Job applications do not present all the applicant's qualifications. Before the interview, employers now demand work records, natural talents, and personality traits. A well-written résumés saves employers time by identifying those applicants whose backgrounds and goals come closest to the company's needs.
A Service Needed
Everyone, with or without a résumé, is looking for a way to get a foot in the door of the job or career they want. A professionally written résumé, a sales presentation of their qualifications and experience, helps get them the job they want. Basically, people are lazy and would rather pay someone else to write their résumé than take the time to learn how and do it themselves. Just as you are willing to pay a doctor, dentist, or investment broker, those who need a résumé are willing to pay you for this service. The market exists in every city and town in this country, and the demand for this service grows daily. Here is a business you can start for next to nothing
No special knowledge, education, or experience is required for success in this business. An awareness of the general format of the résumé, a good typewriter or computer with a laser printer, and a desire to help people find employment are all you need to start. To prepare yourself properly, invest in a good book on how to write job-winning résumés. Be sure it also discusses both the format of the résumé and the cover letter.
Once you are organized with space and equipment, you are ready for business. All that is necessary from that point will be advertising, client interview, and producing the final product.
Advertising
Compared with many other businesses your advertising needs should not cost you a heck of a lot of money. It should however, be coherent and eye-catching.
The classified section of your area's most widely read newspaper is a good beginning point for your ad. Place it in the service section and/or help-wanted. If the help-wanted ads are categorized by profession, you may want to place your ad in each of those also. Arrange to run a one-inch ad every day for the next six to twelve months. By purchasing your ad space over at least a six-month period, your rate may be much lower than the rate charged for shorter contracts. Start your ad with the letter A so that it will always be placed near the beginning of each section.
Aside from an ad in the newspaper, the only other advertising efforts you should worry about are those that do not cost much money such as free bulletin board announcements, and low cost flyers, circulars or brochures that describe your services.
Your brochure can be as simple as a Z-folded 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of paper. It should de scribe your services, emphasize your professionalism, fast service and reasonable cost.
Most quick print shops can handle all this for you, at a nominal cost, or, you may have a desktop publishing program on your computer. Once you have had your brochures printed, leave a supply with your area high school and college counselors, vocational and trade school placement directors, and with as many private employment agencies as will take them.
Once you spread the word that you are in the business of preparing résumés, people who are earnestly looking for work or wanting better jobs, will be calling you in no time!
Clients-The Interview
Type your résumé format on a separate sheet of paper, numbering each question you want an answer to, or subject you want to cover. This of course serves as a master-copy, which you duplicate and use as the researcher's questionnaire guide.
For each interview, take one of these guides and an ordinary yellow legal tablet, and start asking questions. Label each page of notes with a number or subject matter from the résumé format, and use a separate page of the tablet for each subject and each job the client may have had.
When potential clients call you, simply explain your services and prices, and set up an appointment for them to meet with you.
The interview should be relaxed, with the client doing most of the talking. Be confident, but friendly. You should control the interview with your questions and take notes as the client gives you the information you need.
Ask leading questions that get complete, revealing responses. Take your time, and listen to what the client is not telling you as well as what he is telling you; many people looking for employment short sell their skills.
With a bit of practice, you will be able to find out all there is to know about your client in twenty minutes or less.
After the interview, it will be easy to interpret your notes because you have gathered the details in sequence with your résumé format.
After you have the résumé typed, call the client in to check it over and approve it. In almost every case, he will be very favorably impressed and ready to go with anything you suggest. The secret is in the quality of your work, good type, clean paper and error-free copy.
Service Fees
The charges for your service should be about $50 for the interview, original résumé, 50 copies on white bond paper, and two universal cover letters, one for actual job openings and one for cold calls. Alternatively, if you work from a computer and he has a compatible, you may want to offer a CDROM with his original résumé, cover letter and tips for job interviews at the same price as above. Also, explain to your client that you can up-date or add to his résumé whenever the need arises, and for this service, you charge $10, plus the cost of printing as many copies as he requires.
The Product
The Résumé
The format and style of the body of the résumé are the items you want to learn from your book. Résumés generally follow this outline:
Name
Address
City, state, zip.
Phone Number
Type of job or position wanted
Goals and/or desires in life
Job history, starting with current or last job held
Special courses, education or training completed
Military History
Formal Education
Activities while attending school: athletics, offices, awards
Hobbies and special interests
Notation that names of business and personal references will be furnished on request or listed on a separate sheet.
Availability
The résumé should look professional without gimmicks or cutesy attention-getters. The header or the letterhead should be centered and state your client's name, address, phone number and any other points of contact such as email addresses or fax numbers.
It should be direct and honest; using keywords pertaining to the position your client is applying for.
The section stating his job history should be more than addresses and dates. It should also relate his duties and achievements for each job. The important thing to remember is to write in first person but drop the "I's":
"Hired as an entry level shipping clerk. Recognized need for organization on the loading dock to eliminate congestion. Suggested designated spaces for incoming and out going shipments. This program was adopted and immediately eliminated congestion of trucks and decreased overtime requirements, with an estimated savings of $700 per week for the company. Promoted to Line Expeditor after six months."
The Cover Letter
The most important part of any résumé package is the cover letter the applicant sends as part of the résumé. This letter states the specific job the applicant is applying for, explains why he believes he is qualified, and pointedly asks for an interview. In most cases, you will be able to provide an all-purpose form letter that your client can adapt to any position that interests him.
The cover letter should be typed as a business letter with the client's name and contact information at the top left or top centered, then a couple spaces down, and all flush left: the date, the prospective employer's name, address, and couple of spaces down, salutation. This by the way should always be formal as in Mr. Jones or Ms. Smith. Be sure to tell your client he should find out the exact name, spelling and gender of his contact, or you could possibly do it as an added service, free or otherwise.
Example Cover Letter in Response to an Ad
Dear Mr. Hopeyouhireme:
Concerning the banquet manager position you have posted in the Local Newspaper, I am very interested in the opportunity. Perhaps after reading this letter and enclosed résumé, you will agree we have a mutually beneficial reason to meet. My credentials include:
10+ years of supervising a banquet staff of up to 40 employees
Respected leadership skills with experience training and motivating banquet staff to work as a team
An uncompromising emphasis on presentation, service and cost savings
Your company's commitment to serving customers and the community is one that I share wholeheartedly. As assistant manager for MyLastJob, I maintained an excellent performance record (using only two sick days throughout my 10-year tenure with the company) and earned a reputation for dedication and a roll-up-your-sleeves work ethic.
The manager position sounds like an exciting opportunity, and I would welcome the chance for an interview to discuss your needs and outline my strengths in person. Thank you for your time and consideration of my résumé. I look forward to speaking with you.
Sincerely yours,
(your signature)
Your Typed Name
(123) 456-7890
Example Cover Letter for a Cold Call (Where no opening is advertised)
Dear Ms. Ihopeyouhaveroomforme:
As a sales representative, I have ambitions to improve my status in life.
Your company's reputation as a leader in the publishing of educational materials impresses me, and I would like to explore the possibilities of becoming a part of your sales force.
I am currently a top-producing sales representative, but feel stymied with my present employment. I think I could do much better with a company receptive to innovative ideas and energetic people such as myself.
Could we get together and discuss the possibilities of my joining your organization in some capacity that would utilize my abilities to a greater extent, and at the same time benefit your company?
I will be free from 10 o'clock on, next Tuesday, the 27th. Please give me a call at (123) 456-7890.
Thank you! I am looking forward to meeting you.
(Your signature)
Your typed name
PS: Enclosed is a résumé that will give you an in depth look at my accomplishments, and an idea of my potential. I appreciate your time and consideration.
Finally, put some real planning into starting your business; get it well established and running smoothly; then hire other people to do the work. The object of a business of your own is not steady employment for you, but financial security and independence. Plan your business, nurture its growth and then hire other people to do the work while you guide, supervise and make bank deposits.
And that's it - the basics you need for starting your own highly profitable résumé service. A couple of things to bear in mind: Your success will be directly related to the quality of the finished product you put out. Learn to do it right, and then strive for perfection with every job you complete for a client. Remember too that the image you project is the credibility rating you will carry with your customers. Shabby surroundings, a disorganized office and a less than professional appearance will doom you to failure. Be impressive! Keep your eyes open, and move into an office among professional people as soon as you can.