Ask the Experts: Best Cover Letter and Resume Writing Books
Question:
I am a recent graduate and working, but thinking of relocating. I want to update my cover letter and resume. I want to buy the best cover letter and resume writing book to help me do that. Which one should I buy?
First Answer:
The most important principle of resume writing is strategic flow: the document has to tell the reader (1)the role (not job title) you see yourself in (2) the qualifications you bring to that role (education, paid or unpaid experience, specific skills), and (3) proof of what you claim, by providing examples of the applications of your skills and education. When your resume does this successfully, a prospective employer can “see you” in the job you are applying for. So look for resume books that show you how to develop PARS (Problem/Action/Result statements) or STARS (Situation/Task/Action/Result statements-same animal, different acronym). Here are three I recommend for recent graduates even though that is not the only audience two of them address: First Job: A New Graduate’s Guide to Launching Your Business Career by Richard Fein (1992 but still the best at helping new graduates see how to develop your resume), The Overnight Resume, 2nd edition, by Donald Asher (1999), and 101 Grade A Resumes for Teachers, 2nd edition, by Rebecca Anthony and Gerald Roe (1998; most of the books tailored for specific professions are pretty awful, but this one is excellent).
The most important principle of cover letter writing is employer focus, so you don’t need to update “your” cover letter, you need to know how to write a unique one for each job you apply for. A generic, one-size-fits-all cover letter telegraphs that you are mailing resumes without giving much thought to how you can contribute to any particular employer. Writing a targeted letter, on the other hand, lets the employer know you’ve put in the effort to analyze your fit for this particular job with this particular organization, and made it easy for the reader to see that fit.
You start your letter with a “hook” sentence, i.e. “As a recent graduate in economics with a year’s experience in forecasting buying trends for consumer durables, I am qualified for the position you recently advertised for a sales analyst” (at Maytag). Then you either use “T” format, which has two columns labeled “Your Requirements” and “My Qualifications,” or write “My qualifications meet your requirements as follows:” skip a line, and bold face the first requirement in the ad you are answering. On the next line, use a bullet for each degree, experience, or PAR that shows how you meet the requirement. Repeat this formula for each requirement in the ad (years experience, software skills, track record in sales, writing ability, etc.) This structure prompts you to think of more examples of your fit for a job and, even if you choose to adapt it to a paragraph style, is much more effective than the 3 paragraph “here’s the story of my life, hire me” letter that most job seekers use. Recommended book, for its examples of letters and the ads they respond to: 175 High Impact Cover Letters, by Richard Beatty (1996).
One last word of advice: if you know where you are relocating to, and have a local address you can use (your great aunt, your ex-college roommate’s floor), put both your current address and your local address on your resume. That doesn’t mean you don’t hope to negotiate relocation expenses as part of your job offer, but it does suggest your desire to live in the new location is well thought out and not a whim.
— Carol Anderson, Career Development and Placement Office, Robert J. Milano Graduate School of Management and Urban Policy at New School University in New York City.
Second Answer:
The resume book that I most often hear the most glowing reviews of is Resume Magic by Susan Britton Whitcomb, and I agree that it’s excellent. It’s huge and certainly covers all the bases. For new graduates, I’m also very fond of Donald Asher’s From College to Career: Entry-Level Resumes for Any Major from Accounting to Zoology. For a very inexpensive book, but one that’s great for getting you started, I love the late Yana Parker’s Resume Workbook for College Students and Recent Grads. As for cover letters, I guess I’d be kind of an idiot if I didn’t shamelessly recommend my own book, Dynamic Cover Letters for New Graduates.
— Katharine Hansen, former speechwriter and college instructor who provides content for the Web site, Quintessential Careers, edits QuintZine, an electronic newsletter for jobseekers, and prepares job-search correspondence as chief writer for Quintessential Resumes and Cover Letters.
Third Answer:
Before writing your response, I checked a major on-line bookseller to see how may resume/cover letter writing books they have available. After narrowing my search to “best-sellers”, 247 selections are available. No small number and I expect the cover notes will all proclaim its respective book to be “best,” “unique,” “powerful,” “guaranteed results,” or some other such pronouncement as to its ability to help the reader/user write the definitive resume/cover letter. This particular site had reviews written by book purchasers that may be helpful in making your selection. It is my belief that if you have written a resume/cover letter that has proven successful in getting you interviews than a book will probably not prove all that more helpful.
Presumably, you have done the self-evaluation that I feel is critical to writing a resume. You must know who you are, where you want to go and what you have to offer to get what you desire before you start a job search. Company research is the next critical step in your journey to a new position. You need to learn as much background information as you can about the company(s) in which you are interested. With in-depth knowledge of company products, problems, philosophies, marketing objectives, and goals, you can formulate your paperwork to demonstrate how your skills and abilities mesh with those of the respective company. You can pattern your accomplishments and successes to reinforce how you will be the best candidate for the position.
Cover letter writing follows similar ideas of development. Review my answer to last weeks CollegeRecruiter.com “expert” question. I describe in some length the concepts that must be communicated in a cover letter Finally, write your own job search paperwork. I believe you know yourself better than any other person, except, perhaps your Mom. Your use of language must be consistent between resume/cover letter and that used in your interview. A skilled interviewer can easily sense a difference and this will raise questions within their mind as to your creditability. Additionally, personal preparation of your paperwork will allow you to reinforce your knowledge of yourself, your successes and accomplishments. This reinforcement will prove valuable in answering interview questions and boost your self-confidence in interview situations.
You are successful in your current career and in the way, you obtained it; this success experience will support you in the next step in your career.
— Robert C. Resch, Career Center, Triton College.
Fourth Answer:
While there are many, many good resume books on the market, the real question is not which is the best book, but rather are you able to take the information from the book and turn that knowledge into an effective resume and cover letter. While I am a seasoned and skilled resume writer, I don’t think I can purchase the best book available on flying and then go pilot a 747. If you have an excellent grasp and understanding of the written word, then I say go to your local library and peruse through the plethora of resume books available to fully understand the resume formatting and layout options you have. This way you will not be hedging your career on one writer or book. If you are not confident in your writing abilities, then I suggest you find a professional resume writer who can do the job for you.
— James Aure, A and A Resume.
Fifth Answer:
Kevin Donlin wrote a great cover letter and resume writing book specifically for users of CollegeRecruiter.com. It is immediately delivered electronically to your computer and you can print it out. More information is at https://www.collegerecruiter.com/guaranteed-resumes.php.
— Steven Rothberg, President and Founder, CollegeRecruiter.com.
