Resume Magic: Trade Secrets of a Professional Resume Writer [Paperback]

Susan Britton Whitcomb (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1998

Filled with "before and after" resume examples that not only teach the author's special techniques but also show why they work, "Resume Magic" divulges the secrets of better resume writing from an expert with more than a decade of experience producing powerful, effective resumes.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Susan Britton Whitcomb has provided career management strategies to people who want to move their career forward faster for more than 20 years. Susan speaks nationally on the topic of career management. She is past president of Career Masters Institute, the job seeker s go-to resource for trusted career experts; founder of Career Coach Academy, a training center and think-tank for quality career coaches; and principal of California-based Whitcomb Career Consulting. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 350 pages
• Publisher: Jist Works; First Edition edition (October 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1563705222
• ISBN-13: 978-1563705229
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 8.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (47 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #791,148 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Susan Britton Whitcomb has more than sixteen years of experience as a careers writer and specialist in resumes and portfolios for professionals. She is the author of Resume Magic and speaks nationally at conferences on topics such as cyber-savvy job search and resume-writing strategies. She is a Nationally Certified Resume Writer (NCRW) and Certified Career Master (CCM).

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

121 of 122 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Valuable time saving reference and tutorial January 13, 2002

By Guy Terry

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I started a job hunt recently, and hadn't written a resume in the last 6 years or so. I had a good idea of how I wanted to present and market myself, but I didn't have all of the fine details filled in.

This book is extensive, but well labeled. Start reading at the beginning, and every subject points you to the chapter with more information on that subject. Kind of like hyperlinks. That way you can look through at the major headings and pick and choose what you don't already know.

I took a prioritized approach, because I was in a little bit of a hurry. I took the resume section, picked a format based on my experience, then wrote a draft. From there, I went back and picked through the writing sections to make sure that I was on the right track. If you've read the examples, and the "before and after" sections, you'll probably have a good idea already what the big picture is. From then I went on to the section on cover letters and online job searching.

There are sections on virtually every subject of resume and cover letter writing, gathering references, job searching and interview preparation. Everything that you really need to get started, or just touch up on what you already know is well organized and labeled so that you can use it immediately. It's just what I was looking for, so that I wouldn't have to waste time reading the "full story" on each subject.

After following the advice in this book and sending out about 20 copies of my resume online, I had about 10 replies in the first week, and about 6 requests for interviews already.

29 of 31 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Resume Magic March 12, 2000

By Pat Kendall

Format:Paperback

Susan Britton Whitcomb's book, RESUME MAGIC, provides detailed instructions on the art and craft of resume writing. As a professional resume writer myself (who has read and reviewed dozens of resume books), I was impressed with the depth of Susan's material. Most resume books do not provide any real "meat" but RESUME MAGIC breaks the mold. It's not just a resume book -- it's a complete instruction manual by a writer who knows her subject inside and out.

Pat Kendall, Nationally Certified Resume Writer

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars 600 pages for a book on writing a resume, impossible? August 20, 2002

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

I said, "How can resume-writing be this complicated?" before carrying this 600-page 8.5" x 11" book home. Susan Whitcomb did a good job of compiling tips and advice and presenting them at the right time. There are tips on left vs. right justification, including personal information, and picking fonts, and long discussions on CVs vs. resumes, on functional vs. chronological, on printed vs. scannable vs. ASCII, and on grammar and mechanics. She's obviously a great copyriter and page designer.

Because, indeed, a resume now must look good enough so it will be read.

One chapter did nothing but help you choose which sections and section titles fit your situation. I found that weird, until I began the next chapter, which read, "Even experienced writers can feel some fear and trepidation when facing the start of a new project. You already have a good outline in which to work (chapter 4), which puts you beyond the 'blank sheet of paper' stage."

Inside the "tweaking" section, she even gives the keystrokes you'll use for both Microsoft Word and Corel WordPerfect.

You'll also find 250 "impact-mining questions" to ask yourself to come up with powerful accomplishment statements. Is that a lot? Well, no, but it gives you a good start! When you expect a resume-writing book to have a list of action verbs, Susan diligently wrote a impressive example for each verb.

I do not agree with her treatment of ASCII resumes, though. Of course, her discussion on online promotion and online resume submittal has grown stale; her ideas on "keyword resumes" is as outdated as advice on META TAGS on web pages.

Bulky... comprehensive... a great workbook.