Virginia Franco operates Virginia Franco Resumes. She offers an array of services, including resumes, LinkedIn profiles, bios, recruiter distribution, interview crib sheets, cover and thank you letters.
Virginia is 3X certified (NCRW, CPRW, CEIP), and holds an MSW and B.A. in Journalism.
She shares her insights as a member of the Forbes Coaches Council and in various publications and podcasts – including Ivy Exec, Business2Community.com, Career Sidekick, MedReps, Career Cloud, Career Metis and NotActivelyLooking.com.
1. What led you to write resumes? Do you have a background that made you an ideal fit for the industry?
Virginia: My background is social work, journalism, and corporate communications.
These are an ideal fit.
Virginia: My social work training makes me skilled in behavioral interviewing techniques, while my corporate communications and web, newspaper and magazine journalism offer me a unique understanding of how to translate the complex into plain-speak with just a 90-minute interview, how people read documents when pressed for time, when reading online and when reading in print.
2. How long have you been in the industry? Would you recommend it to others? Why?
Virginia: I have been writing resumes unofficially since I first entered the workforce – but found a way to have it pay the bills back in 2007. If you value making a human connection, helping others and working in a virtual office with flexible scheduling – then this is the role for you.
3. What is the single best tool you recommend for building client relations? Building your business? Improve efficiency?
Virginia: A job well done speaks volumes – and is critical to word-of-mouth sales.
LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter have been great tools for building client relationships.
For me, blogging on my website and contributing articles to several publications has helped me become known beyond my hometown.
Today people reach out to me from all parts of the globe!
A great laptop and a cloud drive are my best tool for remaining efficient. I find I write in the car, and even at a picnic table when my children are at sports practices.
4. If you could share one learning experience/great lesson, what would it be?
Virginia: Demand payment in full upfront.
I have learned the hard way that people put you on the backburner once they have a draft in their hands.
Lesson Learned: Get full payment upfront.
5. Looking back, what would you have done differently? Done the same?
Virginia: I would have earned my resume certifications sooner rather than later. Having these greatly increased my credibility and marketability.
6. What advice would you give someone just entering the resume-writing industry?
Get certified and get training with a well-regarded resume writers association.
Rather than immediately going out on your own, I recommend starting out by subcontracting.
Virginia: It is a great way to get exposure to a variety of different job levels and industries.
7. How do you see our industry transforming over the next 12 months? 5 years? What do you think resume writers need to know in order to survive?
Virginia: Social media and technology are transforming everything – resumes are no exception.
Resume writers need to know the ins and outs of LinkedIn, ATS software and writing with the online (and small screen) reader in mind.
