Resume Writer Success Strategies

Issue #7
April 19, 2006

IN THIS ISSUE:

• How to land those hard-to-reach clients
• Send us your questions, we'll send you answers
• Going after the top end of the resume market
• How you can retire early
• Share your success stories, tips, and ideas

PROFIT BOOSTER:
Use critiques to land hard-to-reach clients

As a professional resume writer, your primary target market is those folks who know and understand the value of your service. These are the people who are willing to pay the fair market price for your expertise.

There is another huge segment of the market that needs your services ... but is unwilling to pay the price for a quality resume. They already have a resume that they believe is "pretty good," and they don't want to pay the full amount for your services.

One way to turn these folks into paying clients is to meet them halfway. Offer a service to "Critique an Existing Resume." For this critique and a minimum number of corrections, charge half of what you would normally charge for a full resume.

The bottom line is: If you don't offer this group something that they are interested in, you won't have them as clients at all. More importantly, many times clients like these will see the value in your critique and purchase a full revision from you.

At a minimum, he or she will accept your critique and leave as a satisfied customer. End of story. And you will have boosted your revenue by landing a client that normally wouldn't have come to you.

More good news: You'll be pleasantly surprised at the number of people in this "revisions-only" pool who will be drawn back by your expertise. And these satisfied clients will be an excellent source of referrals for you as well.

RESUMES FOR THE EXECUTIVE SET: How to price your services for the high-end market
By Julien Sharp

By far the most lucrative market segment for your business is in writing executive-level resumes. Broadly defined, executive-level resumes are for those clients seeking positions that pay over $100,000 per year.

The clients who fall into this category can be executives, physicians, lawyers, or senior academics. The resume format varies widely, depending on the individual's profession. But, that said, established resume writers typically charge a minimum of $650-$700 to create a resume for somebody in this group. On the average, they charge a bit more, something closer to $1,000. Because these clients are seeking a high-paying position – often including bonuses and stock options – they have no problem paying well for an effective resume.

Many professional resume writers make a specialty of writing for this executive-level market. The higher fees they charge per resume allow them to work with a smaller number of clients than if they focused on entry-level resumes.

Keep in mind that a potential client who is looking for an executive-style resume – and who is willing to pay for it – is going to expect a lot more. You will need a solid track record of writing persuasive resumes that really set your clients apart when they're vying for highly competitive positions.

Regardless of the type of resume, you should never resort to simply restating a historical list of job descriptions. With an executive-level resume, this is even more vital. Companies looking for candidates to fill the top positions in their organizations will be investing a lot – in recruiting, salary, perquisites, and more. In return, they need to know that the person they choose will be able to successfully step in to generate profits and provide leadership to the organization.

As you start to sell your services in this segment of the market, you will find it easier if you have industry credentials to validate your skill level. A certification – or at least a membership affiliation – from one of the national resume writers' organizations can be very helpful. Check out the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches (www.parw.com) or the National Resume Writers Association (www.nrwa.com) for more information on membership and certifications.

Another great way to gain clientele in this area of professional resume writing is to team up with executive search firms or executive recruiters. One of the most lucrative partnerships in my career as a resume writer has been with a talented executive recruiter who specialized in placing marketing professionals at the executive level.

She had very high standards for the type of resume she would send to her clients. If she liked the candidate – but not the resume – she would hire me to create a quality resume before she would consider sending it. This contact alone now generates five to eight executive resumes a month for my resume business!

All in all, the executive-level resume market is not for the novice resume writer. You must have proven your value before a client will consider paying a four-figure tab for a resume. But, once your business and credibility are established, this niche can provide you with very handsome returns.

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Julien Sharp has been working with resumes for 20 years – writing, screening, and evaluating them. She's a member of the American Writers & Artists Inc. (AWAI) Board of Advisors and one of the creators of AWAI's Resume Program. For more information about this money-making blueprint or independence and financial freedom, click here: http://www.myresumebiz.com/rwss]

* * * * * * * * Highly Recommended * * * * * * * *

RETIRE THIS YEAR …

… and still make more money than most doctors.

You can do it – once you know the proven secrets to writing a simple letter like the one you’re about to read.

Imagine a job in which you set your own hours, and live where you please: at the beach, in the mountains, in Paris.  And still make more money than most doctors.

Learn how: http://www.thewriterslife.com/rwss

SEND US YOUR GOOD NEWS, TIPS AND IDEAS

We love to hear about your successes. If you have good news to share – how you landed a new client, made the transition to full-time resume writer, or even a technique you've found works wonders, please tell us at: resumewritingsuccess@awaionline.com

COMING NEXT ISSUE

In the next issue of Resume Writer Success Strategies we begin a series on ‘challenging resumes’ – starting with tips on crafting a stellar resume when your client has gaps in employment.

* ABOUT RESUME WRITER SUCCESS STRATEGIES *

Resume Writer Success Strategies is a FREE weekly newsletter from the American Writers & Artists Inc., available to AWAI members and friends.

© 2006 American Writers & Artists Inc.

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