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1593573839_Cover 9/6/06 3:48 PM Page 1

RESUMES/CAREERS
BusinessWeek magazine best-seller!

SAME•DAY RESUME write an effective resume in an hour

SAME •DAY RESUME
write an effective resume in an hour Second Edition
SAME•DAY
Put Together a Resume This Morning —And
Get on with Your Job Search This Afternoon!
Need a resume now? Don’t fret and sweat. Same-Day
Resume comes to the rescue. In about an hour, you can
write a great resume and get on with your job search.
Mike Farr, whose proven methods help people find better
jobs in less time, gives you the essentials for building an
RESUME
write an effective resume in an hour
effective resume — without getting bogged down in details.
• Build your resume quickly using helpful worksheets.
Second Edition
• Model your resume after more than 60 samples from
professional writers.
• Use your resume on the Internet most effectively.

Mike Fa
Find a Job Fast Using the Most Effective Methods! career b rr’s
have so ooks
ld more
• Use the author’s proven techniques to get the job than 2
million
you want—fast. copies!

• Spend your time networking and getting interviews

instead of sitting at home writing your resume!
• Quickly write attention-getting cover letters
and innovative “JIST Card” mini-resumes.

8902 Otis Avenue

Indianapolis, IN 46216-1033
1-800-648-JIST
Fax 1-800-JIST-FAX
www.jist.com About the Author
Michael Farr has been teaching,
$8.95 Higher in Canada

Second Edition
writing, and developing career
planning and job search techniques
for more than 20 years. His advice is
practical, results-oriented, and based MICHAEL FARR
on methods proven to cut job search
time in half. He has written more
than 20 top-selling books that have
helped millions of job seekers find FARR
the jobs they want in less time.
J3836
00 fm.qxp 9/8/2006 8:59 AM Page i

SAME•DAY
RESUME
write an effective resume in an hour
Second Edition

MICHAEL FARR

Also in JIST’s Help in a Hurry Series

• Same-Day Resume
• 15-Minute Cover Letter
• Next-Day Job Interview
• Next-Day Salary Negotiation
• Seven-Step Job Search
• Overnight Career Choice
• 90-Minute College Major Matcher
• Today’s Hot Job Targets

PART OF JIST’S HELP IN A HURRY™ SERIES

00 fm.qxp 11/3/2006 1:44 PM Page ii

SAME-DAY RESUME, SECOND EDITION

© 2007 by JIST Publishing
Published by JIST Works, an imprint of JIST Publishing, Inc.
8902 Otis Avenue
Indianapolis, IN 46216-1033
Phone: 1-800-648-JIST Fax: 1-800-JIST-FAX E-mail: [email protected]
Visit our Web site at www.jist.com for information on JIST, free job search tips, book chap-
ters, and ordering instructions for our many products! For free information on 14,000 job
titles, visit www.careeroink.com.

Quantity discounts are available for JIST books. Have future editions of JIST books
automatically delivered to you on publication through our convenient standing order
program. Please call our Sales Department at 1-800-648-5478 for a free catalog and
more information.

Trade Product Manager: Lori Cates Hand

Technical Contributor: Kirsten Dixson, Brandego
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Indexer: Tina Trettin
Printed in the United States of America
11 10 09 08 07 06 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Farr, Michael.
Same-day resume : write an effective resume in an hour / Michael Farr. -- 2nd ed.
p. cm.
Includes index.
ISBN-13: 978-1-59357-383-6 (alk. paper)
ISBN-10: 1-59357-383-9 (alk. paper)
1. Résumés (Employment)--Handbooks, manuals, etc. 2. Job hunting. I. Title.
HF5383.F322 2007
650.14'2--dc22
2006028738
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means,
or stored in a database or retrieval system, without prior written permission of the publisher
except in the case of brief quotations embodied in articles or reviews. Making copies of any
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We have been careful to provide accurate information in this book, but it is possible that
errors and omissions have been introduced. Please consider this in making any career plans
or other important decisions. Trust your own judgment above all else and in all things.
Trademarks: All brand names and product names used in this book are trade names, service
marks, trademarks, or registered trademarks of their respective owners.
ISBN-13: 978-1-59357-383-6
ISBN-10: 1-59357-383-9
00 fm.qxp 9/8/2006 8:59 AM Page iii

About This Book

W riting a resume doesn’t have to be difficult. You can do a simple one
in about an hour, and a few more hours will give you a very nice
resume. That’s what chapters 1, 2 and 3 are about: getting an acceptable
resume finished quickly. My point is to help you get your resume done
today, so that you can get started on your job search this afternoon. After
all, your desire is not to do a perfect resume—it is to get a perfect job.
But this book consists of a lot more than resume advice. After you’ve done
your resume, you can learn about cover letters, thank-you notes, and the
innovative JIST Card—a mini-resume for getting the word out quickly
about your skills and qualifications—in chapter 4.
Chapter 5 shows you how to adapt your resume for use on the Internet,
including some tips on the latest innovations in blogs and Web portfolios.
Chapter 6 shows you how to go back, when you have time, and refine the
resume you created in earlier chapters.
And finally, chapter 7 is a stupendous collection of more than 50 real
resumes written and designed by professional resume writers from the
Career Masters Institute. You can use these samples to get ideas for the
wording, layout, and design of your own resume.
In short, this little book gives you all the information you need to get your
resume into employers’ hands today—so that you can start getting inter-
views that will lead to job offers. Good luck!
00 fm.qxp 9/8/2006 8:59 AM Page iv

Contents
About This Book ................................................................iii
A Brief Introduction to Using This Book ..........................1
Of Course, You Can’t Just Read About It… ..............................2
Why This Is a Short Book..........................................................2

Chapter 1: Quick Tips for Creating and Using a

Resume..............................................................3
What Is a Resume? ....................................................................3
Some People Say You Don’t Need a Resume ..............................4
Resumes Aren’t Good Job Search Tools ......................................4
Some Jobs Don’t Require Resumes ............................................4
Some Job Search Methods Don’t Require Resumes......................4
Some Resume Experts Call a Resume by Another Name ............5
Some Good Reasons Why You Should Have a Resume..............5
Employers Often Ask for Resumes ............................................5
Resumes Help Structure Your Communications ........................5
If Used Properly, a Resume Can Be an Effective Job
Search Tool ............................................................................5
Resume Basics ............................................................................6
Length ....................................................................................6
Eliminate Errors......................................................................7
Appearance ............................................................................7
Word Processing ......................................................................7
Photocopying and Printing ......................................................8
Use Good Paper ......................................................................8
Use Action Words and Stress Your Accomplishments ..................8
Write It Yourself ......................................................................9
Break Some Rules ....................................................................9
The Most Important Rule of All: Do a Basic Resume Today ......9
00 fm.qxp 9/8/2006 8:59 AM Page v

________________________________________________________________Contents

Types of Resumes ....................................................................10

Chronological Resumes ..........................................................10
Skills, or Functional, Resumes ................................................10
Combination and Other Creative Resumes ............................11
The Curriculum Vitae and Other Special Formats ..................11
“Send Your Resume to Lots of Strangers and, If It Is Good
Enough, You Will Get Job Offers” and Other Fairy Tales ........12

Chapter 2: Do a Simple Resume in About an Hour........14

Chronological Resume Basics ..................................................14
Two Chronological Resume Samples........................................14
Writing the Major Sections of a Chronological Resume ..........15
Name ..................................................................................15
Mailing Address ....................................................................18
Phone Numbers and E-mail Address ......................................18
Job Objective ........................................................................19
Education and Training ........................................................22
Work and Volunteer History ..................................................23
Professional Organizations ....................................................24
Recognition and Awards ........................................................25
Personal Information ............................................................25
References..............................................................................25
The Final Draft........................................................................26

Chapter 3: Write a Skills Resume in Just a Few Hours....34

The Skills Resume....................................................................34
A Sample Skills Resume ..........................................................35
Writing Your Skills Resume......................................................37
Job Objective ........................................................................37
The Skills Section ..................................................................38
Tips for Editing Your Draft Resume into Final Form ..............41
More Sample Skills Resumes ....................................................42
Darrel Craig’s Resume............................................................42
Thomas Marrin’s Resume ......................................................44

v
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00 fm.qxp 9/8/2006 8:59 AM Page vi

SAME•DAY RESUME ____________________________________________________

Peter Neely’s Resume ..............................................................46

Andrea Atwood’s Resume ......................................................48
Linda Marsala-Winston’s Resume ..........................................49
Sara Smith’s Resume ..............................................................51

Chapter 4: The 15-Minute Cover Letter and Other

Job Search Correspondence ..........................54
Cover Letters............................................................................54
Seven Quick Tips for Writing a Superior Cover Letter ............55
Writing Cover Letters to People You Know..............................56
Writing Cover Letters to People You Don’t Know ....................62
Additional Sample Cover Letters ............................................65
The Hardworking JIST Card ..................................................73
Think of a JIST Card as a Very Small Resume........................73
JIST Cards Get Results ..........................................................73
How You Can Use Them ......................................................74
JIST Card Paper and Format Tips ........................................74
Sample JIST Cards ..............................................................74
Thank-You Notes ....................................................................78
Three Times When You Should Definitely Send Thank-You
Notes—and Why ..................................................................78
Seven Quick Tips for Writing Thank-You Notes ......................81

Chapter 5: Use Your Resume on the Internet ................83

Adapting Your Resume for Electronic Use................................84
Sample Text-Only Resume, with All Graphics and
Formatting Removed ............................................................85
Converting Your Resume to Electronic Format ........................87
The Importance of Keywords ..................................................88
Quick Tips for Selecting Keywords to Include
in Your Resume ....................................................................89
Sample Keyword Resumes ......................................................90
Using the Internet to Go Beyond the Resume ........................90
Your Own Blog ....................................................................91
Online Career Portfolios ........................................................92
Best Resume Banks and Job Boards ........................................94
vi
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00 fm.qxp 9/8/2006 8:59 AM Page vii

________________________________________________________________Contents

Chapter 6: Write a Better Resume Now ..........................97

If You Aren’t Good at This, Get Some Help ............................97
Professional Resume Writers....................................................97
Career or Job Search Counselors and Counseling Services ........99
Improve Your Chronological Resume ....................................100
Add a Job Objective ............................................................100
Emphasize Skills and Accomplishments ................................100
Expand Your Education and Training Section ......................100
Add New Sections to Highlight Your Strengths ......................100
Portfolios and Enclosures ......................................................101
Gather Information and Emphasize Accomplishments,
Skills, and Results ..................................................................101
More Quick Resume-Writing Tips ........................................113
As Much as Possible, Write Your Resume Yourself ..................113
Don’t Lie or Exaggerate ........................................................113
Never Include a Negative ....................................................114
This Is No Place to Be Humble ............................................114
Use Short Sentences and Simple Words..................................114
If It Doesn’t Support Your Job Objective, Cut It Out..............115
Include Numbers ................................................................115
Emphasize Skills ..................................................................115
Highlight Accomplishments and Results ................................115
The Importance of Doing Drafts ..........................................115
Edit, Edit, Edit ..................................................................116
Get Someone Else to Review Your Resume for Errors ..............116
More Tips to Improve Your Resume’s Design and
Appearance ............................................................................116
Increase Readability with Some Simple Design Principles ......116
Avoid “Packing” Your Resume with Small Print ....................117
Use Two Pages at the Most ..................................................117
Use Type Fonts Sparingly......................................................117
Consider Graphics ..............................................................118
Edit Again for Appearance ..................................................118
Select Top-Quality Paper ......................................................118
vii
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00 fm.qxp 9/8/2006 8:59 AM Page viii

SAME•DAY RESUME ____________________________________________________

More Tips on Production and Getting Copies Made..............118

Good-Quality Photocopies and Laser Printer Copies
Are Fine..............................................................................119
Evaluating and Selecting a Quick Print Shop........................119
How Many Copies to Get ....................................................119

Chapter 7: A Stupendous Collection of Professionally

Written and Designed Resumes ..................120
How to Use the Sample Resumes in This Section ..................120
Resumes for All Types of Jobs ................................................121
Health Care ........................................................................122
Computers ..........................................................................128
Technical ............................................................................132
Education and Training ......................................................136
Management ......................................................................141
Executives............................................................................145
Sales and Marketing ............................................................148
Creative and Media ............................................................154
Clerical ..............................................................................158
Accounting ..........................................................................163
Trades ................................................................................165
Service ................................................................................169
Career Changers ..................................................................173
New Graduates....................................................................177
Still in School......................................................................181
No Degree/No College ..........................................................183
Military-to-Civilian Transitions ..........................................187
Entrepreneur ......................................................................190

Appendix: How to Contact the Professional Resume

Writers Who Contributed to This Book ......191
Index ................................................................................195

viii
© JIST Works
01 Intro.qxp 9/7/2006 8:44 AM Page 1

A Brief Introduction to
Using This Book
M ost people spend too much time worrying about their resumes.
Instead, this book shows you how to write an acceptable resume in
just an hour or so, and then a better one later, if you need one.
Because you obviously want to put together a resume, I assume that you
are also looking for a job or are thinking about doing so. That being the
case, here are my suggestions on the best way to use this book:
1. Read the Table of Contents. This introduces you to the content of
the book and its chapters.
2. Complete a basic resume as described in chapters 1, 2, and 3. These
short chapters show you how to put together a resume that will be
fine for most situations—and help you do this in just a few hours.
You might also want to review the sample resumes in chapter 7 to
help you do your own resume.
3. Create and circulate your JIST Card, as described in chapter 4. A
JIST Card is a mini-resume that will get your foot in the door in
places where a resume might not.
4. Begin looking for a job. Once you have a basic resume and JIST
Card, see the sidebar on pages 12–13 for a quick review of self-
directed job search techniques. These techniques can reduce the time
it takes to find a job. You can also read chapter 5 on Internet resumes
and job search tips, in case you plan to use the Internet. Then go out
looking for your next job.
5. If you really need to, and as time permits, write a better resume.
Although it will take more time, you might want to revise your
resume and create one that is, well, better. Chapter 6 provides lots of
good information and sample resumes to help you in this task. But
keep in mind that your priority is to get a good job and not to stay
home working on your resume.
01 Intro.qxp 9/7/2006 8:44 AM Page 2

SAME•DAY RESUME ____________________________________________________

Of Course, You Can’t Just Read

About It…
To get results, you will have to actively apply what you learn in this book.
One of the biggest reasons some people stay unemployed longer than oth-
ers do is that they sit at home waiting for someone to knock on their door,
call them up, or make them an offer via e-mail. That passive approach too
often results in their waiting and waiting, while others are out there getting
the offers.
I know you will resist completing the worksheets. But, trust me—they are
worth your time. Doing them will give you a better sense of what you’ve
accomplished, what you are good at, what you want to do, and how to go
about doing it.
The interesting thing is that, when you finish this book and its activities,
you will have spent more time planning your career than most people do.
And you will know more than the average job seeker about writing a
resume and finding a job.

Why This Is a Short Book

I’ve taught job seeking skills for many years, and I’ve written longer and
more detailed books than this one. Yet I have often been asked to tell some-
one, in a few minutes or hours, the most important things they should do
in their career planning or job search. Instructors and counselors also ask
the same question because they have only a short time to spend with the
folks they’re trying to help.
I’ve thought about what is most important to know, if time is short. This
book is short enough that you can scan it in a morning and write a basic
resume that afternoon. Doing all the activities and making the improve-
ments suggested in chapter 6 take more time but prepare you far better.
I’ve written this book to help you over the resume hurdle. It will help you
get a resume done quickly and go about the more important task of getting
a job. I hope it helps.

2
© JIST Works
02 ch01.qxp 9/7/2006 8:44 AM Page 3

Chapter 1

Quick Tips for Creating

and Using a Resume
T his book’s objective is to help you get a good job in less time. Creating
a superior resume alone will not get you a job. No matter how good
your resume is, you will still have to get interviews and do well in them
before you get a job offer.
So, a legitimate question might be “Why have a resume at all?” This chap-
ter answers that question by presenting both sides of the argument as well
as my own conclusions. I also give you an overview of some guidelines for
writing your resume and tips on how to use it.

What Is a Resume?
As a first step in creating a resume, examine what a resume is and consider
what it can and cannot do.
The word “resume” describes a one- or two-page summary of your life and
employment history. Although resumes traditionally have been submitted
on paper, they are now frequently sent in electronic form over the Internet.
Whatever a resume’s form, the idea is to select specific parts of your past
that demonstrate that you can do a particular job well.
A resume presents you to prospective employers who—based on their
response to the resume—may or may not grant you an interview. Along
with the application form, the resume is the tool employers use most often
to screen job seekers.
So, a resume is clearly a tool to use in getting a job, right? The answer to
this is both yes and no. Unfortunately, many people who write resume
books give very bad job search advice. They confuse the purpose of a
resume and, I think, put entirely too much emphasis on using it as a way
to get interviews and jobs.
02 ch01.qxp 9/7/2006 8:44 AM Page 4

SAME•DAY RESUME ____________________________________________________

Some People Say You Don’t Need a

Resume
For a variety of reasons, many career professionals suggest that resumes
aren’t needed at all. Some of these reasons make a lot of sense and are
detailed in the following sections.

Resumes Aren’t Good Job Search Tools

It’s true; resumes don’t do a good job of getting you an interview. Trying to
get an interview by submitting lots of unsolicited resumes is usually a waste
of effort. When used in the traditional way, your resume is more likely to
get you screened out than screened in. There are better ways to get in to see
people, such as networking with people you know and just picking up the
phone to talk to those you don’t.

Five Easy Ways to Develop a Network of Contacts

1. Make lists of people you know.
2. Contact them in a systematic way.
3. Present yourself well.
4. Asks contacts for leads.
5. Contact these referrals and ask them for leads.

Some Jobs Don’t Require Resumes

Employers of office, managerial, professional, and technical workers often
want the details that a resume provides. But for many jobs, particularly
entry-level, trade, or unskilled positions, resumes typically aren’t required.

Some Job Search Methods Don’t Require

Resumes
Many people get jobs without using a resume at all. In most cases, these
people get interviews because the employer knows them or they are referred
by someone. In these situations, a resume might help but is usually not
required.

4
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02 ch01.qxp 9/7/2006 8:44 AM Page 5

____________________________Chapter 1: Quick Tips for Creating and Using a Resume

Some Resume Experts Call a Resume by

Another Name
Many other names are used in place of the word “resume,” including “pro-
fessional job power report,” “curriculum vitae,” “employment proposal,”
and other terms. One resume book author, for example, advises you not to
use a resume. Instead, he advises you to use his “qualifications brief.” In all
their forms, though, they are really various types of resumes.

Some Good Reasons Why You Should

Have a Resume
In my opinion, there are several good reasons to have a resume.

Employers Often Ask for Resumes

If an employer asks for a resume (and many do), why make excuses? This
alone is reason enough to have one.

Resumes Help Structure Your

Communications
A good resume requires you to clarify your job objective; select related
skills, education, work, or other experiences; and list accomplishments—
and present all this in a concise format. Doing these things is an essential
step in your job search, even if you don’t use the resume.

If Used Properly, a Resume Can Be an

Effective Job Search Tool
A well-done resume presents details of your experiences efficiently so that
an employer can refer to them as needed. It can also be used as a tool to
present the skills you have to support your job objective and to present
details that are often not solicited in a preliminary interview.

5
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02 ch01.qxp 9/7/2006 8:44 AM Page 6

SAME•DAY RESUME ____________________________________________________

Resume Basics TIP: If you show your

I’ve developed some basic guidelines for resume to any three
developing your resume. These aren’t rules, people, you will proba-
bly get three different
but you should carefully consider the sugges-
suggestions on how to
tions because they are based on many years improve it. So, one
of experience and, I think, they make good problem with resumes
common sense. is that everyone is an
expert, but few of
Many of these guidelines assume a traditional, these experts agree.
printed-on-paper format rather than a resume This means that you
that is submitted electronically (more on that will have to become
in chapter 5). But you will likely need a paper your own expert and
make some decisions
resume and an electronic resume, and this
on how to do your
advice will help in either case. resume. I’m here to
help.
Length
Opinions differ on length, but one to two
pages is usually enough. If you are a recent high school or college graduate
(within the last five years), regardless of what field you are going into, you
should keep your resume to one page. If you are seeking a managerial, pro-
fessional, or technical position—where most people have lots of prior expe-
rience—two pages is the norm. In most cases, a busy person will not read a
resume that is any longer than two or three pages. Shorter resumes are
often harder to write; but when you do them properly, they can pay off.
If you can’t get everything on one page, you are better off filling up two
full pages with content or more white space around the resume sections
than providing one-and-a-half pages of content.

Honesty Is the Best Policy

Some people lie on their resumes and claim credentials or pay history that
they don’t have, hoping that no one will find out. Many organizations now
verify this information, sometimes long after a person is hired.
People lose their jobs over such lies. So never lie on your resume. But that
does not mean that you have to present negative information! Make sure
that everything you put in your resume supports your job objective in
some direct way. If you really can do the job you are seeking, someone
will probably hire you. You will sleep better, too.

6
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02 ch01.qxp 9/7/2006 8:44 AM Page 7

____________________________Chapter 1: Quick Tips for Creating and Using a Resume

Eliminate Errors
I am amazed how often an otherwise good resume has typographical,
grammar, or punctuation errors. Employers who notice will not think
kindly of you. So dont have any! (Actually, this should be “don’t have any!”
which, if you did not notice, should encourage you to pay attention here.)
Even if you are good at proofreading, find someone else who is good at
proofreading also and ask this person to review your resume—carefully. If
possible, wait at least one day after you’ve written it (or longer, if you can)
before reading your draft. A day’s delay will allow you to notice what your
resume says, rather than what you think it says.
Then, after you’ve read your resume, read it again to make sure you catch
the errors. Then go over it again.

Appearance
TIP: Even if you spell-
Obviously, your resume’s overall appearance check your resume on
will affect an employer’s opinion of you. In a your computer, you
matter of seconds, the employer will form a still won’t catch all the
positive or negative opinion. Is your resume errors. For example,
well laid out? Is it crisp and professional look- spell check won’t tell
you that you should
ing? Does it include good use of white space?
use “their” instead of
Does it have any errors? “they’re” in cases that
call for a possessive
Word Processing pronoun. So there is
no substitute for
Almost all printed resumes are produced on proofing your resume
high-quality ink-jet or laser printers with carefully.
word-processing software. If you have your
own computer system, you probably know
how to use it. But, if you don’t have a computer and printer that can pro-
duce high-quality print, have the word processing done by someone who
does. Do not be tempted to use that old typewriter you have in the closet.
Most quick-print shops, including the national chains such as Kinko’s and
PIP, will do the word processing and printing for a modest fee. Ask to see
samples of their work and fees—and be willing to go to a few places to get
the quality you want.

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SAME•DAY RESUME ____________________________________________________

Photocopying and Printing

Good quality ink-jet or laser-printed copies or photocopies of resumes
are widely used and accepted. If you have your own computer and high-
quality printer, individually printed resumes can present a better appear-
ance than photocopies and, of course, will allow you to target your resume
to a particular job or employer.
You can also take your resume to most small print shops and have them
print a few hundred copies for a reasonable price. Just make certain that
the quality is very good. However you produce your resume, make sure
you have plenty on hand to use as needed.

Use Good Paper

Never go with cheap paper like that typically used for photocopies. Papers
come in different qualities, and you can see the difference. Papers that
include cotton fibers have a richer texture and feel that is appropriate for a
professional-looking resume. Most stationery and office-supply stores carry
better papers, as do quick-print shops.
Although most resumes are on white paper, I
TIP: Always send a
prefer an off-white bone or ivory color. You
potential employer a
can also use other light pastel colors such as thank-you note after
light tan or gray, but I do not recommend an interview or other
red, pink, or green tints. I don’t like those face-to-face meeting.
colors, and I’ve read that most employers Employers are im-
don’t like them, either. pressed by and will
remember candidates
Once you’ve selected your paper, get match- who follow up in this
ing envelopes. You might also find matching way. Thank-you notes
can be handwritten or
“Monarch” size papers and envelopes. This
typed.
smaller-sized paper, when folded once, makes
for an inexpensive and perfectly acceptable
thank-you note.

Use Action Words and Stress Your

Accomplishments
Most resumes are boring. So don’t simply list what your duties were—
emphasize what you got done! Make sure you mention specific skills you
have to do the job, as well as any accomplishments and credentials. Even a
simple resume can include some of these elements.

8
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____________________________Chapter 1: Quick Tips for Creating and Using a Resume

Don’t Be Humble
TIP: The list entitled
Like an interview, your resume is no place to “Use Action Words
be humble. If you don’t communicate what and Phrases” in chap-
you can do, who will? ter 2 will give you
ideas of action words
to use, as will the sam-
Make Every Word Count ple resumes through-
Write a long rough draft and then edit, edit, out the book.
edit. If a word or phrase does not support
your job objective, consider dropping it.

Write It Yourself
It is most important that your resume represent you and not someone else.
Although I expect you to use ideas and even words or phrases you like
from the sample resumes in this book, you must present your own skills
and support them with your own accomplishments.
If you do not have good written communication skills, get help from
someone who does. Just make sure your resume ends up sounding like you
wrote it.

Break Some Rules

This will be your resume, so you can do whatever makes sense to you.
Most resume rules can be broken if you have a good reason.

The Most Important Rule

TIP: In an active job
of All: Do a Basic Resume search, you network
Today and call potential
employers for inter-
In the rest of this and the next two chapters, views. You don’t wait
you will learn about the types of resumes and for employers to
see a few basic examples. You’ll see more respond to your
resume.
examples in chapter 7. Although many addi-
tional details will follow, remember that it is
often far more useful to you to have an
acceptable resume as soon as possible—and use it in an active job search—
than to delay your job search while working on a better resume. A better
resume can come later, after you have created a presentable one that you
can use right away.

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SAME•DAY RESUME ____________________________________________________

Types of Resumes
Generally the most common and useful resume types are the chronological
resume, the skills (or functional) resume, and the combination resume. I
also mention the curriculum vitae (CV), which is used for some specialized
professional careers.

Chronological Resumes
The word “chronology” refers to a sequence of events in time. The primary
feature of this type of resume is the listing of jobs you’ve held, listed in
reverse order from the most recent to least recent. This is the simplest of
resumes and can be a practical format if you use it properly. Chapter 2
shows you how to create this basic type of resume.
Because a chronological resume organizes information by your work expe-
rience, it highlights previous job titles, locations, dates employed, and
tasks. This is fine if you are looking for the same type of job you have held
in the past or are looking to move up in a related field.
The chronological resume presents a career progression and allows employ-
ers to quickly screen out applicants whose backgrounds are not conven-
tional or do not fit the preferred profile. The chronological format is often
not good for people who have limited work experience (such as recent
graduates), want to do something different, or have less-than-ideal work
histories such as job gaps.

Skills, or Functional, Resumes

Rather than list your experience under each job, this resume style clusters
your experiences under major skill areas. For example, if you are strong in
“communication skills,” you could list a variety of work and other experi-
ences under that heading.
This format makes little sense, of course, unless your job objective requires
these skills. For this reason and others, a skills resume is often more diffi-
cult to write than a simple chronological resume. But if you have limited
paid work experience, are changing careers, or have not worked for a while,
a skills resume might be a better way to present your strengths.
A skills resume is often used in situations where the writer wants to avoid
displaying obvious weaknesses that would be highlighted on a chronologi-
cal resume. For example, someone who has been a teacher but who now
wants a career in sales could clearly benefit from a skills resume. A skills

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____________________________Chapter 1: Quick Tips for Creating and Using a Resume

resume can help hide a variety of other weaknesses as well, such as limited
work experience, gaps in job history, lack of educational credentials, and
other flaws. This is one reason why some employers don’t like skills
resumes—they make it harder for them to quickly screen out applicants.
Personally, I like skills resumes. Assuming that you honestly present what
you can do, a skills resume often gives you the best opportunity to present
your strengths in their best light. Chapter 3 shows you how to write your
own skills resume.

Combination and Other Creative Resumes

You can combine elements of both the chronological and skills formats in
various ways to improve the clarity or presentation of a resume. This is
often a good compromise when your experience is limited but an employer
still wants to see a chronological listing of your work history (as many do).
You can begin the resume with a skills format but still include a section
that lists your jobs in order, along with the dates you held them.
There are also creative formats that defy any category but that are clever
and have worked for some people. These resumes use innovative formats
and styles. Some use dramatic graphics, colors, and shapes. I’ve seen hand-
written resumes (usually not a good idea); unusual paper colors, sizes, and
shapes; resumes with tasteful drawings and borders; and lots of other ideas.
Some of these resumes were well done and well received; others were not.
Graphic artists, for example, might use their resumes as examples of their
work and include various graphic elements. An advertising or marketing
person might use a writing style that approximates copywriting and a
resume design that looks like a polished magazine ad.

The Curriculum Vitae and Other Special

Formats
Attorneys, college professors, physicians, scientists, and various other occu-
pations have their own rules or guidelines for preparing a “Professional
Vitae” or some other special format. If you are looking for a job in one of
these specialized areas, you should learn how to prepare a resume to those
specifications. These specialized and occupation-specific resumes are not
within the scope of this book and examples are not included, but many
books provide information on these special formats.

11
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SAME•DAY RESUME ____________________________________________________

“Send Your Resume to TIP: Contrary to the

Lots of Strangers and, advice of many people
who write resume
If It Is Good Enough, books, writing a
“dynamite” or “per-
You Will Get Job Offers” fect” (or whatever)
resume will rarely get
and Other Fairy Tales you the job you want.
That will happen only
As I will say throughout this book, your
following an interview,
objective is to get a good job, not to do a with just a few odd
great resume. I have written this book to exceptions. So the task
teach you the basics of putting together a use- in the job search is to
ful and effective resume, but any resume will get interviews and to
only be as good as how you use it. And the do well in them.
Sending out lots of
big problem with resumes is that most people resumes to people you
don’t understand that a resume is not a good don’t know—and
job search tool at all. most other traditional
resume advice—is a lot
That is why I suggest doing a simple resume of baloney (or, if you
early in your job search—one you can create prefer, bologna).
in a few hours. This “same-day” approach
allows you to get on with actively getting
interviews instead of sitting at home working on a better resume. Later, as
you have time, you can do an improved resume.

Seven Steps to Getting a Job Fast

Here are the key elements of getting a good job in less time:
1. Know your skills. If you don’t know what you are good at, how can
you expect anyone else to figure it out? One employer survey found
that about 80 percent of those who made it to the interview did not
do a good job presenting the skills they had to do the job. If you don’t
know what you are good at and how this relates to a particular job,
you can’t write a good resume, can’t do a good interview, and are
unlikely to get a good job.
2. Have a clear job objective. If you don’t know where you want to
go, it will be most difficult to get there. You can write a resume with-
out having a job objective, but it won’t be a good one.
3. Know where and how to look. Because three out of four jobs
are not advertised, you will have to use nontraditional job search
techniques to find them.

12
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____________________________Chapter 1: Quick Tips for Creating and Using a Resume

4. Spend at least 25 hours a week looking. Most job seekers spend

far less than this and, as a result, are unemployed longer than they
need to be. So, if you want to get a better job in less time, plan on
spending more time on your job search.
5. Get two interviews a day. It sounds impossible but this can be done
once you redefine what counts as an interview (see the sidebar at the
bottom of this page). Compare getting two interviews a day to the
average job seeker’s activity level of four or five interviews a month,
and you can see how it can make a big difference.
6. Do well in interviews. You are unlikely to get a job offer unless you
do well in this critical situation. I’ve reviewed the research on what it
takes to do well in an interview and found, happily, that you can
improve your interview performance relatively easily. Knowing what
skills you have and being able to support them with examples is a
good start. Chapter 3 helps you identify your key skills and prepare for
interviews—as well as write a superior resume.
7. Follow up on all contacts. Following up can make a big differ-
ence in the results you get in your search for a new job.

No one should ever say that looking for a job is easy. But I have learned
that you can take steps to make the process a bit easier and shorter than it
typically is. Getting your resume together is something that hangs up
many people for entirely too long. The next two chapters should help you
solve that problem.

The New Definition of an Interview

An interview is any face-to-face contact with someone who has the
authority to hire or supervise a person with your skills—even if no
opening exists at the time you talk to them.

13
© JIST Works
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