Writing a resume is like creating an advertisement for a new brand or product. That brand is you and to be able to get people interested in your product and what it can do for them, you need to grab their attention and make sure they want to know more about you. By writing a winning resume, you will be optimizing your chances of getting an invitation to a job interview where you can more fully sell yourself. There are many different styles that you can choose for your resume and the myriad of choice can be confusing, but one thing is for sure; if you do not have the basics down, then your resume will only be heading for the trash bin.

You can have the best content in the world but if your basic layout and format is lacking then your resume can be rejected. Your resume layout must compliment your content for the best chance of success. These top tips will help you devise a resume that will put you in a winning position:

01. Your opening statement should be brief and to the point. Do tell the reader what you want to achieve out of life. Give them a reason to grant you a job interview by stating what you have to offer their company that will give added value. Use no more that six or seven punchy sentences that deliver the information. Don't resort for verbosity to cover up you lack of knowledge, if you have researched the position you are applying for then your will be able to target your opening statement to match the companies needs.

02. Don't try to fit all of the information onto a single page. If your resume layout spills over into two pages then that is great. Put the most important facts onto the first page and if you have done a good job then the reader will be inclined to read on. Your font size of very important, you don't want to let the reader struggle to see how brilliant you are. Use a pleasing font, like Arial or Calibri, at about 10 or even 10.5-point size. Don't use Times New Roman anymore; it is considered old fashioned.

03. Format mistakes. While formatting your resume can allow you to highlight certain words or key points, you don't want to use it too much or it will detract from the overall image of your resume. Use formatting judiciously and you'll have a document that stands out from the rest.

04. Use bullets to highlight key points. Instead of using capitalization or bold and italics, you consider listing your important points in an easy to read bulleted list. Bulleting information draws the eye towards the information and your reader will be compelled to read on. Keep them short and simple; more than three or four lines, and you should consider splitting it up and using sub headings.

05. Punctuation perfect. Don't let something as small as a misplaced comma be the reason that your resume is sent to the trash. Whatever punctuation you decide to use, the golden rule is that you use it throughout. Just this constant attention to detail will speak volumes about who you are to a prospective employer.

06. Spell check. It is not enough to use a computer spellchecker as the software can miss some words. Get a friend who has some experience n English grammar to check your resume when you have finished. Spelling mistakes are unforgiveable and most employers will not give you a second look if your resume is filled with basic spelling errors.

The style of your resume layout can change due to trends or even the kind of job you are applying for but these basic rules will not. Give yourself the best chance of securing a job interview by making sure that your resume is in the best shape.

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