(Part Two Of Four)
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:

1. Name
2. Address
3. City, State, zip
4. Phone number
5. Type of job or position wanted
6. Goals and/or desires in life.
7. Job history, starting with current or last job held
8. Special courses, education or training completed
9. Military History
10. Formal Education
11. Activities while attending school: athletics, offices, awards
12. Hobbies and special interest
13. Notation that names business and personal references will be
furnished on request.
14 Availability
15. 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
GARNER NC 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!

Sadac Israel and IIM