If you've ever gone in search of a book to help you whip your resume into shape, you're likely to have been overwhelmed and confused by the hundreds of resume guides to choose from. They all claim to have the ticket to writing a resume that will get you your dream job. Of course, resumes don't get jobs -- people do. The resume is the marketing tool that opens the door for you; it's then up to you to close the deal. To make that deal easier to close, you need to make the right first impression with your resume, and a good resume guidebook can help you do just that. But which book has the best advice?

There are literally hundreds of resume books on the market, many of which are just plain lousy. Unless you happen to be a professional job search coach or career counselor with expertise in resume writing, you have no way of knowing which books hit the mark and which will steer you wrong. Further complicating matters is the fact that most resume guides reflect one person's opinion -- a dangerous situation, since what constitutes a so-called good resume is a highly debatable question.

Gallery of Best Resumes is your answer. It distinguishes itself from the pack in that it is a compilation of advice and sample resumes provided by 79 experts from around the country -- all members of the Professional Association of Resume Writers. It includes 101 tips on lay-out, design, content, and writing style and provides 200 excellent sample resumes representing a broad range of occupations. Whether you want a job as a massage therapist, sign painter, computer specialist, attorney, sales manager, social studies teacher, or just about anything else, and whether you're entry-level, a seasoned professional, or looking to stay active after retirement, Gallery of Best Resumes offers advice and samples to help you put together a winning resume.

A unique and clever feature of the book is a section that includes sample resumes printed on actual resume-quality paper. So, you can see how yours might look on various colors, weights, and styles of paper before you invest in your own paper supplies and printing.

Also recommended on this topic: 

• The Resume Doctor: How to Transform a Troublesome Work History into a Winning Resume by John Marcus. (HarperCollins, 1996.)
• Trashproof Resumes by Tim Haft. The Princeton Review/Random House, 1995.