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A resume may just be a plain piece of paper, but when it represents you and all your achievements it becomes a lifeline. This document gets overlooked or dismissed at times which can be grave mistake when job hunting. This first step in the interview process with your possible future employer is a way the interviewer weeds out the professionals from the not so professionals.

1) The purpose of a resume.
This is a formal presentation this far in your employment and/or academic history. Make sure you touch upon the following areas: past employment; education; certifications; and job skills such as software experience (e.g. MS Word, Excel, etc.).

Typically the length is about a page, but depending on employment history they can go longer. Obviously, a person who is starting out will have a smaller resume, but do not be afraid of listing all your experience. You never know what they are looking for in a potential employee. They make take into consideration your internship, or even the fact that you worked at a local store while in college.

2) Typical mistakes in a resume.
Only use standard fonts, such as Times New Roman or Arial. All of the other fonts can distract an interviewer and can cost you a job.

The easiest way to prevent a mistake is to edit, edit and edit. Check each section and make sure it is clean (no extra periods, commas, and misspelled words). And never only rely on spelling and grammar check' because things tend to slip through at times.

3) The different types of resumes.
There are professional, contemporary, and elegant resumes. If you are using a computer program (MS Word) you can use a wizard to help you create your resume.

4) The importance of an overview in a resume.
The overview is simply a mission statement that is a sentence or two covering why you are seeking employment. Without being too general focus on your strengths and potential as an employee. Do you like team-based environments? Do you wish to continue your education? Make sure this shows a glimpse of your personality. A generalized statement will be easily spotted and the resume may get tossed into a pile.

5) Language skills and resumes.
Pay attention to the word choices. Action words (verbs) such as performed,' and achieved, allows the resume to speak for itself. Focus on descriptive words (adjectives) like team-based' and 'efficient service' to help portray the types of environment you have worked.

6) Employment information
The work experience should be listed in chronological order using

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