Writing a resume takes significant time and effort. In addition, each job you apply for requires some tweaking to make it a perfect fit for the specific job requirements. Rework your resume a few times to get it just right. Also ask a colleague or friend to review it to give you another perspective before you submit it.

Format
If you are a new graduate and do not have much work experience, are seeking to re-enter the workforce after a prolonged absence, or want to change careers, use a functional resume format. The functional format groups your work experience according to major skill sets instead of in reverse chronological order, as is done in the chronological format. The chronological format is the most traditional, and is often used by those with significant industry experience who are looking for a job in the same general field. You can also use a combination of the functional and chronological format, which lists jobs in the skills groupings in reverse chronological order. A purely functional format does not include dates you worked at each job.

Length and Paper
Keep your resume under two pages in length. If that means you have to delete some jobs that are more than 10 or 15 years in the past, do so. Use only key examples to demonstrate your skills. Use narrower margins and font sizes between 10- and 12-point. Use heavyweight paper. Use white, ivory, gray or beige colored paper, and avoid using perfumed or brightly colored paper.

Details
Support your claims to excellence in your field with concrete examples. Use numbers whenever possible. Percentages and quantities give employers something solid they can visualize. Put these examples underneath specific jobs in which you did them, using bullet points to set each one apart. Round out your resume with an Interests and Other Skills section to add computer software you can use, languages you can speak, relevant professional associations you belong to or a hobby that uses skills directly relevant to the job.

Strong Presentation
Keep your resume upbeat and active by using verbs and adjectives that strongly and accurately describe your work and skills. The more specific your wording, the better idea an employer has of your abilities and background. Say, for example, "created and implemented" rather than "worked on" a project, if you were the one who spearheaded the effort and saw it through to its completion.