There are many reasons why you could be in the marketfor a new job right now. Perhaps...

==> You just graduated from high school--or even better,college--and you're ready to strike out on a quest foryour first "real" job.

==> Your worst fears finally manifested and you've beendownsized.

==> You're bored with the career path you've been on forthe past few years, and you're ready to strike out in anew direction.

==> You want to change jobs (within your field) for bettersalary, benefits, or chance at promotion.

Whatever your motivation, a powerful resume isessential. In truth, a resume alone won't get you thatdream job you're craving. Not even if you implementevery resume writing tip you can get your hands on!

But a great resume will get you in the door for aninterview. It will make you stand out as a superiorcandidate for the job you've applied for. And thatachievement is huge, given the fierce competitivenature of today's job market. Not only that, but awell-crafted resume will put the decision-maker youmeet with in a hiring frame of mind. As long as youdon't blow the interview, you'll have a great shot atthat job!

Digest and apply each resume writing tip below as youcraft a powerful resume that will make all thedifference in your adventure to land a job!

POWERFUL RESUME WRITING TIPS: 10 Steps to Success

Resume Writing Tip #1: Gather your backgroundmaterials. To complete your resume, you'll need to knowyour dates of employment at each of your previous jobsand when you went to school. You'll also need to beable to describe your skills and accomplishments on thejob, so put some thought into those areas.

Resume Writing Tip #2: Decide on a format. Before youcan start writing a resume, you'll need to decide ifthe functional or chronological format will work bestfor you. Remember, you want to put yourself and yourabilities in the best light.

Resume Writing Tip #3: Put together a general outline.A resume outline will help you get organized and willprevent you from overlooking any essential pieces ofinformation that should be included.

Resume Writing Tip #4: If your resume is targeted at aspecific employer or career path, learn all you canabout what they need. Spending time on this researchwill help you with your resume, with the cover letterthat goes with your resume, and with the upcominginterview. Make sure you know what qualities will mostbenefit the employer and think about how your abilitiesmatch those qualities. (Read another resume writing tipon how to target.)

Resume Writing Tip #5: Plan, plan, plan. Before youactually start writing, spend time just thinking abouthow you'll present yourself in the resume. What is yourobjective in seeking a job? This objective should serveas a sort of bull's-eye to structure your resumearound. What have been your most significantaccomplishments? You'll want to highlight them. Whatunique qualities do you bring to an employer? Think interms of benefits. Also think about the resume designyou'll use, the fonts within, and the resume wording .

Resume Writing Tip #6: Start writing, following youroutline. Take your time. Use a lot of action words . Beconcise. Don't use "responsibilities included" or"responsible for." It's a waste of space. Use bullets,rather than long paragraphs.

Resume Writing Tip #7: Cut and paste your content intoyour resume template. If you're at this site, you'reprobably not an experienced, professional resumewriter. So, take a resume writing tip from a pro. Use aresume template . There is no reason why your resumemust look amateurish.

Resume Writing Tip #8: Review, edit, and proofread likea maniac. One of the biggest resume mistakes is typosor grammatical errors. These errors may seem trivial,but they can cost you the interview, and ultimately thejob. After all, if you can't be bothered to make surethat your resume is 100% accurate, what guarantee isthere that your job performance will be high caliber?

Resume Writing Tip #9: Get someone else you trust tolook at it. It can be really helpful to get someone whoknows you to look at your resume. Not only are theymore likely to catch simple errors, but they may pointout strengths you've missed or underemphasized. Tellthem you want their honest opinion and you're open toquestions. Use their input to clarify your resume. Evenif you write your own resume, you may want to thinkabout getting a professional to do a resume critique .

Resume Writing Tip #10: Send it out into the world. Themore resumes you submit, the more likely you are to getan interview. Don't put all your eggs in one basket byapplying for only one job. And, don't be afraid to takesome risks and apply for a job you're interested in,even if you don't quite match all the qualifications.Most employers ask for many more qualifications thanthey absolutely require.

Hopefully, at least one resume writing tip on this pagehas given you some food for thought. But don't stopyour training here!

Kathi MacNaughton, a freelance writer and editor, hasyears of management and recruitment experience. Fortips & advice on writing powerful resumes, seehttp://www.powerful-sample-resume-formats.com.Copyright 2004 Kathi MacNaughton. All rights reserved.