Welcome to
Effortless Resumes Bookstore and Resources

Although in the business of writing resumes and assisting others in their job search, I understand there are those of you who are "Do-It-Yourselfers." You are probably looking for answers on where to begin. There are thousands of resume and job-related websites. There are hundreds of resume and job search books. How does someone know which information truly works?

BOOKS

ONLINE RESOURCES

BOOKS

I have read and used the following short list of books as a cornerstone of my work. Not only are they informative and easy to read, the principles they present have been tested and proven over and over again by the success of my clients. This website, in association with AMAZON.com, is pleased to offer you the opportunity to purchase these books directly from here.

If You Don't Read Anything Else... The Overnight Resume The Overnight Job Change Strategy The Damn Good Resume Guide Resume Catalog: 200 Damn Good Examples Last Minute Resumes	For the Executive (Including Recruiter Directories) Career Journal: Resumes for $100,000+ Executive Jobs Rites of Passage at $100,000+ Executive Job-Changing Workbook The Directory of Executive Recruiters
Classics What Color is Your Parachute The Three Boxes of Life and How to Get Out of Them Sharkproof	Communication & Assertiveness What to Ask When You Don't Know What to Say Success With the Gentle Art of Verbal Self-Defense Your Rights in the Workplace
When You're Completely Stuck The Wizard of Work Free Money to Change Your Life The Trick to Money is Having Some!	For Women Only Games Mother Never Taught You New Women's Dress For Success

IF YOU DON'T READ ANYTHING ELSE...

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The Overnight Resume by Donald Asher buy now

If you want to write your own resume and get a powerful tool you can use, I highly recommend Donald Asher's "The Overnight Resume." From this book, you will get the most help possible out of just one resume book.

The Damn Good Resume Guide: A Crash Course in Resume Writing by Yana Parker buy now

If you are ready to spend a little more time (a few days) on your resume or need to because you don't feel your career history can be neatly defined, I recommend Yana Parker's "The Damn Good Resume Guide: A Crash Course in Resume Writing." Ms. Parker is recognized as the Expert of the Functional Resume format.

Both Yana Parker and Donald Asher work from the premise that you should be the one in control of your career path and give you the tools needed to communicate where you want to go and overcome the obstacles to getting there.

Other books by these two authors include:

The Overnight Job Change Strategy by Donald Asher buy now

For individuals who want to refine and refocus their career, especially if you don't know where to begin. If you've hit those "I need to make a change" blues, this book will encourage you, validate your ability to create for yourself, and give you a good jumpstart!

Resume Catalog: 200 Damn Good Examples by Yana Parker buy now

Although one shouldn't perform wholesale copying of words and phrases from other people's resumes, it can help just to to see how others have done it. It's also important to be looking at quality samples only. This book's got 'em!

Last Minute Resumes by Brandon Toropov buy now

This recently published short book gives a good overview of the resume process - and also includes samples by Karen Baird, CPRW, the host of this site.

FOR THE EXECUTIVE
(Including Recruiter Directories)

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CareerJournal.com Resume Guide for $100,000 Plus Executive Jobs by William E. Montag buy now

As your career evolves, you become aware that the expectations of what your resume communicates and how it appears have radically changed from your college graduate days. This book will help you take your resume above the standard chronological format and create a hard-hitting high-level document that still addresses all the traditional executive resume criteria. This book also addresses the importance of the cover letter with an executive resume and provides comprehensive information on letter content and presentation.

Rites of Passage at $100,000+: The Insider's Lifetime Guide to Executive Job-Changing and Faster Career Progress by John Lucht buy now

If you haven't worked with an executive recruiter, you will be soon. Be sure to read this book. Even if you think you know how the game is played, I'm sure you'll find something new here. THIS BOOK IS INVALUABLE! Although I take exception with the resume writing chapter, Mr. Lucht gives excellent resume advice except he presents the chronological format as the only format of choice. Since the chronological format only works for about 5% of the population and handicaps the rest; I recommend the hybrid format. See "Best Resumes for $75,000+ Executive Jobs." Aside from this one caveat, no executive or aspiring manager should be without this book!

Executive Job-Changing Workbook by John Lucht buy now

John Lucht's companion volume is also an invaluable tool.

The Directory of Executive Recruiters 2005-2006 by Kennedy Publications buy now

The Most Comprehensive Resource Of Executive Search Professionals Available (Directory of Executive Recruiters)

CLASSICS

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What Color is Your Parachute?: 2005 Edition: A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career Changers by Richard Nelson Bolles buy now

Revised annually, "What Color is Your Parachute: A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career Changers," by Richard Nelson Bolles continues to be one of the bibles of the career development industry. If you want to take an introspective, in-depth look at your career and how it integrates with you as a person, Mr. Bolles provides a comprehensive package of tools to help you. "Parachute" was the first book that put the tools of self-actualization in the hands of jobseekers and I highly recommend this book for its concepts.

The Three Boxes of Life and How to Get Out of Them: An Introduction to Life-Work Planning by Richard Nelson Bolles buy now

Another worthy book by Richard Nelson Bolles. I personally found this book even more rewarding than "Parachute." Taking a philosophical approach, it combines real-life information with a valuable perspective on life definition. This book is good for anybody.

Sharkproof by Harvey Mackay buy now

This audio cassette edition is a recap of Harvey Mackay's concise, informative book of the same name. Broken out into brief chapters, the book gives solid advice on finding a job, keeping a job, and coming out a winner no matter what. There's a section on asking for a raise that's worth the price of admission alone. Take this on the road with you for your morning commute and play with the information each day on the job, see what happens!

WHEN YOU'RE COMPLETELY STUCK

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The Wizard of Work: 88 Pages to Your Next Job: A Simple, Straightforward Job-Search Book for People Who'd Rather Be Working Than Reading a Book by Richard Gaither, John Baker buy now

The title of this book pretty much says it all. This book is packed with information and worksheets that will get you "up and at 'em" in no time at all. Not mentioned in the book, but from speaking with him personally, I know Dick Gaither has successfully worked with individuals that most of society had given up on and developed for them the tools that can turn around a low-confidence attitude and to communicate that individual's value to hiring managers. I highly recommend this book for young adults and anyone who's feeling stuck; although professionals at any level can benefit from this book.

Free Money to Change Your Life by Matthew Lesko, Andrew Naprawa, Mary Ann Martello buy now

More than just a catchy title, this book will tell you where to apply within the US government for grants and loans to pursue your career in the arts, where to get free training in all areas, serve government internships with free housing and training, where to get free career counseling, how to get government contracts as well as a section by Matthew Lesko on where to begin putting your life back together. This book is so popular, it takes up to 6 weeks to ship, but it's worth the wait!

The Trick to Money is Having Some! by Stuart Wilde buy now

And now for something completely different... This fun, lively book approaches money-making on an energy level, presenting the concept that the universe is affected by your thoughts and that if you can't have it, you won't make it. A concept Mr. Wilde introduces early on is the idea that many people will not pick up a penny in the street. He asks the question, "if you invalidate the universe's offering of a penny, why would the universe give you a million dollars?" How can you break old habits and allow the universe to take care of you? Read this book and find out.

COMMUNICATION and ASSERTIVENESS

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Sometimes we are faced with sticky situations when if we had just known what to say and how to say it, everything would have come out much better. Here are three helpful books to prepare for future "tight spots."

What to Ask When You Don't Know What to Say: 555 Powerful Questions to Use for Getting Your Way at Work by Sam Deep, Lyle Sussman buy now

Providing clear examples, this book can help you turn around an emotionally-charged situation or rise above a potentially damaging power play. Even when you're not feeling particularly clever or you haven't had your first cup of coffee, the solutions provided in this book are easy to use and adaptable to your individual situation. Includes an excellent chapter on Job Interviewing.

Success With the Gentle Art of Verbal Self-Defense by Suzette Haden Elgin buy now

This sophisticated book provides powerful concepts from the field of linguistics. Learn how to adapt your speech for your audience. When things get nasty in the boardroom, hold your own and come out smelling like a rose. This book is one to be read slowly and absorbed a chapter at a time. Unlike "555 Questions," you might not be able to adapt this book quickly into your everyday but integrating this book's concepts into your communication habits will probably change your life.

Your Rights in the Workplace by Attorney Barbara Kate Repa and Editor Marcia Stewart buy now

This book will give you a concise overview of your rights in the workplace for all 50 states. Many subject areas are comprehensively covered, such as "Wages and Hours" and "Health and Safety." Even when this book provides only a basic outline, it will give you the information necessary to know what to look and ask for.

FOR WOMEN ONLY

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Games Mother Never Taught You by Betty Lehan Harrigan buy now

Originally published in the 60's, "Games Mother Never Taught You" by Betty Lehan Harrigan continues to give sound, practical advice for women in business, especially in male-dominated industries. If you've hit the glass ceiling and don't know how to get past it...if you don't understand why ignoring golf can hurt your career...if your boss starts talking about quarterbacking and you think he's just talking about last Monday night's game...if you don't know the power spots in office layout and furniture, you need this book. Fortunately, less true now than when first written, but still very much prevalent today.

New Women's Dress for Success by John T. Molloy buy now

Again, if you are working in a male-dominated industry, I highly recommend the very current "New Women's Dress For Success" by John T. Molloy. In my opinion, the author doesn't have a personal bias on the information he presents but presents a carefully and extensively researched perspective. My clients who have followed its advice have found that they are taken much more seriously and their careers have really taken off. If you can't move forward and don't know why, take a look at this book.

ONLINE RESOURCES

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• Are you looking to find a job in the San Francisco Bay Area or Redwood Empire. Three local papers publish their classified ads online, and can be viewed for free:

• To find out national industry trends and names of some of the best companies to work for in the country, visit Plunkett Research's site. By previewing sections of their books online, you can find "The Plunkett 500," a list of top companies to work for in the nation, many of them headquartered or represented in the San Francisco / Redwood Empire region.



• Yana Parker's website has a wealth of information including answers to the "50 Most Asked Questions" about resumes. Ms. Parker is the author of "The Damn Good Resume Guide" available from the BOOKS section.



• The California Employment Development Department has catalogued and defined virtually every job title and provided regional actual salary information for California jobs. Check out the Labor Market Information / California Occupational Guides to find out more about how what you are doing (or want to be doing) fits into today's job market.
• If you are feeling under-qualified for a position, don't overlook the adult education and extension departments of universities and colleges in the Bay Area. You can obtain a Certificates and Letters of Professional Advancement within 3 months to a year from an accredited university. Employers are looking for individuals who are committed to continuing their education as well as someone with a degree. Check out the following sites:

• Have legal questions but don't want to hire an attorney to find out the answers? Nolo Press publishes self-help legal books and provides online information and a very funny "lawyer jokes" page. They are the publisher of "Your Rights in the Workplace" available from the BOOKS section.

• Do you feel extra-sensitive, aware of things that others aren't? Maybe you are psychic. Check out the Berkeley Psychic Institute website where you can read an online edition of their monthly publication, "The Psychic Reader," and also have the opportunity to sign up for classes and retreats, or buy tapes of classes you can listen to and learn from at home.