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Anyone who has ever been an employee should have a resume to provide a thorough description of their experience and abilities. Even those without experience who hope to enter the job market should prepare one to illustrate their education and background.

The resume is sometimes your only way to get a foot in the door. Many companies no longer accept unsolicited applications. Instead, they prefer to post open jobs internally, via the web or in local publications. The government requires businesses to report statistical data on their applicant pool. This ensures the detection of situations where discriminatory practices are involved.

Your resume is your opportunity to make a good first impression on the recruiters reviewing the stack of resumes received. A well prepared document can grab the attention of those evaluating potential candidates for interviews.

The fundamentals of a good resume will help you capture the limelight and make your document stand out in a sea of seasoned professionals. Your goal in preparing your resume should be to write out as much information as possible about the positions you have held and the responsibilities managed. You should include education, certifications and pertinent personal information. Keep in mind the resume is like sending your photograph to a potential mate. You want to create excitement to ensure your resume ends up in the right stack.

The keys elements to include with your resume are:

1. List your contact information, including full name, address, phone number(s) and email address at the top of the page.

2. Including an objective is optional, depending on your preference. I recommend that an objective be added and customized to fit the position and industry you desire. While some people believe an objective can be limiting, I feel it sends a clear message that you are secure enough to know what you want to do next.

3. The next section should provide work experience and history. Some people will list every job held from the time they graduated, but I believe it is more important to focus on those positions which provide input to the open job for which you've applied. Recruiters can ask you to fill in any gaps which concern them and leaving them off your resume won't harm your chances. Focus on the big jobs which you held for a long period of time, and describe in depth the responsibilities held.

4. Education is important, so list the names of your schools and degrees earned. If you have additional training which you feel

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