Preparing a good CV or resume can be compared to preparing a fine meal. An "uneducated" chef may have the best ingredients in his/her kitchen, but the dish that is presented is dull, unflavorful, and without interest.

The "educated" chef, on the other hand may have nothing but leftovers in the pantry, but knows how to present those ingredients in the most appealing way possible.

If you can learn...and you WILL learn...how to "whip together" a good CV or resume, despite undistinguished qualifications and uninspiring experience, you will be much more likely to land an interview than the super-candidate who has "killer" credentials, but a "dead" CV or resume.

5 CV / Resume Essentials

There are certainly exceptions, but in general, the content of today's CV or resume is limited to:

1) Contact Information

All your contact information should go at the top of your CV / resume.

Name (Avoid nicknames & including middle name - KEEP it simple AND professional)

Address Use a permanent address...even if it's not yours. (Use your parent's address, a friend's address, or the address you plan to use after graduation if you're still "between residences")

Telephone Number Use a permanent telephone number and include the area code. (If you have an answering machine on both your home phone AND mobile, record a neutral greeting during your job search)

Email address - Choose an e-mail address that sounds professional

Website address - Include your web site address only if the web page reflects your professional ambitions.
2) Objective or Summary

An objective tells potential employers the sort of work you're hoping to do. This is your chance to be specific. If you have skills that you want to use in a specific industry, say so. Rather than an objective that says, "To obtain my first job and make a significant contribution to my new company," try this...

To obtain an entry-level position within a prestigious financial institution that will utilize my strong analytical and organizational skills.

In essence, your objective is always, "To get hired." But you'll want to customize that message, but tailoring your objective to each employer you target and every job you seek. The new-and-improved message is "To get hired by YOU."

3) Education

Your most recent educational information is listed first. Include your degree (A.S., B.S., B.A., etc.), major, institution attended, minor/concentration.

Add your grade point average (GPA) if it is higher than 3.0.

Don't forget to mention academic honors.

New graduates without a lot of work experience should list their educational information first. If you've been out of school for more than a year or two, education should be moved to the end of your resume, after the work experience section.

4) Professional Experience

ALWAYS use the heading PROFESSIONAL EXPEREINCE - using the heading work experience makes you look like a college student.

List your professional experience in reverse chronological order--that is, put your last job first and work backward to your first, relevant job.

Important: Account for any gaps in your CV. It is critical to ALWAYS ensure that your dates of employment flow and if there is a gap for any reason always explain why. (If you were unemployed at anytime throughout your career explain it by stating that you were on a career break or relocating or spending time with your family etc.)

The details of each experience should be presented in a consistent manner with details including:

Your title/position

Name of organization

Location of work (city, state, and country, if appropriate)

Dates of employment

Description of work responsibilities with an emphasis on results and achievements.

The goal is to provide a showcase of your professional experience using relevant industry buzzwords where you have utilized your skills.

5) Skills

Don't miss this opportunity to list any special, job-related skills you may have.

Some examples include:

What computer programs do you know?

Are you familiar with both Mac and PC?

Are you bilingual?

What presentation equipment have you used or what is your typing speed?

Don't miss this opportunity to list any special, job-related skills you may have. You can tailor this list to fit the needs of the position for which you're applying, or simply change the order of the list to present your most valuable skills first.

Do you know the Top 50 Recruiter Turn offs? Sign up to the Secure That Job Newsletter and get the TOP 50 Recruiter Turn-Off's Report FREE which shows you the mistakes job hunters make - Make these mistakes and you haven't got a chance of landing the job you want.

Sue Ellen Farmer's "Complete Secure That Job Tool Kit" http://www.securethatjob.com/ takes you through the entire CV or Resume Writing and Job Search process so that you are a skilled professional when it comes to looking for your dream job.