The primary purpose of a resume is to get the interview. It is important to realize this to be able to write an effective resume. Your resume works if you get the interview.

Since a hiring manager spends only a short time reading your resume, keep it short and to the point. You don't need to put every last boring detail of your employment history and experience into your resume. Save that for the job application form, if it's required. Write just enough in your resume to entice the hiring manager to want to interview you.

Forget the meaningless, self-centered objective at the beginning of your resume. A hiring manager isn't interested in an objective of "Obtaining a challenging position with a dynamic company which will lead to advancement opportunities." Instead, begin with a informative summary such as "Ph.D. statistician with over 15 years experience analyzing clinical trials data using SAS."

Keep in mind that someone reading your resume will be asking, "What's in it for me?" Don't focus your resume just on yourself and your skills. Keep the emphasis on your accomplishments and what you can do for your employer. If you are a programmer, for example, mention that one of your C++ programs saved your current company over $300,000 in the first year rather than list details of your sophisticated programming skills. That will get the attention of the hiring manager. In the interview you can discuss details of this success story.

Include your skills and accomplishments rather than your job responsibilities. If you are a career changer, consider using a functional format instead of the common reverse-chronological format.

Keep your resume focus on the employer's needs and you will more likely prompt the hiring manager to put your resume in the "must interview" stack.

Remember - the purpose of a resume is to get an interview. And the purpose of the interview is to get the job. Simple, isn't it?

Now that you know that the purpose of a resume is to get the interview, you can strive to write a resume that works.

Kempton Smith is a resume-writing consultant and former hiring manager who helps technical professionals and managers write resumes that work. He is a co-author of "The Manager's Job Search Handbook." Visit http://www.resumesthatwork.kemptonsmith.com for a free resume evaluation and more resume-writing advice and assistance.