Writing an effective and creative resume that gets results can be a daunting task. But if a few simple details are taken care of, your chances of being shortlisted for the interview enhance significantly.

Here are a few tips which should benefit any candidate, irrespective of the industry or organization being applied to. Here is some basic advice to make a lasting impression:

• Determine your job search objective prior to writing the resume and structure the content of your resume around that objective only. If you write your resume without having a clear objective in mind, it will come across as unfocused to those who read it.
• You don’t need to go into detail about every accomplishment. Strive to be clear and concise. The purpose of your resume is to generate enough interest in you, to have an employer contact you for an interview.
• The language should be simple, the flow of language lucid and grammar absolutely correct. The format must be chosen carefully and consistency should be maintained throughout. Use a font size no smaller than 10.
• To improve the presentation and comprehension, use bulleted sentences. Resumes are read quickly (a resume gets the attention of 30 sec on average). This bulleted sentence format makes it easier for someone to quickly scan your resume and still absorb it. White space is important, it makes scanning your cv much easier, you can elaborate on bullet points during your interview.
• To add life to your resume, use action words like prepared, developed, monitored, and presented.
• Take the time to determine which bullets most strongly support your job search objective. Put those strong points first where they are more appropriate to be read.
• Use the keywords listed in the ad (where the vacancy is advertised) and match them with the contents in your resume, highlight your suitability for the job profile. Take a look at the company website, its mission statement and vision.
• Use some technical jargon, specific to your industry. If there are terms that show your competence in a particular field, use them in your resume./li>
• Accent the positive and leave off negatives and irrelevant points. Lead with your strengths. Focus on the duties that support your objective.
• Rather than going into depth in one area, use your resume to highlight your breadth of knowledge.
• If you have reported to someone important such as a vice president or department manager, say so in your resume. Having reported to someone important causes the reader to infer that you are important
• Limit the length of your resume to 2 – 3 pages. Help the reader to scan your resume efficiently and effectively.
• Since you are so close to your situation, it can be difficult for you to hit all your high points and clearly convey all your accomplishments. Have someone review your job search objective, your resume, and listings of positions that interest you.
• Covering letters are an effective introductory tool whereby you can outline your suitability for a specific role. This should be kept short and precise; if you are long-winded it will detract from the CV and candidature.

Use your resume to obtain an interview, not a job. Most prospective employers decide whether or not they want to interview you after reading the first few lines.