If you're about to prepare a resume, or you're considering
a revision to a resume, of course you're bound to be diving
in to books about writing resumes.
But you're not just a resume writer, are you? You're a
well-rounded business person. As a manager, executive, or
solo business professional, your reading shouldn't (and
probably doesn't) center simply around task-based books.
And interestingly, reading some of the higher level
business books can actually help you with the task of
completing your resume - and other job-search-related tasks.
Before we get into that, though, here are three great
resources for finding out which business books should be on
the top of your reading list.
*Bestseller lists. From major media outlets like the New
York Times, to major retailers like Amazon, you'll find a
bounty of bestseller lists with a quick Google search.
*Top books of the year lists. The lists differ, since
everyone's opinion is different, and lists like these are
more about fostering discussion than anything else. Major
media and retailers put out these lists, too, and so do
more job-search-relevant places. Monster.com, for example,
offers an Best Business Books of the Year list.
*Business summaries. You've seen them advertised in the
airline magazines, flooding your mailbox with direct
response offers, and blinking in banner ads on the sides of
your favorite business websites. The truth is, these
summaries are a great deal for the time-crunched
professional. Absorb the main concepts in a short reading
session, and take a stroll over to your local library if
you want to dive deeper.
So, what do these business books have to do with resume
writing and distribution? On the face of it, not much. But
step back for a moment and ask yourself these questions:
* What are hiring managers in your target industries
reading right now?
* What are recruiters and headhunters reading right now?
* What's on the executive office bookshelves in venture
captial firms right now?
I'd be willing to bet the answers include a few of the
books on those lists. And if these are the books they're
reading, shouldn't these be the books you're reading, too?
Make sure your resume, your interviews, and your networking
encounters demonstrate (in a nicely understated way) you're
up to date with some of the hottest business books out
there. Even (and especially) if you don't agree with what
you read in them. Polite disagreement makes for some great
conversation.
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Allen Voivod is the Chief Blogger for ResumeMachine.com,
the leading resume distribution resource for managers,
executives, and professionals looking to accelerate their
job search results. Get the attention of thousands of
hiring agents with the largest and most frequently updated
recruiter database on the web, and dive into a wealth of
immediately useful career articles and blog posts - all at
http://www.ResumeMachine.com !
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