The Quick Resume & Cover Letter Book: Write

America's leading job search and career guidance expert has completely updated his definitive guide to resumes, offering well-researched and proven techniques; a friendly, easy-to-follow design; and rock-solid advice to create outstanding resumes and, more importantly, use them effectively.

Mike Farr has been teaching, writing, and developing his job search techniques for more than 20 years. He has written dozens of books that have sold more than 2 million copies. Mike emphasizes practical, results-oriented methods that have been proven to reduce the time it takes to find a job. His commonsense advice has made his books the most widely used in job search programs. Other books by Mike Farr include The Very Quick Job Search, Getting the Job You Really Want, Best Jobs for the 21st Century, the America's Top Jobs series, Seven Steps to Getting a Job Fast, Same-Day Resume, 15-Minute Cover Letter, and Next-Day Job Interview.

You Don't Have to Read This Whole Book!

iii

Quick Tips on How to Use This Book

viii

Preface

ix

Section One: The Same--Day Resume

1

(78)

Quick Tips for Creating and Using a Resume

3

(14)

What Is a Resume?

4

(1)

Some People Say You Don't Need a Resume

4

(1)

Some Good Reasons Why You Should Have a Resume

5

(1)

A Big Problem with Resumes Is That Everyone Is an Expert

6

(1)

Resume Basics---for Print and Electronic Formats

6

(5)

Three Types of Resumes

11

(2)

``Send Your Resume to Lots of Strangers and, if It Is Good Enough, You Will Get Job Offers'' and Other Fairy Tales

13

(4)

Create a Simple Resume in About an Hour

17

(22)

Two Chronological Resume Samples

18

(4)

The Major Sections of a Chronological Resume

22

(10)

The Final Draft

32

(1)

*Instant Resume Worksheet

33

(6)

Write a Skills Resume in Just a Few Hours

39

(28)

A Sample Skills Resume

41

(2)

Writing a Skills Resume

43

(6)

Tips for Editing Your Draft Resume into Final Form

49

(1)

More Sample Skills Resumes (and JIST Cards®)

50

(17)

Develop an Electronic Resume in Less Than an Hour

67

(12)

The Requirements of One Large Employer Are Typical

68

(2)

A Sample Text-Only Resume, with All Graphics and Format Removed

70

(3)

Adapting Your Resume for Electronic Use

73

(1)

The Importance of Keywords

74

(3)

What About Fancy Internet Resumes, Including Graphics, HTML, Video Clips, and More?

77

(2)

Section Two: A More Thorough Approach to Resume Writing (and Career Planning)

79

(106)

Develop a Powerful New Skills Language

81

(10)

Can You Communicate Your Skills?

82

(1)

Three Major Types of Skills: The Skills Triad

82

(2)

Identify Your Skills

84

(7)

Document the Many Details of Your Work and Life Experience

91

(16)

Quick Tips for Completing the Forms

92

(1)

*Education and Training Worksheet

92

(4)

*Work and Volunteer History Worksheet

96

(8)

*Other Life Experiences Worksheet

104

(3)

Identify Your Perfect Job and Industry

107

(28)

Why Your Resume Needs a Job Objective

108

(1)

Consider Jobs Within Clusters of Related Occupations

108

(1)

The Occupational Outlook Handbook

109

(9)

Other Important Sources of Occupational Information

118

(6)

Also Consider Industries in Your Job Search

124

(2)

Values, Preferences, and Other Matters to Consider in Defining Your Job Objective

126

(1)

*Eight Quick Questions to Help You Define Your Ideal Job

126

(4)

Write Your Resume's Job Objective

130

(2)

*The Job Objective Worksheet

132

(2)

Finalize Your Resume's Job Objective Statement

134

(1)

Present Strengths and Overcome ``Problems'' on Your Resume

135

(20)

Never Highlight a Negative

136

(2)

General Guidelines for Handling ``Problems''

138

(1)

Quick Tips for Handling Specific Problems on a Resume

139

(10)

Other Items to Include---or Not Include---on Your Resume

149

(5)

A Final Few Words on Handling Problems

154

(1)

Write a Better Resume Now

155

(30)

Getting Started on a Better Resume

156

(1)

If You Aren't Good at Writing a Resume, Get Some Help

156

(4)

What Sort of Resume Will Work Best for You?

160

(4)

Gather Information and Emphasize Accomplishments, Skills, and Results

164

(1)

*Comprehensive Resume Worksheet

165

(12)

More Quick Resume-Writing Tips

177

(4)

More Tips to Improve Your Resume's Design

181

(4)

Section Three: A Stupendous Collection of Professionally Written and Designed Resumes

185

(106)

How to Use the Sample Resumes in This Section

185

(1)

If You Need Help Writing Your Resume

186

(1)

Sample Chronological Resumes

187

(48)

Sample Skills-Based, Combination, and Creative Resumes

235

(56)

Section Four: Quick Cover Letters, Thank-You Notes, JIST Cards®, and Other Job Search Correspondence

291

(46)

The 15-Minute Cover Letter, Plus Tips on How and When to Use It

293

(26)

Only Two Groups of People Will Receive Your Cover Letters

294

(1)

Seven Quick Tips for Writing a Superior Cover Letter in 15 Minutes

295

(3)

Writing Cover Letters to People You Know

298

(6)

Writing Cover Letters to People You Don't Know

304

(3)

Additional Sample Cover Letters

307

(12)

Two of the Most Effective Job Search Tools--Thank-You Notes and JIST Cards®, Plus Other Job Search Correspondence

319

(18)

The Importance of Thank-You Notes

320

(8)

JIST Cards®---A Mini-Resume and a Powerful Job Search Tool

328

(6)

Other Job Search Correspondence

334

(3)

Section Five: Getting a Good Job in Less Time

337

(44)

Seven Steps to Getting a Good Job in Less Time

339

(30)

The Quick Job Search: Career Planning and Job Search Advice

340

(2)

Changing Jobs and Careers Is Often Healthy

342

(1)

Seven Steps for a Quick and Successful Job Search

343

(15)

*Structure Your Job Search Like a Job

358

(10)

The Quick Job Search Review

368

(1)

Quick Tips for Using the Internet in Your Job Search

369

(12)

The Internet as a Tool for Your Job Search

370

(4)

Eight Quick Tips to Increase Your Job Search Effectiveness on the Internet

374

(2)

The Most Useful Internet Sites

376

(4)

Closing Thoughts: Remember Your Main Purpose

380

(1)

Appendices

381

(16)

Appendix A: Sample Job Description from the Occupational Outlook Handbook

383

(8)

Appendix B: Resume and Cover Letter Contributors

391

(6)

Index

397

What is included with this book?

The New copy of this book will include any supplemental materials advertised. Please check the title of the book to determine if it should include any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

The Used, Rental and eBook copies of this book are not guaranteed to include any supplemental materials. Typically, only the book itself is included. This is true even if the title states it includes any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

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The Quick Resume & Cover Letter Book: Write And Use An Effective Resume In Only One Day

Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials

FREE SHIPPING

Rent More, Save More! Use code: BBRENTAL

5% off 1 book, 7% off 2 books, 10% off 3+ books

The Quick Resume & Cover Letter Book: Write And Use An Effective Resume In Only One Day

Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials

Digital License