Co-opetition

In addition to editing Résumé Writers' Digest, I'm a practicing résumé writer in Omaha, Nebraska.

I don't have any competitors.

That's not to say there aren't other résumé writers in Omaha -- to the contrary, there are a handful -- but I don't consider them my competitors. I consider them my "co-opetitors."

I can't claim credit for coining the phrase -- I picked it up at a résumé writing conference -- but I can take credit for putting the principle into practice. In my 14+ years of résumé writing experience (the last 11 years in my own business), I've found there are certain kinds of clients I like -- and some that I don't. For example, despite the proximity of Offutt Air Force Base to Omaha -- and, consequently, the large number of "separating" Air Force personnel -- I don't particularly enjoy writing military transition résumés. So one of the smartest things I ever did was to call the other résumé services in the phone book, introduce myself and ask if they did military transition résumés. After speaking with several, I found one who I felt comfortable recommending. Since then, I have referred these clients to her.

My co-opetition is also useful for when I get busy (to refer overflow work) and for increasing the profile of résumé writing as an industry here in Omaha (with a population of 600,000 in a 30-mile radius, there's plenty of work to keep us all busy!) by mentioning the importance of choosing a professional résumé writer when seeking publicity.

As Chris Miller, CEO of 6FigureJobs.com mentioned at the CMI conference in San Diego a couple of years back, one of the biggest challenges facing résumé writers and career coaches is lack of recognition -- if people don't know that our services exist, they won't seek us out. The more professionals there are, the bigger voice we will have.

I'm working to educate my fellow Omaha résumé writers about the importance of professional association membership and certification … think about doing the same in YOUR community. Believe me, it will benefit us all.