For the job-seeking person, the résumé is of utmost importance and should be treated as an advertisement in which a candidate showcases his or her skills in the most concise and professional way possible. In an economy in which talent is in abundance and openings are at a premium, catching a potential employer's eye with your résumé is the best way to outshine the rest of the competition.

First and foremost, your résumé should cater to the needs of your potential employer. Show how your skill sets and experience will fit in with what the company needs, and demonstrate why you will be a valuable addition to a company's workforce. If your résumé adequately showcases how you possess the abilities and skills needed by a company, you will stand a much higher chance of landing an interview.

Of all the mistakes to be made, one of the biggest résumé writers make is embellishing or simply lying about their abilities and accomplishments with little or nothing to substantiate their claims. If a potential employer finds that he or she has been lied to by a job candidate, that candidate's chances are now as nonexistent as the fabricated claims that got them there in the first place. It is imperative that you are honest at all times, as any interesting or special claims made on a résumé are likely to investigated by a potential employer.

Your résumé must showcase your talents and your qualifications, so make a point to keep your details truthful and to the point. Minimize unnecessary personal details, as employers sift through hundreds of résumés and will likely only give yours a cursory glance. Relevant information should be immediately accessible and not crowded out by unnecessary details. Remember that you are advertising yourself with your résumé, so focus on your talents and achievements, not insignificant details that are irrelevant to the company's needs.

A well-made résumé is a critical first step for anyone looking for a job: the only thing standing between you and a great job is your résumé's ability to catch a potential employer's attention. A bad résumé will stop your job-seeking process dead in its tracks, so make sure yours is one that stands above the rest. If your résumé is well crafted, professional looking, and offers a brief and clear insight into what a company stands to gain by making you their latest addition, you can be sure that you'll be noticed by the people you want to impress.

Sherry Han is a researcher in the field of human resource management. She is currently conducting a survey on employment and collecting the top asked questions for how to get a job in this economy http://jobsearchquick.com. Please visit http://jobsearchquick.com to ask your question, and receive answers straight from HR professionals.