Tuesday, February 5, 2008

Dude, Where's My Newsletter?

If you're wondering where the January/February issue of Resume Writers' Digest is... you're not the only one! Due to a number of factors (including the death of my beloved uncle)...it's still a work in progress. My goal is to get it sent out at the end of the week.

If you have a submission, please send it to me ASAP! My e-mail is RWDigest(at)aol.com. And for those of you who have been e-mailing to ask about joining the mentoring group, I'm working on adding you to the YahooGroup!

Sunday, February 3, 2008

Dirty Jobs

I keep seeing articles about this show, Dirty Jobs. So I finally set my TIVO last week to record a few episodes off the Discovery Channel. But I haven't had a chance to watch it yet.

The premise is an interesting one -- the host, Mike Rowe, does a lot of jobs that most of us wouldn't want to. But the fact of the matter remains ... someone has got to do these jobs. That's something to remember when we're working with clients who only want "glamorous" jobs (I want to work in pharmaceutical sales, I want to work in fashion, etc.). There are lots of opportunities out there for those seeking much less glamorous jobs.

Be sure to read Rowe's "Seven Dirty Habits of Highly Effluent People" and the accompanying article about the host and the show that appeared in Fast Company.

Saturday, February 2, 2008

NRWA Returns to an E-List

The National Resume Writer's Association experimented with changing to a secure bulletin board format for facilitating member-to-member communication, but announced a change to a traditional E-List format (hosted by YahooGroups) last week.

Although bulletin boards can be a very effective way to encourage interaction, they require that a member seek out the forum ... while e-mail lists deliver the messages to your e-mailbox immediately.

The Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches, Career Directors International, and the Career Management Alliance all use e-lists for member-t0-member communication.

Friday, February 1, 2008

Resume Writer's Action Plan - Part 4

Here's the fourth installment in our series. For part 3, click here.

16. Talk to real estate agents. Agents are often the first to greet someone new to town -- and they are delighted to recommend a qualified resume writer to help a "trailing spouse" find a job.

17. Send a letter to your friends and family members. Put your word-of-mouth marketing network of relatives to work for you. A supply of brochures and business cards may be all you need if you send a stack to chatty Aunt Cathy.

18. Celebrate the holidays. In addition to Christmas/New Years, consider recognizing other "traditional" holidays -- such as Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, and Halloween. Or, celebrate an offbeat holiday, such as Groundhog Day, or Earth Day.

19. Make contacts for outplaced employees. When you read about a local firm that will be laying off employees, call the company. You might be able to line up a seminar on job skills -- or a company-paid subsidy for resume writing. At worst, ask if you can send along brochures and business cards.

20. Target specific markets and contact them directly. For example, if you have a background in nursing, your specialized knowledge of medical terminology and nursing functions makes you a great choice as a resume writer if I am a nurse. For professions that are licensed -- like nursing -- you can often rent a list from the state. Or, write an article or place an ad in industry newsletters or trade journals.