A rsum is more than just a list of past jobs; it is your personal marketing tool. But what does it take to write a professional, compelling rsum that looks every bit as good as you do when you show up for your interview?

1. Pull them in. Use keywords that stand out and bring attention to your abilities and accomplishments.

2. Prove it. Don't just list responsibilities, list results. Show how having you as an employee benefited your previous employers.

3. Simplify but don't omit. Keep your rsum simple and to the point but don't sacrifice content for length. The "traditional" wisdom is that a rsum should only be one page long, but this is increasingly antiquated advice. While you may find it easy to fit all your information onto just one page, don't be worried if you have to continue on a second page.

4. Submit the right rsum. If you are applying to five different kinds of positions, you should have five different versions of your rsum. Each one should be specifically tailored to show why you are the best candidate for that particular job.

5. Use appropriate language. Never speak of yourself in the first person (i.e. "I was responsible for..."), instead use sentences like "Managed 20 direct mail campaigns." Also, always try to begin with an action verb such as Managed, Organized, Oversaw, Coordinated, etc.

6. Doubel check your sspelling. Something seem wrong with the last sentence? It should. If your rsum contains misspelled words, you are almost guaranteed not to get the job. Don't just rely on your computer's spell checker. Print your rsum and read it out loud to yourself. If something doesn't seem right to you, it most certainly won't seem right to a HR manager.

7. Keep it current. Update your rsum at least once every six months.

8. Don't waste space. Telling the reader that you have "References Available Upon Request" is both a waste of space and somewhat of an insult to their intelligence.

9. Don't get too personal. Leave out personal information such as your age, sex, height, etc. Don't include a picture of yourself either. The content should pertain to your experience and qualifications. Period.

10. Monitor your results. Is your rsum working? Is it producing interviews? If not, you may want to consider seeking professional assistance.

Justin Elza
http://www.jallanstudios.com/