"People Won't Pay the Prices I Need to Charge"

In any economy (good or bad), people have money to spend on having their resume developed. The trick is convincing them they need them.

The message in a down economy is: "You need a professionally-written resume in order to stand out in the pile of resumes that flood in for every available position."

The message in a good economy is: "If you're looking for a better job, you need a resume that can show why you're worth 10, 15 or even 25% more money than you're currently making."

The key is finding the prospects who can pay. One surefire way is to find people who have money!! For example: target executives and senior managers, not blue-collar workers and college students. I know, I know, it seems harsh … but you're in business to make money, right?

Another idea is to go outside your geographic area. While most of my business is local, I've done resumes for clients throughout the US -- many who were relocating to new cities. You don't have to be a local expert to write an effective resume I have found that you can capture those clients who think that local expertise is the "only" thing by saying, "Yes, there are times when you will want to choose someone locally, but not every community has a resume expert who knows all the local resources. It can be just as important to find a professional resume writer who can help you tap into proven resources to market yourself to prospective employers regardless of where you live."

Most resume writers think they can fill their appointment books by advertising in the Yellow Pages, having a site on the Internet, and giving talks. However, those are just SOME of the tools you're going to need to use in order to drive the kind of business that sustains you as a primary income source. Many resume writers also find that subcontracting can steady out the peaks and valleys of being a self-employed resume writer

There are thousands of clients who are out there who are willing to pay your prices ($100 up to $1000+) for a resume if it gets them what they want … the job they want/need.

How to Write Great Resumes Faster

* Create a "writing routine." Most professional writers overcome "writer's block" by creating rituals and using props to help them get into the writing "state of mind." Some common writing "crutches" include a favorite beverage, a special pen, familiar music, or writing at a certain place or time.

• If you can't start at the beginning, start in the middle. It's said that Ernest Hemingway always finished his day in mid-sentence so he could just pick up where he had left off without much thought.

• Create an outline and fill in the easy stuff first. Start by setting up the relevant headings (education, affiliations, associations, licenses, etc.) and then fill in the information under each heading. Start with the easiest sections (i.e., "Education") first.

• Write first, organize later. One of the most difficult parts of resume writing is often getting started. So just start typing whatever information you have; whatever comes into your head as you go through your client notes. Then go back through and organize it.

These tips are excerpted "Write Great Resumes Faster," available from Image Building Communications - Order here.

WANT MORE TIPS? Buy the book! You'll get more than three dozen actionable ideas, including how to develop a "write faster mentality," using technology to write faster and better, and more than a dozen strategies to help you overcome a blank page. Plus, dozens of alternate section headers (looking for a different phrase than "Work Experience?" We've got 15 alternatives); hundreds of accomplishment-stimulating verbs (alphabetized), dozens of personality traits and profile descriptors, hundreds of keywords -- and much, much more!

So Is it Spelled "Blogue" in Canada?

Developing a career document for a non-English-speaking client? Identify what text needs to be changed (i.e., "catalog" vs. "catalogue") by following these simple instructions:

In Microsoft Word, select all of the text (Control-A). Choose "Language" from the "Tools" menu, and select the appropriate language.

The spell check will then make sure all the language-related differences are identified for you.

Write and Speak About What You Do

Speaking is a great way to build your business. Possible career angles for speeches, workshops and articles include:

• The best time to look for a job is when you have one;
• Careerjournaling (tracking responsibilities and accomplishments);
• How often to update a resume;
• New technology and the job search;
• Choosing a resume writer;
• What you should include in a resume -- and what you shouldn't;
• Tapping into the "hidden" job market;
• How to transition into a new career;
• The post-military job search;
• Networking your way to a new job;
• First jobs for college graduates;
• Job search strategies for executives;
• The role of the portfolio in the job search;
• Alternative work styles and careers;
• Retaining employees: What your employees tell their resume writer as they prepare to leave your company; and
• Job-hunting online.