Resumes for Success

Written for the 1990s, this hands-on practical guide is for all job seekers: entry-level applicants, mid-career executives, professionals, and college students. Complete with a special section on word processing and desktop publishing, the book feature 75 annotated resumes that explan what features employers like best.

The premise for this book--the reason its lessons are so vital to the vast pool of would-be employees--emulates résumé protocol, in that it's stated succinctly in the first paragraph of the preface. To wit: all employers want to know that you understand what the company does and what the job entails, that you are well prepared for the position and can do the job, that you're motivated to succeed and will be a valuable addition. The résumé is the space in which to communicate convincingly this essential information; doing so is a skill which is eminently learnable, and to that end David Eyler's guide is an excellent, pragmatic teaching resource. He includes 80 real résumés, with analyses of what works and what might be best omitted, and insights into how these résumés could influence prospective employers. All sorts of résumé prototypes and templates are discussed, with model résumés indexed by job category and title so you can focus on the résumés most applicable to your experience and goals.

Résumés don't do the whole job of introducing you, however, so Eyler also discusses cover letters and interviews, as well as the nuances of sending your credentials by fax or e-mail. He delves into special situations (such as establishing second careers, and returning to work after a hiatus), discusses workforce trends, and offers chapters on employee benefits and forced career changes, as well.

When you're looking for work, for whatever reason, you want to be as well prepared as possible so your application has every opportunity of being noticed, and your experience and skills shine in the best light possible. Eyler's guide will help make this happen, and you'll thereby stand the best chance to accomplish the employment goals to which you aspire. --Stephanie Gold