Richard Wallace - Adams Resume Almanac

ADAMS

RESUME
ALMANAC

Second Edition

Copyright 2005, F+W Media, Inc. All rights reserved.

This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher; exceptions are made for brief excerpts used in published reviews.

Published by Adams Media, a division of F+W Media, Inc.

57 Littlefield Street Avon, MA 02322 www.adamsmedia.com

ISBN 10: 1-59337-291-4
ISBN 13: 978-1-59337-291-0

eISBN: 978-1-44051-866-9

Printed in Canada.

J I H G F E D C

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

The Adams resume almanac / [the editors of Adams Media].-- 2nd ed.
p. cm.
ISBN 1-59337-291-4
1. Rsums (Employment) 2. Cover letters. I. Adams Media.

HF5383.A273 2005
650.142--dc22

2004030286

Special thanks to the following contributors: Christine Roane, The Bakos Group, Springfield, Massachusetts; Dorothy Malcolm, Career Pro, Copley Square, Boston, Massachusetts; Cheryl Comstock and Jaquelyn Larson, The FocusGroup, Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Deborah Shapiro, Parnell Personnel Consultants, Inc., Newton, Massachusetts.

This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information with regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional advice. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional person should be sought.

From a Declaration of Principles jointly adopted by a Committee of the American Bar Association and a Committee of Publishers and Associations

Many of the designations used by manufacturers and sellers to distinguish their products are claimed as trademarks. Where those designations appear in this book and Adams Media was aware of a trademark claim, the designations have been printed with initial capital letters.

Composition by Electronic Publishing Services, Inc., Tennessee

This book is available at quantity discounts for bulk purchases.
For information, call 1-800-289-0963.

Contents

Chapter 1
Writing Your Resume

Chapter 2
Resume Makeovers

Chapter 3
Writing Your Cover Letter

Chapter 4
Cover Letter Samples

Chapter 5
Resumes for Special Situations

Chapter 6
Accounting and Finance

Chapter 7
Administration

Chapter 8
Communications

Chapter 9
Computers and Information Technology

Chapter 10
Education and Library Science

Chapter 11
Engineering

Chapter 12
Executive and Managerial

Chapter 13
Health and Medical

Chapter 14
Human Resources

Chapter 15
Legal and Protective Services

Chapter 16
Marketing and Sales

Chapter 17
Science

Chapter 18
Service

Chapter 19
Social and Human Services

Chapter 20
Students

Chapter 21
Technical

Chapter 22
Visual and Performing Arts

Chapter 23
Resumes in the Electronic Age

How to Use This Book

The Adams Resume Almanac, 2nd Edition is a comprehensive guide to crafting a job-winning resume. To get the most from this book, we suggest you begin by looking over Part I: All About Resumes and Part II: All About Cover Letters. In these pages you will find general guidelines for writing more effective cover letters and resumes, examples of different resume formats, four resume makeovers, fifty sample cover letters, and more.

From there, you can focus on your own special situation (your occupation, your status as a student or career changer etc.) by turning to Part III: Sample Resumes. Look to chapter(s) that are applicable and try to find a resume format that best suits your experience and job objective.

It should be emphasized that you need not strictly adhere to one resume. The advantage of having so many different styles and formats is that you can pick and choose elements form numerous resumes and custom design your resume to fit your needs.

Part 1
All About Resumes

Chapter 1
Writing Your Resume

When filing a position in todays competitive job market, a recruiter will often have one hundred or more applicants, but time to only interview the five or ten most promising ones. So the recruiter will have to reject most applicants after a brief skimming of their resumes. You could say that the resume is more the recruiters tool for eliminating candidates than the candidates tool for gaining consideration.

Unless you have phoned and talked to the recruiterwhich you should do whenever you canyou will be chosen or rejected for an interview entirely on the basis of your resume and cover letter. Needless to say, each must be outstanding.

Resume Length

Unless you are applying for a top-level position, your resume should ideally fit onto a single page. If your resume is too long, you should consider trimming the content. Keep in mind that your resume is not meant to be a comprehensive, detailed history or your career, but a summary of your experience, qualifications, and skills.

Paper Size

Use standard 8" x 11" paper. Recruiters handle hundreds of resumes; if yours is on a smaller sheet, it is likely to be lost in the pile, and if its oversized, it may get crumpled and have trouble fitting in a companys files.

Paper Color

White and ivory are the only paper colors considered acceptable by everyone for resumes and cover letters.

Paper Quality

Standard, inexpensive office paper (20 pound bond) is generally acceptable for most positions. Executive and top-level positions may require more expensive stationery papers with a heavier weight or special grain.

Typesetting

Modern photocomposition typesetting gives you the clearest, sharpest image, a wide variety of type styles and effects such as italics, boldfacing, and book-like justified margins. Although, typesetting is considered by some to be the best resume preparation process, it is the most expensive and least flexible. A typeset resume needs to be reset with every change.

Computers, Word Processing,and Desktop Publishing

The most flexible way to type your resume is on a computer or word processor. This allows you to make changes almost instantly, and to store different drafts on disk. Word processing and desktop publishing systems also give you many different options that a typewriter does not, such as boldfacing for emphasis, different fonts or typefaces, and justified margins.

The end result, however, will be largely determined by the quality of the printer you use. A dot matrix printer is inappropriate for a resume because the type is much rougher than that of a typewriter. You need at least letter quality type. (Do not use a near letter quality printer.) Laser printers provide the best quality letter from a computer.

Typing

Household typewriters and office typewriters with nylon or other cloth ribbons are not acceptable for typing your resume you will have printed. If for some reason you decide against word processing or typesetting, hire a professional.

Printing

Find the best quality offset printing process available. Do not make your copies on an office photocopier. Only the personnel office may see the resume you mail; everyone else may only see a copy of it. Copies of copies quickly become illegible. Some professionally maintained, very high quality photocopiers are of adequate quality, if you are in a rush, but top quality offset printing is best.