Top secret executive resumes : create the perfect résumé for the best top-level positions

With more than 20 years as a Certified Professional Resume Writer and more than 100,000 career books sold worldwide, Steven Provenzano shows you how to create a high-impact resume that develops and markets your skills and abilities to shorten your executive career search. This one-of-a-kind book reveals the secrets used by expert resume writers worldwide. You'll learn how Mr. Provenzano has helped thousands of clients identify, develop and market their abilities to the fullest extent and quickly increase their income. Packed with more than 150 pages of real-life resume examples, each with documented results, you'll learn all the essential points of persuasive, keyword resume writing, cover letter writing, design and format. The author includes the latest tips and strategies on networking, interview techniques and leveraging your LinkedIn page. There are before-and-after resume examples, a military conversion resume, and newly written articles from experts related to self-motivation, networking and how to answer some of the toughest interview questions. In today's job market, competition for the best, top-paying positions is intense, and the need for an excellent resume has never been greater. It's essential to create a high-impact resume that markets your skills - your personal brand - with impact and precision to stand above the crowd. You can't get the position you want without an interview, and you can't get an interview without a great resume. This is the only resume book that includes a free resume review by the author. Cover 1 Contents 7 Introduction 11 Chapter 1 The Power of Now: Determine and Market Your Career Potential 18 Getting Started: Your Personal Inventory 21 Chapter 2 Organizing a High-Impact Resume 30 Functional Format 31 Combination Format 31 Distinguishing Yourself 32 Keeping Your Resume Honest 34 Resume Essentials 34 Name, Address, Phone Number and Email Address 34 Job Titles 34 Company Names and Dates 35 Job Duties 35 Licenses and Certifications 35 Education 35 Languages 35 Professional Memberships 36 Eliminate from Your Resume 36 Salary Requirements/History 36 “Resume” at the Top of the Page or “References Available Upon Request” at the End 36 Reasons for Leaving a Job 37 Religious or Political Groups 37 Any Negative Information 37 A Photograph 37 Optional Items 38 Title 38 Objective 38 Military Service 38 A Personal or Interests Section Age and Marital Status 38 One Page or Two? 39 Chapter 3 The Proactive Executive Resume 40 Chapter 4 Title or Objective? 42 The Title 42 The Objective 43 Chapter 5 Market Your Skills in the Profile 46 Pack It In 46 Keep It Relevant 48 The First Paragraph = The First Impression 49 A Constantly Changing Document 50 Chapter 6 Developing Your Career History 52 Chapter 7 Education: Market Your Best Credentials 58 Chapter 8 Designing an Executive Resume 62 What Typeface? What Size? 63 Bullet Points and White Space 63 Line Length 64 Placement of Dates 65 Printing Your Resume 65 What Color Paper? 66 Proofread, Proofread, Proofread! 66 Chapter 9 Electronic Resumes and the Internet 68 Formatting Tips for Electronic Resumes 70 The Best Employment Websites 72 The Importance of Your LinkedIn Profile 73 Chapter 10 Networking and Using Your Resume Effectively 76 Most Important: Build Your Network 76 Your Current Employer 78 Your Company’s Competitors 79 Trade and Industry Organizations 79 Selecting Recruiters, Headhunters and Employment Agencies 79 The Growth of Internet Recruiting 80 Trade and Newspaper Want Ads 81 Alumni Career Centers 81 Career and Job Fairs 81 Pursue the Job Lead 82 Cold Calling 82 The Informational Interview: A Back-Door Approach 82 Chapter 11 At Last: The Interview 84 Research the Company and Position 84 Practice Your Answers 85 Present a Professional Image 85 Arrive on Time 85 Be Positive 86 Don’t Be Nervous 86 Downplay Personal Information 87 Likability 87 Stay on Message 87 Chapter 12 Motivation and Inspiration: Get Your Career in Gear 88 How to Keep from Being Your Own Worst Obstacle in the Job Search 89 How to Retrain Your Brain for Change 90 Networking Tips and Strategies 92 Adopt These 10 Traits, and You’ll Have People Knocking Down Your Door, Trying to Do Business with You 93 Harness the Power of Networking©: Easy Steps to Make Your Connections Count! 94 You Are Not Alone 96 Interview Tips and Strategies 98 Ten Good Ways to “Tell Me about Yourself”: “If Hollywood Made a Movie about My Life, It Would Be Called...” and Nine More Memorable Answers to This Dreaded Job-Interview Question 98 Make-or-Break Interview Mistakes: To Get on HR’s Good Side, Avoid Certain Behaviors. A Major Faux Pas, and Your Name Gets Crossed Off That List of Potential Candidates 99 Chapter 13 Cover Letter Essentials and Examples 104 Length 105 Close the Sale 105 General Procedure 105 Writing the Cover Letter 106 Track Your Progress 108 Reference Sheet Example 120 Salary History Example 121 Chapter 14 Case Study: Before and After Resume Examples 122 Chapter 15 Executive Resume Examples 142 Appendix 302 Websites, Books, Listings and Catalogs 302 Job Agents 303 Networking Resources 304 Additional Job Search Resources 304 10 Strategies for Planning and Executing the Job Hunt 307 Index 308 A 308 B 308 C 308 D 309 E 309 F 310 G 310 H 310 I 310 J 311 K 311 L 311 M 311 N 311 O 312 P 312 Q 312 R 312 S 313 T 314 U 314 V 314 W 314 9781435460409 Course PTR Annotation Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) Steven Provenzano teaches readers how to most effectively use successful resumes and cover letters to realize their own career potential in today's tough job market. This practical and helpful guide takes you step by step through the process of writing, formatting, and circulating a job-winning resume that will take your career to the next level