The Quick Resume and Cover Letter Book Write and Use an Effective Resume in Only One Day Quick Resume and Cover Letter Book
“Highlights the work of some of the resume writing industry’s best; reveals the tricks of our trade.” — Bridget Weide Brooks, editor, Resume Writers Digest
“This book gets two thumbs up and five stars as a very useful book with practical tips and references.” — Nick Nigro, Career Services Director, Davis College, Toledo, OH
“This book is proof that Mike Farr is America’s number-one career planning and job search expert.” — Bill Warren, Executive Director, DirectEmployers Association; widely recognized as the founder of Internet recruiting and former president of Monster.com
“With excellent resume strategy AND solid job search advice, gives you a 1-2 punch for a knockout job search campaign. — Susan Britton Whitcomb, President, Career Masters Institute; author, Resume Magic, Interview Magic, and Job Search Magic
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars 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.
5 Stars 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.
5 Stars 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.
4 Stars ‘Quick’ – and meant it …
Although I tend to think of myself as a ‘charasmatic’ writer, I think that the resume examples used in this book were a little mundane for my taste. Of course, I am a bit on the ‘animated’ side of the spectrum. So, as usual, I sought to find a page where a person like myself could write a resume that would be dynamic, but not label myself a ‘nutcase’ to the prospective employer.
I skimmed through the front of the book a couple of times. Information I already knew. But, this book (whether they have a chapter titled “For those of you with Bipolar disorders) will be a very handy refence book. It was the first recommendation given to me by many ‘a’ source! Tons of different resume examples – as well as cover letter’s, ‘Thank you’ letters, and all the goodies we will most likely forget.
5 Stars 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.