Find the Right Job Online

Step 2: Make That Résumé Shine

A polished résumé is "like an extended calling card--it helps you get to the interview," Bolles says. Craft your résumé before you start looking for a job--that way, when you find a job you want to apply for, all you have to do is modify it. You should tailor the résumé you submit so that it appeals to the particular employer you're considering.

Look at keywords (such as manager and HTML-proficient) in the job ad and match them to your experience and training. Make sure those words appear in your résumé. A company may use software that searches for specific words; if your résumé lacks them, it will sink to the bottom of the barrel.

Keep your résumé concise (a single printed page is best), but try to convey as much information as possible about your qualifications. Use verb phrases ("Initiated casual Mondays") instead of drawn-out sentences ("I was instrumental in forming a committee to study the bureaucratization of our company processes through the accretion of ad hoc committees.")

Check for and remove typos and other errors. An employer flooded with résumés is likely to reject those with misspelled words and grammatical errors. Cite all the industry awards that you've received. Include a professional objective so that prospective employers can recognize your career goal. Articulating your goal makes you look focused and determined. Indicate that both references and a hard-copy version of your résumé (assuming that you've e-mailed your résumé) are available upon request. If you work in a creative industry (arts, entertainment, or journalism, among others), indicate that you can send samples of your work.

Another thing: Include a cover letter that explains why you want the job and why the employer should hire you. Then ask a friend or colleague to proofread and critique your résumé and cover letter before you send them to an employer.

If you plan to send your Word-formatted résumé via e-mail, save it in Word as "Text Only with Line Breaks"; then copy it and paste it into the body of your message. Many employers don't want to receive résumés as attachments.

For additional tips on crafting a dynamite cover letter and résumé, consult Web sites such as CareerBuilder, Monster, and Yahoo Careers. Also check out Rebecca Smith's ERésumés & Resources; it's full of formatting tricks for HTML-, scan-, and text-based résumés. You'll also find a gallery of excellent résumés to imitate. After all, sometimes the hardest part is getting started.