Face-to-Face or Virtual?

In the September/October 1999 issue of Resume Writers' Digest, in my Letter From the Editor, I talked about how resume writers interact with their clients -- and how that interaction was likely to change over time. It's interesting to look back at what I wrote:

From talking to a lot of other resume writers, I know that many resume writers (including me!) are unwilling to give up on face-to-face interactions entirely. I personally prefer to work with clients in person, although I have done long-distance and Internet-based consultations in the past.

The key issue is meeting your client needs. There will be clients who are unwilling -- or unable -- to meet with you in person. There will be other clients who do not have the technology to work with you by computer. Each resume writer will be able to carve out a niche that will suit his or her needs.

Despite all the hype about the Internet, not everybody is online yet. We all have clients who have virtually no computer skills. They will need to "upgrade" themselves to meet the changing demands of the workforce ... just as the resume writing profession will need to change to meet the demographic trends of the new millennium.

Interesting. I changed to working virtually with clients in 2004, when I got married and moved my business into my home. Looking back, my sentiments were right on at the time -- but I've only had a handful or two of clients I haven't worked with virtually during that time. That's mostly because I have referred clients who preferred to work with someone in person to another writer in town who maintains a home-based office that accommodates working with clients in person. But it's also because I work primarily by questionnaire now, instead of interviews.

It's fascinating to see what has changed in the past 5 -- and 10 years. I wonder how resume writing will be different in 2014 ... and 2019. I hope I'm around to find out!

Weather and Working From Home

There are lots of reasons why I work from home. The short commute. Not paying a landlord and a mortgage. A fully stocked fridge, and not the dorm fridge I used to have in my old office. Getting my laundry done in between resume projects.

Another big reason is that I live in Nebraska. If you look at the map above, it's the state just above all the pink stuff in the middle of the country. That wintry mix is headed our way, with a mixture of freezing rain, ice, sleet, and snow expected for tomorrow.

In the first eight years of our business, it would have been an excuse to call into the voice mail messaging system and record an "out of the office" greeting. Tomorrow, I'll head downstairs in my PJs and slippers and put in a couple of hours of work before donning my boots, gloves, and hat and heading outside to fire up the snowblower.

It's the antithesis of the late August days when I sit outside on my back deck with my laptop and soak up a little sun while little kids splash and play in the neighborhood pool across the street.

Ah, the joys of working from home.