Writing Resumes that Work

I am someone who has always believed that the grass is greener on the other side of the circulation desk. Therefore Robert Newlen's Writing Resumes that Work is a welcome addition to my library.

Newlen's book is a step-by-step "How To" manual specifically written for librarians. All of the examples are tailored to librarian positions and show a practical, working knowledge of the field. It allows the reader to customize a resume for all of the varieties of library jobs and positions including school, special, and public libraries and from entry level through director. The book is well-indexed by subject, position title, work history, and job objectives with two appendixes: one for action verbs to give your resume more punch and an ever helpful "What Not to Include on Your Resume." Cover letters and interview techniques are briefly addressed. The information in the book is clear and specific.

The focus is on a series of steps that allows you to customize each resume once you have completed an extensive personal inventory of skills and accomplishments. While this part can require a bit of time and digging, once this inventory has been completed, it will serve as your basic resource for all subsequent resumes. The author emphasizes the importance of looking at ALL of your past experiences, professional and nonprofessional and analyzing how they can contribute to the position you want. This step is equally important to both the new M.L.S. graduate and the veteran looking to advance. The next steps involve ways to tailor your inventory for each position for which you apply. While the first part focuses on you and your abilities, this second part requires that you see the job from the employer's perspective. Examples of different types of resume formats (chronological, functional, or a combination) are presented with the pros and cons of each discussed.

As a result of reading this book, there was one definite step that I took to improve my resume writing. In the past, I've had several versions of my resume on the computer, one for each type of library position that I may be applying for. It was difficult to keep them straight. Things would be dropped from one resume and then forgotten. I created a small database where I listed all of the various categories that a resume needs to draw on (accomplishments, memberships, professional, non-professional and volunteer experiences, education and training, hobbies, etc.) so that I could simply copy and paste them into a resume template as needed. I just hope that I won't need it for quite a while.

Chris Tighe, librarian, Susman, Schermer, Rimmel & Shifrin, L.L.C.

COPYRIGHT 1998 Special Libraries Association
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning