Create your outstanding resume

			Book Notes
					By J. Michael Farr
			This is an excerpt from The Quick Resume and Cover Letter, from JIST Publishing

Many people believe they must create an outstanding resume before they can start looking for a job.

The fact is that most jobs are filled by people who employers know before a job is ever advertised. For the relatively few jobs that are advertised (and the research indicates that only about 15% to 25% are), half of these jobs are filled by people who never read the ads. While the Internet is changing this for some technology-oriented jobs and in some organizations, it is still true for most hires.

So, if you believe that the way to get a job is to send in your resume for an available job opening or to post it on the Internet, you are missing out about 75 percent of the jobs — the ones that are never advertised.

I think the thing to do is to get a resume together quickly. This approach avoids the all-too-common problem of taking a week or more to work on your resume before getting started on your job search. Then, as time permits, you can work on writing a better resume.

I have spent over 20 years studying, teaching, and writing about job-seeking skills, with an emphasis on techniques that work. So here are the facts on what a resume can and can't do:

· A resume will not get you a job — an interview can.

· A resume is not a particularly good tool for getting interviews. Direct contacts and leads given to you by those you know — or can come to know — are far more important.

· A good resume can help you in your job search, but many people get good jobs without using a resume at all.

· A simple, error-free resume is a far more effective job search tool than an elegant one that you are working on while you should be out getting interviews.

• The Quick Resume and Cover Letter Book is available through JIST Publishing.

About JIST Publishing

JIST Publishing is an Indianapolis-based publisher and authority on the topics of career, job search, business and families in crisis. The JIST staff help people help themselves in career and life by publishing practical, self-directed products and training tools that are used in employment training, education, business, counseling, therapy and school settings.

The Quick Resume & Cover Letter Book, Second Edition, J. Michael Farr. JIST Publishing, Indianapolis, © 2000.