Move to the Top of the Pile
Imagine yourself in an elevator -- the doors slide open and in walks the manager of the one company that you really want to work for. In the 30 seconds it will take for the elevator to reach the main floor you need to convince this person that you are someone they should be interested in. Keep in mind that the person you are talking with rides this elevator with people like you all day and every day. Choose your words carefully because once the ride is over you probably won't have another chance. That's the approach you have to take when writing your resume.
Your job history, skills and education are important but you need to make sure your resume gets read. Take that 30-second elevator talk and put it at the top of your resume. Don't turn it into a bland "career objective" statement -- let everyone else be the person "looking for a company where I can apply my skills and grow." You'll be the person with the companies looking for you.
Quick Tips
- Format - keep it simple, stick to a single font, and leave plenty of white space so that it is easy to read. Don't use colored paper -- most resumes are photocopied or scanned into a computer.
- Check for spelling and grammar mistakes. When you are satisfied that it is correct have someone else check for spelling and grammar mistakes.
- Do list job-relevant information: Education, previous positions (with dates), certifications, etc.
- Don't try to fill up your resume with irrelevant items.