Are you in the market for a new job? If so, the best thing you can do is create a powerful resume. In today's marketplace, competition is tough. Therefore, the better presentation you can make to a potential employer - the greater chance you have of landing an interview and job. Sadly, we see many qualified people passed over for new jobs or promotions simply because they did not start by putting their best foot forward. This article will provide you with some helpful tips on building a great resume that stands out from other candidates.

The Right Information - Rather than consider your resume a simple list of skills, accomplishments, experience, and education, view it as a painting of you but only in words. When crafted right, a resume can highlight your strengths, qualities, and characteristics while keeping your weaknesses minimal. Adding subtle humor or glimpses into the person you are can actually be beneficial.

Honesty - Unfortunately, not everyone is honest when writing a resume, choosing instead to enhance or even lie. Today, companies take the time to research references and qualifications. Therefore, sticking to the facts is crucial. Remember that going up against another candidate who is more educated does not necessarily mean you lose. Instead, by promoting honesty for the things you have achieved means you have an equal opportunity in securing the position. Enhancing or downright lying on a resume sets you up for failure. After all, when called in for an interview, the potential employer will be asking you questions directly related to what you wrote, meaning you now have to remember the untruths. Many times, just expressing interest and ability in learning something new will take you further than pretending you already know.

Conclusions - When a potential employer scans through a pile of resumes, he or she is going to be searching for conclusions about the individual. This means you need to be specific in information provided, thus helping the employer to reach the right conclusions.

Specifics - Make sure you can back up anything provided in your resume. In this case, let us say you were responsible for managing a building project such as a new internet center. Go ahead and give a little detail to include "Oversaw product installation for a 25,000 square, $13 million internet center."

Omissions - Another common mistake seen in the writing resumes is too much fluff or needless information. Remind yourself that the employer is going to be reading through a stack of resumes and that his/her time is valuable. This means keeping the resume concise but brief, and omitting things such as the reason you left your last position, why you need to make a certain amount of money, etc. Just be careful in providing personal information.

Bullet Points - Typically, a person will list "duties" performed from a past job in the form of bullet points. We suggest you stay away from task-orientated information, choosing instead to list your knowledge or expertise. In other words, avoid things such as "Made bank deposits", choosing instead to say "Responsible for money management" or rather than list "Answered the phone", state, and "Direct customer interaction".

Community Involvement - On the other hand, creating a small section toward the end of your resume for organizations or community involvement is fine, especially if it relates to the job. In this case, you could provide bullet points, listing the various groups you donate time or money to, organizations in which you are involved, and so on. This might include the Shriner's, volunteer time at a local nursing home, the VFW, etc.

Certifications/Licenses/Special Skills - The same rule would apply for certifications and/or licenses. For instance, if you hold a real estate license, certified in CPR, or are fluent in sign language, list them.

Length - Many people go overboard in creating a resume. They list all of the employers, even if the jobs date back 25 years. Now, if you held two to three jobs in that timeframe, then you would want to provide the information but if you had 10 jobs spanning 25 years, you are going back too far. Typically, a resume should be no more than two pages. Yes, sometimes this is hard to do but the key is using your space well, avoiding overuse of adjectives, fluff words, personal information, and unrelated information. Keep the resume clean and brief for the best reception.

"In Just 10 Minutes Flat, You Can Quickly And Easily Crank Out An Amazing Resume That Is Guaranteed To Have Your Telephone Ring Off The Hook With Hot Job Interviews And Top Job Offers... Without Writing One Word!" www.Amazing-Resumes.com