Resume Secrets: 10 Ways To 
Improve Your Resume 
by Justin Elza

A resume is more than just a list of past jobs; it is your personal marketing tool. 

But what does it take to write a professional, compelling resume that looks every bit as good as you do when you show up for your interview?

1. Pull them in. Use action verbs and keywords in your resume that stand out and bring attention to your abilities and accomplishments.  Action verbs are words such as: Achieved, Delivered, Led, Implemented, and the like.     

2. Prove it. Don't just list responsibilities, list results. In your resume, show how having you as an employee benefited your previous employers.  Example: "Led company-wide finance and engineering college recruiting programs that delivered 100% hires against need, 70% diverse hires at 10% below recruitment budget." 

3. Simplify but don't omit. Keep your resume simple and to the point but don't sacrifice content for length. The "traditional" wisdom is that a resume should only be one page long, but this is increasingly antiquated advice. While you may find it easy to fit all your information onto just one page, don't be worried if you have to continue on a second page.

4. Submit the right resume. If you are applying to five different kinds of positions, you should have five different versions of your resume. Each one should be specifically tailored to show why you are the best candidate for that particular job.

5. Use appropriate language. Never speak of yourself in the first person in your resume (i.e. "I was responsible for..."), instead use sentences like "Managed 20 direct mail campaigns." Also, always try to begin with an action verb such as Managed, Organized, Oversaw, Coordinated, etc.

6. Doubel check your sspelling. Something seem wrong with the last sentence? It should. If your resume contains misspelled words, you are almost guaranteed not to get the job. Don't just rely on your computer's spell checker. Print your résumé and read it out loud to yourself. If something doesn't seem right to you, it most certainly won't seem right to a HR manager.

7. Keep it current. Update your resume at least once every six months.

8. Don't waste space. Telling the reader that you have "References Available Upon Request" is both a waste of space and somewhat of an insult to their intelligence.

9. Don't get too personal. Leave out personal information such as your age, sex, height, etc. Don't include a picture of yourself either. The content should pertain to your experience and qualifications. Period.

10. Monitor your results. Is your résumé working? Is it producing interviews? If not, you may want to consider seeking professional assistance.

About the Author:  Justin Elza is the owner of J. Allan Writing and Design Studios in St. Petersburg, Florida.