Elements of Resume Style: Essential Rules for Writing Resumes and Cover Letters That Work

SCOTT BENNETT has reviewed more than 100,000 r'sum's, conducted thousands of interviews, and hired hundreds of employees in organizations both large and small.

• Contents Preface to the Second Editionxiii Introduction: Writers Make Choicesxv Why Sometimes You Can Do Everything Right and Still Get No Invitation to an Interview * Pay Attention to Items Within Your Control * Less Is More * Twelve Things You Can Do Without 1. Common Concerns 1 Are You Sure of Where You Want to Work? * Are You Sure of What You Want to Do? * Move Beyond Your Dreamkillers * Résumé Length * Chronological or Functional Résumé? * Employment Gaps * Include Interim Jobs? * Self-Employment * Job Hopping * What About Social Media? 2. Presentation: The Reader Sees More than Words 13 Paper * Ink * Margins * Spacing * Font * Boldface * Italics * All Caps * Underlining * Save As . . . 3. Even the Simplest Items Send Messages to the Reader 19 Your Name * Your Address * Your Phone Number * Your Fax Number * Your E-Mail Address * Your E-Mail Signature 4. 
Sell Your Skills and Experience--
Always with the Reader in Mind23 Goal Section? * Goal vs. Objective * Executive Summary Section? * Give Readers a Reason to Believe * Education or Work Experience Section First? * "Work Experience" vs. "Professional Experience" * Position Descriptions/Blurbs * Sentences/Action Statements * Verbs/Action Words * Volunteer Experience Section * Education Section * Inventions, Published Works, Seminars Section * Software Skills Section * Language Skills Section * Memberships Section * References Statement? * Personal Information Section? * Artwork, Photos, Decorative Borders, and Line Art 5. 
Deliver Your Message the Right Way
to the Right Places57 Sending Your Résumé * Job/Career Fairs and Reverse Job/Career Fairs * Responding to Blind Ads * Thinking Outside the Cubicle 6. Cover Letters 65 Cover Letters in General * Sample Response Letter * The Unsung Hero of the Job Search: The Inquiry Letter * Sample Inquiry Letter * Informational Interview Request Letter * Sample Informational Interview Request Letter 7. 
The Final Three Pre-Interview Items: 
Salary Requirements, Salary History, References73 Request for Salary Requirements * Request for Salary History * Elements of Compensation for Salary History * References 8. Marketing to Yourself81 9. 
Bonus Interview Chapter, By Popular Demand: 
Scott, My Résumé Worked! Now What?!83 Physical Prep * Mental Prep * Read Up and Then Meet Up * Are You Ready for Your Close-Up? * After the Interview Conclusion: You're the Carpenter95 Appendices97 A.More Examples of Effective Position Descriptions/Blurbs99 B.A Special Note to Homemakers117 C.A Special Note to Veterans119 D.A Special Note to Ex-Offenders123 E.A Special Note to People in Recovery127 Index129 About the Author135