Kudos!

I don't normally do posts like this, but I wanted to keep this information somewhere, and I thought you might be interested in this feedback too! (I recommend surveying your customers occasionally -- and this is a good question to ask!)

On the 2015 Resume Writers' Digest Annual Industry Survey, I ask this question:
"What can Resume Writers' Digest and BeAResumeWriter.com provide you with that you're not getting anywhere else? Any other comments/feedback?"

Here were some of the responses:

• "The wonderful client articles to share."
• "I get so much more from BARW than any other association!"
• "I like the pass-along materials and use them to create passive income in my business."
• "Keep up the great work -- have LOVED everything you write and send out to us!"
• "Developing a business model which is highly personalized and incorporates goals for establishing balance between work and real life. A holistic approach to creating a realistic work/life blend. Filtering out the noise and editing 'what to say no to.' My mind is an overachiever and has set me up for a good deal of stress; my heart (and my husband) just wants my personal time back!"
• "I like the tools/templates you make available. I like having quality tools I can easily access and adapt to meet my needs despite a very busy schedule."
• "You are doing an amazing job -- just keep doing what you are doing!"
• "Focus on ideas for improved materials used in the industry."
• "Forms for managing client workload -  i.e., a good "Tracking Form"
• "Content if I ever set up a blog or newsletter to send out to potential clients."
• "Takeaways are great!!"
• "I absolutely love the LinkedIn guide you wrote and then updated. I'd love more templates and guides for additional document writing, such as reference page and guides, social media updating guides, etc. Things I can give or sell to my clients as an added benefit to my resume writing."
• "Guidebooks and information sheets to give to clients as part of paid packages."
• "Resume writing/career coaching book recommendations. Contract samples/templates. Scripts for talking to referral partners (especially recruiters)."
• "You are already doing it, and doing it well!"
• "Show us how to set up merge fields in resume documents, invoices, contracts, etc. to save time when dealing with clients. That way, we only need to type the name, email, address, phone number in once, and then it automatically populates where it needs to in accompany documents."
• "Keep on doing what you're doing; it's great"
• "I would like more information to help potential clients understand the differences between the various certifications out there. There is no apples-to-apples comparison right now. Potential clients seem to simply view a certification as a certification -- with no differentiation."
• "I would love to see a business case for companies, nonprofits, state career centers, university career centers, etc. (organizations that already have a career services component) bringing in resume writer consultants to conduct training and speaking. I often get the cold shoulder with the attitude of "We already offer what you do," but they don't offer the same level of quality and don't have the same level of expertise (or credentials). I am tired of trying to convince them."
• "Products that are pre-written so I don't have to use my downtime not writing to write more!"
• "More potential customer referrals for resume writing."
• "Speaking engagements: Who, what, when, where, why, how."
• "I appreciate the resources you produce. They are of excellent quality and tremendously useful to clients. Thank you for your hard work!"
• Already benefiting with Get Clients Now! but more information/support/resources regarding improving quality of subcontracting relationships, e.g., average income for subcontractor. I think this will benefit the industry generally, both on the subcontractor side and the contracting side."
• "Continued access to tip sheets and instructional materials for us and for clients."
• "Survey results like this to understand industry trends and peer perception."
• "Unbiased information / Bridget's wisdom."
• "I love the ready-made special reports (Pass-Along Materials) that I can give to clients to supplement the coaching/resume writing work we are doing."
• "I love my membership in BARW! It is a goldmine of information and education."
• "More insight into the daily operation of other resume writing businesses. How do they do it?"
• "How to establish a membership-based site." 

I appreciate all the feedback, ideas, and positive comments!

How Do You Compare? 2015 Resume Writers' Digest Annual Industry Survey

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 2015 edition of the survey was conducted from May 2015 into June 2015 and the results were reported in December 2015.

One hundred six resume writers contributed to the survey data. They spent an average of 11 minutes answering 21 questions in the survey.*

The results were compiled into the "Profile of Professional Resume Writers: Who We Are, What We Charge, How We Work" report. Career industry professionals interested in receiving a complimentary copy of the report can opt-in to receive it here.

Who Are Survey Respondents?
More than fifty percent of survey respondents are full-time, self-employed resume writers, including subcontract work. Twenty-two percent are self-employed part-time. Anecdotal evidence suggests many of those working part-time have full-time jobs in university career offices, as a recruiter, or working in human resources.

Ninety-one percent of those who took the survey are located in the United States.

The survey respondents are not "newbies." Only six percent of survey respondents have been in business for fewer than two years.

The pricing data reflects the "veteran" nature of survey respondents. Generally, resume writers who have been in business charge the most. (Those who don't charge enough to support themselves in their resume writing business generally leave the industry.)

Where We Work
Seventy-five percent of survey respondents report they work from a home office, with another 14 percent having both a home office and a business office. Only eight percent work from a business office (not located in a home), which is a stark contrast from the early years of the Resume Writers' Digest Annual Industry Survey, when a home-based resume writer was the rarity.

The number of resume writers who work with clients virtually has steadily increased over the past few years. In this year's survey, 31 percent of resume writers say they only work with clients virtually. Forty-five percent say they work with clients in person and/or virtually, with another 13 percent who say they meet with clients in person, either at the resume writer's home or office.

The number of resume writers who use a combination of a phone consultation and questionnaire to gather information from clients has risen slightly from the previous survey. Thirty-five percent of survey respondents report using this combination (up from 33% in 2012), while 21 percent only use questionnaires (up from 16 percent in 2012).

Services
The survey revealed that participants write an average of three resumes a week -- a number that has been fairly consistent over the past few years in the survey. Writers reported spending an average of 24 hours a week on resume development (including client consultations, research, writing, and finalization) -- the same number as in the previous survey.

The busiest month, according to the survey, is January, followed by September. In the previous survey, February was the second-busiest, with February, March, and April tied for third.

Let's Talk Pricing
The most common hourly rate cited was $150 in this year's survey, double the number in the previous year's survey ($75 in 2012 data, compared to $50 in 2010 and 2011). The hourly average this year is $105.64, a 14 percent increase from $90.87 reported in 2012, and up from $83 an hour average in 2011.

The average reported price for a resume and cover letter in 2015's survey is $603.82, which is up almost 20 percent over 2012's figure ($478 in 2012, which was down slightly from 2011's figure of $11). The most frequently-cited amount charged for a resume and cover letter was $350, which was up from $300 in 2012's survey data.

LinkedIn profile development services are becoming a bigger part of the "average" resume writer's typical sale, followed by preparing additional resume formats (ASCII and PDF), creating references pages and other supporting documents (thank you letters), and brand development services. Social media profile development (outside of LinkedIn) has declined since the 2012 survey.

How Resume Writers Attract Clients
Marketing is often listed as one of the top challenges of resume writers, so it can be useful to learn how other resume writers secure their clients:

• Referrals – 17% (18% in 2012)
• Website – 13% (16% in 2012)
• Social Media (LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter) – 13% (7% in 2012)
• Directory of Professional Resume Writers on Professional Association Websites – 7% (same as 2012)
• Networking – 7%
• Organic Search (not paid ads) – 6%
• Community Outreach/Unpaid Speaking Gigs – 3%
• Strategic Alliances – 3% (5% in 2012)
• Recruiters – 3% (5% in 2012)
• Public Relations/Being Interviewed – 2%
• Blog – 2% (4% in 2012)
• Yellow Pages – 2% (5% in 2012)

The percentage of resume writers reporting they get new clients via their website is down three percent from the previous survey, while LinkedIn (and other social media) is up six percent. Yellow Pages advertising, not unexpectedly, has declined from five percent to two percent. Strategic alliances are down from five percent to three percent. Recruiter referrals also dropped three percent from 2012's figures. Blog traffic as a source of new clients also dropped from four percent to two percent.

Networking -- not surprisingly -- is a good source of business, generating seven percent of business. Unpaid speaking engagements and community outreach account for three percent of new clients, and public relations/publicity generated another two percent.

Certification and Training
Most resume writers surveyed are a member of at least one professional association. Memberships included:

• The National Resume Writer's Association – 14% (15% in 2012)
• Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches – 13% (14% in 2012)
• BeAResumeWriter.com – 13%  (same as 2012)
• Career Thought Leaders – 13% (8% in 2012)
• Career Directors International – 9% (11% in 2012)
• Resume Writing Academy – 8% (6% in 2012)
• The Academies – 5% (4% in 2012)
• National Career Development Association – 4%
• JibberJobber.com – 3% (4% in 2012)

Membership figures have stayed pretty consistent from the 2012 survey. (We consider the "traditional professional associations" to include the NRWA, PARW/CC and CDI, while the other organizations listed provide training and other membership benefits, but are not traditional professional associations.)

Forty-four percent of survey respondents report they are certified as resume writers, with another 10 percent saying they have a coaching certification. Twenty-five percent report they are dually certified in resume writing and career coaching, while 20 percent are not certified.

Resume writers: Like the information you've read so far? Opt-in to receive the full report here. 
The full report also includes a "Profile of the 'Average' Resume Writer" and additional resources for career services professionals.

* Note: The survey is a voluntary report from participating resume writers and is not considered statistically valid.

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Read these blog posts about previous Resume Writers' Digest Annual Industry Survey results:

• 2012 Resume Writers' Digest Annual Industry Survey (published 2014)
• 2011 Resume Writers' Digest Annual Industry Survey
• First Look: 2010 Resume Writers' Digest Annual Industry Survey
• 2008 Resume Writers' Digest Annual Industry Survey Results
• Resume Writers' Digest 2007 Industry Survey
• Industry Survey 2004
• 2003 Industry Survey Results
• Profile of Professional Resume Writers - 2001-2002