We Ask AWAI Student Michele Angello for Her Secrets of Success in the Resume Writing Business

TGTO: What appealed to you most about starting your own resume writing business?

MA: I was attracted to AWAI's Resume Writing Course because it was a business that I could start right away – with very little investment – that had the potential for making a lot of money. Just like most students reading this, I already had everything I needed. It was as simple as owning a computer and a printer and believing I had decent writing skills.

TGTO: How much time did you put into the course? And how long did it take you to get up and running once you started?

MA: The time I put into the course was minimal. The materials are very straightforward and simple to get through. I think I spent an afternoon reading them. I started marketing right away, but didn't get a lot of business until my Yellow Pages ad came out.

TGTO: Where do the majority of your clients come from?

MA: Hands down … the Yellow Pages. If you're interested in this business, put as much money as you can into the biggest ad you can afford.

TGTO: Do you do this full time? Part time? How many hours do you put in?

MA: I kept my job until January of 2001, then started resume writing full time. Actually, though I consider this to be my full-time job, I really spend only about 20 hours a week doing it. When you start up, you need to be fanatical about marketing and networking – putting in as many hours as possible. Now, I spend most of my time dealing with clients and writing.

TGTO: How much money would you say you can expect to earn per year at the rate you are going?

MA: Resume writers are fairly well paid. I know writers that are making over six figures a year after being in the business seven or eight years. In my experience, things start out slow for the first year. But as you start getting referrals and repeat business, it is easy to make $40,000 to $50,000 a year.

TGTO: What did you do prior to starting your resume business?

MA: I spent eight years in the video-production business. While I enjoyed the creative aspect of the business, I had spent too many years making too little money. There are a lot of huge egos in that business too – which is something I have a personal distaste for. But I had always enjoyed writing scripts for the projects I worked on, so I decided to go in that direction instead.

TGTO: What's been the best thing about your career change so far?

MA: Working at home is WONDERFUL! My commute is five seconds to my home office. I can also determine my own schedule. If I want to finish up a project at 1:00 a.m. because I can't sleep – I can. As a night owl, I can respect my internal clock and not get up when it's still dark out. And I can take in as much or as little work as I want.

TGTO: What advice would you give someone who's considering getting into the resume writing business?

MA: Think about your phone sales skills before starting. Asking for a sale on the phone is something that I have really had to work on. It's been the only really difficult thing I've had to deal with in starting this business. (I'm improving though!) Also, consider joining the Professional Association of Resume Writers. The support and advice I have received from them has been invaluable. I can't emphasize enough what a wonderful group of people they are. Going to their convention is a good idea too. Their website address is www.parw.com.

TGTO: How has what you've learned in AWAI's copywriting course helped you?

MA: Taking the copywriting course (and going to the bootcamp) gave me the fundamentals for writing more effective resumes. For example, I write headlines instead of objectives … and I think in terms of benefits instead of features. I've also used my copywriting skills to put together my marketing materials and the website that I am working on now.

TGTO: Thanks Michele!

[For information about AWAI's Resume Writing Course, contact Louis Hart at 561-278-5557]