Doris Appelbaum of Milwaukee, Wisconsin owns a resume writing and career consulting business that will celebrate its 30th birthday in April. She wants to have an open house for clients but also wants to generate publicity for the anniversary without inviting everyone. She also needs ideas on how to play off the apple theme.
From Dave Jacob of Huntersville, North Carolina:
Do a survey on the percentage of resumes with major mistakes, or put
together a list of the ‘Top 10 Off-The-Charts Resume Blunders.’ Tie it in
with your anniversary. Then send it to all of your past clients and
colleagues. You could also pitch your local paper so it runs close to or
on your birthday party in April.
From Anne Davis of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania:
“I think Doris’ 30th anniversary celebration is ‘ripe’ for using several
apple-related terms and apple graphics (such as a whole piece of fruit and a core–perhaps a leaf motif on the border.)
To Celebrate the Johnny Appleseed effect of Great Resumes and Career Counseling Doris Applebaum invites you as one of her Core constituents to an Open House on Monday, XXXXXXXXXXXfrom XXX to XXXX for hors d’oeuvres and homebaked apple pie at XXXXX XXX Avenue Milwaukee
RSVP by e-mail at XXX
or by phone at XXX-XXX-XXXX
In regards to keeping it quiet, invite those whom you want to attend. Then send a news release to the local papers noting your anniversary and celebration AFTER the fact with photo and caption–maybe something like
‘Doris Applebaum celebrates her 30th anniversary with clients and colleagues whom she says are the apples of her eyes.’
From author Jeff Simpson of New York, New York:
“What about incorporating career and resume information from 30 years ago into marketing materials, and maybe even decorations for the event? Use informaiton from your files or from records of classifieds in the local paper to find what skills were hot then (Wang word processing, for one). What wages were paid? What positions (preferably now non-existent) were available? It could be cute and eye-catching.
From author Shel Horowitz of Northampton, Massachusetts:
“Why keep it small? Partner with a university career service office, maybe raffle off a resume to one of the students, and let the college supply a nice big room and the food, if you draw the crowds. Then publicize the daylights out of it.”
The Publicity Hound says: How about creating your own holiday on your anniversary? It can be something like “Freshen Your Resume Day.” You can
piggyback story ideas onto your holiday and underscore the importance of
keeping your resume fresh and up to date, even if you aren’t job-hunting.
See "Special Report #14: How to Piggyback your Story Ideas onto Holidays and Anniversaries."