Your resume is probably the most important document in your business career. Career Services would like you to realize it is not just a list of jobs and duties, but an ad designed with one message - promoting you. The cover letter is the one minute teaser often giving a different slant on the details; while the resume gives the full information. Together, the resume and cover letter cannot get you a job – but it can and will get you an interview. (Unknown author)

1. Don't lie. Period. Sell yourself convincingly, but never lie.

2. Be brief. Use the least amount of words possible to clearly demonstrate your qualifications.

3. Make a resume error free. Make sure someone else proofreads your resume looking for spelling and grammar errors.

4. Focus on what you offer employers, not what employers can offer you. A hiring manager is looking to hear how you can benefit their company.

5. Emphasize results and accomplishments. Don't just tell them what your responsibilities have been at previous jobs. Tell them what you've accomplished in those responsibilities. Quantify the results whenever possible (example: "Increased sales in territory by 30% in one year")

6. Use action verbs. Demonstrate what you've done by using actions verbs rather than passive descriptions. Sample words: directed, managed, created, established, produced.

7. Never use "I" or "Me". It's OK to use sentence fragments and leave off the "I" - such as "Trained new employees."

8. Leave out salary information, even if they request it in the job announcement or help wanted ad. Don't discuss it until your job interview.

9. Leave out personal information such as race, religion, marital status, political party affiliation, etc.

10. Be simple in your language. Don't try to impress the reader with a lofty vocabulary. Use buzz words and industry jargon when necessary, but otherwise use a professional, conversational writing style.

2. Write a paragraph outlining why this organization would want to hire you for the job.