You're on the hunt for a new job, diligently submitting your resume but where are the interviews? Make no mistake: recruiters/hiring managers utilize highly specific criteria when assessing candidates. If your resume doesn't follow these basic guidelines, it will most likely be discarded regardless of experience:

1) A Clear Focus On The Type Of Position You're Seeking.

If you're looking for a Director of Operations position, then every line of your resume, from opening through closing, needs to highlight industry skills and accomplishments. Everything else needs to either be minimized or else eliminated completely. Save mentioning the Little League coaching trophy you won until after you've aced the interview!

2) A Simple, Powerful Opening.

Avoid sapping interest by overloading the start of your resume with free-floating accomplishments. Instead, think about 3-4 lines ACTIVELY describing what you did, such as building new relationships, improving key processes, and liaising with cross-functional staff. Keep it simple, and remember Point #1 at all times.

3) Prioritize Recent Positions.

The last 10-12 years are by far the most important to recruiters/hiring managers. These should take up the bulk of your resume, and stress 2 things: unique responsibilities and successes. Older positions usually work best within an "Additional Experience" section at the tail end of your work history.

4) Utilize Language Suited For Resumes.

Avoid the first-person ("I utilized the followed skills...") and words that would undercut a professional tone, such as showed, caught, rocketed, etc. A safe bet is utilizing the third-person past tense, and starting every sentence with a verb ("Achieved major revenue gains through...")

5) Avoid Mentioning Anything That Could Be Construed Negatively.

Providing detail is one thing. Including a paragraph about the circumstances behind your termination is quite another. Keep it positive and results-oriented throughout, and save unpleasant details for when (and if) you're asked.

Anish Majumdar is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and Owner at http://resumeorbit.com. 95% of clients report a significant increase in interviews within 30 days, and all work comes backed by a 100% Satisfaction or Money Back Guarantee (in writing).

Please submit your existing resume (as an attachment) to anish(at)resumeorbit.com for a FREE CRITIQUE spanning structure, language, and content.