good word processing and document |
| weekend. | | | | formatting skills so you can create an attractive |
| As a home-based entrepreneur, you must feel | | | | looking resume. You will also need to have a |
| comfortable bringing clients into your home. If you | | | | knowledge of the resume writing process so you |
| have small children and your home does not have | | | | can lay the resume out on paper in the proper |
| a separate entrance, make sure someone is able | | | | manner. |
| to watch your children to avoid interruption. | | | | For example, you should know that the Education |
| Make sure your family is supportive and is willing | | | | section for a new college graduate is the first |
| to keep the house clean and quiet when you | | | | section before work experience unless their work |
| know you are expecting a client. | | | | experience is extensive. In short, you need to |
| START UP COSTS / EARNINGS | | | | know what will sell your client to a hiring company. |
| To succeed as a resume writer does require a lot | | | | This is why the resume is called a marketing tool. |
| of determination and hard work, but it does not | | | | When you are done creating the resume, the |
| have to cost an unreasonable amount of money | | | | client will let you know if they are happy with the |
| to get started. | | | | results and will work with you on revisions. |
| Start up costs will vary depending on your | | | | When it is finalized, it is recommended to only |
| investment. To begin, you will want to purchase a | | | | send an email version of the resume to clients |
| good computer or laptop with high speed Internet | | | | because they need to learn how to modify their |
| access and a good word processor such as MS | | | | resumes if they want to ensure a successful job |
| Word or WordPerfect. | | | | search campaign. This is the more affordable and |
| Ideally, you should have a wireless laptop so you | | | | efficient solution for both you and your clients |
| can sit somewhere comfortably when you work | | | | because the hard prints quickly become obsolete. |
| or for when you want to take your computer on | | | | You should never a hardcopy of the cover letter |
| the road for whatever reason. You will also need | | | | to your client because the cover letter must be |
| a laser printer, a desktop or internal fax service, | | | | personally addressed to the hiring manager. This |
| and a second telephone line if you live with people | | | | should only be provided in electronic form such as |
| who use the phone a lot. | | | | email or CD. |
| Supplies include toner and resume paper if you | | | | Another very important form of the resume the |
| are providing resume prints to clients. Internet | | | | client will need is a plain text version. You will need |
| based clients are satisfied with the electronic | | | | to learn how to convert and format the resume |
| version of their resume. Mailing clients hard prints | | | | to plain text so the client can upload their resume |
| of their resumes should be an added cost to the | | | | to major job boards such as monster, hotjobs, |
| client since you must charge tax on a tangible | | | | and careerbuilder. |
| item. | | | | DEFINING YOUR BUSINESS |
| Good resume paper averages three to ten cents | | | | A resume writer falls into two categories -- a |
| per sheet and postage costs depend on how | | | | resume generalist or niche writer. A resume |
| many prints you are sending. It can be a lot if the | | | | generalist writes for all occupational disciplines and |
| resume is two pages and you are also creating a | | | | a niche writer resume writer specializes in one |
| cover letter and references sheet. | | | | occupation such as teachers, or a career level |
| The national salary average for a home based | | | | such college students. |
| resume writer ranges from $25,000 to $100,000. | | | | When a resume writer specializes in one |
| This depends on how much marketing is done, | | | | occupation, that area of specialization is considered |
| how many clients are serviced, how much is | | | | a niche market. If you decide to target a niche |
| charged. Other considerations include whether or | | | | market, you will be expected to have an |
| not a resume writer is working alone, is in a | | | | expertise in this area. |
| business partnership, or employing subcontractors. | | | | So be sure to master everything you need to |
| MARKETING YOUR BUSINESS | | | | know in that occupational area. You might not get |
| There are two sure fire ways to generate new | | | | as much business as a generalist would in the |
| business. If you are looking to start small, local | | | | beginning, but as the years progress you will grow |
| advertising in the Yellow Pages is the best way to | | | | your niche business if you work hard and smart. |
| get started. At first you can begin with an in | | | | WORK CONDITIONS |
| column print ad. | | | | Some people are not comfortable with bringing |
| Simply having a commercial telephone number | | | | clients into their homes. Reasons range from |
| gives you a free line listing in the Yellow Pages | | | | personal safety, personal privacy and local zoning |
| under your business category, but will not | | | | issues. Whatever the reason, there are |
| generate as much business as an ad would. You | | | | alternatives to get around this issue. |
| can eventually graduate to display ads with color | | | | Many local libraries have lounge areas that serve |
| or large black print ads. Often, the charge goes | | | | as ideal meeting places. It is a quiet environment |
| directly on your monthly phone bill. | | | | that allows for few interruptions, if any, and |
| The other way is to launch a website. Unless you | | | | privacy. |
| can do your own website, you will need to hire a | | | | As a resume writer, you can bring a laptop to the |
| web designer. Costs range from $200 and up for | | | | meeting to take notes and even conduct Internet |
| a basic website and will increase significantly | | | | research if you have access to a wireless |
| depending on how much traffic you generate and | | | | network, assuming your laptop is wireless. |
| the size of your website. | | | | After the initial meeting and work session, |
| These variable affect your hosting costs. You will | | | | communication can continue by way of telephone |
| need to tell your web designer what you want | | | | and email with a sense of confidence and trust in |
| the website to say and how you want it to look | | | | the client-writer relationship. Other places to meet |
| and work for you. So be sure to do your | | | | include coffee shops, bookstores, and college |
| homework by looking at other websites to get a | | | | campuses. |
| feel for content and design. | | | | PROTECTION OF YOUR TIME & EXPERTISE |
| After you have a website developed, potential | | | | Often a resume writer provides more information |
| clients must be able to find you on the Internet. | | | | in the way of career counseling beyond the |
| That involves Search Engine Optimization (SEO) | | | | immediate task of resume writing. This is a natural |
| techniques. This effort determines where you will | | | | process that almost cannot be avoided. |
| be found in Google, Yahoo, and MSN ranging from | | | | It is important that a resume writer has a clear |
| page 1, not all, or anywhere in between. | | | | understanding of what the client is seeking to do |
| You can do Internet research on SEO strategies | | | | with their career. As a result, the resume writer |
| and teach yourself the necessary skills. Doing your | | | | often coaches and makes suggestions that result |
| own SEO is recommended for the small business | | | | in a client's career direction and facilitates the |
| owner or you can hire someone to do it for you. | | | | development of the resume. |
| SEO costs can be as much as $3,000 to get | | | | Most people are honest in their intentions. |
| started and as much as $1,000 a month to | | | | However, once in a while a resume writer may |
| maintain and increase your page ranking. | | | | run into a person whose intentions are not well |
| Getting excellent page ranking can take up to a | | | | meaning and are seeking to obtain information |
| year. Once you get there, the job never ends. | | | | without having to pay for it. It is in the resume |
| You must always maintain the website to ensure | | | | writer's best interest to obtain payment in the |
| you continue to rank favorably. There is SEO | | | | first fifteen minutes of meeting with a client. This |
| software on the market that you can purchase | | | | sets the tone of a business meeting and makes |
| to help you manage the process. | | | | the client's intentions honest and clear. |
| DEVELOPING YOUR SKILLS | | | | Without taking this initial step, they are setting |
| Client relationships and the art of resume writing | | | | themselves up to hear, "Okay, well thank you |
| and cover letter writing are probably the hardest | | | | very much. I appreciate your time. I will speak |
| part of all. There are so many occupations out | | | | with my wife tonight to see what she has to |
| there that you must have a general understanding | | | | say." Of course, every customer has the |
| of most of them to engage in a good | | | | prerogative to decline using a resume write's |
| conversation with a jobseeker. | | | | services. But a resume writer does not want to |
| A potential client must be made to feel confident | | | | realize this after spending two hours coaching a |
| that you know what you are talking about and will | | | | client and learning about their background. |
| be able to do their resume and cover letter. | | | | A reasonable commitment on the part of the |
| Writing a resume is not just about formatting and | | | | potential customer to hire a resume writer should |
| throwing fancy words around. It is important that | | | | be confirmed by telephone after providing a |
| you know what you are doing in order to develop | | | | consultation before meeting in person. |
| a good resume. | | | | ESTABLISHING CREDIBILITY |
| Today's jobseeker is very savvy and is capable | | | | Jobseekers need to know they can trust a |
| of writing a fairly decent resume using a vast | | | | resume writer before making payment. As a |
| array of free information available to them in | | | | resume writer, one way to gain credibility is to |
| resume sample books and on the Internet. They | | | | establish yourself with resume writing |
| hire professional resume writers because they | | | | organizations. These organizations include the |
| need someone to provide consultative advice and | | | | National Resume Writers' Association, the |
| to write a resume and cover letter in way that | | | | Professional Association of Resume Writers, |
| they cannot. | | | | Career Masters Institute, and the Professional |
| You can visit many free Internet sites such as | | | | Resume Writers and Research Association. |
| the Occupational Outlook Handbook or rent | | | | Annual memberships range from $150 to $175. |
| resume sample books from the library to study | | | | You will have the opportunity to network with |
| various job types, client situations, and wording. | | | | other resume writers on an e-list, have access to |
| The best way to learn is working directly with | | | | monthly newsletters, attend annual conventions. |
| clients. They will tell you what you need to know | | | | Convention fees are generally a few hundred |
| simply by answering your questions and telling you | | | | dollars to attend. |
| what they do, which should include their | | | | Other options include taking a tough test to get |
| accomplishments. | | | | certified as a professional resume writer. Each |
| A slow, but effective and affordable way to get | | | | organization has its own guidelines. Modest test |
| started is to volunteer your free resume writing | | | | taking fees average a couple of hundred dollars |
| services. Who wouldn't take advantage of that, | | | | and the average first time pass rate is 50 |
| considering today's professional resume writer | | | | percent with the opportunity to re-test without |
| charges anywhere from $89 for a very basic | | | | having to pay additional fees. After that, the wait |
| resume to $1,500 for a comprehensive executive | | | | time is generally six months to a year to test |
| resume. | | | | again for a fee. |
| You can advertise your free services at your | | | | LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS |
| local community college, library, and homeless | | | | Check with your local Chamber of Commerce and |
| shelter, as well as help friends, family, and | | | | accountant to set up your business structure, |
| neighbors. Do not expect to generate new | | | | business registration, and taxes. |
| business this way. It could happen, but it is unlikely. | | | | |