Expert Resumes for Computer and Web Jobs

I found this to be more useful than other resume books because it was current AND was geared towards our industry. The reference samples and layout ideas gave me the "jump start" I needed.

I was initially put off by the title of this book, as people who use the term "computer jobs" generally know nothing about IT. After flipping though it, though, the old adage about not judging a book by its cover proved to be true. This is a fantastic tool for current and prospective technical professionals looking to add a bit of polish to their resume.

Part one of the book contains the conventional wisdom on resume writing, but the authors (both certified professional resume writers) also offer tips and tricks that break with tradition to help get you noticed by hiring managers. Although brief, this section answered questions that hours of web research left unanswered, which is what motivated me to buy the book.

Part two is an extensive gallery of sample resumes broken up by job type - developer, admin, project manager, and so on - which each have a small caption highlighting the benefits of its approach. I thought my resume looked pretty good until I saw some of these samples... so much for the trusty Word template!

Part three is a step-by-step guide to writing cover letters. Nothing groundbreaking, but still good.

To sum up, IT job-seekers looking to refine their resumes could greatly benefit from this book. Anyone starting from scratch should probably use a more general text (such as Resume Magic) to produce their first draft, using this book for final revisions. Finally, those happy with their present positions might want to consider waiting for the Third Edition to be published next year.

If you haven't updated your resume in awhile this text offers a number of updated formats and ideas. It includes excellent common sense check lists and strategies. The key to this book is that it emphasizes that you are selling yourself in your cover letter and resume and offers clear ways to do so. Overall I found it easy to read and implement.