So you're contemplating a job change in the near future? Well, if you're attempting to keep your career on track, you should have a game plan in mind for your career that includes moving up the ladder once approximately every two to three years. One of the first things any job seeker must do prior to engaging in a career search, is to create or update their resume.

What exactly is the purpose of a resume, or Curriculum Vitae, besides the obvious? What is the most widely accepted format for resumes? Is it perfectly acceptable to add "flare" to your resume, to ensure recruiters and employers take notice? Let's take deeper look at your resume, and discuss these issues in detail.

According to Wikipedia, the formal definition of a resume, is is a document containing a summary or listing of relevant job experience and education, usually for the purpose of obtaining an interview when seeking employment. Additionally referred to as a Curriculum Vitae, which is the Latin term for "course of life," your resume should be updated on a regular basis, to reflect new employers, additional educational courses, and relevant work experiences that are in direct line with your career goals. For instance, if you are a professional author, who was recently had a published work in a major magazine, you would want to add this to your resume, so that this experience could embellish your current successes in your chosen field. Conversely, should you take a needlepoint class at a local Junior College, you would not add this to your resume; because this serves only for your personal pleasure, and in no way furthers your career goals. When it comes to preparing or updating your resume, the key point to keep in mind, is what have I done in my life, that is an experience which enhances my abilities to reach my ultimate career goals.

There are several types of resume formats to choose from, including the following:

~ Chronological

~ Functional

~ Chrono-Functional

~ Hybrid

~ Combination

~ Scannable

~ PDF

~ Web-based

The purpose of formatting your resume in any one, or all of the formats listed, is to disclose your career record to prospective employers and recruiters, in a way that is acceptable to them, for the purposes of providing you with the employment opportunity you are seeking. Honestly, there truly is no right or wrong way to prepare a resume, as all serve to deliver your information to the intended party. However, it is important that your resume be comprehensive, and essentially, market your skills and work experience in such a way, that a hiring manager or recruiter will be motivated to consider you for their open position. If you previously prepared your own resume, and had very little response when submitting it, it may be time to consider bringing in a professional.

Think about this for one minute. Have you ever read a sales brochure that just didn't present the information in a way that interested you? Many job seekers believe they can power up their word processing program, and whip up a resume - obtaining the same results as if they utilized a professional resume preparer. If you are an experienced writer, you may be able to obtain your desired resume results. For the rest of us, you are costing yourself time and money if you don't leave this task to the professionals. Based on your field and industry, your resume preparer will have a feel for the correct format that works best for you.

When you want to create or update your own resume, it can be okay to add your own personalized style to the resume. In fact, if you happen to be in the sales, public relations, marketing or advertising industries, this is one way for you to show your prowess, and rocket your resume to the top of the stack.

On the other side of the coin, if you are attempting to land a job as the Funeral Director, use of your resume creativity may not be appreciated. It goes without saying, use of common sense is one important aspect of your resume.

When you're ready to get started in your job search, having your resume prepared, formatted, and ready to market your professional skills and work experience, are vital to receiving interview requests and job offers.

Christina Archer is a copywriter, and Senior Recruiting Specialist with SterlingProfessions.com Career Search, based just outside of Columbus, Ohio. To learn more about taking your career to the next level, visit SterlingProfessions website, at www.SterlingProfessions.com