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.