Can you step back, assume the role of a neutral and impartial observer, and accurately assess the fruits of your labor?

Unless you're a practiced editor, it's not easy.

To begin with, this is an important document; you've probably put a lot of time and effort into revising it. The resulting sense of ownership can be hard to disassociate from.

More importantly, when you review your resume you inevitably see a complete picture of the person described...because it's you. Missing pieces of data, any lack of clarity, points that aren't as strong as they could be - these are harder for you to discern because you have an exhaustive knowledge of the subject matter. Your brain has the information it needs to fill in the blanks automatically, so they may not register as such.

Even when it comes to seemingly more benign issues such as page layout, it can be a challenge to critique your work objectively (and whatever you do...don't underestimate the importance of layout and design).

As difficult as it may be, you've got to acquire the ability to critically review your resume. Either that, or you need to find someone whose judgment you trust to help you with this task.

Whether or not you have success at the early stages of the hiring process will, in large part, be determined by your ability to successfully execute this step.

There's a good chance the hiring manager who's preparing to pick up your resume does not know you. Therefore, his brain isn't going to fill in any blanks or clarify ambiguous information. He's got nothing to go on but the words you sent to him.

You'd better make sure you're telling a complete, comprehensible, compelling story. You've got to present the information in such a way that a quick scan catches his attention...and peaks his interest enough that he slows down and actually reads it.

Don't become so enamored of what you've written that you lose the ability to look at it through someone else's eyes. Someone who has never met you. Someone who may be sifting through hundreds of other resumes - all representing people vying for the same position.

Sometimes it's not easy to critically judge your own resume.

Remember, though - the hiring manager isn't going to have any such difficulty.

Rebecca Metschke helps professionals seeking a competitive advantage in today's global economy. Her book The Interview Edge is available online in downloadable format. You can find free info on career strategies and other helpful tips and advice at The Interview Edge blog http://blog.theinterviewedge.com/.