by Jessie Heekin

Created on: November 01, 2008   Last Updated: January 05, 2011

When you want to land a job, the first step is an effective resume. No matter the field or level of your resume, the tips below help you delve inward and discover your most marketable qualities-and place them on paper as effectively. Follow the process below and you will have a document to be proud of and an effective tool for personal marketing.

Any marketing project requires research, and your resume is no different. You will need to do research for your resume to find the important facts about what the prospective employer is hoping to find. Your cover letter needs a name of the person who decides whether (or not) to hire you, as you may already know but your resume needs to be equally personalized for that person's eyes. You need to know everything you can about the job you are applying for. If you are working with a posting that seems unclear, use a company website or call a receptionist to discover a name and even ask about the intended qualifications. Be kind, be friendly, be courteous, and always thank anyone who helps you.

Your resume needs to show that you know the position and are properly qualified for it, so don't discount this step. Find out what you need to know about the position you are applying for.

Create a small plan of research that includes the vision and mission of the company you are applying to and the expected qualifications of the intended position. Be sure to see the qualifications from their point of view to understand what you will need to market.

Next, in a rather extensive list, record all of your work history. Not what seems apparently compatible, but rather all the experience you have, should be listed because you are very likely to find that you have some undiscovered gems in your history. You will, at the very least, discover that you have a broad range of marketable qualities, and will have a broad view of everything you have to offer.

Compose a comprehensive listing of not just jobs you have held, but positions you volunteered for, special projects you have initiated or participated in, any honors or awards you have received, affiliations or clubs or organizations you are a member of, and all your hobbies.

You will need to record everything because this is everything you have to work with-and you will discover the proper slant for a winning resume.

Now, use your lists from step two and create verbs, concrete facts, and statistics (especially numerical statistics) to pinpoint important accomplishments. If your first instinct

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