A Step-by-Step Guide to Launching a Profitable Resume Writing Service in Nigeria

A resume writing service helps job seekers in Nigeria create professional resumes tailored to showcase their skills, experience, and qualifications. With the right approach, you can launch a thriving and lucrative resume-writing business.

Follow this step-by-step guide to build a profitable resume writing service in Nigeria from the ground up:

Learn the Foundations of Resume Writing

Before you can write for others, invest time in mastering resume writing yourself.

Study principles: learn best practices for formatting, style, positioning statements, quantifying achievements, etc. Books like “The Damn Good Resume Guide” by Yana Parker provide excellent foundations.

Analyse examples: review sample resumes rated as “good” and “bad” to understand differences in presentation, structure, and persuasiveness.

Practice writing: draft many sample resumes for fictional clients in different industries using the formats you’ve studied. This builds experience.

Take a course. Consider formal resume writing certifications like the PARWCC course or training from reputable institutes.

Get feedback. Have knowledgeable resume writers review your sample drafts and provide constructive criticism to improve.

Solid resume writing knowledge is the bedrock for crafting outstanding resumes tailored to clients’ unique career profiles.

Develop your resume writing expertise.

Go beyond foundations to master advanced resume writing skills:

Learn recruiting perspectives: Understand what skills, keywords, and achievements recruiters look for when screening resumes for roles. Adjust your writing accordingly.

Specialise in target industries: develop industry-specific language, achievements, and metrics to feature for careers like engineering, finance, tech, healthcare, etc. based on insider knowledge.

Optimise for applicant tracking systems (ATS): tailor writing to pass automated screening using relevant keywords, standard formatting, clear hierarchies, etc.

Learn creative optimisation tactics. Study innovative ways top resume writers make clients stand out, like infographics, QR codes, videos, portfolios, etc.

Keep up with trends – Follow industry blogs and associations to stay updated on the latest resume best practices as they evolve over time.

Expert-level skills allow you to create resumes that get clients noticed and interviewed.

Research the local resume writing market.

Analyse the competitive landscape:

• How many resume writers and agencies currently operate in your area? Are they generalists or niche-focused?
• What is the client profile—students, mid-careers, senior executives?
• What pricing and packages do competitors offer? Where can you compete?
• What pain points or unmet needs exist? How can you differentiate?
• Are clients searching for and hiring resume writers online? How tech-savvy are they?
• Are there untapped geographies or segments? Could virtual services expand your reach?
• What marketing channels work best locally for this business?

Thorough market research identifies opportunities to launch your distinctive and targeted resume writing services.

Craft your service offerings

Design diverse packages and products catered to client needs:

Entry-level resumes: – One-page resumes for new graduates focused on academics, internships, and campus activities.

Professional resumes: comprehensive resumes highlighting career progression for general applicants

Executive resumes: C-level resumes position leadership achievements. Include personal branding support.

Targeted resumes: resumes optimised with keywords and experience to specifically match a posted job description.

LinkedIn profile writing: Craft compelling LinkedIn profiles in tandem with resumes for a consistent personal brand.

Cover letters: Write persuasive cover letters that get resumes opened and read.

Thank you/follow-up letters – Provide templates and examples for following up after interviews to advance prospects.

Customised job search documents: tailor documents like accomplishment sheets, value proposition statements, etc. based on the career situation.

Mix and match offerings to give clients flexible solutions for resumes plus critical job search collateral.

Set Pricing and Packages

Establish value-driven pricing tailored to each market segment:

Students/Entry-Level: Lower pricing, like ₦5,000–10,000 for basic resumes based on fixed templates.

Professionals: mid-range pricing of ₦15,000–25,000 for individually tailored resumes. Offer bundled packages with cover letters, thank-you notes, etc.

Executives: premium pricing between ₦50,000 and ₦150,000 for executives and senior specialists like doctors. Include personal branding guidance.

Job targeting: additional fees of ₦5,000–10,000 to rewrite resumes for specific job postings.

Add-ons: Offer discounted bundled packages while selling standalone add-ons like LinkedIn profiles and interview coaching at an additional cost.

A tiered pricing model captures clients across income levels while maximising revenue.

Structure the Resume Writing Process

Design an organised step-by-step process for excellent results:

1. Client intake:Have new clients complete a detailed questionnaire or intake form covering their background, career experiences, target roles, pain points, etc.
2. Interview:Schedule a 45- to 60-minute call to deeply understand their skills, achievements, goals, and concerns. Take detailed notes.
3. First draft:Prepare an initial resume draft using the agreed format, structure, and scope.
4. Client feedback:Email the draft for the client’s review and request constructive feedback on what they want changed, added, or improved.
5. Revise resume:Update based on requested revisions and additional information they provide.
6. Final review:Confirm the finalised resume aligns with the client’s expectations before sending the last PDF.
7. Follow-up:Schedule a 1-week follow-up to get feedback on how well the resume is performing. Refine further, if needed.

Systematic processes boost quality and client satisfaction.

Set Up Your Resume Writing Workspace

To work efficiently, you’ll need:

A quiet, distraction-free office Working from home is fine but designate a dedicated workspace. Having a professional appearance also boosts credibility when clients visit.

Powerful computers and Internet: Use fast computers and reliable broadband connections for video calls, downloading client files, etc.

Resume writing software: invest in software like Enhancv, Rezi, Novoresume, Resume Builders, etc., which make creating, editing, and formatting resumes much simpler.

Templates: Build a library of pre-made resume templates across formats and industries as starting points for writing. Speeds up drafting.

Market research tools: Use tools like Indeed, LinkedIn, Glassdoor, etc. to research in-demand skills, popular keywords, and average salaries for client roles when writing.

Style guide: Create your own resume writing style guide covering details like preferred fonts, spacing, headings, page layouts, etc. to standardise documents.

Secure online storage: Store client resume files securely using password protection, encryption, and backups to maintain confidentiality.

Printer/scanner: print and scan drafts, intake forms, agreements, etc. Conveniently scan handwritten client notes into digital formats.

Investing in the ideal resume writing environment and tools boosts your productivity and service delivery.

Build your website.

Create a professional website to promote your services online. Include:

Services: Explain your resume writing process and different packages with pricing clearly. Include add-ons like LinkedIn profile writing.

About: Share your credentials, certifications, skills, and experience that make you the best choice for clients.

Portfolio: Showcase a diverse sample of resumes you’ve written with client details omitted.

Testimonials: Display glowing video and written testimonials from happy clients.

Blog: Publish regular articles with resume and job-seeking tips to build SEO and thought leadership.

Contact: Make it easy for visitors to reach you via email, phone, and a contact form. Offer a free initial consultation.

Clear calls-to-action: Use buttons, click-to-call, and click-to-chat plugins to facilitate leads contacting you.

An excellent website builds trust in prospective clients to buy your services.

Register your resume writing business legally.

Follow all rules and regulations to operate formally as a business.

• Pick a registered business name. Don’t use “and Associates”, “and Partners,” or similar without real associates or partners.
• Choose a business structure—register as a sole proprietorship, limited liability company, etc.—based on what’s best for your situation. Consult professionals like lawyers or accountants for advice.
• Register with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC): Formally register your company with the CAC, including all founders, owners, and directors. Renew annually.
• Get a Tax Identification Number (TIN) Register for your TIN from the Federal Internal Revenue Service and state tax authorities. This is required for all tax and government matters.
• Comply with state and city requirements. Check for any local permits, registrations, and licences needed to operate legally. Some states require specialised business operating permits.

Registering formally gives you credibility with clients, lenders, partners, and the government.

Understand Tax Requirements

Know the prevailing tax rules and obligations.

• Charge VAT on services: You must collect 7.5% of the value-added tax (VAT) currently on resume writing services provided to clients and remit it regularly.
• Remit withholding tax: Some business clients may deduct withholding tax from payments to you, which you must remit.
• Issue tax invoices: Provide clients with invoices meeting the legal requirements for each transaction for tax reporting.
• File taxes: Submit VAT, withholding tax, and income tax filings regularly as required. Hire an accountant if needed.
• Deductible expenses: Track expenses like office rent, resume software, marketing fees, etc. that can be deducted against taxes owed.
• Keep records: Maintain proper accounting records of your income, expenses, taxes collected and taxes paid for audit purposes.

Non-compliance with tax rules could result in severe penalties. Stay compliant from the start.

Master Resume Optimisation for ATS

Learn techniques to optimize resumes for applicant tracking system (ATS) software used by companies to screen and reject unsuitable resumes:

• Use standard fonts and formats. Sans-serif fonts, clean columns, simple tables, etc. avoid scrambling by ATS parsers. Avoid creative visuals.
• Mirror keywords from job postings: Work exact words and phrases from postings into resume bulletins seamlessly.
• Use standard headers. Stick to traditional address, profile, work experience, education, etc. sections. Avoid creative formats.
• Don’t overformat. Excessive formatting like text boxes, graphics, watermarks, etc. reduces parseability.
• Optimise names and contact information: keep to a universal first or last name and standard phone or email structure. Provide multiple options.
• Check codes on documents. Some special characters, non-standard punctuation, etc. may be misread. Send final resumes in PDF using tools that check for and fix errors.

Perfecting writing and optimisation exclusively for passing ATS screening is an invaluable service for clients.

Consider specialising in a niche.

Rather than being a generalist, consider focusing your resume writing expertise on specific careers and niches:

By industry: Develop deep firsthand knowledge about in-demand skills, employers, and terminology for industries like healthcare, finance, engineering, IT, etc. to craft targeted resumes catering to each.

By seniority, specialise in entry-level, mid-career, executive, or C-Suite resumes, building expertise on their respective focus areas and optimisation tactics.

By profession: Build a reputation as the go-to for doctors, lawyers, academics, scientists, etc. who require tailored resume conventions.

By demographics: Focus on important demographics like immigrants, working moms re-entering employment, or workers over 50. Address their unique challenges.

Becoming known as an expert resume writer for a specific niche or audience vertical can accelerate your authority and targeted clientele.

Develop partnerships and referrals.

Secure partnerships that can funnel clients:

College career centres: Collaborate with college career counsellors to provide resume help for students. Offer discounts for referrals.

Recruiters and HR firms Help prepare resumes for their applicants pre-submission. Get on their preferred provider lists.

Staffing and employment agencies: Work with agencies to polish resumes for candidates prior to applying for openings.

LinkedIn profiles: Partner with LinkedIn profile writers to craft coordinated resume and profile content.

Interview and leadership coaches: collaborate to create consistent personal branding and messaging across resumes and coaching.

Online job boards: explore getting featured or sharing revenue for referring users.

Industry associations: join and participate in relevant groups like banker associations to build connections with potential clients.

Partnerships and referrals can send a steady stream of qualified prospects to accelerate growth.

Offer satisfaction guarantees.

Assure clients with guarantees like:

• Satisfaction guarantee: redo the resume at no charge if they aren’t fully satisfied.
• Interview guarantee: Tweak your resume for free until the client gets an interview. Offer interview coaching.
• ATS optimised guarantee: Redraft resumes for free if it fails any ATS simulator testing.
• Update guarantee: Provide free resume updates for 6–12 months after purchase as the client’s career progresses.
• Referral guarantee: Offer discounts or refunds if any new clients referred are unsatisfied.

These demonstrate confidence in the quality you deliver and encourage clients to choose you over competitors.

Automate your processes.

Automating repetitive tasks saves time.

• Use client CRMs to send automatic emails for meeting confirmations, draft requests, reminders, etc.
• Build intake and feedback forms that clients can submit online for smoother information gathering.
• Offer online calendars so clients can self-schedule calls and directly pick available time slots.
• Enable online payments to instantly collect service fees without invoicing delays.
• Use tools like Grammarly to automatically check resume drafts for errors prior to sharing.
• Use auto-formatting tools to quickly reformat final resumes into clean, consistent layouts.
• Build templates with your branded headers, contact information, etc. pre-populated for faster drafting.

Automation lets you focus on value-added writing tasks to boost productivity.

Market Your Resume Writing Services

Promote your business through diverse channels:

• Search engine optimisation (SEO): Maximise website and content visibility in search engines for relevant keywords. Update your blog regularly.
• Google/Facebook Ads: Run targeted ads to reach job seekers in your area searching for resume services.
• Direct outreach: contact your target clients directly via email and phone. Optimize contact databases using tools like SignalHire.
• Job boards: Advertise directly on high-traffic job boards like Jobberman, MyJobMag, and HotNigerianJobs.
• Social media: Post examples and tips regularly on Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Use relevant hashtags, like #NigerianJobs.
• Partnerships: Guest blog for partners on topics like job interview tips to reach their audiences.
• Workshops and webinars: host free resume and job search workshops to attract clients. Record and distribute online.
• Job fairs: Buy booths at large job fairs to do on-site resume reviews. Acquire leads.
• Content offers: Offer free resume templates, samples, etc. in exchange for emails to build your list.
• Radio ads: Run ads on local radio stations. Provide a memorable business name and call-to-action.
• Affiliates: recruit bloggers, resume reviewers, etc. to refer clients for commissions.

A multi-channel strategy combining digital and traditional marketing gives optimal exposure. Test approaches and double down on what works.

Develop excellent client onboarding.

How you start engagements impacts client satisfaction.

• Send a welcome email confirming the services purchased and what to expect next.
• Provide intake forms to capture background, experiences, goals, etc. Promptly follow up for any clarification needed.
• Give reasonable turnaround estimates and explain your revision process.
• Introduction calls let clients tell their stories so you understand their careers and priorities. Take detailed notes.
• Outline your working relationship terms like confidentiality, number of revisions allowed, communication channels, and expected timelines in an agreement.
• Set expectations for the involvement required from them, like providing old resumes, new information, timely feedback, etc.
• Get important details like target companies, job titles, pain points, etc. so their documents can be tailored accordingly from the start.
• Update clients as you achieve milestones, like completing first drafts.

Exceptional onboarding provides clarity and confidence in clients that their needs will be fulfilled.

Provide ongoing career support.

Look for opportunities to continue assisting happy clients.

• Check back periodically on their job search progress and offer help preparing for upcoming interviews.
• When they land jobs, offer to update resumes and LinkedIn profiles to reflect new roles.
• Help craft resignation, acceptance, and counteroffer response letters as needed.
• Assist with resume updates after 1-2 years in new jobs to facilitate their next career move.
• Provide advice on resume gaps, job changes, re-entering the workforce, etc. if they need your expertise again.

Position yourself as a career partner versus a one-time service provider, and clients will keep returning as their careers evolve.

Stay updated on resume trends.

Keep pace with an evolving industry.

• Follow top resume writers, coaches, and associations to constantly improve your knowledge.
• Attend conferences and read industry publications like Career Directors International Magazine.