Work From Home As an Online CV Writer by Beverley Neil

Very often the struggle if you want to work from home is simply being unsure of the opportunities available that would fit perfectly with you and would enable you to achieve your dream.

If you have solid writing skills, writing CVs online could be the perfect business opportunity and, in the current employment climate, a valuable service as well.

What Is an Online CV Writer?

Rather than meeting with clients face-to-face, operating as an online CV writer involves working with clients via the Internet and email, and can also incorporate fax, phone or regular mail.

Particularly for women working from home with young children, in some areas having clients come to the home can be a safety issue. Working online enables total freedom of hours worked and flexibility around the home-life and children in a secure environment and without the need of council approval.

What Equipment Do You Need?

Start-up costs are also kept to a minimum as it is not essential to have a formal, well-equipped office. It is possible to get the business up and running with:

* A reliable computer, which many already possess, which is running at least Word 2003 or similar, a reliable email program and a first-rate anti virus program.

* A phone with message capability, preferably dedicated to the business but if not the entire family will need to understand how to answer the phone competently or to not answer it at all. It is possible to get different ring tones on the same phone line so there is no doubt if it is a business related call, or many choose to have a dedicated mobile phone for the business.

* A professional looking web site. This does not have to mean taking out a second mortgage as there are free or low-cost web site creation tools through companies such as Word Press or Doodle kit, but look around for your best option.

* Secure payment options, which may include anything from PayPal to Money Orders.

* A work ethos that really cares about your clients success

Approach as a Business, Not a Hobby

As with starting any business, you will need to have some understanding of the fundamentals of operating a business.

Identify home-based or small business resources or assistance which are often available through government or council business development initiatives. Perhaps you will benefit from working with a small business consultant or support group who can give you business planning assistance and guidance in researching, formulating, and writing a business and marketing plan.

Do not ever be afraid to ask for help or even ongoing support. You want to be sure your exciting new venture will be one of the 20 percent small business success stories and not one of the 80 percent that fold within the first few years.
How Do You Operate As an Online CV Writer?

Bottom line, you will need strong computer skills, good spelling and grammar, the ability to lay out a document professionally, attention to detail, the passion to do your best for your clients and a strong knowledge of the latest CV industry trends.

When working online, a detailed questionnaire which draws out the essential information is your most vital tool. The questionnaire must not only extract information on duties performed, it must also dig out actual achievements including facts and figures and the why and how. It is not good enough to state on a CV merely the duties performed, or even that the job candidate had boosted sales by 50 percent. How the job candidate boosted sales and if there were any challenging circumstances in achieving that result must also be included.

Prompt your clients with questions such as these:

1. Tell me about your communication skills and give examples of when and how they made a difference

2. List your achievements in this position considering the problems you have solved, contributions you have made and any awards and recognitions you have received

3. How did your performance compare to others in a similar position?

Working online also has the advantage of prompting clients for information in a situation where they will have the answers, and the time to break and look up the information you need.

And of course there are the added benefits to you:

* Work around your own hours

* Provide better service by maximizing your time on the actual documents

* Perform work for clients anywhere in the world

By seeking out online professional business networks and utilizing the array of resources available online, your work-from-home dream could become a reality as an online CV writer.

About The Author:

Beverley Neil, owner of d'Scriptive Words, carries a passion for teaching others how to write powerful resumes. She has dual international resume writer accreditation, is a multiple award winning resume writer and author of the Online Resume Writer's Course, suitable for both beginners who want to learn professional resume writing and professionals who want to improve their skills. For more information about Beverley, her services and course visit http://www.onlineresumewriterscourse.com.