Resume Writing FAQ

One area of freelance writing that you may wish to explore is resume writing. In today’s economy, more and more people are turning to freelancers to help them land a great job…or any job at all, really. Resume writing is not easy, simply because there are no hard and fast rules. Some people like objectives. Others think objectives or other summaries are old-fashioned. Some people want a bold statement. Others think that being too bold will put off an employer.

Regardless, if you want to try your hand at resume writing, here are a few FAQs to help you get started:

• How much should I charge?

Talking about price in the freelance world is always tricky. I know writers who charge just $10 for a 500-word article. I also know writers who charge $100+ for that same article. Resumes are no different. For some people, $20 may seem like a fair price, while for others, $200 is a fair price.

So how much should you charge? In my opinion, that should depend on your client. If you’re marketing your service to new college graduates, few are going to give you $200 for a resume, especially sine many colleges have service that help students with the task for free. Something in $40 – $100 price range is fair, in my opinion.

On the other hand, if your clients are executives, your resume services should probably cost more. After all, their resumes will be longer and need more time. Charging around $150 is more than fair, and as you gain experience, you may want to charge more.

• Do I need special education?

There’s no law that says you have to have a certain degree to charge for your resume writing skills, but I don’t recommend going into any career without a bit of education in the subject. There are actually two official certification processes if you want to officially market yourself as a certified resume writer. Through the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches or the National Resume Writers’ Association, you can get accredited as either a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) or Nationally Certified Resume Writer (NCRW).

If you’re serious about making a career through resume writing, you need to be certified. I also recommend a degree in English, professional writing, communications, or business.

• Where do I find clients?

You can find clients as a professional resume writer at some of the same places you find other freelance jobs – Elance, Craig’s List, etc. I also hope you consider applying to some resume companies for jobs, as this is a great way to earn experience, even if you’re making a little less by working for someone else. You can also market directly to new graduates by contacting people you know and spreading the word about your services. Of course, I definitely recommend a website and social networking.

• Where can I go from resume writing?

After you start writing resumes, you might want to expand your business. You can do resume editing for people who just need a little help, CV writing, federal resume writing, cover letter writing, and more. You can even start your own resume writing company and hire others to help you fill orders.

Have another question about resume writing? Let me know by leaving a comment, and I’ll do my best to answer it.

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Image via Flickr by SOCIALisBETTER.