Typically yours is one of dozens (if not more) resumes that a potential employer is sifting through to short list candidates for the interview for any job. So if your resume is not able to say anything special or if it does not set itself apart from others on a qualitative basis, then chances are you're never going to get that interview call. So what are the features of a winning resume that you should adopt in order that your resume doesn't end up with all the others in the 'discarded' pile?

1. The resume should be clearly printed and easy to read and skim information from. Make sure the font is large and clear (Arial 12 point makes for easy reading). Even if you are emailing your resume, make sure that the formatting is clear and not crowded.

2. Use good quality stationery. Don't use your current employer's writing paper or envelope. Don't use metered postage. It's just cheap and will send out a bad message about you as an employee; that you are the sort of sponge the office can do without.

3. Proof read your resume, or have your resume sample proof read by someone else. Make sure no spelling errors have crept in, that all the contact details and personal details and dates are accurate. An error free resume points to a worker's work qualities such as meticulousness and attention to detail. A resume with typos, grammatical errors will simply give the impression of the person being careless, and someone who cannot be bothered to produce quality work.

4. Also errors in contact information may prevent a prospective employer from getting in touch with you! And make sure that your contact information makes it simple to access you. Don't give an email address that you don't check regularly. Also don't offer a switchboard number with an office extension; offer a cell phone number instead. No employer is going to be willing to be put in hold while trying to get in touch with you.

5. Create a 'career highlights' sub section in your resume template. This offers a comprehensive, at–a-glance look at the experiences and abilities of a prospective employee. What are the qualifications, job experiences and other things that set one apart from all other applicants? A gist of your special qualifications should find place in your resume.

6. Don't forget educational qualifications. These are of course important when a person is entering the job market; but they do not cease to be important later either; they can be as important for a prospective employer as your on job experiences.

7. Include mentions of awards or special recognitions you may have won. They will add to impact that your resume formats make on prospective employers. All other things being equal, they may be more inclined to a higher achiever.

8. Having a general resume is a good idea, but it must be customized to dovetail with the precise requirements of each different job that you apply for. Appropriate modifications/changes must be made as required.

There are tools available to help you write your resume. Always check the Internet first when needing information or programs to use to construct your very own resume. Once you have created your masterpiece, it is time to contact companies that are hiring for the position you are seeking. Some companies prefer that you mail in your resume and others would like you to fax it today.

There are even websites devoted to job hunting, which will provide you with tips and tricks to get your foot in the door. Doing a search on the Internet will provide you with the most popular websites that are focused around jobhunting. The information that these sites provide are designed to help you write a better resume.

Jobhunting is not an easy thing to do. You must do your due diligence research into the companies are hiring and also find out about the benefitsoffered in the company to see if that is one company you would like to work at. Most companies offer 13 or 12 paid holidays. Some companies do not pay for holidays. Be sure to match your skills with the requirements of the job you are seeking in order to be the best candidate available at the time they are interviewing for new personnel.

Always send a cover letter with the resume to ensure a proper introduction to your prospective employer. They cover letter should be distinct and different for each company that you are applied for and is directed to the manager in charge.

I have tried different color paper and have not seen any significant increase in getting a job, because of the paper color. Be somewhat creative but don't overdo it. You must balance professionalism with an original interest in the position they are offering. Use the Internet as your personal research guide when learning to produce that piece of paper that will land you your dream job

Your resume is often the very first contact a decision-maker has with you. So, it better be a blockbuster! You better make a big impression. And fast! Otherwise your prized resume is headed for the waste basket.

Resume rejection starts with a misunderstanding about what a resume can do for you. First of all, a resume doesn't get you a job. Only decisions by hiring managers can get you a job. Therefore, the best a resume can do for you is getting a hiring manager's attention. And that's how it has to be written.

If you think you're going to get ahead by loading up your resume with every conceivable detail about your work history, you just lost. Resumes are first scanned in less that 50 seconds. If something pops off the page to grab the reader's attention, then your resume may survive the first test. It gets put on the "keeper" stack for later review and more careful reading.

The very first rule of a successful resume is that it must be readily scanable in 50 seconds or less. Do NOT write more than two pages. And make them very readable with wide margins and good spacing.

The second rule is that your resume must have a headline. It's a lot like reading a newspaper. You're attracted to an article if there's a headline that grabs your attention. The same is true of a resume. Your headline is an attention-grabbing statement that states very directly what you have to offer the reader.

The third rule is to avoid an "objective statement." This self-serving announcement has little or no meaning to a decision-maker. He/she could care less about what you're looking to get out of this job. The reader is interested in learning only two things: what can you do for my bottom line? . . . And what can you do to make my job easier?

Instead of an objective statement you want to make a "summary statement" in which you lay out in assertive language what you bring to the table that can make a difference.

There are many more pointers that can help you improve your resume and give it a stronger impact. But if you observe these three basic rules you'll survive the first big test and avoid resume rejection.

Grabbing the job is another competitive task which can bring you close to some tricky situations. Resume cover letter are another options which can bring you close to some unbeaten job offers. Every job seeker is given negligible moments to display the skills and tempt the companies. Recession has amplified the competition and made the situation worse. So, if you are trying to use your skills in composing an effective and fresh format of resume document, you must pay attention at the tips which are enlisted below.

Do not be lazy when you are composing this document. You can take the help of your friends and relatives to prepare a successful resume cover letter. Apart from all this, you must avoid the use of words and phrases which can sound difficult. By this statement I mean to say that you must avert the content of your document from high-sounding words. Avoid this priceless document from any grammatical mistakes. Grammar issues, spelling errors and other small blunders can cut the interest of your reader. I am sure that you cannot afford this situation. Thus, stay alert with the content which is provided by your cover page.

Any misdirected mistake or honest keyword can diminish the interest and turn off the curiosity of the job provider. Grammar is an important feature which can manage the curiosity of the administrative officers which are reading this page. You cannot afford the blunders in the content of this text. Format of your resume cover letter is another essential feature which can build the interest of readers. Pay heed at the objective and skills which are mentioned by you.

Avoid this page from any humorous content which can offer a waffled tag to your resume document. Make sure that you are preparing this document in a fresh format. I am sure that you will enjoy the benefits of implementing this suggestion. Use a supreme paper which can give a smooth touch to your reader. A rough and unhealthy texture of page can ruin your reputation and screw up your probabilities.

A paper which is good in quality can stand up to your expectations. If you are on any online site then you must make only those suggestions which can increase your possibilities. Switching over any unnecessary tip can ruin the value of this resume page. I hope that you are gratified by the content of this article. So, do not wait and compose the best resume cover letter.

My philosophy is simple: Stick to the facts. If in doubt, leave it out!

• Abbreviations

Avoid abbreviations! They are unprofessional and not universally accepted. Trust me; nothing looks worse on a resume than seeing sentences resembling the following: "duties included answering the fone and going 2 c clients." This is a resume, not a text message. Make sure you use correct words and proper sentences.

• Personal Information

Leave off anything related to hobbies or personal interests. If it doesn't relate to employment it doesn't belong on a resume. Information such as weight and height is irrelevant (unless of course you're trying out for basketball team). I have seen resumes where people include their eye colour and comments about their skin ("glowing skin"). Do not give the reader a reason to eliminate you because of your personal characteristics. Again, stick to the formula – if it does not relate to the job it doesn't belong on the resume.

• Graphics / Artwork

People feel that in order to be noticed they need their resume to look like a piece of artwork. This perception is wrong and has the opposite effect of appearing unprofessional and amateur. At the end of the day, the employer only wants to see skills, duties, and achievements. He or she is not interested because your resume is shaded yellow with a butterfly in the top right-hand corner.

• Negativity

Never, never, never be negative on your resume or cover letter (and most importantly, in your interview). If you left your previous job because you hated your boss, keep it to yourself. Do not try to explain this on your resume because you cannot explain those reasons in writing. Remember, a resume's job is to promote and sell. Do not get eliminated immediately for being negative.

• No Dates

DO NOT MAKE THE READER HAVE TO GUESS! This is such a killer on any resume. INCLUDE DATES. What years did you go to high school? How long did you go to university? When did you graduate? How long did you work at your current job?

Do not make the person reading your resume have to ask these questions. The minute this happens, your resume is going to one place—the trash bin! Make sure your resume flows and you have no gaps in your dates. If you took a year off to go travelling, include this. When you include dates DO NOT just include years. For example, "I worked at McDonalds from 2006-2008"– what does this mean? Did you work for 3 from January 2006 to December 2008, or for a little over 1 year from December 2006 to January 2008.

• Long-winded

Long long long long long resumes are boring!!!! If an employer sees an extremely long resume, they will immediately develop a negative frame of mind. Remember, resume readers tend to have little patience, especially when they need to read 100 resumes. You do not gain extra brownie points for writing the longest resume—enough said!

• Lack of achievements / highlights

I never understand how people get this wrong, but so many times people fill up their resumes with irrelevant information, and they leave off the most vital part of a resume—showing off your highlights and achievements. Think about it—most people who apply for the same job can all do the standard day to day duties. So what separates the good resume from the bad resume? It's the one that includes achievements and highlights. It includes how they were an asset at their previous job. Employers want to see not that you just worked and did a good job, but that you added value to the company. Leaving off your achievements is the best way to get your resume tossed in the bin. Alternatively, including value-added achievements is the best way to get your resume put on the top of the list.

• Irrelevant information

Everyone is proud of achievements they have accomplished throughout their life. Finishing second place in the 100 metre sprint final in my first year of high school was a great thrill, but is it relevant on my resume? Does it add value to it? Use common sense when including "extra information." Receiving your CPR certificate is relevant when you're applying for a job that requires this, such as a lifesaver or swimming instructor. It isn't so relevant if you received your CPR certificate 10 years ago, and now you're going for a job as a CEO.

• Grammar mistakes and typos

People read this point and think, "Obviously my resume isn't going to have spelling mistakes and typos." I can tell you from experience that 1 in 5 resumes will make this vital mistake. When an employer has 100 resumes, the first 20 are eliminated because of grammar mistakes or typos. These mistakes are glaringly obvious on a resume. Make sure you use spell-check, but more importantly, re-read your resume. Even give it to someone else to read over.

• Fluffy

You may think that using words such as "diligent," "meticulous," or "industrious" to describe yourself may make you sound smart, but unfortunately they are seen as "fluff" words. Focus your resume. A fluffy resume is going into the same place as a resume which has incorporated any of the above points – the trash bin!

\\

When you write resume cover letters, you'll have to play a little detective work.  If you want to stand out with who ever is going to be interviewing you.  You'll have to show you know more about the company than your competing prospects for the job.  Interviewers love this.  I'll cover a bit more on what I did later.  First let me make sure you understand why you need a good cover letter.

Your resume, as great as it may be is more of a run down of your past and possibly, current job positions.  I know it was for me.  Of course it'll cover your strengths but most times it doesn't prove any of your skills.  The cover letter helps you stand out in a way a resume doesn't by showing the interest you have for working for a specific company.  Going the extra mile goes along way and it shows your interviewer you're not afraid of working.  Think about it.  Your reason for wanting the job goes from, changing employment, for what ever reason, more money, closer to home etc.  To being part of an organization, that you like or identify with.

How you prove your interest, this is where the detective comes in.  You find out as much as possible about the company as you can.  Without braking any laws, keep it clean will you.  You then write a resume cover letter plugging as much of the knowledge you picked up as you can.  Paint a picture in the readers mind of how you can benefit the organization by being part of it and how much you know it already.

There's also phrases and words you want to avoid.  Nobody speaks that way.  Lets be honest.  There's some lines on some of the generic cover letters that yell out generic, all over them.  Don't get filed away.  Take some time, learn a little about where you want to work and please make sure it makes sense to where you're applying.  That's the biggest problem with letters that are too generic.  Many times they don't make sense.

Also, remember the power of search engines?  Employers can find those generic cover letters online in about 0.21 seconds.  That's right.  The letters you find, they find.

Casey Alexander - About the Author:

In my experience, a good cover letter has made a difference between landing the interview and not.  That's the first step, right?  I catch the reader with the knowledge I have of their organization and a few other key tips I learned to incorporate into my letter.  I've helped my sister and brothers with their letter and they've also landed the jobs.  What I picked up made the difference on how I write my resume cover letter.
Write a Resume Cover Letter. Get all the tips today at Resume Cover Reviews, it can help you land a better job. Copyright 2010 Casey Alexander

Grabbing the job is another competitive task which can bring you close to some tricky situations. Resume cover letter are another options which can bring you close to some unbeaten job offers. Every job seeker is given negligible moments to display the skills and tempt the companies. Recession has amplified the competition and made the situation worse. So, if you are trying to use your skills in composing an effective and fresh format of resume document, you must pay attention at the tips which are enlisted below.

Do not be lazy when you are composing this document. You can take the help of your friends and relatives to prepare a successful resume cover letter. Apart from all this, you must avoid the use of words and phrases which can sound difficult. By this statement I mean to say that you must avert the content of your document from high-sounding words. Avoid this priceless document from any grammatical mistakes. Grammar issues, spelling errors and other small blunders can cut the interest of your reader. I am sure that you cannot afford this situation. Thus, stay alert with the content which is provided by your cover page.

Any misdirected mistake or honest keyword can diminish the interest and turn off the curiosity of the job provider. Grammar is an important feature which can manage the curiosity of the administrative officers which are reading this page. You cannot afford the blunders in the content of this text. Format of your resume cover letter is another essential feature which can build the interest of readers. Pay heed at the objective and skills which are mentioned by you.

Avoid this page from any humorous content which can offer a waffled tag to your resume document. Make sure that you are preparing this document in a fresh format. I am sure that you will enjoy the benefits of implementing this suggestion. Use a supreme paper which can give a smooth touch to your reader. A rough and unhealthy texture of page can ruin your reputation and screw up your probabilities.

A paper which is good in quality can stand up to your expectations. If you are on any online site then you must make only those suggestions which can increase your possibilities. Switching over any unnecessary tip can ruin the value of this resume page. I hope that you are gratified by the content of this article. So, do not wait and compose the best resume cover letter.

Confused about how to create Content Writer Cover Letter?  Explore some supplementaryResume Cover Letter Samples for various jobs.

Job application, for most people is never easy. There is the usual competition and, of course, making sure that you are perfect for the specific government job post you want to apply for.
Job application, for most people is never easy. There is the usual competition and, of course, making sure that you are perfect for the specific government job post you want to apply for. Aside from these two important points, you should also make sure that you have the perfect resume that can hook in the desired interview.
If applying for a government or federal post, then you should not simply just write the usual resume. You should ensure that your government resume is up to federal standards. Here are some power tips that you can consider when applying for a government or federal position.
First, it is crucial that you understand how your federal resume will play a role in the application. Applying for a government job is not the same as applying for any private company. When applying for a federal post, resumes play huge roles; they are even sometimes considered more important than interviews. Writing the right kind of resume can help you become shortlisted for an interview. If you write a resume that is not in the standards of government job application, then you can expect your resume to be simply treated as a piece of paper that is easily trashed.
Second, it is important to remember that your government resume must contain all the information needed by the job requirement. If your paperwork does not include all information required, you can easily get eliminated even during the resume screening process. This means that you will never see the light of an interview; much more, a job in the desired government agency.
The third point involves format. You should follow the format used for government job applications. Generally, you should write your information in chronological order. For instance, you need to write down your job experiences from the most recent to the oldest. You should also write using the correct and required structure, length and content. If needed, you should also fill out and attach additional application forms indicated in the specific job post.
These are just some of the most important points you need to keep in mind when creating your federal resume. Keep them in mind so you can write a powerful resume that can instantly draw positive attention and can lead to interview shortlisting or even hiring.
But what if you do not have what it takes to write such a federal resume? What if you cannot really create resume content that is impressive enough? Of course, you should not simply give up on your dreams of working for the government. Now, you can maximize the federal resume writing by professionals. For a reasonable fee, you can have experts create your final government resume that is tailor fit not just to the information you provide but also to what is required by the specific government position application process.
You can get a federal resume writer to help you out. You can submit information online then wait for the original and ready-to-use resume you can use for federal application. You would not have to exert unnecessary effort just to create the best resume possible for the position. With this kind of service, you increase your chances of getting interviewed and hired significantly.

1. What IS a resume anyway?
Remember: a Resume is a self-promotional document that presents you in the best possible light, for the purpose of getting invited to a job interview.
It's not an official personnel document. It's not a job application. It's not a "career obituary"! And it's not a confessional.

2. What should the resume content be about?
It's not just about past jobs! It's about YOU, and how you performed and what you accomplished in those past jobs--especially those accomplishments that are most relevant to the work you want to do next. A good resume predicts how you might perform in that desired future job.

3. What's the fastest way to improve a resume?
Remove everything that starts with "responsibilities included" and replace it with on-the-job accomplishments. (See Tip 11 for one way to write them.)

4. What is the most common resume mistake made by job hunters?
Leaving out their Job Objective! If you don't show a sense of direction, employers won't be interested. Having a clearly stated goal doesn't have to confine you if it's stated well.

5. What's the first step in writing a resume?
Decide on a job target (or "job objective") that can be stated in about 5 or 6 words. Anything beyond that is probably "fluff" and indicates a lack of clarity and direction.

6. How do you decide whether to use a Chronological resume or a Functional one? The Chronological format is widely preferred by employers, and works well if you're staying in the same field (especially if you've been upwardly-mobile). Only use a Functional format if you're changing fields, and you're sure a skills-oriented format would show off your transferable skills to better advantage; and be sure to include a clear chronological work history!

7. What if you don't have any experience in the kind of work you want to do?
Get some! Find a place that will let you do some volunteer work right away. You only need a brief, concentrated period of volunteer training (for example, 1 day a week for a month) to have at least SOME experience to put on your resume.
Also, look at some of the volunteer work you've done in the past and see if any of THAT helps document some skills you'll need for your new job.

8. What do you do if you have gaps in your work experience?
You could start by looking at it differently.
General Rule: Tell what you WERE doing, as gracefully as possible--rather than leave a gap.
If you were doing anything valuable (even if unpaid) during those so-called "gaps" you could just insert THAT into the work-history section of your resume to fill the hole. Here are some examples:

• 1993-95 Full-time parent -- or
• 1992-94 Maternity leave and family management -- or
• Travel and study -- or Full-time student -- or
• Parenting plus community service

9. What if you have several different job objectives you're working on at the same time? Or you haven't narrowed it down yet to just one job target?
Then write a different resume for each different job target. A targeted resume is MUCH, much stronger than a generic resume.

10. What if you have a fragmented, scrambled-up work history, with lots of short-term jobs?
To minimize the job-hopper image, combine several similar jobs into one "chunk," for example:

• 1993-1995 Secretary/Receptionist; Jones Bakery, Micro Corp., Carter Jewelers -- or
• 1993-95 Waiter/Busboy; McDougal's Restaurant, Burger King, Traders Coffee Shop.

Also you can just drop some of the less important, briefest jobs.
But don't drop a job, even when it lasted a short time, if that was where you acquired important skills or experience.

11. What's the best way to impress an employer?
Fill your resume with "PAR" statements. PAR stands for Problem-Action-Results; in other words, first you state the problem that existed in your workplace, then you describe what you did about it, and finally you point out the beneficial results.

Here's an example: "Transformed a disorganized, inefficient warehouse into a smooth-running operation by totally redesigning the layout; this saved the company thousands of dollars in recovered stock."

Another example: "Improved an engineering company's obsolete filing system by developing a simple but sophisticated functional-coding system. This saved time and money by recovering valuable, previously lost, project records."

12. What if your job title doesn't reflect your actual level of responsibility?
When you list it on the resume, either replace it with a more appropriate job title (say "Office Manager" instead of "Administrative Assistant" if that's more realistic) OR use their job title AND your fairer one together, i.e. "Administrative Assistant (Office Manager)"

13. How can you avoid age discrimination?
If you're over 40 or 50 or 60, remember that you don't have to present your entire work history! You can simply label THAT part of your resume "Recent Work History" or"Relevant Work History" and then describe only the last 10 or 15 years of your experience. Below your 10-15 year work history, you could add a paragraph headed "Prior relevant experience" and simply refer to any additional important (but ancient) jobs without mentioning dates.

14. What if you never had any "real" paid jobs -- just self-employment or odd jobs? Give yourself credit, and create an accurate, fair job-title for yourself. For example:

• A&S Hauling & Cleaning (Self-employed) -- or
• Household Repairman, Self-employed -- or
• Child-Care, Self-employed

Be sure to add "Customer references available on request" and then be prepared to provide some very good references of people you worked for.

15. How far back should you go in your Work History?
Far enough; and not too far! About 10 or 15 years is usually enough - unless your "juiciest" work experience is from farther back.

16. How can a student list summer jobs?
Students can make their resume look neater by listing seasonal jobs very simply, such as "Spring 1996" or "Summer 1996" rather than 6/96 to 9/96. (The word "Spring" can be in very tiny letters, say 8-point in size.)

17. What if you don't quite have your degree or credentials yet?
You can say something like:

• Eligible for U.S. credentials -- or
• Graduate studies in Instructional Design, in progress -- or
• Master's Degree anticipated December 1997

18. What if you worked for only one employer for 20 or 30 years?
Then list separately each different position you held there, so your job progression within the company is more obvious.

19. What about listing hobbies and interests?
Don't include hobbies on a resume unless the activity is somehow relevant to your job objective, or clearly reveals a characteristic that supports your job objective. For example, a hobby of Sky Diving (adventure, courage) might seem relevant to some job objectives (Security Guard?) but not to others.

20. What about revealing race or religion?
Don't include ethnic or religious affiliations (inviting pre-interview discrimination) UNLESS you can see that including them will support your job objective. Get an opinion from a respected friend or colleague about when to reveal, and when to conceal, your affiliations.

21. What if your name is Robin Williams?
Don't mystify the reader about your gender; they'll go nuts until they know whether you're male or female. So if your name is Lee or Robin or Pat or anything else not clearly male or female, use a Mr. or Ms. prefix.

22. What if you got your degree from a different country?
You can say "Degree equivalent to U.S. Bachelor's Degree in Economics-Teheran, Iran."

23. What about fancy-schmancy paper?
Employers tell me they HATE parchment paper and pretentious brochure-folded resume "presentations." They think they're phony, and toss them right out. Use plain white or ivory, in a quality appropriate for your job objective. Never use colored paper unless there's a very good reason for it (like, you're an artist) because if it gets photo-copied the results will be murky.

24. Should you fold your resume?
Don't fold a laser-printed resume right along a line of text. The "ink" could flake off along the fold.

© Yana Parker, Damn Good Resume Service, 2000