by Leigh Goessl

Created on: September 28, 2009   Last Updated: November 02, 2009

Writing a good resume is the first step needed to find that new position. While an employer won't hire you based on a resume, it is a valuable document. The reason for this is the more attractive a resume appears the better chance you have of being invited to be interviewed for a position.

At first thought the idea of building a resume can be kind of intimidating, but in reality once you have the basic idea and fundamentals of resume writing down, the rest comes easy because you can follow a general formula.

This does not mean your resume should be a cookie cut pattern, because you do want to be unique enough to stand out, but you also want to appear professional and appealing as the best employment candidate.

Here are some solid tips on how to write a good resume:

*Understand Resume Basics

The interview is where you get the opportunity to make yourself shine, but the resume is the stepping stone to being asked to this important meeting. Consider your resume as a way to being offered an invitation, and for this reason alone, you want this document to look great and present you in a favorable light.

*Design and Format

Design and format is one of those accepted formulas you want to follow. When putting together your resume it is important to keep the document uniform and follow the strategy of keeping it simple.

This means it is important to use a consistent look and avoid any fancy fonts. Stick with the basics such as Times New Roman or Arial, or another commonly used professional font. Do not use more than one font, once you decide which one to use, stick with it.

Additionally, use bold and italics very sparsely. It is acceptable to use these formatting tools to highlight things such as subtitles, position titles, employers or colleges. Never use these formats within any areas of the resume's body, use words to emphasize something you want to stand out, not formatting.

*Careful of Resume Length

A generally accepted length for a resume is about a page long, but this may vary a bit depending on the kind of job you're applying for as some kinds of positions may require two pages so candidates can get all of the needed information in their resume.

If your resume is overly long, it will likely be discarded because employers typically review many resumes and aren't going to have the time to read through an abundance of information. You're better off highlighting key points and saving specific details for the interview.

*Style

For most people writing a resume, style

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