Stefanie Spikell is known as the William Shakespeare of Resume Writing.
She writes resumes for every industry and level; www.expertresumewriter.com. She has more than 20 years of experience ensuring that client’s complex information is simply stated so that the employer sits up and takes notice.
1. What led you to write resumes? Do you have a background that made you an ideal fit for the industry?
Stefanie: I was a marketing writer for a large engineering firm and I often wrote resumes for proposals.
This led me to start my own resume writing business when the economy got slow and I was laid off.
2. Now that you’ve been in the industry for a while, would you recommend it to others? Why?
Stefanie: I would not recommend it at this time.
With the serious downturn in the economy and people seeking new jobs, one would think this would be an ideal career.
However, many of those being laid off are considered “overhead” – marketing types – and many of them have opened resume writing businesses.
The competition is tremendous and the newbies sell their work so cheaply that it makes it difficult to maintain one’s rates at a reasonable level.
3. What is the single best tool you recommend for building client relations? Building your business? Improve efficiency?
Stefanie: Know your stuff, know your clients, and then you can expect many referrals and much repeat business.
4. If you could share one learning experience/great lesson, what would it be?
Stefanie: Stay away from working for the big resume writing companies.
They are like sweatshops.
They pay poorly yet have very high expectations that you can complete a good resume in a rapid turnaround.
They do not understand that resume writing is an art and takes some time.
5. Looking back, what would you have done differently? Done the same?
Stefanie: I would pretty much do it the same.
It takes a special talent to market people on paper, and I have that talent.
6. What advice would you give someone just entering the resume-writing industry?
Stefanie: Learn your craft and don’t assume that you are a good writer just because you know how to spell and punctuate.
Do you know how to ask the right questions?
Can you draw out the client to get all the info you need, even when the client doesn’t know what he knows or does best?
This is the most important talent for a resume writer.
7. How do you see our industry transforming over the next 12 months? 5 years? What do think resume writers need to know in order to survive?
Stefanie: Everything may be going viral, but the written word on paper will always be necessary for job hunting.
If you can’t write, if you can’t interview, and if you can’t market people, don’t become a resume writer.
