How To Start and Operate a Resume Writing Service

by Mary Anne Hahn

"Do you still do resumes?"

Although it's been years since I have actively promoted this service, I still
receive requests-and some nice extra pin money-to create or update resumes.
If you are looking for a writing business that you can start part-time and on
a shoestring budget, setting up a resume writing service of your own might be
just the ticket for financing more creative or lucrative freelance pursuits.

Who Needs a Resume Writer?
Why, with all of the online and off-line guides to writing resumes, and the
availability of templates on nearly all word processing programs, do people
still look for someone to put together their resumes for them? Reasons vary,
but the most common include:

• An inability to promote themselves well in writing. When putting together
  a summary of their work experience, many people make the mistake of simply
  listing the accountabilities of each position they've held, rather than
  highlighting their strongest skills and biggest accomplishments. For
  example, someone with a customer service background would certainly have
  experience answering telephones and dealing with people, but did he or she
  ever win an award for outstanding service, or make a recommendation that
  saved a previous employer thousands of dollars? Well-written resumes do more
  than provide a work history; they separate outstanding applicants from
  average ones.
• Lack of time. Between holding down jobs and raising families, many people
  have little time to react or respond when new employment opportunities or
  sudden job terminations occur. The ability to tap a reliable writer on short
  notice to develop or revise a resume eases at least some of the stress that
  accompanies the job hunt, and is viewed by a lot of people as a very
  worthwhile expenditure.
• Lack of equipment and/or word processing skills. For those who can't
  afford a personal computer, or haven't a clue what a template is (much less
  how to use one), the equipment and skills you take for granted as a writer
  can be an invaluable service.

Regardless of their reason(s), the fact remains that people use resume
writers. This is true whether a booming economy presents them with new
opportunities, or a sagging economy finds them suddenly jobless.

What You Need to Start Your Service
If you already own a computer and printer, the start up costs for a resume
service are quite minimal. About the only other supplies you will need are a
stock of high-quality paper (white and ivory are the two most commonly
accepted colors for resume submissions) and printer ink.

All other expenses related to your business will depend on how you promote
it. At the very least, I recommend that you order a supply of business
cards. To develop a local clientele, you might also consider running a
regular classified ad and posting fliers on community bulletin boards.

If you take your business to the World Wide Web, you'll need a home page, or
preferably a well-developed, professional Web site.

What to Charge
Doing a little "market research" here wouldn't hurt; try calling other resume
services in your area for prices, or check out what other online services
charge, so that you can price your services competitively without setting
your fees too low. Also, structure your prices depending on what services
you offer-a basic resume-only package, or deluxe resume/cover letter
packages, and so on. You can offer to include a floppy disk so that your
customer can print off her own copies as needed, and again factor this
benefit into your overall price.

You Have Your First Customer-Now What?
If you've never put together a resume for anyone but yourself or someone you
know very well, you will need to acquire information regarding the person,
the position(s) she's held previously, and the type(s) of jobs she would like
to pursue, if you want to provide your clients with a well-written,
customized product.

I always begin by asking my customers if they can provide me with a copy of
their last resume. If they can't, I set up time to do a full-fledged
interview with them; if they can, I review the old resume first, and fashion
my questions accordingly.

What sorts of questions do you ask when interviewing someone for a resume?
Here are some examples:

• Are you applying for a specific position, or type of position? You need
  this information if you plan to include a Career Objective section. If your
  client seems unsure, or has several career options in mind, you can leave out
  the Career Objective section and move on to the next area.
• What skills/qualifications do you have that would be of interest to
  prospective employers? Probe a little here if your customer provides you
  with little to go on. Do they have technical skills related that can be
  highlighted? Proven decision-making and/or problem-solving skills? A
  terrific track record for punctuality and attendance? These can be general
  statements of ability, which you would highlight in a Skills/Qualifications
  bullet list at the top of the resume.
• Describe your accountabilities in each past position held. This can be the
  most challenging-and interesting-part of putting together a resume for
  someone who has worked in fields with which you are totally unfamiliar. I
  have developed resumes for an accountant, a speech therapist, a loan officer,
  supervisors, salespeople and a host of other professions; in order to do them
  justice, I have had to clarify jargon used in various industries, while at
  the same time look for specific examples of when they have demonstrated the
  skills identified above.
• What sort of education or training have you had? Also find out whether
  your client has received any pertinent awards, or has belonged to volunteer
  or industry-related organizations that should be included on the resume.

Finally, make sure you have the person's most current address, telephone
number and email address, if available. At this point, you should be pretty
well equipped to put together their resume for them. Be sure to clarify the
date by which the resume is needed, and how many copies you will include in
your price.

While developing resumes hardly qualifies as the most creative or exciting
type of writing, it is certainly a service that is sought after and
appreciated by others. You also get the opportunity to meet a wide range of
people involved in interesting work, hone your interviewing skills, learn to
meet deadlines, practice the art of self-promotion, and maybe even get ideas
for articles, books or fictional characters. And you make money doing it, to
boot.

Not a bad little business, all in all.

Mary Anne Hahn is editor/publisher of "WriteSuccess," a free biweekly ezine
of ideas, information and inspiration for writers who want to land successful
freelance careers. To subscribe, visit:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/writesuccess