Given today's economy, all individuals in the job market are wise to have an updated resume. Unfortunately, many of today's job seekers are being thrust into the job market by lay offs or just the sheer need for a more secure working environment.

Yet, despite this reality, I have met many individuals who procrastinate the dreaded task of writing or updating their resume, even once laid off. If you are one of these individuals, be advised that the average job search is taking approximately 6 months now and as time continues to pass, the job market is getting smaller.

This highly competitive job market requires a special kind of resume. "Cookie Cutter" resume templates or generic resumes which are not tailored for the specific job and which do not address specific needs of the employer will get by passed for others which more effectively speak to the employers needs.

So how does one effectively write their own resume to stand out above the competition?

The answer: You have to speak the language of the employer and any electronic resume screening software being used as an initial screener.

Here is a basic outline of some steps to take:

1. Seek out job postings for jobs you are interested in and note the top "make it or break it" skills. Make sure you have them on your resume.

2. Take note of the employer's web site and glean as much information about them as you can. What kind of person would best fit in there? Make sure you do a "self assessment" of those traits and highlight any you have on your resume.

3. Think through the most applicable professional accomplishments you have and highlight them.

There are many more elements to writing your own successful resume, and most of us just want to "Get 'er Done"...... It's possible to do that, and do it right....the first time.

So to help folks "Get 'er Done Right" as well as take the pain out of resume writing, I'm offering the One-Day Resume e-book for only $12.95 for a limited time, downloadable immediately. And for the first 100 customers, I'll be offering a free copy of my guide to writing career objective statements and professional summaries.

And to help you get started writing a resume that lands the interview, stop by and claim your free resume checklist guide at http://www.JobSeekersGold.com

From Dominique Koukol, Author of Job Seekers Gold: What Savvy Job Seekers Know about Resumes.