I'm a Government Employee, And My Training Budget Has Been Cut

In the weeks leading up to this year's NRWA conference, the government sequester led numerous government agencies — including several that provide career services — to cut their budgets, including funds available for employees to attend conferences and online trainings.

On the NRWA E-List, a government employee expressed her regrets that she would not be in Chicago next week because her agency did not have the funds to send her. A self-employed resume writer replied that she should consider paying to attend the conference herself.

I've thought about this for a few weeks now, and wanted to address this topic in a blog post.

As a self-employed resume writer myself, I've never had the luxury of applying for training funds to cover my professional association dues, online training program registration fees, or conference expenses (including airfare, hotel rental, conference registration, and meals/entertainment).

When I choose to participate in these activities, I am making an investment in myself, my business … and, most important, my clients. When times are tight, I might only invest a small amount — buying a new reference book or two, registering for a NRWA teleseminar (only $19.99 as a member), or one of Wendy and Louise's E-Summits (for $69).

But every couple of years at least, I invest more. Next week, I'll be in Chicago for the NRWA conference. The investment will be significant. Usually, I estimate that conference attendance for one person averages $1200 (including transportation, hotel, meals, and conference registration fees). The Chicago conference will be substantially more for me, not only because I'm bringing along my husband (it will be his fourth conference, but the first one he's actually registered to attend the sessions), we're exhibiting (to promote Resume Writers' Digest and BeAResumeWriter.com), and the discounted rate at the Courtyard by Marriott Magnificent Mile Downtown Chicago is $184/night plus tax.

I wrote a blog post earlier this year about "If You Want to Keep Earning, You Need to Keep Learning."

The same is true for government employees. If your agency has cut its training budget, consider making a personal investment in your skill development. For one thing, your clients will benefit. Second, YOU will benefit. Not only will you improve your knowledge, but you'll also be gaining networking connections and marketing skills that can benefit you should your job be in jeopardy from further government cuts. You can write resumes and see clients as a part-time job, and if you are furloughed, you can make up lost income through private work.

It's probably too late for you to sign up for Chicago, but the Career Directors International conference is coming up in October, and Career Thought Leaders is returning to an in-person format in Baltimore (plus an online component) next March.

If you're a government employee, an employee of a college or university, or a self-employed resume writer … invest in yourself!

The Academies Buy-One-Get-One-Free Offer on Training (Today Only)

Just received this email from Susan Whitcomb of The Academies -- and it's time sensitive (today only).

(Note: Please mention my name or Resume Writers' Digest if you decide to take advantage of this offer! As my bonus to you, I'll give you a free one-year membership in BeAResumeWriter.com -- a $120 value -- if you mention me as the referring source! Send me an email to editor(at)rwdigest.com to claim your bonus.)

Buy One, Get One!

Invest in one of The Academies' certification training programs and get a second one of equal or lesser valueabsolutely free.

Certified Executive & Leadership Development Coach - $2997
Certified Career Management Coach - $2897
Certified Job Search Strategist - $2597
Certified G3 Coach - $2497
Certified Tough Transitions Career Coach - $1997
Certified Social Media Career Strategist - $1797

You can read my blog post about the G3 program here (including the 54-minute preview video).

These programs are highly acclaimed within the industry, so if you've been thinking of pursuing training and/or certification, this is a fabulous offer. But it is only available today (Aug. 30, 2013), so jump on it right away!

Here's how to take advantage:

1. Register for the first program of your choice:

Certified Executive & Leadership Development Coach: www.theacademies.com/register/#CELDC
Certified Career Management Coach: www.theacademies.com/register/#CCMC
Certified Job Search Strategist: www.theacademies.com/register/#CJSS
Certified G3 Coach: www.theacademies.com/register/#G3
Certified Tough Transitions Career Coach: www.theacademies.com/register/#CTTCC
Certified Social Media Career Strategist: www.theacademies.com/programs/certified-social-media-career-strategist

2. Email katy@theacademies.com within 24 hours of your purchase and let her know your choice for your second program (must be of equal or lesser value).

 
3. Enjoy learning, growing, and prospering.

Remember, this is a 24-hour offering ONLY. No exceptions. Register before midnight (Eastern time zone) Friday, August 30th.

Susan says: With the generosity of this offer, you can understand when we say that it cannot be combined with any other offers, nor is the offer applicable to a recent registration.

This special offer DOES include Barbara Safani's "Social Networking Career Strategist" training for Facebook, Jason Alba's "Online Professional Networking Strategist" training for LinkedIn, and Chandlee Bryan's "Microblogging Career Strategist" training on Twitter in the job search.

Remember, be sure to mention me (Bridget Brooks, or Resume Writers' Digest). I'll get a 10% referral fee (that's my affiliate disclosure!), and you'll get a one-year FREE membership in BeAResumeWriter.com, including lots of resources you can use to promote your new certification and use it to get new clients!

Preptel Is Shutting Down Its Service on August 30

Resume writer Robin Schlinger received this email from "The Preptel Team," yesterday, although no mention of this is on their website yet.

Dear Customers,

We appreciate all your support during these past few years while we created and updated our service.

We founded this company and solution to help candidates. Over $4 billion dollars are being spent by corporations to help filter and rank candidates. We believed analogous software was needed to create an equal playing field. We set out to ensure our software worked, and we enlisted industry analysts to test it.

Most importantly, we developed relationships with leading resume writers and career coaches from associations, such as Career Directors International and the National Resume Writers Association. In collaboration with this special people, we made many improvements to the system.

Unfortunately, the cost model and the revenue models never lined up. After running 3 years in the red, we are disappointed to inform you that we have had to shut down the service. We apologize for the inconvenience and again thank you for your support.

Please download your résumés to your computer by Friday August 30, 2013 when the service will no longer be available. For details about how to download your résumés, please see this help article: <https://preptel.uservoice.com/knowledgebase/articles/240197-how-do-i-download-my-r%C3%A9sum%C3%A9s-> How to download my résumés? 

Regretfully,
The Preptel Team 


This is very disappointing, as the Preptel service was one of the best sources for resume writers and jobseekers to test client resumes to see how they would perform in Applicant Tracking Systems.

It's not surprising, however, because I was never sure what the Preptel revenue model was. When they first launched, the service was paid (I believe there was a free trial period), but in recommending it to colleagues and clients in the November 2012 "Jobseeker's Guide to Applicant Tracking Systems," it was a free service.

I'll have to do some research and see if there are any competitive services to recommend to check resumes for ATS submission. If you know of any, please leave the information in the Comments below.

What do you think of this announcement?

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"

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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!