Same-Day Resume: Write an Effective Resume in an Hour

by Kursmark, Louise M.

• ISBN13: 9781593579067
• ISBN10: 1593579063
• Edition: 3rd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2012-03-01
• Publisher: Jist Works

Summary

A quick, easy way to put together an effective resume in a hurry. While other huge tomes bog down the busy job seeker with too much information, this compact guide gives the reader the essential tools to apply for jobs on the fly. Also includes advice on cover letters, JIST Cards, thank-you notes, online resumes, and job search strategies. The new third edition adds updated coverage of formatting and using your resume online and using social media to find job opportunities.

Author Biography

Louise M. Kursmark has been a professional resume writer for more than 20 years. President of Best Impression Career Services, Inc., she was the first person worldwide to earn the distinguished Master Resume Writer credential and is also certified as a career and interview coach. Louise is the author of Best Resumes for College Students and New Grads, Sales and Marketing Resumes for $100,000 Careers, and three of JIST's "Help in a Hurry" titles; she is also coauthor of Cover Letter Magic and eight books in the Expert Resumes series. Louise is a cofounder of the Resume Writing Academy, the nation's premier source for professional resume training and career development, and the Career Thought Leaders is Consortium, a think tank of leaders in the careers industry.

Table of Contents

About This Book	p. iii
A Brief Introduction to Using This Book	p. 1
Of Course, You Can't Just Read About It	p. 2
Why This Is a Short Book	p. 2
Quick Tips for Creating and Using a Resume	p. 3
What Is a Resume?	p. 3
Some People Say You Don't Need a Resume	p. 3
Resumes Aren't Good Job Search Tools	p. 4
Some Jobs Don't Require Resumes	p. 4
Some Job Search Methods Don't Require Resumes-At Least Initially	p. 4
Some Resume Experts Call a Resume by Another Name	p. 4
Some Good Reasons Why You Should Have a Resume	p. 5
Employers Often Ask for Resumes	p. 5
Resumes Help Structure Your Communications	p. 5
If Used Properly, a Resume Can Be an Effective Job Search Tool	p. 5
Resume Basics	p. 5
Length	p. 6
Eliminate Errors	p. 6
Appearance	p. 7
Word Processing	p. 7
Photocopying and Printing	p. 7
Use Good Paper	p. 7
Use Action Words and Stress Your Accomplishments	p. 8
Break Some Rules	p. 8
The Most Important Rule of All: Do a Basic Resume Today	p. 9
Types of Resumes	p. 9
Chronological and Hybrid Resumes	p. 9
Skills, or Functional Resumes	p. 10
Creative Resumes	p. 10
The Curriculum Vitae and Other Special Formats	p. 11
"Send Your Resume to Lots of Strangers and, If It Is Good Enough, You Will Get Job Offers" and Other Fairy Tales	p. 11
Write a Simple Chronological Resume in About an Hour	p. 14
Chronological Resume Basics	p. 14
Two Chronological Resume Samples	p. 14
Writing the Major Sections of a Chronological Resume	p. 15
Name	p. 15
Mailing Address	p. 18
Phone Numbers and Email Address	p. 18
Job Objective	p. 19
Education and Training	p. 22
Work and Volunteer History	p. 23
Professional Organizations	p. 25
Recognition and Awards	p. 25
Personal Information	p. 25
References	p. 25
The Final Draft	p. 26
Write a Skills Resume in Just a Few Hours	p. 34
The Skills Resume	p. 34
A Sample Skills Resume	p. 35
Writing Your Skills Resume	p. 37
Job Objective	p. 37
The Skills Section	p. 38
Tips for Editing Your Draft Resume into Final Form	p. 41
More Sample Skills Resumes	p. 42
Darrel Craig's Resume	p. 42
Thomas Marrin's Resume	p. 44
Peter Neely's Resume	p. 45
Andrea Atwood's Resume	p. 47
The 15-Minute Cover Letter and Other Job Search Correspondence	p. 49
Cover Letters	p. 49
Seven Quick Tips for Writing a Superior Cover Letter	p. 50
Writing Cover Letters to People You Know	p. 51
Writing Cover Letters to People You Don't Know	p. 57
The Hardworking JIST Card®	p. 60
Think of a JIST Card as a Very Small Resume	p. 60
JIST Cards Get Results	p. 60
How You Can Use Them	p. 67
JIST Card Paper and Format Tips	p. 61
Sample JIST Cards	p. 67
Thank-You Notes	p. 64
Three Times When You Should Definitely Send Thank-You Notes-and Why	p. 64
Six Quick Tips for Writing Thank-You Notes	p. 67
Use Your Resume Online and Off	p. 69
Adapting Your Resume for Electronic Use	p. 70
Sample Text-Only Resume, with All Graphics and Formatting Removed	p. 71
Converting Your Resume to Electronic Format	p. 74
The Importance of Keywords	p. 75
Quick Tips for Selecting Keywords to Include in Your Resume	p. 75
Sample Keyword Resumes	p. 76
Managing Your Online Identity	p. 76
Google Yourself	p. 76
Linked In and Other Professional Profiles	p. 77
Blogs and Tweets	p. 78
Online Career Portfolios and Personal Websites	p. 79
Resume Banks, Job Boards, and Online Information	p. 79
Write a Better Resume Now	p. 81
If You Aren't Good at This, Get Some Help	p. 81
Professional Resume Writers	p. 81
Career or Job Search Counselors and Transition Services	p. 84
Improve Your Resume	p. 85
Write or Expand Your Summary Section	p. 85
Quantify Your Accomplishments	p. 85
Expand Your Education and Training Section	p. 85
Add New Sections to Highlight Your Strengths	p. 85
Portfolios and Enclosures	p. 86
Gather Information and Emphasize Accomplishments, Skills, and Results	p. 86
More Quick Resume-Writing Tips	p. 99
As Much as Possible, Write Your Resume Yourself	p. 99
Don't Lie or Exaggerate	p. 99
Never Include a Negative	p. 100
This Is No Place to Be Humble	p. 100
Use Short Sentences and Simple Words	p. 100
If It Doesn't Support Your fob Objective, Cut It Out	p. 101
Include Numbers	p. 101
Emphasize Skills	p. 101
Highlight Accomplishments and Results	p. 101
The Importance of Doing Drafts	p. 101
Edit, Edit, Edit	p. 102
Get Someone Eke to Review Your Resume for Errors	p. 102
More Tips to Improve Your Resume's Design and Appearance	p. 102
Increase Readability with Some Simple Design Principles	p. 102
Avoid "Packing" Your Resume with Small Print	p. 103
Use Two Pages at the Most	p. 103
Use Type Fonts Sparingly	p. 103
Consider Graphics	p. 103
Edit Again for Appearance	p. 104
Select Top-Quality Paper and Matching Envelopes	p. 104
Final Comments	p. 104
A Stupendous Collection of Professionally Written and Designed Resumes	p. 105
How to Use the Sample Resumes in This Section	p. 105
Resumes for All Types of Jobs	p. 106
Health Care	p. 107
Science, Engineering and Technology	p. 112
Education	p. 119
Clerical Administration, and Human Resources	p. 123
Sales and Marketing	p. 130
Logistics and Operations	p. 144
Accounting and Finance	p. 147
Media	p. 153
Hospitality and Services	p. 156
Executives	p. 159
New Grads	p. 163
Career Changers	p. 170
Military-to-Civilian Transitions	p. 174
Appendix: How to Contact the Professional Resume Writers Who Contributed to This Book	p. 178
Index	p. 180
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