by Leigh Goessl

Created on: May 16, 2008   Last Updated: November 21, 2011

When searching for a job, one of the first steps to take is putting together a resume. Next to the interview, the resume is the most important ways to attract the attention of a potential new employer. While the interview appointment is where you can really impress, your resume is what gets you in the door for this pivotal meeting.

Building a resume sounds intimidating at first, but it's easy once you understand the ins and outs of resume writing. Once you have an understanding, you can construct a resume you are proud of.

Ten ways to build a winning resume:

• Understand resume basics

What a resume does is introduce you to a potential employer and gives them a glimpse of who you are. Since the resume is the key in getting invited to an interview, you want it to look great and present you in the best light.

• Watch the length

Your resume should ideally be one page long. You don't want it to be too long because they'll be nothing left to tell about yourself and potential employers are usually busy and don't have the time to read through pages of information. You can save the more specific details for your interview. In your resume, highlight key points, but save particulars for when you meet for the interview.

• Design and format

One of the more fundamental strategies to building a great resume is to keep it uniform with a simple look. Avoid fancy fonts, stick with a typeface such as Times New Roman, 12 pt or an Arial, 10 pt. It is also important to remember to be consistent with the font you choose.

• Style

There are many different approaches to building a resume and depending on your background you'll want to choose the style which best features you. A chronological resume reflects a timeline, listing your most recent work experience first.

You might want to consider a functional resume if you've been away from the workforce for a gap of time or have been steadily working in a specific field. A benefit to this is dates aren't required because it focuses on skills rather than specific employment. You can also combine the two types of resumes to list any attractive qualities you have.

• Five mistakes to avoid

• Typos and grammar errors. A document full of mistakes will likely be immediately discarded.
- Lack of focus. Your resume should gear towards the type of job you are pursuing.
- Don't dwell on the past. Highlight your most recent accomplishments, don't focus your resume on things you did many years ago.
- Keep it professional

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