Ask Bridget: Should I Charge Less If I Use a Questionnaire?

In today's "Ask Bridget" segment, Milly asks:

"You mentioned during your "Ask Better Questions; Write Better Resumes" teleseminar that you offer a more affordable price if clients are willing to just answer questions by email through a questionnaire. I have been debating on what price structure I should use, since my method of information gathering is mainly through email as well. For a mid-level professional, I've seen resume writers charge over $500, which I assume includes the phone consultation. What is the appropriate price range, in your opinion, for the email method of information gathering -- without phone discussions?"

Here's what I told Milly:

I use questionnaires primarily with my clients -- it's just my preferred workstyle. But I ask prospective clients how they're most comfortable providing their information, and if they want a phone consultation, then I just quote them a higher price than I would if they were agreeable to working via questionnaire. 

So, if I was going to quote them $299 for the resume, I'd quote $375, for example (the extra $76 would be for a 60-to-75-minute phone consultation). Usually, I don't tell the client the two different prices, because I've already asked the question about how they want to do it, so I'm giving them a quote that reflects that. I have, though, on occasion, given them an "Option A" or "Option B" quote -- i.e., "The cost to develop your new resume package will be $299 if we conduct your information gathering via email questionnaire or $375 if you would prefer we schedule a phone consultation to gather your information.

You mentioned that other resume writers charge over $500. You asked, "What is the appropriate price range in your opinion for the email method of information gathering without phone discussions." There are actually some resume writers who charge over $1,000 and work via questionnaire exclusively, so you don't have to do phone consultations to charge more. *smile*

But you're coming at this from the wrong direction. There will be some clients who are unwilling to pay $50 for a resume even if that included a 3-hour phone consultation ... and there are some clients who would gladly pay $2000 for a resume even if you only collected information via questionnaire.

That's not the issue. There are clients out there in all price ranges. How you choose to work -- and what you charge -- are entirely up to you!

The first resource I want to share with you is the "Determining Your Resume Writing Rates Worksheet." This is a step-by-step approach to help you determine the right rates to charge.

But you should also compare that information to the 2011 Resume Writers' Digest Annual Industry Survey results. This will help you see the hourly rate charged by other resume writers, and average prices charged. You can get a copy of the "Profile of Professional Resume Writers: Who We Are, What We Charge, How We Work" here:

GET THE FREE REPORT: "Profile of Professional Resume Writers: Who We Are, What We Charge, How We Work"

* required

First Name: *

Last Name: *

Email Address: *



Email & Social Media Marketing by VerticalResponse

Also, keep in mind some of the factors that might influence you to charge higher rates. These include:

• A valuable certification (ACRW, federal job search certification, etc.) - note: a CPRW or CRW certification may command more than an uncertified writer, but generally does not command premium pricing.
• Experience in the industry (those who have been in the industry longer tend to charge more)
• If you work with a specific niche audience -- specialists tend to charge more than generalist resume writers/career coaches

Do you have a question for "Ask Bridget?"
Send a message on the Resume Writers' Digest Facebook page!

Seven Things Jobseekers Say That Drive Me Crazy

As a resume writer for the past 15+ years, I like to think that I've heard it all. Certainly, I've heard certain things over and over again from jobseekers that absolutely drive me crazy... and I've listed seven of them below.

1. I don't care what kind of job I get, I just need a job. In most cases, if you don't care what kind of job you get, the job you get isn't going to be the one you want ... or the one you are best suited for. If you're frustrated with the job search process and decide to look for a different type of job, you are giving up the momentum you've already built. Instead of starting over from scratch, is there one small change you could make that might make all the difference? After all, success is not a straight line.

2. "I had my (mom, sister, neighbor, teacher, best friend, second-cousin-twice-removed) look at the resume and they said..." Opinions are like resumes. Most everyone has one, and some are better than others. Something that works for one person's job search won't necessarily work for yours. You wouldn't ask Aunt Edna's advice on how your accountant did your tax return ... why would you take her advice on your resume? (And yes, that counts even if Cousin Ted is a recruiter. Unless he is the recruiter or hiring manager for the exact position you're applying for, the advice he's giving — while industry-specific — might be off target as well.) Your resume writer gets to know you and your specific circumstances and has created a resume that addresses the specific qualifications and challenges in YOUR job search.

3. If I'm on LinkedIn, everyone will know I'm looking for a new job. One of the primary reasons to be on LinkedIn is to make professional and career connections. But yes, if your profile springs up overnight and you suddenly add 200 connections, yep, it's a solid bet you're either in job search mode now, or shortly will be. Think of your involvement on LinkedIn as a marathon, not a sprint. As author Harvey Mackey says, "Dig Your Well Before You're Thirsty."



But that doesn't mean you shouldn't be on LinkedIn. In fact, there's no reason why you shouldn't be on LinkedIn right now, even if you're not looking for a job. Start digging your well now. (Check out my 8-day guide to getting started: "Leveraging LinkedIn For Your Job Search")

4. I know I just lost my job, but I'm going to take a break before I start looking again. This is one of the biggest mistakes you can make. Even if you're getting severance and/or unemployment benefits, you need to start looking for your next job as soon as possible. The longer you are unemployed, the harder it is to find a job. And your network is much more likely to be responsive to requests for help when you're newly unemployed. Not to mention, if your job search takes longer than you think, you might run out of money. A better way to handle it is to find your next job, and then negotiate a starting date to take a short vacation to celebrate before you start the new job!

5. Related to #4: "I can't stand my job anymore. I'm going to quit." My mom's number one rule is: Never quit your job until you have a new one. The biggest reasons for this is: It's easier to get hired if you have a job. Like it or not, if you are not working, an employer has to take a bigger "chance" on you than if you're currently employed. So yeah, if you can't stand your job anymore, use that as motivation to ramp up your job search! Treat your job search as a full-time job (or at least a part-time job) and get cracking! But don't just quit. You're going to need the income to invest in your job search — new interview attire, a resume, maybe some interview or salary negotiation coaching. Which leads me to #6.

6. I can't afford to spend $XXX on my job search. There are certain things that you will need in your job search (like a professional email address, and the minimum qualifications for the job) ... and some things that will help you stand apart from everyone else applying for the position. Professional interview attire, for one thing. A professionally written resume is on that list too. You can spend anywhere from $100 to $10,000 on your resume. The cost varies greatly, although the national average is $508 for a resume and cover letter. It just depends on the writer ... and on the client. Will a professionally written resume get you the job? It's not a guarantee. But it can certainly make you a stronger candidate, and can provide you with the confidence to advance in a competitive search. You may need to cut back on some of your other expenses (cable, eating out, entertainment) in order to shift money to your job search.

7. "Can't you just do it for me?" I've had wives call for their husbands, and parents call for their children. Some resume writers don't mind that. I do. I want to know that the person who I'm working with is going to put in the effort. (Julie Walraven has an excellent blog post on this.) No one should be more motivated to work on your job search than you. Yes, you're hiring a professional resume writer to assist you, but that doesn't mean that it won't involve hard work -- and an investment in your time -- from you. You're the one who needs to think through your accomplishments. The resume writer will take it from there -- but he or she needs something to work from. So if the resume writer asks you to do homework assignments, take them seriously. The end product will be much more impressive if you invest the time in the process.

Help me add to this list. What are some of the other things that jobseekers say that drive you crazy as a resume writer? Post your comment below.

2011 Resume Writers' Digest Annual Industry Survey Results

The Resume Writers' Digest Annual Industry Survey is an opportunity for resume writers to benchmark their progress compared to their peers. The survey was first conducted in 2001.

The 2011 Resume Writers' Digest Annual Industry Survey was conducted from December 2011 through January 2012. The respondents can be categorized as follows:

The majority of responders were full-time, self-employed résumé writers (65%), with another 23% classifying themselves as part-time entrepreneurs. While most worked from home (71%), another 16% also met their clients elsewhere, such as coffee shops or libraries. Only 11% chose to maintain a separate outside office.

Services
January was a busy month for 42% of résumé writers, followed by February (15%) and March (11%). It tapered off from there with spikes in May (8%) and August (9%), with very little activity during July or December.

On average, the vast majority of writers (80%) produced fewer than five résumés a week. Seventeen percent wrote more than that, but only 3% wrote more than 10 résumés a week.

Perhaps the hardest part of writing any résumé is simply getting the client to give you enough material. Some writers reported using questionnaires, either all the time or occasionally, in an effort to extract information (19%), but 25% never did. A slight majority preferred to use both a questionnaire and talk to their client in person or over the phone (51%).

The trend towards working virtually continues to grow. While 30% of writers still met with clients personally, 28% also used phone, fax, or Internet, and 10% conducted all their business online.

For many clients, a résumé itself isn't enough. While 32% of writers were only tasked to prepare the résumé itself, another 24% also provided a cover letter, and a further 11% added references and other supporting documents. Ten percent were required to present their résumés in alternate formats (ASCII, PDF, etc.). Unexpectedly, interest in brand and social media development has declined a couple of percentage points since the last survey, although at least one respondent included a LinkedIn profile as part of the standard résumé package.

Cash Flow
To avoid later difficulties collecting their fees, most respondents required full payment up front (61%), but a minority 19% contracted for an initial deposit, then the balance upon delivery. A very small number completed the project first, and then received payment (6%).

Estimates of hourly wages varied considerably, with 43% listing $50-99 as their average wage, 32% listed $100-199, 20% made less than $50/hr, and 5% claimed to make $200-300/hr. 

Time spent per week writing résumés also varied greatly:

• < 10 hrs: 19% 
• 10-19 hrs: 18% 
• 20-29 hrs: 18% 
• 30-39 hrs: 26% 
• 40-50 hrs: 16% 
•  > 50 hrs: 3% 

Not all income was generated directly from résumé writing. Of those respondents who reported passive income streams, 35% received money from their own ebooks and products and 25% received affiliate income (Amazon, ClickBank, referral fees, and commissions).

As in 2010, referrals (18%) and personal websites (14%) continued to be the most important source of new clients. The next most likely source came from directories on professional association websites (8%). Alliances, recruiters, and social media (split almost equally) accounted for another 17% of new projects.

Certification & Training
Most writers recognize having credentials is important when establishing credibility with a client. A majority (67%) of survey participants held résumé writer certifications, with 28% also being certified career coaches. A notably large number, however, held no certification at all (29%), an increase of 8% over the previous year.

Résumé writers received training or chose to belong to a variety of organizations, with no single association predominating. Professional Association of Résumé Writers & Career Coaches (PARW/CC) and Career Directors International (CDI) accounted for most affiliations (16% each), with the National Résumé Writers' Association (NRWA) (12%) and BeAResumeWriter.com (10%) coming next. Career Thought Leaders and the Resume Writing Academy also had small followings.

Many respondents advanced their careers in 2011 by attending professional seminars, webinars, or conferences (36%), purchasing career-related books (10%), exploring strategic alliances (7%), or making new connections with a recruiter (6%). Others promoted themselves by working social media (9%), overhauling their website (7%), giving a presentation (7%), writing an article (6%), or being interviewed in the media (5%).

The Bad & The Ugly
Complaints from the 2010 survey were mirrored in this one, as problems with client management continued to top the list as the least favorite parts of being a résumé writer. Common complaints: Clients don't understand the value a professional brings to writing their résumé; they fail to provide enough information; they don't follow up with revisions or make timely payments; and they don't understand a good résumé doesn't just appear overnight.

The marketing and sales aspect of being an independent contractor also weighed heavily upon some respondents. The work wasn't steady...so neither were the paychecks. Deadlines and scheduling conflicts were constant issues, as was working evenings and weekends. Keeping up with changing technologies was difficult for some writers; others had trouble with bookkeeping.

Not surprisingly, these difficulties were reiterated by respondents when asked what their greatest challenges were. The business aspect continued to be a prime concern, particularly finding clients and getting them to participate in the process; business development and marketing; and keeping up with current technology and social media trends. Respondents repeatedly commented how difficult it was to manage the ebb and flow of this business and how they needed to improve their time management skills.

As the economy slowly picked up, so did the effort job seekers put into their search. The majority of résumé writers (65%) reported increased volume and/or profits in 2011, while a smaller segment did worse (22%). Thirteen percent reported no significant change.

The 2012 Resume Writers' Digest Annual Industry survey will be conducted early in 2013. Be sure to participate!