Resume Maker Deluxe Version 9 boasts it is the "#1 best-selling resume and job search software for business professionals." Being a "jack of all trades", I've had to write, edit and recreate more than my share of resumes. I had never used resume-making software (as there really weren't any when I first began my job searching back in the computer stone age). So I was very interested in learning if Resume Maker would be a more effective and easier way for job searchers to get the position they've always wanted. And with all the additional tools the software included, I felt as if I was being led down the proverbial "garden path", reviewing a program that could entice me with its good looks and promises and then letting me down like a ton of bricks. But I was optimistic. . .so with "the manual" in my hot little hands, I was ready to rock.

Minimum system requirements
According to the box, one needs a Pentium class PC or higher; Microsoft Windows XP, Me, 2000, NT, 98, or 95; 16 MB RAM available; CD-ROM Drive; sound card; speakers or headphones; mouse; 50 MB hard disk space (add 12 MB for Career Planner option); a modem or internet connection (the software offers a free 30 day trial of Earthlink; and fax software (usually provided with scanners or bought separately).

Pop in the CD and you are installed! The Main Menu was easy to read, organized and pretty. The program was divided into 9 sections: Resumes, Cover Letters, Contact Manager, Virtual Interview, Salary Finder, Expert Advice, Career Planner, Resume Caster and Job Finder. Click on one of the sections, and you are ready to roll.

Resumes
This is the first section and probably the best place to start using the program. Create resumes with "Guided Resumes", use pre-written resumes with fill-in-the blanks, and save and edit your created resumes. "The Manual" came in handy, as it explained the different types of resumes that one can use to present the user's career information the best way possible. Choose "New" and you have the option of different styles of resume orientations: chronological, skills, military, academic, theatrical, functional, curriculum vitae, etc. Choose "Sample" and you can bring up samples of hundreds of specialized resumes. . .from "actor" to "zoologist"! Having grown up in Southern California, home of Disney, I thought I'd try the "Animator" resume. A with a flick of my Tinkerbell wand (okay, so it was my mouse) there it was: a sample resume, formatted with sections to show my personal information, objective, key projects "Spiffy Goes Bowling", directors I've worked with (Steve Martin was listed), experience and finally, education. For a real animator, this would be a very easy and concise way to present my credentials for a job. Mickey would be impressed!

The other segment in the "Resume" section was "Guided Resume." It takes you step-by-step through the process of creating your resume. "Display cards" are used to enter specific information, such as a personal information card, work experience card, etc. One section at a time. You can add more cards to each section, for additional work experience or education. You can view and select from over 100,000 job descriptions (although I didn't count them all) in creating your resume. You may add, remove and rearrange the "cards" as you modify your resume…making it easy to tailor a resume to each individual job for which you apply.

Cover Letters
Pre-written and fill-in-the-blank letters are at your fingertips. "Guided Letters" allows you to choose from various types of letters: cover, thank you, follow up..even resignation. You may use one of the many letters provided or one of the fill-in-the-blank letters to attach to your resume.

Enough about creating a resume. One can only get so excited about that kind of stuff. So now it's on to the cooler sections…the sections that will pull you into this software, just like it did me.
 

• Contact Manager: 
  Allows you to enter a target company contact and networking contact information, thus allowing you to keep tabs on the progress of each resume. Keep track of appointments with the daily and weekly calendar of events or utilize the "to do" list, making a checklist for each company where you send a resume. This will help keep you in step when sending out those first 100 resumes!
  
  
• Virtual Interview: 
  This is a tremendous help to those recent graduates who grapple with those dreaded questions at "The Interview". This section sits you in front of a simulated job interviewer. It is here where you are asked potential questions (supposedly over 500 available) regarding employment and with the push of a button, you can listen to the suggested answer to the question and then the rationale for the answer given by the program. Although some of the answers were a bit "corporatey" or cliché, it did give me many answers to questions I never thought of having to answer in an interview situation. As we all know, interviewing for a job can be an anxious, stressful, and downright boring task. But working through Virtual Interview, the interview process was just plain fun! I just loved this section!
  
  
• Salary Finder: 
  Want to know how much you should be paid? With Salary Finder, enter your job, zip code or city, and wait for the graph to pop up. You will get a low, median and high range for you position. I tried the reality of the salaries with several jobs and cities, and overall, it was pretty reliable. Of course, I am grossly underpaid. . .
  
  
• Expert Advice: 
  Does the idea of hiring a job coach scare your bank account? Well, Resume Maker introduces you to Dr. Richard Fein. Although you are never told what type of doctor he is, Dr. Fein is touted as a successful career coach, with over 20 years of experience and author of many job search books. It is as if you are watching him on a TV program, Dr. Fein answers your questions from a list at the left of the screen. You are also given lists of Expert Tips, such as Top 25 Interviewing Tips or Top 25 Tips for Negotiating Your Salary. Once again, I was impressed with such an interesting and helpful way to help job seekers.
  
  
• Career Planner: 
  Not sure which career is right for you? Want to know the salaries and future outlooks of specific jobs? Well, fill out the Personal Profile and then look through the "Guide to Careers" and "Industry Profile" sections. There you will find out whether you have what it takes to be the next Bill Gates or if the outlook is bright for amusement park "carnies".
  
  
• Resume Caster: 
  So you have your cover letter and resume — now what? Submit, edit or delete your resume with every major career Website (such as Monster.com, etc.) Although I personally did not attempt this, this section also allows you to sign up with job search agents (aka "employment counselors") via the Internet. You should be able to receive notification with upcoming job opportunities via e-mail.
  
  
• Job Finder: 
  Send your resume directly to those ads in the paper via the Internet. You may also match your resume to jobs online and forward your resume to potential employers with the click of a mouse.

Resume Maker can be purchased for approximately $30 at your local computer store or online outlet (add shipping charge for online purchases). For that price, it is definitely worth every penny of your hard-earned money! Produced by 

Individual Software Inc.
4255 Hopyard Road,#2
Pleasanton, CA  94588
800/331-3313. 
Website: <www.resumemaker.com> or <www.individualsoftware.com>

If you are starting right out of college, looking for a better position or even entertaining the thought of a career change, buy Resume Maker Deluxe Version 9. It's a keeper!