The following is part of a colleague spotlight series. A new colleague spotlight will be published each Monday. To read all colleague spotlights that have been published thus far, simply visit the colleague spotlight category.
1. What led you to writing resumes? Do you have a background that made you an ideal fit for the industry?
As an executive assistant with nearly 20 years of experience, I was searching for an entrepreneurial opportunity that would take me out of the corporate world and provide companies with overflow support services. I purchased a small, local secretarial support firm that also happened to offer resume writing services. I distinctly remember telling the woman who owned the company that I was not interested in working with the general public. When she told me more about resume writing and the types of people she helped, I became much more interested and transitioned that secretarial support business that happened to offer resume writing services into a nationally-recognized, 100% resume writing organization boasting triple-digit growth in less than 5 years!
2. Now that you’ve been in the industry for a while, would you recommend it to others? Why?
I have owned the company for nearly 12 years now and while the industry can be volatile based on the financial strength of the nation, most businesses are in the very same boat! My business has been able to weather the recent financial crisis due mostly in part by strategic partnership formed years ago and the high volume of client referrals. Owning a resume writing business isn’t for everyone. While it can appear to be an easy business to run, the quality expected by clients is great (and rightly so). Not everyone can be a good resume writing. That college class you took, just doesn’t cut it! Writing resumes for people is a craft and running a business takes skill. If you have both of those attributes, this business is quite rewarding.
3. What is the single best tool you recommend for building client relations? Building your business? Improve efficiency?
To build strong client relationships I take the time to speak with every client during all project stages (inquiry, information gathering, delivery, and finalization). When you take the time to personally communicate with clients, they respect you and refer their friends and family members to you.
In order to build my business, the number one best tool I use is the Internet. I’ve got a great website, and awesome blog, I tweet, I use LinkedIn, I write articles, and more.
To improve efficiency I have designed and deployed standard operating procedures that are used throughout all projects. By having formalized processes in place, I am organized and know what needs to happen next.
4. If you could share one learning experience/great lesson, what would it be?
Your business is your business. You make the rules, not the clients. If a client wants you to bend your rules, you simply have to tell that client this is the way I do business and if this doesn’t work for them, then recommend them to other writers who may be able to assist them. STAND YOUR GROUND!!!
5. Looking back, what would you have done differently? Done the same?
If I could change anything about how I developed the business it would be having a website developed immediately versus 2 years after launching the business. The thing I’ve done that makes me the happiest is conducting business to make money, but not take people’s money. If a client comes to me and wants X, but I don’t think they need X, I will not sell it to them. I will not compromise my ethics just to make a buck!
6. What advice would you give someone just entering the resume-writing industry?
Start subcontracting for a quality organization. Drink in all the knowledge you can get for free.
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?
I believe the what will change the most over the next short amount of time is how the applicant tracking systems read resumes. It is imperative for resume writers to understand how the ATS process works in order for our clients to be successful.
In order to be a good resume writer, you need to know what employers want on resumes and then you have to do it better than the client could have ever imagined. When you are done writing a resume, can you truthfully review it and say that you would pay $X for the document? Is the work you do worth $X? As an industry leader who sits on the PARW grading committee, I see a lot of resumes written by budding writers that are just terrible! You are not a quality resume writer just because you can put words on paper. You need to grade yourself, check out your competition, attend training, seek out a mentor, etc.
Interview conducted with … Lisa Chapman, CPRW. Lisa is a professional resume writer whose career is deep-rooted in the careers industry. As a visible member of her profession, she has been involved with numerous industry organization. Professional credentials include recognition as a Certified Professional Resume Writer, Authorized Behavioral Strategist (DISC Behavioral Assessment), Certified Professional Resume Writer Credentialing Authority, and career/resume book contributor.
