Does your job hunting arsenal include a great resume?

In our office we read between 25,000 to 35,000 resumes a year. Read, not scan for words. Depending on a number of factors, a candidate frequently has as few as 5 to 10 seconds to make a good impression. Sounds harsh. But consider, for example, how much time you would spend on a resume submitted for an outside sales representative position when the stated work objective indicates the candidate is really looking for a customer service position?
Your resume is your first opportunity to make a good first impression. In general it is possible to improve a resume with simple corrections such as using space efficiently, only one font, and only one type of bullet. Avoid underlining, use little or no bold text, and make the most of the top third of the first page. Another common mistake is listing one’s jobs as a series of job descriptions. WRONG! When talking about your positions, stress accomplishments! What did you accomplish? What did you contribute in your role? At minimum show 3 things you accomplished that earned recognition and/or praise from your supervisor, include more for current or recent positions and fewer for positions early in your career. Did you receive any awards or win any company contests? List them. Need some ideas to get started in this direction? Ask yourself what your supervisors would say they appreciated or valued about you?
Need more ideas? Check out The secret to a great job? A great resume at
http://money.cnn.com/2009/09/28/news/economy/hired_resume/?postversion=2009092812