by Violet Scott

Created on: December 17, 2008   Last Updated: February 14, 2010

One of the most important things to remember is that a resume is, essentially, an advertisement for your self and your skills. You want to play up your good qualities and applicable skills, yet make sure that you are not falsely advertising.

The idea is to grab the attention of the person reviewing your resume. Employers will invariably search through dozens, if not hundreds of resumes, while in the process of filling a position, and standing out is key to making sure you are one of the lucky applicants who get that call-back.

Starting off with a great cover letter can ensure that your resume is read in the first place. Begin with basic statements, like introducing yourself and what position you are applying for in the company. Be sure to specifically name the title and company's name. Move forward with a brief statement about what you intend to provide for the company. Remember; employers really do not care what you are going to get out of this job, they want to know what you can do for them. Instead of using phrases like working in a field that I enjoy', or ' I love using programs such as..', switch to statements such as working in a field that I am very knowledgeable in' or I am very adept at'. Your resume is a tool to prove that you are one very well qualified individual among many. Wait, and let your personality show at the interview.

Keep your cover letter brief and to the point. Don't forget to sign it and make sure there is a date on the top.

Also, it's OK to get a bit creative, and think outside the box. Again, this is an advertisement , and you are trying to sell' yourself. Use the company's logo colors as the border on your cover letter and resume. Use script that can be easily read, but pertains to the job you are applying for, for example, if you are applying for a job as a hairdresser, use a smooth, beautiful script that reminds one of flowing hair. One woman I know even used a baby-block font for the headline of her resume, when applying for a teaching job at a preschool.

Most people, when writing a resume, start with a chronological list of their most recent jobs, dating back as far as ten years, with lists of skills and responsibilities pertaining to each one. Employers do not have time to read all of this, nor are they really that interested. What they want to know is if you can do the job they require, and if you can do it well. Here is a suggestion to show your skills as they apply to the job:

Just below your header, before listing previous

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