HOW TO START YOUR OWN HIGHLY PROFITABLE RESUME WRITING SERVICE

Here's a business you can start for virtually nothing, and parlay into a million dollar enterprise in five years or less. Many established resume writing services in the large metropolitan areas are reporting annual incomes of $250,000 or more. Even the smaller operations, in towns as small as 15,000 are experiencing sales of $50,000 or more.

No special knowledge, education or experience are required for total success in this business. An awareness of the general format of the "modern resume," and the ability to keep material are about the only prerequisites to successfully operate a resume writing service.

Probably the most exciting and motivational aspects of this business idea are the low investment and risk factors involved, and the growing demand for resume service. Up until the past couple of years, few in any Americans really had to look for jobs. People in general have either forgotten how to look for a new job, or never knew how in the first place.

Since the start of the World War II, back in 1941, the American worker has been spoiled by an affluent society and an ideal market for the job seeker. Usually, all he had to do whenever he lost a job or wanted to change jobs was to report in to local branch of his local employment service office, check in at his union office, look at the want ads in the Sunday paper, or call a few friends and ask about job openings.

But no more! Times have changed! There are fewer jobs and an increasing number of people applying for those jobs that are available. Just recently, the post office department in a large west coast city advertised that applications would be accepted on two days only, 600 up coming openings. Would you believe that twenty thousand applicants showed up to fill out applications? Can you image the post office personnel people reviewing all those applications, and then interviewing all those people, according to the fair employment practices act?

On another day, word got out that there was going to be an opening for a fork lift driver at a local warehouse. Fifteen hundred men and women showed up even before the job was advertised!

Times are tough, and we're moving deeper into the age of specialization. Employers are demanding to know more about the applicant--his work record, natural talents and personality traits. They want the cold facts on the application form. Personnel managers are placing a higher premium on their time, and delegating to others the job of "weeding out" the unqualified applicants from those whose backgrounds and goals come closest to fitting the needs of the company.

To get in to see the person doing the hiring nowadays, the job applicant has to "sell the short-stopper," and that calls for a professionally written resume. More and more firms are demanding resumes. Industry estimates are that by the year 2000, most of the jobs worth having will require a written resume before even an initial interview is granted.

And that's where you can fit into the picture your Professional Resume Writing Service. Probably 80 percent of the people searching for jobs don't have a resume. Of the 20 percent who do have resumes, many are ineffective; they simply do adequately present the applicant's total qualifications.

Everyone--with or without a resume--is looking for this key: A professionally written resume, a sales presentation of their qualifications and experience that will get the job for them--the job they want. The job hunters are wound up in their own specialties and problems. They don't know how, and they don't have the time---AND they're willing to pay you to put it all together for them. Just as you're willing to pay a doctor, dentist or investment broker, those who need a resume 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 is growing daily. Your opportunity for success beyond your fondest dreams has been greater! The brass ring is here! Grab it, and hold on!

You'll need a modern, professional quality typewriter. You can begin, and perhaps get by for a month or so, with a top quality portable, but do yourself and your business a favor: Arrange to rent, lease or buy monthly payments if necessary, the best machine for the quality of work that will command top dollars for you.

Setting up and operating from your home will be the most economical way to begin. In addition to your typewriter, you should have a typewriter stand, typist chair, adjustable long-arm lamp, and a file cabinet. However, just as you can make do with a portable typewriter for a month or so, you can get by for starters with a kitchen table at your dining room table.

To prepare yourself properly, invest in a good book on how to write "job winning" resumes. Select a book which discusses both the cover letter and format of the body of the resume.

The most important part of any resume package is the cover letter the applicant sends as part of the resume. 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'll be able to provide an "all purpose form letter" which your client can adapt to any position that interest him. More later about actual writing of the resume and the cover letter.

The format and style of the body of the resume are the items you want to learn from this book. Resumes of today 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 interest

Notation that names business and personal references will be furnished on request. 14 Availability

Health
Once you've organized with space and equipment, you're ready for business. All that's necessary from this point on will be advertising, client interviewing, and producing the final product.

Your advertising needs, in comparison with many other businesses, need not cost you an exorbitant amount of money. It should, however, be consistent and eye-catching.

You should contact your area's widely read newspaper and arrange to run a one-column by one inch ad every day for the next six months to twelve months. By purchasing your ad space on a daily insertion basis, and over at least six month period, your rate will be much lower than the rate charged for shorter contracts.

Your newspaper ad might read something like this:

A complete, Professional Service

MIDWEST RESUME SERVICE
Resumes--Letters--Portfolios
...that results in jobs!

Phone 123-4567

Aside from an ad in the newspaper, and perhaps a similar one in your area shoppers' papers, the only other advertising efforts you should worry about are those that don't cost money---free bulletin board announcements, radio and television talk show interviews, and low cost flyers, circulars or brochures that describe your services.

One method of gaining business exposure which is most often overlooked is the radio and television talk show interview. Call the broadcast stations in your area and get the names of the producers of these talk shows. Then write them a letter explaining your services, and how you believe an appearance on their program could be educational and beneficial to their audiences. Include a brochure with your letter, give them a call on the phone, and ask them to consider an interview with you.

Another area to explore for free publicity is a guest speaker for your civic clubs. For these, simply write out a speech emphasizing the need for a resume and the proper way to write one that will result in a job for the job seeker. Explain the growing trend of employers to use the resume as a screening device, and the fact that a well written resume can get a better job for someone when there are seemingly no openings. Don't be afraid to explain what goes into a professionally written resume. Many of the people listening to you---if you sell them they don't have the time or know-how, and because you'll have the reputation of an "expert" after having spoken before their club. Basically, people are lazy in this respect, and would rather pay someone else to do something than to take the time to learn how and do it themselves. Once you spread the word that you're in the business of preparing resumes for people looking for work or wanting better jobs, you'll have no trouble at all keeping busy!

Your brochure can be as simple as a Z-folded 8 1/2 by 11 sheet of paper. It should describe your services, emphasize your professionalism, fast service and reasonable cost. It would be best to have your story typeset and laid out in three columns down the width of the paper.

Most quick print shops can handle all this for you, at a nominal cost. Once you've had your brochures printed, leave off 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.

When a prospective clients call you, simply explain your services and prices, and set up an appointment for them to meet with you. For this it's best to prepare a script, which might read like this:

YOU, answering the phone : Good morning! Midwest Resume Service. May I help you?

CLIENT: Yes, I'm calling about your ad in the paper.

YOU: Oh yes, and thank you for calling. Let me explain our services. We're professional resume writers--we interview job seekers such as yourself--learn the important features of their backgrounds as those features apply in helping us to write a resume that will land them the job they're looking for. Then we assemble all this information into a winning presentation, type it out, give you the original plus 50 copies and a cover letter (which you can modify as necessary on your home typewriter and have copied each time you submit a resume). Your cost is only $50, and usually we can have everything ready for you within three or four days. Now, does that sound like what you had in mind?

CLIENT: Yes! That's just what I had in mind. When can we get together and start the ball rolling?

YOU: How about this afternoon at 3:15 or would tomorrow morning at say 9:45 be better for you? We're located at 600 North Main Street. Are you familiar with the area?

CLIENT: Yes, I know the area, no problem. This afternoon at 3:15 will be fine.

YOU: Good! Now, let me have your name and phone number please.

CLIENT: Gives his name and phone number.

YOU: All right, Bob, we'll look forward to seeing you this afternoon at 3:15.

You now have a client, and an appointment to interview him for background information in order to put together a resume that can result in a job for him. Be sure you're prepared with a "researcher's questionnaire," to guide you in the questions to ask.

Type your resume format on a separate sheet paper, numbering each question you want an answer to, or subject you want to cover. This of course serves as a "master" which you duplicate and use as the researcher's questionnaire guide.

For each interview, take one of these "interview guides" and an ordinary yellow legal tablet, and start asking questions. Identify each page of notes with a number or subject matter from the resume format, and use a separate page of the tablet for each subject and each job the client may have had.

The interview should be relaxed, with the client doing most of the talking. However, you should control the interview and take notes as the client gives you the information you need. Be confident, but friendly. Maintain your confidence and ask leading questions that elicit complete, revealing responses. Take your time, and "listen" to what the client ISN'T telling you as well as what he IS telling you. With a bit of practice, you'll be able to find out all there is to know about your client in twenty minutes or less.

Look ahead to the day when you have employees working for you. Develop your interviewing techniques to a state of maximum efficiency for your business, and then record three or four interviews for use in training your employees. You should also reproduce several examples of completed resumes and put them into an instruction book for study by new employees.

After the interview, you need to interpret your notes and type the information into a resume. This would be easy because you've gathered the details in sequence with your resume format. Familiarity with format writing style makes the task of putting everything into finished form quite simple.

At the very least, a quick course in resume writing will be necessary. Check out a book on the subject from your local library. The important thing to remember is to drop the "I's" and write in a kind of note taking reportorial style:

"Hired as entry level shipping clerk. Recognized need for organization on the loading dock to eliminate congestion. Suggested designated spaces for incoming and outgoing 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.."

Don't put a time limit on the amount of time you devote to each client, but once you're organized and established, the interview through the finished resume shouldn't take more than an hour or two.

After you have the resume typed, call the client in to check it over and approve it. In almost every case, he'll be very favorably impressed and ready to go with anything you suggest. The secret is in the quality of your work--a modern typewriter with good type, clean paper and error free copy.

So, you explain to your client that his resume will make more favorable impression on the prospective employer when it is printed on better quality paper. Suggest to him that you have it printed for him on colored "offset" paper instead of ordinary bond. Ivory, tan or blue shades are desirable. For the really expensive-looking resume, suggest that it be printed on 11x17 paper, and then folded in half to make a kind of "book" about the client.

The charges for your service should be about $50 for the interview, original resume, 50 copies on white bond paper, and an universal cover letter. For colored offset paper, or 11x17 sized sheets, check current rent prices at your print shop. You should pass those costs onto your client, plus a nominal service charge of $5 or so. Also explain to your client that you can up date or add to his resume whenever the need arises, and for this service you charge $10, plus the cost of printing as many copies as he requires.

Now for the cover letter---probably the most important part of any resume submitted for job consideration. The first thing to ask your client regarding the cover letter is if he intends to submit his resumes in answer to advertised positions, or if he intends to "shot-gun" them out to possible employers. According to his stated plan, you simply use one of the two general forms for cover letters.

And that's it---the basics you need for starting your own highly profitable resume service. A couple of things always 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 image you project is the credibility rating you'll carry with your customers. Shabby surroundings, a disorganized office and an less than personal 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.

Finally, put some real planning into starting your business; get it well established and running smoothly; then hire other people to do some of the work. The object of a business of your own is not steady employment for you, but financial security and independence--to achieve and enjoy the fruits of your labor. Plan your business, nurture its growth and then hire people to do the work while you guide, supervise and make bank deposits.

COVER LETTER
IN RESPONSE TO AN ADVERTISED OPENING

Your recent ad, expressing a need for an experienced stock clerk, has come to my attention. I'd like very mush to get together with you at your earliest convenience to discuss my qualifications for this position.

With hopes for such a meeting in mind, I'm enclosing a copy of my resume for your information and consideration.

I assure you that I am experienced, learn very quickly, and am adaptable to new methods of operation. I have heard favorable comments about your company as the place for one with ambitions for growth and self-improvement.

I'm available to come in and meet with you at your convenience and can begin work immediately.

Thank you in advance for your time and consideration. A call from you will be most welcome and appreciated.

Sincerely Yours,

Your signature
Your Typed Name

(123) 456-7890

COVER LETTER FOR THE SHOT-GUN APPROACH WHERE NO KNOWN OPENING EXISTS

AS a salesman, 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'm currently a top-producing salesman, 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 resume that will give you an in depth look at my accomplishments, and an idea on my potential. I appreciate your time and consideration.

HOW TO START YOUR OWN HIGHLY PROFITABLE CATERING SERVICE

People with money seem to be on a binge to prove their status and flaunt their wealth by staging large, catered parties. As a matter of fact, in some circle of affluency, a party or social get-together isn't considered an event of any significance unless it's a catered affair.

With the same kind of reasoning, businesses of all sizes are using catered lunches, cocktail parties and dinner meetings to build their images and increase company sales. It's a matter of keeping up with the competition in promoting a company and/or product.

On a smaller, but just as busy marketing scale, more and more working mothers are paying to have catered birthday and graduation parties, as well as wedding receptions handled by caterers. The reasons are simple to understand--if she's working outside the home, today's mother just doesn't have the time or the energy to do all the planning and staging of a memorable party.

Besides those reasons for turning everything over to a caterer, working mothers feel a little guilty about the time away from their children they lose because of their jobs. Thus, they're ready and willing to make it all to them by paying for a lavish party the child will remember for years to come.

Caterers handle everything from birthday parties for children, to breakfast in bed and intimate candlelight dinners for two, to company dinner parties for 50 and wedding receptions involving a thousand or more guests. This kind of entreprenuerial business is definitely growing and becoming more popular with people of all income levels.

An imaginative caterer in a large metropolitan area can easily gross $150,000 per year, while a small part-time caterer in a small town can count on at least $10,000 to $15,000 per year. One small, but very ambitious caterer is reported to have grossed $250,000 after only 2-years in the business!

You don't need special education or training to become a successful caterer. You do need a affinity for people and a kind of intuition as to what people enjoy in different environmental settings.

A quick survey of successful caterers across the nation shows that began with zero capital by working out of their homes. The basic starting up investment would appear to be around $500, with some big spenders capitalizing their idea with as much as $15,000 in order to get off to a fast start.

This seems to be an ideal business for an ambitious couple to start and operate with very little capital investment required. One person can spend his time hustling up business while the other would do the planning, organizing and actual catering.

As with any business, your success will be directly related to the soundness of planning and the working of that plan. Understand exactly what your client wants, and give him what he wants in the way of service that reflects upon the client in a complimentary manner.

Basically, you can start with an advertisement in your local newspapers. This advertisement need not be much more than a simple announcement: Creative Catering-Specializing in personal service- We can handle any party or special event from start to finish-no idea to small or too large- Your satisfaction is always guaranteed! We can handle everything for you.. Call us, and let us make your parties worth remembering...

Naturally, the first thing you want from anyone calling to ask about your services, is that anyone calling to ask about your services, is that person's name, address and phone number. Then you want to know what kind of party or event they have in mind. As soon as you have this information, relax a little bit and inquire to find out about the person or the company--the people--sponsoring the party and their ultimate goals or reasons for the party.

If it's to celebrate birthday, graduation, anniversary or a wedding reception--finding out about the interests, background and ambitious of the guest of honor will be of value to you in your planning. Taking a few minutes to learn everything you can about whoever the party is for, and the people giving the party, will also make it much easire to close the sale than any sales pitch or special persuasive tactics.

People like to talk about themselves, and they especially like to tell everyone why they're honoring someone, even when they pretend to keep it a secret who initiated the idea. So, it's important that you be a good listener, that you have the ability to get people to talk about themselves, and that you take notes on the things they tell you.

This same principle applies to business people, regardless of who's talking to you or the purpose of the catered affair. The more polished and adept you can become in getting your prospects to talk about themselves, the more information relative to their background you can elicit, and the more you listen; the better your parties will be, and the greater success you'll attain in the catering business.

You take the information you glean from this first interview and plan/organize the event on paper. This means you're going to have to have contacts or at least working relationships with innumerable service businesses.

If your client wants to stage a birthday party for a 12-year old---he or she greets the guests as they arrive, makes sure everybody knows who he is---then what about party favors---a soft drink and a conversation leader until all the guests arrive--the opening of presents--icecream and cake--and games to play, a thank you gift for coming, and a reason to end the party at a pre-determined time...

Do you greet the guests, does the mother or father, or the little boy or girl? Where do you come up with the party favors at less than regular retail prices? Where are you going to get the soft drinks-your cost and the glasses or paper cups to serve them in? What about ice? What kind of games to play? Who'll be the conservation leader? Will there be a clown or someone special to keep everything moving according to plan? Where do you get the ice cream and cake? What games to play? How to get everyone involved? And finally, a feasible and polite reason for ending the party and sending everyone home...

All this takes planning, organization, and if you're going to make a profit, a definite awareness of cost control. Get it all down on paper as a proposal to the people who want to pay you to carry it off. Figure out your costs, the time involved in putting it all together, and then get back to your prospect.

Always leave room for changes in your proposal. In fact, expect them--invite input and suggestions from the client--and always have an alternate idea in your mind for each of those on your written proposals. Discuss your proposal with the client just as you would a script for a television show, make the suggested changes and ask for a 50-percent advance deposit. From there, it's just a matter of following your plan.

Regardless of size or type of party--whether your client is a working mother or a giant corporation--the format is always the same: initial inquiry, interview, your proposal, 2nd interview for any changes, agreement, deposit, staging the party itself, and your final payment. As mentioned earlier, success in this business comes from your planning--having a lot of contacts--and working your plan.

An important word of caution: Try not to get "boxed in" to setting or even revealing a tentative price until you've had a chance to listen to what the prospect wants, to study your own capabilities, and to make a formal written proposal. If a customer wants to know how much you charge--and if you feel it necessary in order to eventually close the sale--you can tell him 50 to 100 dollars per hour, plus expenses, and of course, depending on the type of event the customer wants.

As for how much the average party costs, again tell him that it varies anywhere from 50 to 5,000 dollars.

Always keep in mind that you are a professional, and that if the ordinary person had your knowledge, contacts and ambition to do it himself, he wouldn't be calling you on the phone. He needs your help for any number of reasons. You specialize in this kind of work or service just as a doctor specializes in medicine and a lawyer in legal matters. Therefore, you should, and do expect to be paid accordingly.

Something else--this business thrives on word-of-mouth advertising--referrals--and thus, is direct "freeway' to the kind of customers where money is of no concern. However, on order to gain access to this market, your business emphasis has to be on service.

This means the capability of handling everything for the customer, from having the invitations printed and sent out to cleaning up after the last guest has left. Businesses and people in the upper income brackets, like to pick up the phone--tell someone they want a party on a certain date--and then forget about it, knowing everything will be taken care of without further worry or time involvement from them. Once you've developed your expertise and clientele to this level, you'll have a business in the $200,000 to $250,00 per year range.

Definitely arrange for a display ad in the yellow pages of your telephone directory. You'll probably get 40% of your inquires from this source alone. Generally speaking, radio and/or television advertising will be too expensive when compared with the immediate results. However, it is recommended that you consider these media prior to special holidays.

Working with restaurants, supper clubs, bridal shops and entertainment business in general. can bring in hundreds of referrals for you. Rubbing shoulders with, and circulating as a part of your area's civic and service clubs, should also result in more business for you.

Keep your eyes and ears on the alert. Where ever you go, and with whomever you associate, always be ready to promote and sell your services, if not on the spot, at least make a note to follow up when conditions are more in your favor. Promoting and selling your services will require at least half your time, and that's why two people operating catering services are so successful from the start.

The actual selling is quite simple so long as you emphasize the service and time-saving aspects. The more time-consuming work you can handle for the client, the easier it's going to be for you to close the sale.

Handing out business cards is one of the least expensive ways to advertise, promote and sell your services. One enterprising caterer makes arrangements with the sponsors of all his parties, to see that each of the guests gets one of his business cards.

Another gives each of his clients a stack of his business cards, and tells them he'll pay them $25 for each prospect they refer to him. He tells them to write their name on the backs of the cards, and to hand them out to their friends. And then, whenever a person tells him that John or Jane suggested he call, and he presents the card with John or Jane's name on the back, this very successful caterer sends John or Jane a $25 check.

Another very successful caterer pays commissions to a group of housewives and college students who solicit--via their home phones--interviews for him with brides-to-be. They get their leads from announcements, and pictures of brides-to-be in the local papers.

Many caterers pay sales people a commission for letting them know when they hear about a party or special event being planned by one of their business customers.

The possibilities go on and on, and are seemingly un limited. Time is becoming more valuable to a lot more people every day, which means there are more and more opportunities for great wealth and personal independence as a professional caterer. In reality the success for just about any person entering this field, will be limited only by his or her own imagination and energy.

There is definite opportunity for great wealth within the catering field. Anyone with a sense of service to others can succeed. Very little "readycash" is needed to begin. Therefore, the only thing standing between you and the realization of your dreams, is the action it takes on your part to get started...