by Brian Dooley

Created on: April 25, 2007   Last Updated: May 16, 2007

Contrary to popular belief, writing a resume that gets noticed has as much to do with avoiding pitfalls, than simply your work skills alone.

As a 10-year Veteran Headhunter/Recruiter who's read enough resumes to choke the proverbial employment horse, I can tell you proof positive the resumes that creatively blended speed and delivery always got read, and more importantly usually got interviewed.

While it's understandable that during the course of your job search, you're interested in getting on someone's payroll as fast as possible. Ironically, as an employer, we are too. The Human Resource department is a busy place, and it goes without saying that a typical deluge of resumes who've responded to a "Customer Service" ad means more time, more effort and a lot more stress to get through them all. Most ads in your local classifieds or Monster.com can generate up to 200 to 300 resumes, all of them screaming for attention. Overwhelmed by the volume, sadly your resume will only be given a 10 to 15 second scan to see what strong qualifications jump off the page. If you're fortunate enough to make it through that first round of cuts, which only a rough 20 percent do, you've got my attention Don't blow it now that you've made it this far.

Here's five key MISTAKES that'll take you from the square inbox, into the round file:

1. Poor Layout. It's important to design your resume with efficiency in mind. Think, "What will they read first?" I suggest removing a common section "Career Objective" as your objective is really the same as everyone else's To get hired. Instead, use that space to highlight 5 to 10 key accomplishments over your career to sell me on how you can improve my bottom line.

2. One-Size-Fits all While that might be a great approach if you were in the Glove Making Business, save your winter fashion sense for after you get the job. Make sure you show me how interested in MY job opportunity you are, by spending a few extra minutes to adapt your resume to the job I'm offering. If I'm seeking a Marketing Professional, showcase the marketing efforts you've done in the past. Because if your resume says "Accounting" everywhere but you responded to my Marketing ad, I'll assume you broadcasted yourself to everyone. Because, like a jealous lover, I'm not interested in competition.
3. You don't need to list EVERYTHING There seems to be terrible case of "monologging" happening in today's employment marketplace. It's a classic disease, causing the victim to feel an unexplainable

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