Ed. Magazine Books: Burn Your Resume Posted September 5, 2012 By Rachael Apfel Finding a job in the 21st century is easier said than done. In a globalized world with a new economy and a challenging employment landscape, the stakes are high and the competition is tough. So what is the best way for college graduates to make the transition out of the classroom and ignite new careers? According to Paul Frankenberg and Ethan Dunham, Ed.M.'07, the title of their new book is a great place to start: Burn Your Resume. Well, not literally, they say. But while "building up your resume" has become a central theme of career preparation, they argue that an individual's resume really only represents a small part of a much larger process, merely serving as a tool to help unlock the first-round interview application. While they may not expect that readers set flames to their resumes, they do advocate that readers do away with their reliance on resumes and instead channel their energy toward action and distinguishing themselves from the competition.Organized into a series of 21 chapters, the book provides readers with 21 different pieces of advice or instruction that cover everything from networking to interviewing to handling the first day on the job. Accompanied by short examples and anecdotes, these lessons are illuminated with real-world applications, offering readers suggestions that they can carry with them and apply to their own experiences. As a step-by-step manual, Burn Your Resume not only helps readers identify their talents and passions, but also outlines how they should incorporate those into the appropriate career search. Challenging readers to not only take the next step, but to commit to it wholeheartedly, the book argues that separating oneself from the crowd requires work, effort, investment, and a willingness to persist through failure."You'll have to practice, and you will have to change old habits and develop new ones," Frankenberg and Dunham write. "Take the time to reflect on, plan, practice, and execute the points we've drawn up for you throughout this book and you will be able to seize the opportunities you desire." Ed. Magazine The magazine of the Harvard Graduate School of Education Explore All Articles Related Articles Ed. Magazine Greenlight to Freedom Casey Lartigue, Ed.M.’91, helps North Korean refugees tell their stories Ed. Magazine A Field Guide to Gifted Students Charlotte Agell's new book offers an intro to teachers and parents. Ed. Magazine What I Learned About Mentoring Principals It's not uncommon for teachers nowadays to have mentors. But mentoring for principals is a rarer.