Amanda McCarthy - Writing Resumes and Cover Letters for Dummies - Australia / Nz

C hances are youre buying this book because youve never had to formally apply for a job during your long career and havent a clue how to create a resume. Or maybe youre new to the world of work, re-entering the workforce after some time out or youre looking to change careers or just find a new job. Whatever your reason, you need to be congratulated for taking the initiative and investing in your career!

Writing Resumes & Cover Letters For Dummies, 2nd Australian and New Zealand Edition, is full of simple, practical ideas to help you create a standout resume and cover letter that grabs attention and gets you shortlisted for interview. Weve been in the employment game for many years and have both helped people create winning resumes and cover letters. We also have a pretty good idea of what employers and recruitment consultants like and dont like. In this book you discover how to format your resume for ease of reading and get up to speed with resume trends, including ensuring your resume can be found easily when posted on the internet. You also get information on writing a cover letter thats sure to grab attention.

Were often amazed by people who send out their resumes here, there and everywhere without thinking about whether they really want the job or are the right fit for the companys corporate culture. One of the most important pieces of advice we can give you before you even start pulling together a resume is to do a little homework on yourself. Know your strengths. List the skills, experience, qualifications, career highs and achievements that make you a great asset for any employer. Youll use this information time and again when crafting your standout resume and cover letter.

Good luck in your job hunt!

The job recruitment world is a pretty competitive place. Recruiters are often on the receiving end of hundreds of applications. To make the cut, your resume and cover letter need to jump out from the pile, create buzz and scream perfect match to the employers wish-list of skills and qualifications they want their new hire to have.

This book is packed with information, tips, tools and techniques to help you write a standout resume and accompanying cover letter that will set you apart from the competition. Whether youre new to the game of writing resumes and cover letters or looking to give your old resume a facelift, Writing Resumes & Cover Letters For Dummies, 2nd Australian and New Zealand Edition, will be a valuable addition to your bookshelf.

This book assumes you have a basic knowledge and understanding of the following:

• Computer basics. You know how to use a mouse and keyboard, and are familiar with basic computer terminology (that is, you know a virus is not just the flu and a mouse is not just a creature that eats cheese).
• Email. You know how to send and receive emails.
• The internet. You know how to navigate the web and use search engines.
• Word-processing software. You know how to open, close, save, create, print and edit documents. You have used the spellcheck function in your word-processing program and have inserted headers and footers.

In the left margins of the book, we use a number of icons to draw your attention to key points in the text. Following is a list of all the icons and what they mean:

Get your highlighter pen ready this information is important and should not be forgotten.