The Quick Resume & Cover Letter Book: Write and Use and Effective Resume in Only One Day

by Michael Farr

Book Overview

With more than 60 sample resumes and cover letters and an "Instant Resume Worksheet", this resourceful book enables job seekers to put together a basic, acceptable resume in less than one day. It... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1593575173
• ISBN13: 9781593575175
• Release Date: December 2007
• Publisher: JIST Works
• Length: 404 Pages
• Weight: 1.54 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 7.6" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Great resource when trying to get a resume together quickly.

Did you see a job opening in the paper and want to wow the company? Buy this book...even with little time alloted you can put together a great resume and cover letter. Writing both a great resume and cover letter to get the employers attention is vitally important and this book guides the user with easy guides and resources to ensure success. Kelly Wibbenmeyer, the author of Any Tom, Dick, or Harry Can Get a Job: A Sure Fire Way to Land a Job

Wonderful job advice

This book helped me where my parents' advice had proved stale. Prior to reading this book, I was bouncing from temp job to temp job with only a vague idea of 'winning resume'. I knew how to write a CV, but apparently did not know what made other types shine. When I had to leave my current job because of money issues, I knew that I could not afford to remain in the dark any longer. I had to get a resume writing guide and study it closely. This book readily stood out from other titles which I flipped through. It showed me that a resume only needs to have stuff which is directly related to the position which I am applying to. Because I am a visual learner, I appreciated the endless parade of sample resumes in this book; resumes should be both personal and professional. I finally learned that being creative with my resume was okay if I felt comfortable that my end result would be conducive to a job offer. A resume is only a 'calling card' and does not guarantee your job.

The first book you should read on resumes

If you're only going to read one book on resumes, J. Michael Farr's "The Quick Resume & Cover Letter Book" should be the one you choose. Farr's no-nonsense, well-organized approach to writing resumes is refreshing as well as enlightening. He advocates taking an active role in job searching (and starting as soon as possible), as reflected in this quick tips on how to use his book and the first chapter, which focuses on creating a same-day resume. Farr clearly distinguishes chronological resumes from skills (functional) resumes, giving reasons to use either one and giving many examples of effective sample resumes. He includes several useful worksheets and lists of skills which help you identify what skills you have (and which ones you want to use) and list experiences that reflect your skills. These worksheets are not only helpful in writing resumes but also in interviews - Farr claims that most employers say that interviewees do not clearly explain what their skills are. While the first section of the book aims to get you started on a good basic resume, the second section focuses on how you can make the resume even better. Those who are crunched for time should definitely read the first section. Farr also includes information on JIST cards, job search letters (including cover letters), a varied collection of resumes, and his list of seven steps to getting a job as soon as possible. At the end, there is a list of resume contributors who also offer resume-writing services. While I found some of Farr's suggestions a little intimidating (e.g. cold-calling a potential employer to talk about how you can contribute to their organization - even if they aren't hiring), I realize that actively searching for job opportunities you will likely lead to finding the job I'm looking for (while creating networking contacts). This book is a well-written gem, and I would recommend it to anyone who's looking for a new job or a career change.

Just Getting Started

I just started reading this book but so far so good. One thing it taught me in the first few pages is that I don't want a great resume, I want a great job. I've been so hung up on my resume that I forgot I was looking for a job. This book tells you how to get interviews and jobs also. Great tool.

GREAT book!

Best resume and job search book I have ever read. Direct and to the point, without alot of fluff and flutter. Told me exactly what I needed to do and how to get it done to not only put together a quality resume quickly, but also how to get a better job very quickly. This is a very good book for those who do not have alot of time to do a job search, perfect for those already working and for students preparing to graduate.